3 minute readAuto
Adding a teen raises premium significantly because inexperience is the single largest rating factor in auto insurance. You can soften it with good-student and driver-training discounts, careful vehicle assignment, and — importantly — higher liability limits, since a teen crash is the classic path to a claim above your limits.
What you need to know
Raise limits when you add a teen
This is the moment to move to 250/500 and add an umbrella, not the moment to economize.
Vehicle choice changes the rate
A safe, moderate, slightly older car is usually cheaper to insure than a new or high-performance one.
Discounts to ask for by name
Good student, driver's education, telematics, and student-away-at-school.
Common mistakes
- Carrying California's minimum limits, which a single injury accident can exhaust.
- Declining or under-buying uninsured motorist coverage.
- Leaving a household driver off the policy.
- Filing small physical-damage claims near the deductible.
- Never updating mileage, garaging address or commute after a change.
When to talk to an agent
Talk to an agent before adding a teen driver, after buying a vehicle, after an accident or ticket, or any time you are not sure whether your liability limits would survive a serious at-fault crash.
Frequently asked
This article is general information, not a policy or a promise of coverage. What your policy pays depends on its specific terms, limits and exclusions. Ask us to review your actual policy before making a decision.