Insurance is of the utmost importance for newly-licensed drivers, as mistakes can happen in the early days of driving. In fact, according to a report from Geico, 16 year old drivers have a 25% chance of crashing during their first year of driving. That’s why you need to save on car insurance when you can. Those statistics can be hopefully reduced through proper driving lessons such as those we offer at our Arizona driving school.

Whether you’re a teen or parent, this is a daunting figure which can be costly in both health and wealth.

Being insured on the road will save you money in the long run, and can set you in good stead should an accident occur. Among the ways that you can save on your insurance are also methods for improving the safety of your (or your teen’s) driving.

Here are some tips for how to save on car insurance prior to getting fully licensed.

Buy a Car with a High Safety Rating

This can not only save on insurance, but also save the life of the driver and passengers in the event of an accident. You may find that a car with a higher safety rating costs a little more than those with lower safety ratings.

It’s important to remember the savings will be in the long run with not having to repair or replace parts as often.

Understanding the Rating System

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) created the 5-Star Safety Ratings Program in 1993. The assessment checks the following scenarios:

• Frontal crash test scenario – which tests based on the event of a front-on-front collision
• Side barrier crash test scenario – which tests a broadside or T-bone collision
• Side pole crash test scenario – which tests a crash into a telephone pole on the drivers side
• Rollover resistance test scenario – which tests the Static Stability Factor (SSF) or how top-heavy a vehicle is

They also recommend ensuring the vehicle has airbags, seatbelts, and a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS).

Sign your Family Up for a Defensive Driving Course

Arizona drivers can save up to 10% on their insurance policy (depending on the company) if they have attended a Defensive Driving Course. Again, doing this will not only save money on insurance but can also better prepare your teen for difficult driving scenarios.

Signing up your whole family can also benefit you and your partner, as there are many things which we forget over the years.

What a Defensive Driving Course Entails

The course itself covers a variety of different situations which most drivers will have to deal with at some point in their life. The most beneficial aspect for young drivers is the Crash Prevention Techniques which include:

• Employing the two-second rule for following distances, or four-seconds in wet conditions
• Spatial awareness with passing and necessary clearing distance
• Sharing the road with a variety of other vehicles
• What to do around environmental hazards
• Awareness of reaction time and distance
• Knowing your vehicle’s stopping power
• Scanning the road and adapting to different conditions

Enforcing all of these early can set a great standard of driving for your teen and will result in exponential savings on insurance over time.

Assist them in Shopping for Insurance

No teenager has ever worried about insurance policies, premiums, or anything even related to insurance. If a teenager was to apply for insurance alone, chances are they wouldn’t be able to afford the incredibly high rates expected of them. Here are some ways you can assist them in their acquisition of insurance.

Add them to the Family Policy

Most insurance companies offer discounts to combine multiple insurance policies into one plan. If your teenager is looking to save on car insurance, call your insurance provider and see what they can offer in the way of a family discount.

Some insurance companies may refer to this as a multi-car policy, so remember to use the correct terminology.

Compare Prices with at Least 3 Companies to Save on Car Insurance

If adding them to your policy is out of the question, teach them how to shop around for insurance properly from a young age.

Many modern insurance companies are highly competitive and will try to beat each other on rates and specials. Comparing the prices with 3 local insurance companies will at least give you a chance to save.

Arizona Driving School – Legacy Driving Academy

Here at Legacy Driving Academy we are proud to offer three levels of driver education, with correspondingly increasing cost and benefits. Our Legacy Special and Legacy Premier programs both come with an insurance certificate which can help save on car insurance.

So, whether you’re looking for an Arizona driving school or you’re just looking for more information on driver education in Arizona, get in touch today.