Car Insurance For 17 Year-Olds

17 year olds are generally not going to be aware that they have to have car insurance if they want to be legal on the road (nor can they probably afford it) so it is up to you, as their parent, to find the best insurance for 17 year olds that you can get.

It goes without saying that your teenager must have car insurance in the UK. Failure to be driving an insured car can result in a bad run-in with the law, something neither you nor your teenager wants on their record.

One of the best ways of getting a reasonable premium is to send your teen to a certified driving instructor course. 17 year olds are known to be reckless drivers, with statistics showing that 38 percent of claims made to insurance companies are by 17 to 18 year olds. Not only will a driving course give your teen the confidence and skills they need on the road, which will make them more responsible and safer on the road, it will also contribute in a very good way towards lower insurance premiums.

Before you do that, though, your teen will need to apply for a provisional driving license. You can order a "D1 Pack" from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) at their website dvla.gov.uk (see "Online Services" and then "Online Form Ordering") to apply for one, or pick up the pack at the nearest post office. Overall, the application should cost you or your teen about £50.

Remember, when your teen is still a learner driver they are not allowed to drive on the motorways. This is really for their own good as the majority of fatal accidents in the UK happen on the motorways. However, the Pass Plus course - designed by the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) - has been created to teach drivers how to drive in adverse weather conditions and on the motorways. It basically focuses around avoiding hazards, knowing the car, driving at night, driving on duel carriageways, and driving in town or rural areas. It focuses on giving a positive outlook towards driving and building both skill and confidence with its students. For 17 year olds, the Pass Plus is the ideal course in ensuring they are confident and safe on the road. 17 year olds who need car insurance can find much lower premiums having done the course.

You don't want your teen having any run-ins with the law and so you need to also remember some of the other rules revolving around learner drivers:

Firstly, make sure that the L-Plate is visible on both the rear and front of the car. The car must have an L-Plate, and it needs to be of the certified kind - home made L-Plates (Or, D-Plates in Wales) will not do.

Secondly, the car your 17 year old is driving must be roadworthy and have a MOT certificate, as well as be up to date on its taxes.

Thirdly, a 17 year old learner driver must be accompanied in the vehicle by a driver who is fully qualified, over 21, and has a license of at least three years.

Fourthly, 17 year olds must have their eyes tested before getting on the road (this is just a good idea) and any illness such as diabetes or epilepsy must be reported to the insurance company otherwise it is insurance fraud.

Finding car insurance for 17 year olds that's well priced will take some shopping on your part, but the effort is well worth it. Many insurance companies will offer some significant discounts for doing the driving courses, as well as have no-claims discounts of nine months to a year so that a 17 year old can take advantage, as soon as they can, of driving responsibly.

Tips for Insuring Your Teen Driver

We’ve already gone over the basics of insuring your teen driver, but now its time to talk about the best ways to cut down the costs of your teen driver. Adding a teen driver to your insurance account is going to double your premium. There is not much way of avoiding having to add your teen driver to your policy, but you can do your best to save as much money as possible.

Money Saving Tips
Auto insurance companies often have certain stipulations that, if your teenager meets, can save you money. On average male teenagers will cost you more than a female. In order to avoid such high premiums here are some tips:

Comparison Shopping- Don’t always settle on the insurance company you have in order to insure your teen driver. There is no law stating you and your teenager have to be with the same insurance company. If your current company offers you a discount for adding a family member then perhaps you should look into this offer. Just remember, comparison shopping is always a good decision.
Higher Deductible- The higher your deductible the lower your premium. It may be a bit of a gamble, but if you choose a $1,000 deductible your premium could be manageable.
Conservative Cars- Certain cars, like sedans, offer much better insurance rates than other cars. Buying your teenager a sports car will only add to your insurance nightmare, but buying them a Toyota Camry will soften your insurance blow.
Study, Study!- If your child maintains good grades, usually over a 3.0 GPA, you can get your premium discounted by up to 15% in most cases.
Driver’s Ed- If your teenager graduates from a driver’s education class you will most likely see a break on your premium. It is also a much quicker way to go about getting one’s drivers license.
Out of Towner- If your college student goes to an out of state college, or some scenario in which you know they won’t be driving a car, you can take them off your policy and save a whole bunch of money.
Be a Good Parent
You are going to have to live with the high rates of teenage driving, because there is no way to avoid it. You could prevent your child from driving, but that seems like an unrealistic solution. Your best bet is to work with your child and make them a better driver so you can save money in the long run. Make sure your child limits the amount of passengers they drive around, avoids driving at night and make sure they are not texting or talking on their cell phone while driving