It is a well known fact that teenagers have one of the highest premium rates around. Why is this you ask? Why are they picking on the Youngsters? The insurance company sees them as the greatest risk. The insurance companies can not be blamed; however, it is the statistics that back their decision. When really looking at the whole picture, you can see why insurance companies give teens the “shaft” when it comes to automobile insurance.

Why Teens Are Risks

1. Distractions: Distractions can be a million things to a teenager. Some of these distractions are: cell phones, friends, music, racing, and just random sightseeing.

2. Experience: A teenager is not experienced at driving. This is one of the biggest marks against them.

3. Emotions: Teenagers are very emotional. It is a fact that people should not drive emotional. This can greatly detract from safe driving. When a person id emotional, that is all they are thinking about. They are not thinking about the little girl on the bicycle in front of them of the red light they just ran. Emotions people can drive with are: anger, sadness, rage and overly excited.

4. Under the Influence: Many teenagers, although not legally allowed, drink and do drugs. If a teenager drinks, many times they will not have the sense to stay where they are at. Also, many teens think it is ok to smoke pot and then drive, thinking that marijuana does not affect the senses. These are things many teens do whether experimenting or on a normal basis.

5. They think they are invincible. Teens do not think something can happen to them until it does. And even when something does happen to them, nine out of ten times, they will take the risk on it again. Having this perception allows teens to take risky behavior with a grain of salt.

What Can Teens do To Lower Premiums?

The good news is; there are steps teens can take to lower their policy premiums. Here are a few of them to consider:

1. Make sure you take a driving course. Driving courses are offered locally and online.

2. Shop around for insurance. There are so many insurance companies out there and they all want your business. Take the time to take advantage of this factor being in your favor.

3. Keep your grades high. Maintain at least a B average to get a discount on automobile insurance. Most insurance companies offer this discount to teenagers all the way to college students.

4. Maintain a good, clean, and safe driving record. Fewer marks on your record get you a better rate. No tickets can be very awarding for future insurance inquires.

5. Drive safely. Pay attention to drivers around you, do not drive emotionally, yield to pedestrians and traffic devices, slow down in unfavorable conditions, and do not speed. This will help ensure you are driving as defensively as possible. In turn, this will help eliminate and lower accident risks. As soon as you get in an accident or get a ticket, your insurance rate goes up.

With this being said, it is definitely apparent that teen drivers have a lot going against them. It is up to the teenager to do what they can now to lower rates by getting discounts and showing preventative actions, and then maintaining a strong, safe and clean driving record. After a few years, a teenager can reevaluate their insurance carrier to make sure they are getting the best rate. If they are not, switch, it is as easy as that.