Car Insurance for Teens in San Diego
Call H&M Today! Get A Quote on Affordable Car Insurance Customized for Teenage Drivers
At Herriott & Mijailovic Insurance Agency, we make it easy for teenage drivers to acquire affordable auto insurance that meets their specific requirements. As one of the leading insurance agencies in greater San Diego area, we proudly offer a wide range of coverages from major national suppliers. Using our expertise and deep market knowledge, we will be able to customize the perfect car insurance package for any young driver at great price. What’s even more important, we are able to add various discounts to your policy, such as good student discount, teen driver discount, multi-car discount, driving program discount, safe driving discount, and similar reductions. y and want to discover how our services can help you run a safe business, feel free to give us a call or fill out a quick contact form.
(619) 296-0005
H&M independent insurance agency has more than 50 years of industry presence in the California insurance market. Our expert agents can help you establish maximum protection for your vehicle against possible risks and on and off the road. We are officially licensed to sell insurance policies from multiple carriers like Safeco, Progressive, Nationwide, Markel, and First Comp. Our advantage over other agents who work for one company only is that we can shop around to find the best possible rate for your auto coverage.
We offer car insurance coverage for permit drivers, college students, senior drivers, and all types of vehicles – including personal family cars, family cars, and classic cars. Take advantage of this opportunity and get comprehensive car insurance for teens at affordable price! Call us at (619) 296-0005 or fill out a short contact form. You can also stop by our office at 801 Washington Street, San Diego, CA 92103. We are open from Monday to Saturday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Why Choose H&M Insurance Agency
Harriett & Mijailovic is a notable and reliable independent insurance agency that serves clients from the San Diego area. Our proficient insurance brokers have a combined experience of 50 years in all aspects of insurance, both personal and commercial. Our priority is to provide you with worry-free driving experience, knowing you have top car coverage that offers full protection. We allow you to focus on shaping your newly acquired driving skills with peace of mind.
- Family-owned, boutique-style agency
- Easily accessible, responsive agents
- Affordable rates & flexible payment options
- Officially licensed to sell major insurance producers: Nationwide, Safeco, Travelers, and many others
- Highly personalized, superior customer service
- San Diego market specialists
Minimum Car Insurance Requirements In California
As in majority of other states, California also requires that each driver has some type of liability coverage. The same applies to teen drivers.
All drivers in the state of California must meet minimum liability coverage requirements:
- $15,000 for bodily injury/death to one person
- $30,000 for bodily injury/death to more than one person
- $5,000 for damage to property
If you have a car loan or lease, your lender may require comprehensive and collision coverage, although they are not mandatory.
The state also recommends uninsured/underinsured bodily injury coverage with minimum limits of $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident
What Is Covered By Car Insurance For Teens?
When you are looking for car insurance for teen drivers, it’s essential that the coverage meets their needs, but cost also matters. That’s where Herriott & Mijailovic agents can help. We will work closely with you to pinpoint the best-suited coverage for your child so you can rest assured knowing they are fully shielded against all risks.
Liability coverage
It helps pay for injuries or vehicle damage a young driver may cause to someone else if it is determined they are at fault for an accident. It applies in a variety of different scenarios, such as injuries or damages caused to other people or vehicles while driving or damage caused to property (street signs, mailboxes, etc.). Liability coverage also covers legal expenses if you are sued for a car accident.
Collision coverage
Collision coverage helps pay expenses for damages caused to your car, no matter who is at fault. It also includes protection for substitute (temporary) cars and newly acquired cars. It covers you if your car collides with another vehicle, object, or if it rolls over. In some states, you may be required to have this type of coverage if you have a car loan or lease.
Comprehensive coverage
This type of coverage protects against a number of different risks, including car theft or vandalism, weather conditions (hail, flood, hurricanes, etc.), fire, explosion, hitting or being hit by an animal, glass claims and similar situations. Comprehensive insurance does not cover collision with other vehicle or objects, injuries, and fatalities.
Accident forgiveness
In case of an accident, insurance rate may increase up to 30%. Luckily, some carriers offer Accident forgiveness coverage that ensures your rates do not go up after the first at-fault accident.
Optional coverages
If you want to add an extra layer of protection, you can opt to further customize the policy to fit your teenager’s needs. Extra coverages may include:
- Roadside assistance
- Rental car reimbursement
- Disappearing deductibles
How To Choose the Right Coverage for Teen Drivers?
To select the most suitable insurance for the young driver in your family, consider the following:
- Type of car – Choose conventional vehicles over high-performance cars. There are two reasons behind this. Firstly, youth does not have enough experience to drive high-speed cars. Secondly, you will be paying a lower premium for a standard car. When buying first car for your teenager, pick one that is safe and reliable.
- Available coverage options – Review available coverage options to determine whether you want to add additional coverages (and which ones).
- Deductibles – Think whether you need to adjust the amount and limits of deductibles in order for the insurance to meet your budget.
- Discounts for teenage drivers – Review which discounts are offered for young drivers and how you can benefit from them.
When To Get Insured?
When it comes to car insurance for young drivers, in the beginning, while practicing with your permit, you will be covered by either your parent’s or your instructor’s insurance. This means that you will not need your own insurance until you get your license. This way you will be able to save much money, since premiums are highest for young drivers.
With this in mind, it is advisable to start examining your insurance options while practicing in order to be able to switch to the most suitable coverage as soon as you obtain your full license.
How Much Car Insurance for Teens in California?
Separate car insurance for teenagers can be quite pricey. This is due to lack of driving experience. They tend to be at higher risk of driving distracted, tailgating, speeding, or driving under the influence of alcohol.
The exact cost will vary based on the insurer, driver’s age, location, vehicle type, driving record, etc. Generally, it’s more affordable to add youth to your existing auto insurance policy. The same coverages and limits will apply to them, and some carriers will even offer discounts to help bear the cost of insuring a new driver.
When your teen turns 19 or 21, depending on the carrier, the premium rates drop by several percent. As the teenager gets more experience behind the wheel and maintains a clean driving record, the price will keep decreasing further.
How To Reduce The Cost Of Car Insurance For Teenage Drivers
To lower the price of car insurance premiums, suppliers provide a range of discount options, such as:
- Good student discount – If a young driver has B average or better at school, they will be entitled to get a reduced price. You can save up to 25% (depending on the carrier), and these savings may be applicable until the person reaches the age of 25. If the teen is being home-schooled, they can also apply for this discount if you provide evidence of them ranking among top 20% in certain national standardized tests within the past year.
- Multiple-vehicle discount – You may further lower the price if your child owns their own vehicle, as having more than one vehicle on the policy typically reduces the cost.
- Distant schooling – You can also save money if the teen spends the majority of their time at school, away from their home, and they only operate the vehicle during the holidays when they are at home.
- Increasing deductibles – Although this method will lower your monthly payment, you will also end up paying more out of your pocket in case a claim is filed.
- Safe driving course completion – Receive a lower rate for successfully completing a safe driving course approved by the local DMV center.
- Teen driver policyholder discount – You can be eligible for a price reduction if your child is 18 or younger and has consistently been insured for a minimum of 12 months.
- Lower coverage – A quick way to save is to remove the coverages you may no longer need.
- Other options – Purchase a safer car or reduce comprehensive/collision coverage if the vehicle has low value
Is It Mandatory To Add Youth To Existing Parent’s/Guardian’s Auto Policy?
Young drivers are obligated to be covered by car insurance. They can either be included in their parent’s policy or have a separate policy just for themselves. Standalone policy is typically overly expensive, so it’s more reasonable to add them to your policy.
Here are the major benefits of adding young adult driver to parent’s policy:
- Lower cost –Pay lower premiums.
- Control – Easily update the type and amount of coverages to ensure your child has the right amount of protection.
- Flexibility – With multiple vehicles on the policy, your teenager will have coverage for all of them.
- Convenience – There is only one policy to handle, not multiple ones.
Frequently Asked Questions About Car Insurance for Teens in California
The exact percentage of reduction depends on the carrier itself. Typically, you can save up to 25% if the young driver who is a full-time student manages to maintain a 3.0+ GPA, ranks in the upper 20% of their class, or is on dean’s List of honor students.
Various studies have shown that teenagers spend more than 55% of their time handling their smartphones while driving. For this reason, it is imperative to improve safer driving habits, such as avoiding eating or drinking while driving, avoiding handheld phone use, or focusing on passengers instead of focusing on the road. Promote handsfree phone use, voice activated assistant, or steering wheel controls for music and answering phone calls.
It is important to discuss the specifics of when, where, and how the car will be driven. Speak about the importance of wearing seat belts at all times, set driving-area limits, and, most importantly, prohibit driving under the influence of alcohol.
Roadside assistance can be quite beneficial to teens, whether they run out of gas or have a flat tire. Typically, this coverage includes 24/7 assistance in the form of towing, roadside service, tire replacement, GPS tracking, and other services.
The youngest age to acquire your own car insurance is typically 18. If you are under 18, a parent or a guardian has to cosign. When it comes to adding a child to parent’s policy, this can be done when the child turns 16.
To determine which option is best for your needs, it is best to talk to reliable insurance agents, who will advise you of which scenario fits your situation best.
If your teen drives a luxury car, it may be more affordable if they own separate insurance since their premium will most likely be substantially higher than other cars on your policy. It may also be better to buy a standalone policy if a parent has DUIs or other violations because adding a young driver will make the policy cost even more.
In most cases, it is cheaper for a teen to be added on household car insurance policy. Although the rate will go up, you will be able to extend your coverages and limits to the child, and you will also be able to save money on based on multi-car insurance.