As a Ford dealer serving La Mesa, CA and surrounding areas, a lot of drivers rely on us for advice about various things. One topic that comes up regularly is adding a teen driver to an auto insurance policy. While it’s exciting when your child gets a driver’s license, it can also be expensive. In some states, including California according to Insure.com, your car insurance premium may increase by more than 100% when you add a 16-year-old driver to your policy.

Luckily, there are some things you can do to keep your auto insurance premium as low as possible when you add a teen driver to your coverage. Installing a monitoring device is one thing you can do. A telematics device will monitor driving behaviors, such as braking and the speed at which your child drives. If your teen’s behavior is considered safe and responsible, your insurer may discount the cost of your car insurance.

Enrolling your teen driver in a training program may also lower your premium. Because Driver’s Ed is typically required for a teenager to earn a permit or driver’s license, many insurers won’t give a discount for that class. They may offer a discount for a defensive driving class or another kind of training program, however.

When you contact our San Diego, CA Ford dealership, we’ll advise you to ask your insurance carrier about any discounts that are available for good students. In general, many insurance companies will offer a discount if your child’s GPA is at least 3.0 or your teenager is near the top of their class.

For more tips about lowering your premium when you add a teen driver to your car insurance, visit Kearny Mesa Ford on Clairemont Mesa Boulevard today.