Insurance

Young Female Drivers? Get the Most Out of Your Auto Premium.

woman-drivingAre you a young woman new to driving and looking for affordable insurance? If so, you may want to review some of the items below to help you reduce your rates. If you are a parent adding your teen daughter to the policy there are a few tips you can do to lower your auto insurance.

It is funny since many people joke about woman's driving habits when the opposite is true. Men statistically are worse drivers then women. Since the car insurance industry studies gender statistics as a women you have a better chance to get lower rates.

On the other hand, since you are a new driver you are still in the high risk category and will pay higher than average insurance rates.

How does a young female driver try to get lower rates?

  • Plan Ahead - If you aren't familiar with GDL or Graduated Driver License laws you may want to check with Governor's Highway Safety Association or GHSA. GDL laws were put into place since new driver accidents were statistically the number one cause of death for teens.
  • Learning Phase - If you are new to driving then you aren't going to have the experience as someone who has been driving 20 years.
  • Getting Licensed - As a new driver going through the proper process you will have a better chance to get lower car insurance rates.
  • School - While in school try to get on the Honor Roll or a "B" average to get lower rates.
  • Age of Eighteen - If you plan early by the time you turn 18 you will have a better chance of getting lower insurance than drivers who don't.

Parents - Putting Your Daughter on the Policy

  • Increase in Rates - Adding your teen daughter to the policy is going to increase your rates. So be prepared, AutoInsureSavings has an article referencing there are more female drivers than men today alluding that women may cause more accidents in the future.
  • Compare - Even if you have current insurance you may want to compare since other insurers could offer you a lower rate for a new female driver.
  • Limit Driving - There are other ways to get to school. Your daughter who is a new driver can take the bus or ride a bike. This will limit the amount of time driving and keep the rates in check. At the same you want to be sure a new driver is going to learn how to drive properly through defensive or safety driver course.
  • License - If you daughter isn't licensed she likely isn't going to be on the policy. Once she gets her license then she is.
  • Named Exclusion - If you want you can get an endorsement on the policy where the new driver is not considered part of the policy. However, any damage or accidents caused by the driver is not covered either.
  • Multiple Vehicles - If you have more than one car the best option for a female driver is to let her drive the cheapest vehicle. This may be a good idea until she is a more mature driver.
  • Technology - There are programs available where you can monitor the habits of your daughters driving activities and save on insurance.

Getting Lower Rates

As a new driver you want to get affordable rates. There are few things you can do if you are woman, just turned 18, and looking for car insurance.

  • Compare before buying - Go to the IIHS website and look for vehicles which have insurance losses and are at least two years old. The automobileyoung-female-driver-and-mom with lower auto insurance losses will cost less to insure and help keep more money in your wallet.
  • Defensive Driving - Take a defensive driving course even if you have completed the GDL course mandated by the state. This will let the insurer know you are being more responsible plus you can show the certificate to possibly lower your rates.
  • Car Repair - As a woman you may be less likely to repair your own vehicle. Additional coverage for towing and labor may be helpful just realize this will increase your rates.
  • Cool Add-ons - Be careful of the components you add to the car which could increase your rates. Since women who are new drivers are less likely to do it you may not have to worry about it. If your boyfriend wants to add cool gadgets to the vehicle remember a rate hike could come your way.

If you are a female just learning to drive once you understand why insurers are going to put you into a high risk category the process of getting affordable insurance is possible. You will have ways to mitigate or lower your auto insurance by following a few easy steps.

There are programs for younger drivers such as Pay-As-You-Go and Drive Monitoring. Drive monitoring programs will help you save a bundle on insurance and drivers around the country are warming up to the idea since the savings are good.

Another benefit of drive monitoring is you are less likely to take chances since the insurer is "watching" your driving habits. Pay-As-You-Go or drive has been around since 2004 and Wikipedia explains it here. GMAC was the first company to offer it to help drivers save with good driving habits.

There are many options available to help you lower your rates as a new female driver if you keep your record clean then in the years to come you have a reason to celebrate! You will save more money than those which didn’t plan ahead.

If you have any questions, please ask below!