Teen car accident statistics and why they spell higher premiums

March 19th, 2010 by tortiz

Teenagers wind up in a lot of accidents, and that is the unfortunate truth. The reason is that young drivers often over estimate their skills, take more chances, and are less responsible in general than grown ups. There is also the element of the companionship that usually follows when teenagers driver; other teenagers. This is often very influential in accidents, as young drivers have the car filled with their friends, which sometimes are under the influence, or at least can be a distraction for the driver on the road.

The facts above lead to many tragic outcomes and ruined lives. One of the less tragic, but more frustrating, outcomes is that car insurance for young drivers is extremely expensive. If you look at how insurance companies run their business they collect a pool of premiums from their customers and pay out of that pool for any claims that come in the years that follow (bigger claims often take years to settle). However, even though there is a common pool, or float as they call it, the premiums paid in vary depending on several factors that pertain to the customer.

A risk profile is made based upon several factors, and this decides what you have to pay. We already know that age is a big determination, but there are also lesser known considerations, such as your grades at school, the safety record of your car, how many horsepower it packs, and so on. The point is that they reward people that are responsible and less likely to wind up in teen car accidents, and drive the price up when they expect claims.

A great tip if you want to get a lower premium is to check with your parents if they can include you on their policy. This might turn out to be more expensive for them, but if you pay them the difference you will probably be better off than getting your own.

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