Young drivers continue to account for the largest percentage of auto accidents and auto insurance claims each year, wreaking havoc on their wallets - and for the youngest, often their parents' wallets.  Because of their lack of experience, young drivers are more likely to make mistakes on the road that range from driving too fast, driving inattentively, misjudging distances, and reaction times.  According to this survey, nearly 40 percent of drivers age 18-34 have filed an auto insurance claim in the last three years, 30 percent for single vehicle crashes, the most among any age group.  Drivers age 19 and under were involved in 14 percent of all accidents and 12 percent of fatal collisions in 1996, even though they represented only 5 percent of all drivers on the
nation's roads, according to the National Safety Council.  The numbers for drivers age 20-24 were only slightly
better.
    New efforts like graduated drivers licensing programs are taking these daunting figures to task, but aren't yet easing the financial burden on young auto insurance
consumers.  Younger drivers can expect to face high auto insurance premiums through their mid- to late
twenties or until they marry.

• Keep a clean driving record. 


• Insure young drivers on parents' policy


• If possible, assign a young driver to the family's least valuable car. 


• Take advantage of young driver discounts. 


• Raise deductibles


• If buying a car, take insurance costs into account. Consider purchasing a model that is less expensive to insure.


• Ask us.  As agents, we can guide you through the process of finding the right insurance. 


• Since Independent agents do not work for any one company, we can communicate with your company during the claims process.  We can also help you evaluate and manage your risks.  And, if you are dropped by your company, we can place you with another insurer.