Insurance Center

You may not like the idea of your teenager behind the wheel of your car - but you still have to take car insurance to cover him as the driver.

Many parents dread the thought of their teenage child asking if they can learn to drive, not least because of the extra cost of car insurance. Most teens are inexperienced drivers with no driving record, so the insurance companies charge higher premiums to cover the increased accident risk.

Depending on where you live and the type of car that your teen is driving, the extra cost of car insurance for a teenage driver on your policy is anything from 50% to 200%. As to the type of vehicle your teenager will be driving - your child will drive more safely in a sensible car fitted with safety features, rather than a fast sports car.

There are some steps you can take to reduce the amount of the car insurance premiums. A teenager that has just taken up driving should concentrate on maintaining a safe driving record - ideally, with no accidents for the first year or two of driving. Only then should you ask your insurance company about lower car insurance rates that may be available.