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Best car insurance for young drivers?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by lolabelle, Aug 28, 2007.

  1. lolabelle

    lolabelle New Member

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    Hi everyone,


    I'm 22 and getting a 2008 Prius this October. I was wondering if any of you were in my age group or had children or friends around my age could advise on what's the best deal (customer service & price!) insurance for young drivers.

    I have been licensed abroad, where I grew up, since I was 16 and have nothing on my record on any of my foreign licenses. I only got my US license after graduating from college this May, at age 22, so fear that may bring up my insurance costs even though I've been licensed for 8 years now, and have a clean driving record in every country I'm licensed in.

    I appreciate your help. I'm a first time car buyer! :)

    P.S. In case you're wondering, I'm getting the car in California but am moving to Pennsylvania six months after that so I want insurance that will travel with me.
     
  2. doubleg2005

    doubleg2005 Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(lolabelle @ Aug 28 2007, 09:26 PM) [snapback]503558[/snapback]</div>
    geez... 22 and licensed for 8 years? that should help with rates. for me, the cheapest was State Farm. i'm a 20 year old male in Texas who has one accident on his record so the best anyone could do (S.F.) was $1125 for six months... the next cheapest was Allstate, believe it or not, at about $1300 for six months
     
  3. alg

    alg Junior Member

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    There are many websites offering advice and comparisons of auto insurance.
    Using Google:
    http://www.dmv.org/car-insurance.php
    http://www.edmunds.com/apps/vdpcontainers/...58/pageNumber=1


    You can easily get quotes by calling the customer service for the auto insurance companies that were discussed in the other thread (generally is not good practice to start another thread about the same topic).

    If you don't do the research yourself, then you should consider contacting an auto insurance broker who can explain the details and help you make the selection.
     
  4. oly_57mpg

    oly_57mpg New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(doubleg2005 @ Aug 28 2007, 10:50 PM) [snapback]503566[/snapback]</div>
    Agreed. I'm in the same age range and have been licensed since I was 16... State Farm was the cheapest - and took really good care of me when a delivery truck pulled out in front of me in traffic (40 mph speed differential) on I-5 in Tacoma, WA.
     
  5. IsrAmeriPrius

    IsrAmeriPrius Progressive Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(lolabelle @ Aug 28 2007, 07:26 PM) [snapback]503558[/snapback]</div>
    Two points. If you were sixteen when you were first licensed and are now twenty-two, you have been driving for six years, not eight.

    Don't you have anything to show that you were licensed abroad? An old driver's license, an insurance certificate? Most insurance agents and companies will take that into consideration in fixing the premium.
     
  6. AOV

    AOV New Member

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    I found State Farm, Allstate and Liberty Mutual very high for a young driver. My son, at age 18 moved to Florida, thus he had to get his own insurance, he's been driving since 16. The best he found was Esurance - online. They said that if he keeps his driving record "clean", the rate will go down every 6 months. So, last Sept. he was charged close to $800. for 6 months, and that was liability only, because he owned a '94 and there was no reason for collision. He thought that $800 was on the high side, but that was because there was about 3 months that he had no insurance, he used a bicycle, and insurance companies don't like a lapse in insurance over 30 days.
    In Feb. of this year, he was quoted $726.00 liability only for 6 months. Just this month, his new quote was $516.97 (he had one speeding ticket at this point). He also got himself full collision coverage for an additional $635.00 , he bought himself a more expensive vehicle.
    Hope this information is helpful.
     
  7. daniel

    daniel Cat Lovers Against the Bomb

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    When shopping for insurance, be sure to consider a company's reputation for paying claims, not just the price. Insurance is worthless if they don't pay, and there is a wide variation between companies on that ground. I've been with State Farm since my first car, and I've been very happy with them. I would never dream of switching to a cheaper company. Your age, gender, and location will all affect your rates.
     
  8. treehggr

    treehggr New Member

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    I'm 25 and have been licensed since I was 16 and the best rate I could find was through Countrywide Auto Ins. but I did get an employee discount. Before them I was going through 21st Century Ins which has very reasonable rates. I'd say give Countrywide a try then hit up 21st if you've had no luck with them.
     
  9. lefat1

    lefat1 Fat Member

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    the cheapest and best insurance i had was with 21st century and they are a california co. when i moved to fla. they had to cancel me as they didnt cover here. however i see ads now for them so they may cover other states as well.
     
  10. manda1983

    manda1983 New Member

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    I'm 23 and live in California... The best rate I could get was $600 for six months... perfect record, good student discount... I'm with State Farm, however I get a good rate because my father has had insurance with them for almost 3 decades... The next cheapest rate I was quoted was $650 for six months and that was through either Geico or Allstate (both quoted that rate). Hope this was helpful!
     
  11. etyler88

    etyler88 etyler88

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    First go to Progressive website and get the online quote from them. Then go to an independent insurance agency office and see if they can beat it. Agency can search rates alot better than a regular person. Just know what amount of insurance you want and don't get talked into anything else. I did the above and they beat it and now that I have a home they are very easy to work with in regard to making any changes. Each state regulates the insurance companies and require standards on solvency and service, who says gov does nothing :), so I wouldn't worry too much about a name brand insurance company. A good insurance agent could tip you off to actual service/cost trade off. Some of those name brands weren't so nice in paying claims for Katrina, for example.
     
  12. lolabelle

    lolabelle New Member

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    Wow, thanks so much everyone! I will give all these companies a look because I was being quoted something like $240-340/month from Geico and Progressive!

    But maybe if I call and talk to someone on the phone and tell them I've actually been driving since I was 16 and have a clean slate in the two other countries I'm licensed in (my licenses are still valid there and I have them on me so I can scan them or send the #s to them), then they won't calculate my rate as if I've only been licensed for a few months (which is when I got my U.S. license)

    P.S. Yes, I did the math wrong in my head -- I've only been licensed for 6 years :p
     
  13. harryjone79

    harryjone79 New Member

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    Re: Cheap Car Insurance For Young Drivers?

    Re: Cheap Car Insurance For Young Drivers?

    hello,

    l have read the entire post......and like it:cheer2:

    in fact i will :welcome: your views(information) and pass on to all my friends.
     
  14. GigaTigga

    GigaTigga New Member

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    I had state farm from age 16 to 22, I got tired of the rates changing monthly and a jerk agent so I switched to geico. I have full coverage 100/300/100 with 100k property, 250 dedicutibles on comp/collison. No tickets or accidents and I pay about 386 every 6 months. I'm 24 now. Id call geico and get a quote instead of using their website, I don't get a student discount either. And my friends wonder why I think speeding (tickets and accidents) is stupid!

    DROID2 ?
     
  15. GuamKelly

    GuamKelly Member

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    I'm curious whether you might have a military family backgraound to explain your time overseas? If so, you should be able to get into USAA (you may have to have the parent who was a military member sponsor you initially). I'm an Air Force Reservist, and they were far and away the best deal for me and my family.

    https://www.usaa.com/
     
  16. a_gray_prius

    a_gray_prius Rare Non-Old-Blowhard Priuschat Member

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    I've always been insured under State Farm, with a Prius and my Evo on my policy (which translates into $1600+ bills with no accidents). Having a 500 deductible helps lower that a bit these days. Regarding GuamKelly's post, I have friends with USAA, and they all rave about the coverage and the quality of the insurance.

    In other news: Looks like I'm no longer a rare under-30 member around these parts.