My son just got his license last month, and the insurance quotes I'm getting are honestly terrifying. I knew it'd be pricey but jeez, didn't expect it to be THIS bad. Anyone around here found ways to bring down those crazy premiums in South Dakota? Maybe certain companies or discounts I haven't thought of yet... I'm open to pretty much anything at this point, lol.
"I knew it'd be pricey but jeez, didn't expect it to be THIS bad."
Yeah, I remember when my daughter first got her license here in SD—it felt like the insurance companies were personally punishing me for having a teenager. One thing that helped us was enrolling her in a defensive driving course. It wasn't a huge discount, but every bit counts. Have you checked if your insurer offers something similar? Also, what kind of car is he driving? Switching to an older, safer model made a noticeable difference for us...
Totally agree on the defensive driving course—it's one of the few things that actually helps lower premiums, even if just a little. A couple other things that might help:
- Check if your insurer offers a "good student" discount. If your kid maintains decent grades (usually B average or higher), some companies shave off a bit from the premium.
- Raising deductibles can also drop the monthly cost noticeably, but obviously you'd want to weigh that against the risk of paying more out-of-pocket if something happens.
- Consider bundling policies if you haven't already. Combining home and auto insurance with one company can sometimes get you a better overall rate.
- Also, mileage matters more than people think. If your teen isn't driving far—like just school and back—you might qualify for a low-mileage discount.
I know none of these are huge savings individually, but together they can make it slightly less painful. And yeah, definitely avoid sporty cars or anything flashy... insurers see those as red flags for teens.
Good points, especially bundling policies—made a noticeable difference for us. One other thing I'd add is checking into usage-based insurance programs. A lot of insurers now have apps or devices that track driving habits (speed, braking, acceleration, etc.). If your teen is a cautious driver, it can actually lower your rates quite a bit. My parents signed me up for one when I first started driving, and after a few months of proving I wasn't reckless, we saw a decent drop in premiums.
Also, don't underestimate the car itself. Older, safer models with good crash-test ratings tend to be cheaper to insure. I know someone who swapped their kid's newer sedan for a slightly older SUV with better safety ratings, and their premiums dropped noticeably. It's not flashy, but hey, cheaper insurance is worth it.
Insurance for teens is always gonna sting a bit, but combining these smaller hacks can definitely ease the pain.
