It really does not take a rocket scientist to figure out why young drivers have higher car insurance premiums. Every year we hear about the crash statistics of teenage drivers, and they aren’t pretty. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says that 16-year-old drivers get into accidents approximately six times more often than drivers over 30 years of age, so it is no surprise that this age group is more expensive to insure.

The cost of car insurance is primarily based upon risk, and the percentage of risk is calculated from statistics. Those statistics show that accident claims by young drivers are higher than those of drivers over the age of 25.

Insurance companies combine the age risk factor along with other stats like the sex of the driver, their marital status, the type of vehicle driven and where they live, to determine the premium for drivers.

While young drivers are a risk because of their inexperience, there are still some things that they can do to cut their risk factor. Keeping up good grades (B or higher) and taking defensive driving courses are two actions that can result in cheaper car insurance for young drivers. Their choice of automobile will also play a part in the price quote.

Continually practicing safe driving will help to keep a good track record with your insurance and will eventually warrant a better policy rate. Teens should do their best to avoid distractions while driving – texting, playing with the radio and talking on the cell phone takes your focus off of the road and other drivers. Just one accident can send premiums skyrocketing.

If your hair hasn’t started to turn gray yet parents, the minute you hand over the car keys to your kid, it will for sure. Teaching a son or daughter to drive ranks high on any parent’s stress meter, and it only gets worse once they are behind the wheel by themselves the first year or so.

Nevertheless, it is a rite of passage for every young adult, and we as parents are now faced with the fear our parents once had. We should do everything within our power to make this new experience an informative and rewarding one for our kids and ourselves, as this is a step towards their independence.

According to the National Safety Council more than 10 young drivers between the ages of 15-20 are killed every day in crashes, and another 745 are injured. In an effort to avoid becoming one of those statistics, here are some tips to help prepare your teen to be a safe driver.

Be a good example for your teen and practice what you preach. If you have a habit of running through yellow, or worse red – now would be the time to curb that behavior. You will be sending confusing signals by doing things you tell your kid that it is not okay to do. Do you constantly go over the speed limit, follow other cars too closely, or have a case of road rage? At this time, you need to be acutely aware of your habits – look at yourself through your teen’s eyes.

Learn the rules before getting behind the wheel by visiting your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles website. Many states have online guides, or they will tell you how to get a copy of their Driver Handbook. You will also get information about how to schedule your driver’s test and what you will need to bring. Parents should go over the material with their teen in addition to them reading it on their own.

When practicing driving with your teen, try to remain calm at all times! Keep in mind that there will be mistakes and if you react by freaking out, it will do more harm than good (especially if they are startled). Start practicing in an empty parking lot until the teen becomes comfortable with handling the car. This is especially helpful when learning to drive in rain or snowy conditions. It is important to practice driving on all types of weather, not just sunny days.

Another good source for learning safe driving tactics is your insurance agent – they often have videos and booklets available. Some insurance agencies offer safe-driving courses, which result in a discounted auto insurance quote once the course has been completed.