Cheap Car Insurance for 16, 17, 18, and 19 Year Olds

Getting cheap car insurance as a young driver is somewhat like searching for a needle in a haystack, especially for those in the 16, 17, 18, and 19 year old range where insurance companies tend to tack on added premiums. So you are on the right side of twenty-five (lucky you!) and you're looking for a good deal on auto insurance? Well, perhaps it seems as if your luck may have run dry in this particular department. Finding a good deal on car insurance is difficult at times, even for older drivers with limited claim history and a good driving record, but cheap auto insurance for young drivers can at times seem next to impossible.

The very nature of the insurance industry as a "for profit" business model creates a situation where the goals of the insurance company are at odds with the goals of the consumer. They want to charge you as much as they can possibly get away with in premiums while paying out as little as possible in claims. You on the other hand are looking for the lowest possible rates on your policy and the highest possible payouts on your claims. At first, this may not seem like a fair fight with young drivers facing off against massive insurance companies who know the insurance business inside and out. The key to getting the lowest possible car insurance rates for teenage drivers is to educate yourself and understand how auto insurance works.

Here's what you need to know to save money when you are shopping for a new policy.

1. Start with your education. Getting educated can mean several things when it comes to car insurance. Not only is it important to understand insurance in general, it is also a must to take full advantage of your status as a student. Insurance companies often extend significant discounts to active students enrolled in high school or college. The better your educational qualifications, the better your chances of getting cheaper insurance. Research has shown that people with higher educational qualifications are safer on the road and as you'd expect, insurance firms have taken that into consideration in setting their rates. Having a good track record in school will help you even more. Many insurers will offer even deeper discounts to students who keep up at least a 3.0 GPA while enrolled in school. Don't just expect that your insurance provider will offer up these discounts to you because you are a student! You need to tell your agent that you are in fact a student and ask what discounts are available to you.
2. Keep your driving record clean. While this may sound like advice that would come from a parent, it has sound financial merit as well. It's a fact; if your record shows more than even a couple of infringements when it comes to driving related issues, your insurance premiums are likely to shoot up. Research shows that offenders will likely be repeat offenders and insurance firms are well within their rights to use this fact to drive up premiums. The best way to lower the premium on your insurance if you are a young driver is by driving safely to start with. Over the long-term, this just keeps getting more and more applicable. Insurance companies reward safe drivers with low premiums regardless of age. If you do get a ticket, be sure to find out if you are eligible for traffic school to prevent it from appearing on your record. Most states now have programs where you can do this once every two or three years to keep isolated incidents from damaging your car insurance rates.
3. Ditch that flashy sports coupe. I know this little piece of advice isn't going to earn me any popularity points but my goal here is to save you money. Now, you will have a tougher time impressing your friends but your parents and the insurance company will be very happy indeed. Insurance companies spend most of their waking hours researching anything that could put them at a higher risk for claims and one of the inescapable conclusions that they have come up with is that cars that are speedy, flashy and in general a wee bit fast around the corners are also outstanding accident risks. Own one of those little beauties and you can expect to cough up much more in terms of insurance premiums. On the other hand, if you stick to a nice safe four door sedan, you are likely to see a noticeable reduction in your rates.
4. Make sure your finances are in order. While you wouldn't think your spending habits and the amount of debt you incur would impact your auto insurance premiums, it does. This is a fact that you will encounter in life time and time again, so you might as well get used to it right away. A credit report that isn't too impressive in terms of timeliness or defaults can lead to higher premiums because insurance companies have found that people with substandard financial records are more likely to file claims than those with unblemished credit. Fortunately, the opposite holds true as well. People with blue chip backgrounds will likely be perfectly safe while on the road and will thus be charged a much lower premium.
5. Search and compare several different options. You've heard it before; everything in life that's worth anything requires some effort. If you want a cheap car insurance policy, you're going to have to spend some time searching for it. Take the time to get a rate quote from several different providers. There are many websites online that can help make this task easier. You can simply fill out an online form and get rate quotes from several different providers. Don't just jump on the first quote that comes your way. Evaluate at least three different companies before you buy a policy.

Car insurance is a decidedly tricky matter in the United States and it is even more of a challenge for young drivers. In addition to the information above, there are several other important ways to save money on car insurance that apply to drivers of all ages. Take the time to review and understand each aspect of your policy that can impact your rates. The most important are your deductible, deciding between full coverage auto insurance and state minimum coverage, and understanding common auto insurance discounts that can save you money. If you pay heed to the tips mentioned above, you should not have too much trouble coming up with that perfect deal that fits your wallet and your requirements for coverage.