Adding an inexperienced teen driver to your insurance will almost inevitably increase your premium. Here, the Youngs Georgetown team explains how it works, and how we can help you get the best rates possible.
When should you add your teen driver to your insurance?
The majority of insurance companies don’t require drivers with a learner’s permit to be added to the car insurance policy. This is because learner’s permits are not proper driver’s licencees; they are highly restrictive, and require that the driver always have a fully licensed driver supervising.
However, when your teen starts driving, it’s a good idea to call your insurance company, so that they can advise you on when to add your teen to your auto insurance. They can also give you an idea of the cost that will be involved when the time comes.
In most cases, once the teen has passed the road test, and can drive without supervision, it will be time to add them to your policy.
Insurance Rates for Teen Drivers
Teens are still among the most expensive drivers to insure in Ontario due to the simple fact of their lack of driving experience, and therefore their increased likelihood of being in a collision. Insurance companies charge higher rates for teens to mitigate this risk.
Getting a Good Deal
That said, it’s not impossible to find reasonable insurance rates for teen drivers. Here’s how to get the best deal:
1) Sign your teen up for driver training.
Driver training involves an up-front cost of about $600 (on average), but successful completion of a training course gives young drivers access to discounts on car insurance rates. In fact, most young drivers will save the cost of their driver training in their first year of car insurance alone, as a result of these discounts.
2) Add your teen to your insurance, rather than having her take out her own.
Being on your insurance will mean that your teen will benefit from all of your current discounts. A teen on her own policy will likely pay a much higher premium.
3) Choose a safe car.
If you or your teen are planning to purchase a car, check with your insurance company to find out which types of cars are the least expensive to insure. Read our take on which cars are the least expensive to insure here ›
4) Shop around for the best rates.
Every insurance company offers different rates, and some offer better rates for teen drivers than others do.