Good call on the used Subaru—solid choice for reliability and safety without breaking the bank. I had a similar experience when my son started driving. We initially leaned toward newer models for the tech perks, but the cost-benefit ratio just didn't add up. Ended up choosing a used Honda CR-V, which checked most boxes safety-wise and didn't spike our rates too badly. Agree on the loyalty thing too—funny how insurers reward newcomers more than long-term customers...
"funny how insurers reward newcomers more than long-term customers..."
Yeah, loyalty perks seem backwards sometimes. Curious, did anyone find that adding their teen to a defensive driving course noticeably helped lower rates? I've heard mixed things on whether it's worth it or not...
I've heard mixed things on whether it's worth it or not...
From my experience, defensive driving courses usually do help, but the savings vary quite a bit depending on your insurer and state. I'd suggest calling your agent first to confirm exactly how much you'd save before enrolling your teen...sometimes it's worth it, sometimes not so much.
I went through this exact scenario last year when my daughter started driving. A few quick points from what I learned:
- Defensive driving courses did help, but the discount was honestly pretty modest for us—around 5-10% max.
- Surprisingly, the bigger savings came from bundling policies and raising deductibles slightly. Not ideal for everyone, but it worked out better in our case.
- Also, don't overlook the "good student" discount if your teen qualifies. That actually shaved off more than the defensive driving course did.
- Lastly, shopping around made a huge difference. Our longtime insurer wasn't competitive at all once we added a teen driver. Switching companies saved us hundreds per year.
Bottom line: Courses can help, but they're just one piece of the puzzle. I'd definitely recommend checking multiple angles before committing to anything expensive or time-consuming...
"Surprisingly, the bigger savings came from bundling policies and raising deductibles slightly."
This was exactly our experience too. We initially thought the defensive driving course would be a game changer, but it barely made a dent. Bundling home and auto insurance, though, saved us way more than we expected. Curious if anyone's tried telematics (those apps or devices that track driving habits)? Heard mixed reviews about privacy, but some say the savings can be significant...
