Cheap auto insurance for teenagers in Massachusetts

All drivers in the state of Massachusetts must have the minimum mandatory auto liability insurance. This law includes your teenage driver. You must carry $15,000.00 for each individual injured or killed in an accident, $30,000.00 for all the people involved in the accident, and $5,000.00 to cover all property damages. You are also required to carry $8,000.00 of PIP insurance. Since statistics show that the first year behind the wheel of a car is the prime time for teenage automobile accidents, your insurance company may recommend that you carry underinsured and uninsured coverage, comprehensive and collision on your teen as well as raising the limits on your liability insurance to more than the state requirements.

As the parent, you are required by the state of Massachusetts to take financial responsibility for your teenage driver. Your teen driver must carry their proof of insurance in the vehicle at all times. This proof includes the policy and an identification card from the insurance company. Even if the teen is not at fault for an accident, they must provide proof of insurance to the officer on the scene. They must also have proof of insurance for any regular traffic stop. Failure to produce proof of insurance any time they are asked for it can result in driver’s license suspension, revocation of the vehicle’s registration and tags as well as fines of $500.00 to $5,000.00.

Your teenage driver who has a Learning Permit is not required to be listed on the policy until they have achieved their full driver’s license. Adding your teen to your policy will generally be less expensive than putting them on their own auto insurance policy. Even then, the cost of adding your teen to your insurance policy will raise your premiums from $1200.00 to $4900.00 per year. On average, the premium will raise approximately $2,171.00 per year.

For each successive year that your teen maintains a good driving record, the premiums will most likely go down. To maintain a good driving record, your teen cannot have any traffic violations or accidents on their driving record. They cannot be picked up for a DUI. Even being involved in an accident that was not their fault can be a mark against their record just as it is for an adult. Insurance companies view this as an indication that the driver may not have been paying close attention to the circumstances around them and therefore could have possibly avoided the accident.

In addition to a clean driving record, teens who maintain a “B” grade point average will also receive a discount on insurance premiums. Another discount available for teens will be given when the teen has successfully completed a state approved safe driving course. The type of car your teen drives will also affect your insurance premiums. Don’t put your teen in a luxury car or sports car. It may also help lower your premiums if you avoid the top 10 stolen cares in the state of Massachusetts. These cars include:

1. 2000 Honda Civic
2. 1994 Honda Accord
3. 1991 Toyota Camry
4. 1995 Accura Integra
5. 1999 Jeep Cherokee/Grand Cherokee
6. 2006 Toyota Corolla
7. 1997 Ford Taurus
8. 2000 Dodge Caravan
9. 1997 Ford Explorer
10. 1993 Oldsmobile Cutlass

Following these guidelines will save you between 10 to 15% on your auto insurance premiums for your teenage driver.