The average premium increases 80 percent when adding a teenage driver. So is that fair? NBC 7’s Consumer Bob takes a look.
When Lisa McKee put her son on the family car insurance policy, their premium jumped $450 every sixth months.
That's a lot, but not as much as the average teenage driver. According to Quadrant Information Services and Insurance Quotes, the average premium increases 80 percent when adding a teenage driver.
Is that fair?
"I don't think so," said McKee. "We have the same number of cars and there is a slight increase of driving going on, but not $450 worth."
Actually in California, the average policy goes up 88.57 percent. That's 14th in the country with New Hampshire leading the increase of 114.92 percent when adding a teen driver. In Hawaii where state laws limit an insurance company from considering age and gender, the increase is only 16.83 percent.
Zeph McKee has been driving a little under a year. His mother says he is a safe driver and has no accidents, but male teenage drivers in general pay more for insurance than female drivers.
The McKees were able to keep their premiums down by taking advantage of certain discounts.
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"Because he had a good student discount and also because he took driver's education," said McKee. That lowered their payments about $120.
But McKee said you need to remind your insurance company every year if you want to keep the good student discount.
