Five tips to reduce teen car insurance rates

DENVER, Jan. 15 — It's no surprise that teen drivers have some of the highest car insurance rates. "Lack of driving experience and heightened risk for crashes - makes insuring a teen an expensive proposition," says Jim Rookard, Director of Insurance Services for AAA Colorado.

According to statistical information, the crash risk per mile driven is three times higher for 16-19 year olds than for the next highest risk category, drivers age 65-69.

AAA Colorado has designated January as Insurance Review Month to remind everyone that an annual review of all insurance coverage is critical for safety, security and peace of mind. Following are some tips on reducing teen's car insurance rates from AAA Colorado.

1. Maintain a clean driving record. This is the best way to keep car insurance costs for teens manageable. While rates are already high in comparison to rates for adult drivers, they increase quickly if the teen begins to receive tickets or get in auto accidents.
2. Get good grades. Teens with a 3.0 or higher GPA are often eligible for discounts on their insurance premiums.
3. Add the teen to a parent's auto insurance policy as an additional driver. This way, discounts applied to the parent's policy will be passed on to the teen.
4. Steer clear of sports cars. Driving an economical car that costs less to repair, has a lower risk of theft and has the latest safety equipment will lower your premiums.
5. Teens should complete a driver's education course. A driver's education course can reduce the chances of an accident by teaching defensive driving and also reduces the chance of a teen violating traffic laws. Defensive driving courses can also reduce premiums. More information on Colorado driver's education is available at www.aaa.com.

AAA Colorado has more than 500,000 members in Colorado and is an advocate for safety and security for all travelers. As North America's largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides nearly 51 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services, as well as member-exclusive savings. AAA can be visited on the Internet at www.aaa.com. For more information about insurance questions, please call 877-244-9790.

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