School has started for 2018 in Brentwood, Franklin, Nashville, and most of Middle Tennessee. For teens getting their drivers’ licenses or learning permits, taking themselves to school for the first time is an important rite of passage. For parents of teens, this is also a huge concern and a potential headache.
According to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, car crashes are the number one killer of teenagers in America. Not only are teens more likely to be killed in car crashes, they are more likely to cause car crashes, especially in the 100 days between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Last year, the American Automobile Association stated, “Over the past five years, more than 1,600 people were killed in crashes involving inexperienced teen drivers during this deadly period.”
The State of Tennessee has procedures in place to make sure and encourage teen drivers to get as much preparation as possible for handling the road safely. At 16 years of age, Tennessee residents can apply for an Intermediate Drivers License under the State’s Graduated Drivers License Program, provided they’ve held a valid learners’ permit for a minimum of six months, have 50 documented hours of driving experience (10 of which are at night), and successful completion of a road skills test. (Check with the The Tennessee Department of Safety for more information.)
Of course, one has to also consider the financial expense. Because of the greater propensity for accidents among teen drivers, the cost of insuring vehicles driven by teenagers is going to be higher, too.
As a general rule, it is cheaper to add a teenaged driver on to the parents’ existing automobile policy than it would be for the teenager to get his own insurance. However, the expense of adding your teen to your policy is still significant. According to Insurance.com, insuring your teenaged son can cost up to 227% more than insuring just an adult driver.
What are some ways to keep the costs down? Many insurance carriers offer discounts for teen drivers who show proof of earning good grades in school and having completed approved driving courses.
If you have a teenager who just received a learners permit or license and are concerned about road safety and extra expenses, rest assured that your young adult and you are in good hands at Johnston & Associates. Scott Johnston is an independent agent who represents multiple car insurance, which means he can find your family the best coverage to meet your needs and your budget. With two and half decades of experience as an insurance agent, he is knowledgeable of finding discounts and ensuring your family can cut costs without cutting corners.
To find out more information on insuring your teen driver or any of our other product offerings, such as commercial or homeowners insurance, call our team of caring and competent insurance professionals at (615) 716-2123 or send us a message through our contact form.
Scott is an agent for Erie Insurance®.