How to save on car insurance for teens

   Good student: B average or better? Your young driver may earn about a 10%††Read the associated disclosure for this claim. discount in most states for good grades.

• Multi-car: If your teenager has their own vehicle, we'll chip in another discount just for having more than one vehicle on your policy.
• Teen driver: If your child driver is 18 years old or younger and you have been consistently insured for at least 12 months, we'll add a discount.
• Snapshot®: Our Snapshot® program rewards good drivers based on how they drive.†Read the associated disclosure for this claim. Plus, our mobile app can reveal if your teen was driving distracted. Learn more about distracted driving.

You can save on car insurance in other ways too. For example, you could:

• Lower your coverage: Removing coverages you no longer need is an easy way to save.
• Increase your deductible: Increasing your comprehensive and collision deductible will increase your out-of-pocket expenses for a claim, but it will reduce your rate.

Do I have to add my teenage driver to my insurance?

A teenage driver must have car insurance in almost every state, so they can either be added to your policy or insured with a separate policy. Buying a standalone policy for a teenager can be expensive due to their lack of driving experience and a higher likelihood of accidents, so it's usually more affordable to add a young driver to your existing policy.
By adding your teen to your policy, they could benefit from the savings and rate you've earned as a longtime driver with (in most states) an established credit history. Here are a few more reasons why it's usually best to add a young adult driver to your car insurance policy:

1. Control
   Since you already own the policy, you can easily add and update coverages to make sure your teen driver has the right protection.
   
   
2. Flexibility
   If your household has multiple vehicles, your teenager will be insured to drive all of them.
   
   
3. Convenience
   You'll only have to manage one policy.
   
   

How much does it cost to add a teenage driver to my insurance?

It's generally cheaper to add a teen driver to an existing insurance policy rather than buy a separate policy for them. That's because putting a teen driver on their own policy means they don't benefit from the comparatively lower rate you've earned as a more experienced driver.

Car insurance for teens

​Getting car insurance for a young driver can be pricey due to their lack of driving experience, so a separate policy may not be the best option. In most cases, it's more affordable to add your licensed or permitted teenage driver to your existing auto insurance policy. Your policy's coverages and limits will extend to your teen driver, and some insurers, including Progressive, offer discounts to help offset the cost of insuring a new driver.

How much is car insurance for teens?

A separate car insurance policy for teen drivers can be expensive because they have a greater tendency to drive distracted, speed, tailgate, and not wear a seatbelt. The average cost of teen car insurance, however, will vary based on the exact age of the driver, their ZIP code, driving history, and vehicle type. You can find cheap car insurance that covers the essentials and fits your budget. Discover the factors that impact car insurance rates.

EXAMPLE:A car insurance policy for a 16-year-old driver who just received their license will likely be more expensive than a policy for an 18-year-old with more driving experience. As teens get older, their rates can go down due to the added driving experience, especially if they have a clean driving record over time.

How to save on car insurance for teens
You can lower the cost of car insurance with discounts for students and teen drivers.

Read the associated disclosure for this claim. At Progressive, we offer a variety of discounts for teens including:

• Good student: B average or better? Your young driver may earn about a 10%††Read the associated disclosure for this claim. discount in most states for good grades.
• Multi-car: If your teenager has their own vehicle, we'll chip in another discount just for having more than one vehicle on your policy.
• Teen driver: If your child driver is 18 years old or younger and you have been consistently insured for at least 12 months, we'll add a discount.
• Snapshot®: Our Snapshot® program rewards good drivers based on how they drive.†Read the associated disclosure for this claim. Plus, our mobile app can reveal if your teen was driving distracted. Learn more about distracted driving.

You can save on car insurance in other ways too. For example, you could:

• Lower your coverage: Removing coverages you no longer need is an easy way to save.
• Increase your deductible: Increasing your comprehensive and collision deductible will increase your out-of-pocket expenses for a claim, but it will reduce your rate.

Learn more ways to lower your car insurance rate.

Do I have to add my teenage driver to my insurance?

A teenage driver must have car insurance in almost every state, so they can either be added to your policy or insured with a separate policy. Buying a standalone policy for a teenager can be expensive due to their lack of driving experience and a higher likelihood of accidents, so it's usually more affordable to add a young driver to your existing policy.
By adding your teen to your policy, they could benefit from the savings and rate you've earned as a longtime driver with (in most states) an established credit history. Here are a few more reasons why it's usually best to add a young adult driver to your car insurance policy:

1. Control
   Since you already own the policy, you can easily add and update coverages to make sure your teen driver has the right protection.
   
   
2. Flexibility
   If your household has multiple vehicles, your teenager will be insured to drive all of them.
   
   
3. Convenience
   You'll only have to manage one policy.
   
   

How much does it cost to add a teenage driver to my insurance?

It's generally cheaper to add a teen driver to an existing insurance policy rather than buy a separate policy for them. That's because putting a teen driver on their own policy means they don't benefit from the comparatively lower rate you've earned as a more experienced driver.

Are you safe in a car during a tornado?

​It's not safe to remain in your car or drive during a tornado. Cars, buses, and other vehicles can easily be knocked over and tossed around. That's why you should always get to the nearest sturdy building and get underground if possible.

Can you take shelter below an overpass or a bridge?

Despite popular belief, government officials like the Ohio Committee for Severe Weather Awareness advise that seeking shelter under structures like bridges and overpasses is a bad idea. These areas can expose you to higher wind speeds and more dangerous flying debris.

What to do when driving during a tornado

• Get to shelter if you can If the tornado is far away or still forming, get to the nearest sturdy building and get underground if possible.
• Don't try to outrun the tornado
• Go to the nearest available shelter site, even if it's a store or office building, rather than trying to race home. Drive at right angles to the tornado's path to try and get out of its way.
• Try to make it to lower ground
• If you can't make it to shelter, NOAA advises leaving the car during a tornado if you can "safely get noticeably lower than the level of the roadway." In this case, you should get to the low area, lie down, and cover your head with your hands. If you're driving on a highway during a tornado, then this spot may be a ditch or ravine by the side of the road.
• Pull over and stop the car if you have no other options
• Do this as quickly – and safely – as you can. Keep your seat belt on and get low in the car, covering yourself with a coat or blankets if possible. Blankets are a good addition for winter weather if you keep a severe weather kit in the car.

Are you prepared for a roadside emergency?

​All it takes is bad weather, an accident or a flat tire to leave you stranded. You could be commuting to work, taking a road trip or visiting friends and family.
Be ready for the worst-case scenario with a vehicle emergency kit. Whether you can get back on the road or need to wait for help, these five items will help you stay safe (and as comfortable as possible) in the meantime.

1. Road Flares
   Flares alert other drivers that a disabled vehicle is ahead. This can protect you from getting hit if there’s a narrow shoulder, it’s dark outside or you’re in a low-visibility spot. Choose from traditional flares that ignite like a match or battery-powered LED flares.
   
   
2. Jumper Cables
   Use another vehicle or a portable jump starter to jump-start a dead battery with these. Read your vehicle’s manual to know where your battery is located, if any specific instructions should be followed, and whether or not jump starting is recommended.
   
   
3. Car Chargers
   If you need to call for help or use the flashlight on your phone, you don’t want to discover your cell phone is dead. It’s also a good idea to keep a portable charger or power bank on hand if you can’t use a plug-in charger because your car battery is dead.
   
   
4. Blankets and Warm Clothing
   Being stranded in the cold isn’t fun — and it could be dangerous. If you can’t run your car’s heater, have blankets and a spare sweatshirt, hat and gloves on hand to keep you warm until help arrives.
   
   
5. Snacks and Water
   You could get hungry if you have to wait a while for the road to clear or for help to arrive. Keep protein bars and other shelf-stable snacks, as well as bottled water, in your vehicle.

Staying safe and being prepared are important while you’re on the road. If you have questions about your car insurance coverage, reach out to get answers.

We know that many of our customers are continuing to do their part to help stop the spread of COVID-19 by staying at home. Even as more states begin to relax their shelter-in-place orders, many people continue to drive fewer miles, resulting in a decrease in auto claims.
  
With that in mind, we are extending our Stay-at-Home Auto Premium Credit Program, which will automatically give our Travelers Insurance customers a 15% credit on their June auto premiums.  
 
Customers will receive the automatic credit either on future bills or via their last payment method.
 
Answers to questions that you may have about this program can be found here.

The extension of our Stay-at-Home Auto Program is another example of our efforts to provide relief during this challenging time. 

​For our Travelers Insurance customers, other initiatives include suspending cancellation and nonrenewal of coverage due to nonpayment through June 15 – there will be no interest, late fees or penalties charged during this time. 

We have pledged $5 million to COVID-19 relief efforts to assist families and communities across North America, the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.