Cheap auto insurance for teenagers in Mississippi

All drivers in the state of Mississippi must have the minimum mandatory auto liability insurance. This law includes your teenage driver. You must carry $25,000.00 for each individual injured or killed in an accident, $50,000.00 for all the people involved in the accident, and $25,000.00 to cover all property damages. Mississippi is a Tort state which means the person who causes the accident is responsible for all expenses related to that accident. 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 uninsured and underinsured coverage plus 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 Mississippi 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 identification card from the insurance company or the documents provided to you by the Department of Motor Vehicles to show that you have proven that you have covered your financial responsibilities yourself. 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 their driver’s license suspension for one year as well as fines up to $1,000.00.

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 cars in the state of California. These cars include:

1. 1991 Chevrolet C/K 1500 Pickup (full size)
2. 1992 Chevrolet Caprice
3. 2001 Ford F150
4. 1987 Oldsmobile Cutlass
5. 1989 Buick LeSabre
6. 1999 Ford Taurus
7. 1991 Honda Accord
8. 1989 Oldsmobile Delta 88
9. 2004 Pontiac Grand Am
10. 1994 GMC C/K 1500 Pickup (full size)

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