Insuring teen drivers

There's a very curious contradiction in family values. We are one of the most Christian countries in the world and so the wording of the marriage ceremony establishes the couple's intention to stay together for life. Yet, as of 2008, it's estimated both that about 40% of all US marriages ended in divorce, and that about 46% of all new marriages represented a remarriage for one or both parties. As an aside, the divorce rate has been falling slightly since 2009 but that is partly explained by the even faster decline in the number of couples marrying. Taking the big picture, this means there are usually very complicated family arrangements when it comes to the children. Natural parents usually want to retain some connection with their offspring. In the best cases, the separation is reasonably good humored and the parents can cooperate for the care of their children. Even where the courts have to be involved to establish visitation rights, the children usually move between the two households without too much trouble. Again, for the record, the average gap between first and second marriages is about three-and-a-half years. With step parents appearing on the scene, this further complicates relationships.

None of these parental traumas gets in the way of the children growing up and, before you know it, they are old enough to start driving. When this is in a single household with the parents still talking to each other, this is a stressful time. Everyone knows the statistics on traffic accidents and teen drivers. It seems it has become a part of the rite of passage that every child should dice with death on the roads. Most parents grit their teeth, add their children to the insurance policy on the family car and, with whatever passes for a smile, hand over the keys when the vehicle is free.

This is complicated if the teen driver shares accommodation with both divorced parents. You will be pleased to know there is no one-size-fits-all solution to this problem. All the major insurers and states have different policies and laws. If the custody is held jointly and both parents have vehicles their children might drive, it may be necessary for them to add the children to their own policies. That way, the driving is covered no matter which vehicle is being driven. But some companies allow one parent to cover the children no matter which vehicle is being driven. This is the cheaper solution.

As your children approach the age, start talking to your insurance companies. It may also be useful to check out the website of your local Commissioner. There are often indications of your local state's law. Remember, all but three US states require drivers to hold liability coverage. So, whoever is going to bite the bullet, should start getting car insurance quotes early. In this, remember that children who have good GPAs and go through approved courses for driving safety will earn discounts. Test out how much you might save by getting multiple car insurance quotes. They are free and often you learn a lot from changing the options you enter.