4 Auto Insurance Considerations for Families with Kids

Car trips with kids can be one of the most enjoyable parts of their upbringing. If you use your car to drive your family around, or if you have a teenager who will soon be able to drive, read on for four things to consider when choosing Victorville car insurance.

1. Bigger Car, Smaller Payment

You’re starting a family, and it’s time to get rid of the hatchback. You’ll need a car that can fit car seats, strollers, and, eventually, small children. The good news is that having a bigger car often decreases the amount you need to pay for car insurance. Generally, (though not always) bigger cars are safer to drive than smaller cars. Thus, insurance companies often require you to pay less to insure a big car. This is a great way to decrease one expense in a time when other life expenses may be increasing.

2. Insurance Can Include Car Seats

What many parents don’t realize is that when they get in a car accident, a car seat in the car at the time of the accident will most likely need to be replaced. You also might not realize that car seats are often covered by car insurance policies. If the accident was someone else’s fault, the at-fault car’s insurance company should cover the cost of a new car seat. If you cause the accident, your collision coverage policy should pay for a new car seat, since it might be included in damage done to the car. In both cases, insurance companies will require you to purchase a car seat of similar quality and price to the one you’re replacing and submit a receipt for reimbursement for it.

3. Driving Classes for Discounts

As your kids grow up and become teenagers, they will learn to drive. Teenage drivers can be added to your car insurance policy for an increased premium, whether they are driving your car or their own. Increases can be significant, but there is an easy way to receive discounts or breaks on the added payments. Enroll your kids in supplemental driving courses. These will increase the odds that your kids stay safe while driving, and they will also result in reduced car insurance payments. For example, a defensive driving class will typically remove around 20 percent from your premium payments.

4. Rewards for Good Grades

Another great way to increase insurance costs if you have teenage drivers is to encourage them to get good grades. Many insurance companies offer insurance discounts for teenagers who maintain a stellar academic record. Generally, drivers between 16 and 24 who are full-time students and maintain at least a B or 3.0 average are eligible for discounts. In order to receive the discount, you’ll need to prove good student status to your insurance company, so be sure to save your kid’s report cards. Also, encourage your kids to continue to get good grades. You’ll have to resubmit their good report cards during every renewal.

If you have kids or are thinking about planning a family and want to know more about how it will affect your car insurance, contact Key City Insurance at 866-466-2109.