Will My Car Insurance Rate Increase If My Son Got Involved In An Accident?
Filed under: Teenager car insurance, Teenager insurance
Reader’s Question:
We’re from Rhode Island. My teenage son was driving my car from the grocery store, and he accidentally rear-ended someone else’s car. He is listed under my car insurance policy. Will my premiums increase because of this?
Dorothy
Warwick, RI
Getting a traffic ticket is definitely a financial burden. A simple trip to the grocery store can turn into a financial nightmare if the driver was not careful. Although the State of Rhode Island does not observe the point system, traffic violations are firmly enforced and punished accordingly. This may result in license suspension or revocation, paying huge amounts in fines or possible jail time.
In most rear-end accidents, including the ones that happen in Rhode Island, the driver who drove into the other car is usually declared the one at fault and will receive a traffic citation for it. Since your son is listed under your policy, you can expect an increase in your car insurance premiums. This is due to his being a teenager and is immediately viewed with suspicion by the insurer. Teenagers tend to drive more aggressively and tend to be careless behind the wheel compared to older drivers. Your insurer will increase your premiums based on the potential risk of filing claims in the future due to traffic violations, or worse, accidents that your son may cause.
Check with the Department of Public Safety. Your son may be granted permission to take a driver improvement course to have his ticket removed. This way, you have a greater chance of negotiating for lower premiums on your policy.
Tags: auto insurance policy, auto insurance premium, teen, teen insurance, traffic violation