Reader’s Question:
I just got my license and my auto insurance coverage last month here in Texas. I know that my auto insurance premium is higher because of my limited driving experience, but what would make me a high risk driver?
Albert
Forth Worth, TX
Well, since you said that you just got your license and that you mentioned your limited driving experience, it is safe to assume that you’re a teenager. Teenagers do get higher premium rates because of their perceived (and proven) recklessness when on the road. Teenage drivers, due to their limited driving skills, tend to make faulty decisions when driving.
Your question: what would make you a high risk driver? Well, it won’t really be hard, considering that you’re a teenager with a car. First factor would be your driving record. We all know that. If you were in an accident and you were at fault, then your auto insurance premium will increase and you just might join the rank of high risk drivers. Even a seemingly harmless traffic offense like speeding can get you listed there, too. Even accidents that you figured wherein you’re not at fault can get you on the list. For every road violation that you do, your chance at being in an accident increases. Even if the accident was not your fault, you, somehow, got into that situation. If the offense keeps showing up every now and then, multiple speeding, then you will get to the high risk drivers list.
Your age will figure in there, too. It’s just is. I already mentioned why. Teenagers are riskier for auto insurance companies to cover because they can be reckless at times.
And though you don’t qualify for this yet since you just got your license and insurance, I’d like to mention continuous coverage. Auto insurance companies do not like it if they found out that there was a time in your driving history record that you were driving around Texas without auto insurance coverage. Very irresponsible and, therefore, very high risk.