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If you’ve ever shopped for car insurance for a teenager, then you know that insurance rates for teenagers are much higher than average, and male teenagers have the highest quotes. When you look at car insurance quotes for young female drivers versus car insurance quotes for young male drivers, males almost always have higher quotes.
The difference in insurance rates between the two genders makes some people believe that this is gender discrimination. A few states have actually banned the use of gender in determining car insurance including:
- California
- Hawaii
- Massachusetts
- Montana
- North Carolina
- Pennsylvania
- Some parts of Michigan
However, in most other states, you will see a significant increase when looking for car insurance for male teenagers. In fact, males usually always have higher rates than females until about age 60, when the difference between gender rates becomes essentially imperceptible.
The good news is that understanding why young males have higher rates is the first step to understanding how to save. Once you understand why insurance is more expensive for teenage male drivers, it’s easier to know the ways to find cheaper insurance rates.
Read on to find out why males are charged more in states without gender discrimination laws, and learn what you can do to reduce car insurance rates for teenage males.
Why Average Car Insurance Rates for Teenage Males are Higher
The main reason male teenagers are charged more is because of the risk factor. Insurers track data to determine which drivers are the most likely to crash and file claims. Because data shows that inexperienced teenagers are more likely to crash, teenagers automatically have higher rates.
Data also shows that males are more likely to get into accidents than females, which is why male teenagers are automatically charged more than female teenagers. Insurance companies always are focusing on the amount of risk, and they want to make sure they are also protected when insuring high-risk drivers.
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), many more males die in car crashes than females. In 2018, males made up 71 percent of motor vehicle crash deaths. Why do males have a higher fatality and accident rate?
The IIHS attributes it to the fact that males are more likely to participate in risk-taking behaviors, such as speeding, not wearing a seatbelt, and driving under the influence.
All of these risky driving behaviors increase the chances of being in a crash and being injured. So while it may seem discriminatory or unfair that insurers charge male teenagers more than female teenagers, insurers are basing their profiling and insurance rates on data.
What You Can Do to Reduce Teenage Male Car Insurance Rates
So how can a guy get a good car insurance policy without paying too much? If your insurance bill is out of control, there are a number of steps you can take to reduce rates for a teenage male driver, from following safe driving practices to driver discounts.
#1 – Follow Safe Driving Habits
One of the best things you can do for your teenage male is to teach them safe driving habits.
The perspectives of a newbie driver are often focused more on the freedom that comes with driving, but it is important to balance that perspective with safe driving habits. Following safe driving habits will help teenage drivers avoid speeding tickets, traffic violations, and accidents.
The cleaner a teenage male driver’s record is, the better his insurance rates will be.
Additionally, teenage males may significantly reduce insurance rates through safe driving programs. Some insurers may have safe driving apps that track driver’s habits and offer discounts for safe driving.
Insurers may also offer a discount for teenagers who participate in safe driving courses, such as defensive driving. Defensive driving courses can be done in person at the DMV or online, depending on what your state or city offers.
#2 – Drive Safe Vehicles
Rates will be high if a teenage male has a dangerous or high-risk car, such as a sports car. These vehicles are a disaster waiting to happen for inexperienced drivers, as sports car drivers are more prone to speeding.
Additionally, most sports cars don’t hold up well in crashes as they are not designed as sturdy vehicles.
So teen drivers deciding on their first car should look for a car with great safety features and safety ratings. Insures always take the vehicles into account when calculating rates, so teenagers with safe vehicles will cost less to insure than teenagers with dangerous vehicles like sports cars or outdated models with poor safety features.
#3 – Qualify for Discounts
Discounts can significantly reduce rates, so it is important that you are qualifying for as many discounts as possible. Some of the discounts that are specifically tailored towards teenagers are:
- Good Student Discount – most insurers offer a good student discount to teenagers and young adults who have a B+ average or higher.
- Student Away Discount – if a teenage male is away at school, they may qualify for a student away discount.
There are plenty of other discounts that everyone in the family can qualify for which will reduce the overall insurance rates to a more manageable price.
#4 – Shop Around for Rates
The last — and best — way to save on car insurance for teenage males is to shop around for quotes. Comparing quotes and switching insurers often saves drivers hundreds of dollars. We recommend getting quotes every year or two, as insurance rates are always changing, as are your own personal needs.
If you find the price tag on insurance for a teenage male driver is too high, don’t skimp on insurance coverages in order to save. Understanding why insurers consider teenage males to be riskier will help you find savings.
So take the time to teach safe driving habits, get a safe vehicle, and shop around for insurance to find reasonable rates for male teenage drivers.
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This content is sponsored by Anne Davis.
Photo: Shutterstock