Insuring Teen Drivers

While you’re helping your teen practice their Y-turn and learn how to parallel park before their big driver’s test, you may overlook one very important thing—getting them insured. Be sure to call your local independent insurance agent as soon as your teen is ready to officially hit the road to make sure they are properly protected.

Teen drivers are one of the riskiest groups of drivers due to their inexperience, sense of invulnerability and distracted driving. But there is information that you can share with your teen to highlight the importance of being smart on the road.

Believe it or not, your child has watched, and will continue to watch you on the road. Your habits are the first ones they will adopt as they begin driving. Focus on being a role model and insist your teen be a smart driver, too. Encourage your teen driver to follow these simple steps when they get behind the wheel:

• Turn off the cell phone and place it out of reach
• Limit the number of passengers, as well as the amount of time driving at night, until becoming more proficient on the road
• Keep both hands on the wheel and eyes on the road
• Maintain a safe speed at (or below) the speed limit
• Never take risks
• Never use alcohol or drugs before or while driving
• Always wear a seat belt

As a SECURA policyholder, your teen may be eligible to receive the Good Student Discount. A good student is defined as one between the ages of 16 and 24, who goes to school full-time, and has a 3.0 grade point average or higher. View SECURA’s complete list of MILE-STONE policy discounts at secura.net/discounts.

• Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for 15-to 20-year-olds.
• Dialing a phone number while driving increases your teen’s risk of crashing by six times, and texting while driving increases the risk by 23 times.
• The likelihood of teen drivers engaging in one or more risky behaviors when traveling with multiple passengers increases to three times compared to when driving alone.

To ask questions about your teen driver, eligible discounts, drivers education classes, or to get started with coverage today, contact your AAA Minneapolis Insurance Agent. Call 952-927-2518 or email insurance@aaaminneapolis.com.

This March, SECURA celebrated 120 years of being in business. The company is grateful to their wonderful independent agency partners, policyholders and associates who helped them reach this milestone. Here’s to a great future!