Congratulations! You are a new driver and you have your driver’s license. You’re ready to take your new license for a spin. First, you want to have 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 a bit expensive since you are more likely to get into an accident due to lack of driving experience. Although insuring a new driver is expensive, the type of car you choose can cause your insurance premium to rise significantly. Here are the five best cars to insure for new drivers.
How is insurance calculated?
Car insurance is meant to protect you, your car, and others on the road if you get into an accident. As a result, there are several factors that go into determining car insurance rates. Together, these factors provide an insurance company with a bigger picture of how much risk you pose as a driver. Factors include:
- age
- expertise
- sex
- location
- Daily commute
- Driving record
- Discounts available
- Vehicle repair costs
What can a new driver do to lower insurance premiums?
One reason insurance rates are higher for new drivers is their lack of experience. Experience is one of the main factors in determining the cost of driver insurance. However, there are things new drivers can do to help lower the cost of their insurance. For example, 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 experience that would not otherwise be obtained.
Another way a new driver can lower their insurance premiums is by being a good student. Some insurance companies will offer a good student discount. The discount is often offered to a student who maintains a GPA of at least 80%.
Finally, it is best for a new driver to obtain a license as soon as the law allows. Normally, a driver in Canada is eligible for a license at the age of 16. By starting to drive with a license at this age, a driver gains experience that can be used to help lower insurance rates as the driver ages.
How do vehicles affect insurance rates?
Vehicle insurance rates are affected based on the cost of repairing or replacing the vehicle in the event of an accident or theft. The more expensive a car you buy, the more expensive it is to insure.
However, there are other factors that play a role in the cost of insurance in relation to a vehicle. Vehicles that offer more advanced safety options may cost less to insure as they protect the driver in the event of an accident, but the cost of repairing these features may result in a higher premium.
Larger vehicles, such as minivans and SUVs, are usually less expensive to insure. This is partly because they are not viewed as sport utility vehicles that can be used in speeding accidents or other moving violations. Furthermore, they are often safer vehicles because they are less likely than smaller vehicles to injure a person or suffer less damage in an accident.
Additionally, basic vehicle insurance is often less expensive. This goes back to the idea of repair and replacement costs. It usually also means that these types of vehicles are less likely to be stolen than vehicles with more bells and whistles. Therefore, the base model Ford Fusion will always be slightly less expensive to warrant the premium model of the same vehicle.
Here are the vehicles that have typically been proven to be the least expensive vehicles for new drivers to insure:
- Toyota Prius
- Nissan Versa
- Chevy Cruze
- Ford Fusion
- Hyundai Elantra
These vehicles are very popular, which means vehicle parts are not very expensive. As a result, any repair of these vehicles is less expensive than repairing other vehicles on the road. Additionally, these cars are often highly rated for safety features and are usually very easy for new drivers to maneuver into all spaces.
To learn more about the best cars for new drivers to insure, call our office at 855-385-4226 or request a quote by selecting the pink “Start 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 a new driver.
