Secrets for Getting Cheap Auto Insurance for Your Teen

By Chris Robertson 

Most parents imagine that letting their teen drive the family car is going to cost them big bucks for car insurance. However smart parents know how to get the cheapest auto insurance, including the newest drivers in the family.

Insurance companies as well as parents know that, on the average, teenage drivers present greater risks than the average mature driver. You can't argue with statistics. Teens have been shown to take greater risks, have more accidents, and suffer more critical injuries and fatalities.

So how can parents get cheap car insurance, or at least the best rate possible, so that their young driver can do some of the schlepping back and forth to practices, the mall, friends' houses, and so on, without shelling out funds better used for college? Two major strategies come into play here: First, reducing the perceived risk of your teen's driving, and second, getting cheap auto insurance on line.

Let's look at the first strategy, keeping in mind that insurance companies base their premiums on average data. How do you convince an insurance company that your particular progeny is not a big a risk as the average teen? However many are willing to take into account factors beyond just age in calculating risk. Here are four things that your teen can do to help get that cheaper rate:

(1) Drive a "sedate" sedan. If your son or daughter will be driving the family four-door sedan or minivan rather than a sporty car, this is a good sign that they will not be tempted to show off. If they will have their own car, it should still be a four-door family type vehicle. If it is an older car with low resale value, you can even consider dropping the collision insurance and just pay for the necessary liability insurance.

(3) Take a course in driver education. Even if this is not a requirement in your locale, successful completion of a good course in how to drive may lower rates. Furthermore, it is likely to lead to safer driving in both normal and special driving conditions.

(2) Obey the laws and avoid making claims. In other words, avoid doing anything that might draw unfavorable attention on the part of the insurer. Insurance companies will make note of all those little claims for nicks and fender benders-so drive carefully and if necessary, pay for small repairs out of pocket. Also, moving vehicle violations will also boost the car insurance costs. Maintain a perfect record and you may be rewarded with a reduced premium.

(4) Get good grades. Teenagers that make the honor roll or otherwise keep their grade point average high are often awarded a "good student discount." Insurance companies have found that responsible behavior at school tends to go with responsibility behavior behind the wheel.

Finally, one of the best ways to lower your premiums is get cheap auto insurance on line. With or without a teenage driver, you can get cheap auto insurance quotes from multiple carriers and choose the policy that fits your needs and budget best. Just as priceline.com, expedia.com,

and other sites have enabled travelers to get the best airfares from major carriers, online car insurance services now offer drivers the opportunity to get the best rates from top-level insurance carriers.

Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the world's MOST POPULAR website advertisingcompanies on the web. Learn more about Cheap Auto Insurance. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_Robertson

Cheap Auto Insurance For Seniors

By Gerry Lalonde

The first thing you need to understand when discussion cheap auto insurance for seniors is what exactly constitutes being a senior in relation to insurance. Surprisingly we are not generally talking about people in their 70s or 80s, in fact, most insurance companies will recognize anyone over the age of 55 as a senior, and some even 50. So if you qualify as a "senior", don't be embarrassed, instead take advantage of it.

Now just qualifying on the basis of age will not generally lead to great discounts because all the other factors that go into establishing risk profiles and rates still exist. So, the fact that you've turned 55 won't count for much if you have a really poor driving record. If you've had speeding tickets every year for the past twenty-five years your rates are not going to be going down any time soon. However, the advantage of being over fifty-five years old is that you might just have a twenty-five year clean driving record and that will surely get you some significant discounts. Having a clean driving record and being over fifty-five allows you to claim a discount for both your age and your driving record, a double whammy of discounts.

Now what do you do if your driving record is not so clean. There are still ways to reduce your rates somewhat by taking some certified driving courses that are recognized by your insurance company. Check with your provider to see what might be available in your area and sign up as soon as you can. It will make you a better driver and could reduce your rates.

You should also take advantage of other discounts that are usually offered by insurance companies. For example, perhaps as you get on in years your need for driving reduces and you drive a lot less miles then when you use to have to commute to work every day. You can often get some low-use discounts if you can keep your mileage under certain limits.

Combine your insurances with one provider. If you already have property insurance, life insurance, personal liability insurance or health insurance you can usually get some discount by getting your car insurance from the same company.

Also remember to comparison shop online for your insurance and look for the best quote available. Look for companies that specialize in seniors. For example, Grey Power Insurance offers policies only to people over the age of fifty-five and claim to provide significant discounts. Look for similar companies in your area.

With a little bit of research and some online shopping seniors can avail themselves of some cheap auto insurance. So don't delay, get to work right now and find those senior discounts and save some money.

Get more information at Cheap Insurance. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gerry_Lalonde