Congratulations! You are a new driver with your very own driver’s license. You are ready to take your new license out for a spin. First, you want to get a car you can call your own. Then you need to get insurance to make sure you, and others on the road, are properly protected. Insurance for new drivers is already a bit costly since you are more prone to get into an accident due to a lack of driving experience. As costly as it is to insure a new driver, the type of car you choose can cause that premium to skyrocket. Here are the five best cars for new drivers to insure.
How Is Insurance Calculated?
Auto insurance is meant to protect you, your vehicle, and others on the road if you are involved in an accident. As a result, several factors go into determining auto insurance rates. Combined, these factors provide a larger picture to the insurance company of the amount of risk you pose as a driver. The factors include:
- Age
- Experience
- Gender
- Location
- Daily Commute
- Driving Record
- Available Discounts
- Vehicle Repair Costs
What Can a New Driver Do to Lower Insurance Premiums?
One of the reasons new drivers have such high insurance rates is because they lack experience. Experience is one of the major factors in determining the cost of the driver’s insurance. However, there are things new drivers can do to help lower the cost of their insurance. For instance, a new driver can take a graduated license program in which they learn to drive with a specially trained instructor. Taking several hours of this type of training allows the driver to gain the experience they otherwise would not have the opportunity to obtain.
Another way in which a new driver can lower insurance premiums is to be a good student. Some insurance companies will offer a good student discount. The discount is often offered to a student who maintains at least an 80% GPA.
Finally, a new driver is best served to obtain a license as early as allowed by law. Typically, a driver in Canada is eligible to obtain a license at 16 years of age. By starting to drive with a license at that age, the driver gains experience that can be used to help lower insurance rates as the driver ages.
How Do Vehicles Affect Insurance Rates?
Insurance rates are affected by vehicles based on the cost to repair or replace a vehicle in the event of an accident or theft. The more expensive the vehicle is to purchase, the more costly it will be to insure.
However, other factors play into the cost of insurance in relation to a vehicle. Vehicles that offer more advanced safety options may cost less to insure as the protect the driver in the event of an accident, however the cost to repair these features may result in a higher premium.
Typically, vehicles that are bigger, such as minivans and SUV’s are a bit less money to insure. This is partially because they are not seen as sports vehicles that can be used in speeding incidents or other moving violations. Furthermore, they are often safer vehicles because they are less likely than a smaller vehicle to result in injury to the person or sustain the lesser damage in an accident.
In addition, more basic vehicles are often less expensive to insure. This goes back to the idea of repairs and replacement costs. It usually also implies these types of vehicles are less likely to get stolen than vehicles with more bells and whistles. Therefore, a basic model Ford Fusion will always be a little less costly to insure that the premium model of the same vehicle.
Here are the vehicles typically proven to be the least expensive vehicles for new drivers to insure:
- Toyota Prius
- Nissan Versa
- Chevy Cruz
- Ford Fusion
- Hyundai Elantra
These vehicles are extremely common, which means parts for the vehicles are not very costly. As a result, any repair to these vehicles is less costly than those of other cars on the road. Additionally, these cars are often highly rated for safety features and are typically very easy for new drivers to maneuver in all size spaces.
To learn more about the best cars for new drivers to insure, give our office a call at 855-385-4226 or request a quote by selecting the pink “Start My Quote” button at the top of the page. Our team of auto insurance experts will be happy to answer your questions and help you navigate insurance for the new driver.
