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Adding Your Teen to Your Auto Insurance Policy in Ohio

For many parents of teenagers, that sweet 16 party doesn’t feel so sweet. That’s because 16 is the birthday when teens can start driving in Ohio. And that means you have to figure out your teen’s auto insurance situation.

Is it going to cost an arm and a leg? Will teen auto insurance cover enough to keep my kid protected? There are plenty of questions around this time and the experienced team of independent insurance agents at Wallace & Turner have written this guide to provide answers about adding your teen to your auto insurance policy in Ohio.

Read on to learn everything you need to know. And if you’re ready to get your teen insured, reach out to our team.

When Should I Add My Teen to My Auto Insurance Policy?

In Ohio, teens can apply for a driver’s permit when they are 15 years and 6 months old. Is that the age when you need to add them to your auto insurance? Not exactly. That’s because you or another license-holding legal guardian will have to be in the passenger seat at all times until your teen is able to trade that permit in for a full-blown driver’s license, so your car will be insured through your presence in the vehicle. 

When it comes to the timing of adding your teen to your auto policy, the exact age of your teen matters less than their legal driving status. Once your teen gets their full driver’s license and is ready to start driving the family SUV or even a car you’re buying for them, it’s time to start thinking about getting your teen insured.

How Much Does It Cost to Add a Teen Driver to Insurance?

Putting your teenager on your car insurance policy can double your rates. According to CarInsurance.com rate data, your rates will increase by 102% on average when you add your teen.

Wallace & Turner Producer Ben Galbreath recently spoke with CarInsurance.com to explain what parents need to know about adding a teen driver to their auto insurance. 

“Teenage drivers are inexperienced drivers who are less aware of their surroundings and have a tendency to drive too fast and less responsibly, which makes it more likely that they will have a claim,” Ben said. 

In Ohio, the average premium cost for full-coverage auto insurance without teens is $960 per year. But adding teens drives that average up to $1,881 per year, according to data from CarInsurance.com.

Do I Have to Add My Teen to My Auto Insurance in Ohio?

To comply with Ohio’s Financial Responsibility Law, your teen has to be insured if they are going to drive on their own. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that they have to be insured under your policy. 

Teens can purchase their own separate policies, but most Ohio families end up insuring teens under the parents’ auto policy because the premium is typically much more affordable that way. Even if you want your teen to pay for their own insurance, it might be wise to consider having them pay for their portion of the family premium rather than paying for their own policy outright.

Insurance Considerations for Parents of Teen Drivers

Adding your teen to your auto insurance policy doesn’t have to be a source of stress in your life. If you plan ahead, consider the suggestions below and speak with your insurance agent at Wallace & Turner so you can come out of this with a fully insured teen and a lot less stress than most parents have to go through.

Consider High Liability Limits for Teen Drivers

Due to inexperience, immaturity, distractions or some combination of these factors, most teens are more likely than the average adult to get into a car accident. Even if you have full faith in your teen’s maturity and decision-making skills, all it takes is a momentary lapse in judgment, and your family could face massive financial liability.

That’s why it’s a good idea to take a second look at the liability limits of your auto insurance policy before you add your teen. This might be a great time to consider getting higher liability coverage or even an umbrella policy.

Reduce Teen Insurance Premium Hikes by Adjusting Deductibles

There’s no question: Car insurance premiums go up when you add a teen to a policy. It’s a difficult fact for many families to face, but you can adjust parts of your policy to mitigate the impact of the increased monthly costs.

More specifically, you may be able to get a higher deductible that will lead to reduced monthly premiums. Keep in mind, of course, that this means you will be on the hook to pay more in the event of an accident. But for some families, the benefit of paying less each month outweighs the risk a higher deductible may pose. Your insurance agent can help you decide which approach is best for your family. 

Take Advantage of Teen Driver Discounts

Many insurers offer discounts to help families add teen drivers to their policies without breaking the bank. For example, some policies offer discounts for good grades. Others will discount your monthly premiums if your child takes a driver’s education or defensive driving course. Ask your insurance agent to help you find the best Ohio teen driver discounts.

Look Into Usage-Based Insurance for Your Teen

Usage-based insurance (UBI) is a relatively new auto insurance policy model that can save drivers money if they drive safely. The amount drivers can save varies widely, but the listed amounts tend to fall somewhere between 10% and 15%

How does UBI work? Your insurer measures data points that suggest how safe your driving habits are, such as collisions, speeds, mileage and similar factors, using your car’s own metrics systems or a device that rides along with you. Based on those measurements, the insurer offers a discount on your premiums.

In other words, if your teen is a safe driver, UBI may be a great way to reduce the cost of adding your teen to your auto policy. Your insurance agent at Wallace & Turner can help you find the right UBI policy for your family.

Seek Out Safe Cars

To reduce premium costs, insurance agent Ben Galbreath recommended purchasing an older model vehicle for your teen to drive. 

“A sedan is usually best to lower your costs versus a sports car or SUV,” Ben said in an interview with CarInsurance.com. “I recommend covering the teen for liability only until they are about 20 years old, which is the age when coverage rates tend to come down.”

When deciding which household car the teen should be attached to, Ben commented: “Most insurance companies today are moving away from insurance rating based on the car, but for those that still do, the teen should be assigned to the car with the lowest value.”

Promote the Best Teen Auto Insurance: Safe Driving

The best way to prevent injuries, financial setbacks and legal liability is avoiding accidents in the first place. And the best way to do that is to teach your teen to drive safely. Of course, insurance is still absolutely necessary and required under Ohio law, but it goes without saying, the more accidents you can avoid, the better.

Before Your Teen Hits the Road, Call Wallace & Turner

Adding your teen to your auto insurance policy in Ohio doesn’t have to be painful. There are plenty of ways to reduce the impact of increased premiums while still making sure your teen is covered and safe.

We hope this article has provided some helpful tips for adding your teen to your auto insurance, but we saved the best tip for last: If you have questions about purchasing a teen car insurance policy in Springfield or Urbana, Ohio, contact Wallace & Turner online, by phone at 937-324-8492 or via email at info@wtins.com.

How much does it cost to add a teenager to car insurance? Ben Galbreath Speaks with CarInsurance.com

Independent Insurance Agent Ben Galbreath

Ben Galbreath

Adding a teen to your car insurance policy can cause your rates to double, but there are ways to lessen the rate hike. Producer Ben Galbreath spoke with Insurance.com to explain what parents need to know about adding a teen driver to their auto insurance. 

Adding a teen to your policy will increase your rates, on average, by 102%, according to CarInsurance.com rate data. 

Teen car insurance

“Teenage drivers are inexperienced drivers who are less aware of their surroundings and have a tendency to drive too fast and less responsibly, which makes it more likely that they will have a claim,” Ben said. 

To reduce premium costs, he recommended purchasing an older model vehicle for your teen to drive. “A sedan is usually best to lower your costs versus a sports car or SUV,” Ben advised. “I recommend covering the teen for liability only until they are about 20 years old, which is the age when coverage rates tend to come down.”

When deciding which household car the teen should be attached to, Ben commented: “Most insurance companies today are moving away from insurance rating based on the car, but for those that still do, the teen should be assigned to the car with the lowest value.”

Read the full CarInsurance.com article here.

Questions about purchasing a teen car insurance policy in Springfield or Urbana, Ohio? Contact Wallace & Turner at 937-324-8492 or info@wtins.com

Why Your Business May Need Commercial Auto Insurance Coverage

Business owners often distort the lines between personal auto insurance and commercial auto insurance, but it’s important to understand that a standard personal auto insurance policy has limitations or exclusions relating to the business use of a personal auto. If a small business operates company cars, vans or trucks, there is a great likelihood they need commercial auto insurance.  

Further, if a business is involved with any of the following functions (but not limited to), they most likely need commercial auto insurance:

• Transporting product or equipment including heavy machinery

• Hauling tools and equipment to job sites

• Regularly driving long distances to meet clients or visit job sites

• Delivering any goods for retail

• Trucking or freight transportation

• Transporting people (livery)

• Hiring your vehicle out to tow other vehicles

Protection Against Liability

Business owners need commercial auto insurance to protect against auto liability for bodily injury and property damage to a third party. In addition to liability, medical expenses for injuries sustained, physical damage of the owned or rented vehicle, and uninsured motorists’ coverage would apply to a business auto policy. Just like any insurance policy, the range of coverage can be broadened by purchasing options or endorsements. For example, a policy could be written to apply to one specifically described auto or to apply to the named insured’s liability exposures arising from any auto. Any auto could pertain to the vehicles owned by the business, hired or leased, and lastly all autos used for business including those not owned.

Protecting Your Business Financially

A business auto policy is critical for protecting the business financially—and is required by the law. Commercial auto insurance policies have coverage limits in terms of liability. Typical coverage limits available for a commercial auto policy are $500,000 and $1,000,000. Having higher limits for your commercial auto prevents a financially damaging event from putting your business at risk. A general liability policy for the business does not cover the costs of claims that arise from work-related auto accidents!

Types of Commercial Auto Coverage

Several types of coverage may be included in a commercial auto policy, others are options that can be purchased separately. Those options include: collision coverage for costs associated with an accident regardless of fault; comprehensive coverage for damages other than collision; non-owned auto coverage for when you or your employees drive rented or borrowed vehicles; substitute transportation when a scheduled vehicle is being repaired along with towing and labor costs.

Take for example the individual who owns a business on their homes premise—they make furniture. They only have a personal auto policy. The business owner is delivering a piece of furniture to a client and proceeds to run the red light and hit the other vehicle. The damages include: physical damage to the business truck, physical damage to the other vehicle, and medical payments for sustained injuries. The personal insurance carrier denies the claim on the basis that the owner was using his vehicle for business purposes. The resulting $100,000 in damages to a third party (not including damages to the business vehicle) will be the financial responsibility of the business.

Learn more about Commercial Auto Insurance 

An insurance agent can determine the need for a small business to have commercial auto insurance. Contact Wallace & Turner Insurance to determine if a business auto policy is right for you.

 

 

Insurance.com Interviews P.J. Miller on Factors That Impact Auto Insurance Rates

P.J. Miller

P.J. Miller

In an interview with Insurance.com, independent insurance agent and partner P.J. Miller noted that auto insurance rates vary by state for many reasons.

"Typically, there are different legal mandates or requirements that are more liberal to the injured party, making it easier to receive a greater settlement [thereby raising costs for the insurance company]," Miller says. "Lower labor rates, lower parts prices for vehicles, lower sales tax rates, fewer vehicles on the road, and mandatory auto insurance are a few of the factors that tend to keep rates down."

One factor that might surprise drivers is their credit score. Nearly every state allows insurers to base their rates at least partially on a person’s credit history.

"Most carriers use credit as a portion of the rate-setting process, where permitted by law. While it is supposed to be a portion of the rate calculation, most believe it plays a significant role in determining price," Miller said. "There are countless other factors that enter into the behind-the-scenes formulation that make it almost impossible to know exactly why you pay, or are quoted, the final rate."

Sticking to the state minimum will limit your costs, but it will also increase your risk. Miller commented that states typically have an incredibly low minimum mandatory limit. “Keep in mind that $25,000 doesn’t go far in crashes.” 

When you shop for car insurance, first determine what level of coverage suits your needs.

Depending on the age of your vehicle, you might not need comprehensive and collision coverage. Miller also advised the following:

  • Combine your coverage: Bundle auto coverage with your home or renters’ insurance policy: Showing your loyalty to one insurer could help you land a discount, especially if you have multiple policies. Renew your plan early and you could get a discount, as well.

  •  Be a good driver: "Speeding tickets can dramatically impact your rates," Miller said. Being a safe driver can lower your car insurance by 5% typically. Driving fewer miles a year will also reduce your rate.

Read the full article at Insurance.com.

If you have questions regarding auto insurance, please contact Wallace & Turner at (937) 324-8492 or via our contact form.