While teenagers getting behind the wheel for the first time are generally quite excited to be there, the Massachusetts Division of Insurance says that there are a number of facts that they should know before setting out. In particular, knowing the basics about car insurance rates can help teens learn the importance of staying safe on the state’s roads.
For one thing, the law in Massachusetts requires that drivers of all ages be insured, the Division of Insurance says. The minimum level of liability coverage will satisfy the legal requirement imposed by state law, the agency says, but it also warns that drivers who actually get into an accident might suffer significant financial losses if additional coverage is not present.
The state agency also suggests that teens may want to start out driving their parents’ cars, rather than acquiring their own right away. This can help them save a considerable amount of money on car insurance, in addition to the obvious cost savings in not purchasing a vehicle right out of the gate.
Additionally, the Division of Insurance urges new drivers to be aware of the state’s junior operator restriction, which says that drivers under the age of 18 who have had their license for less than six months cannot carry similarly young passengers in their vehicle without an older and more experienced driver present.
Young driver restrictions are increasingly common, and although advocates insist that they do an excellent job driving down insurance premiums, they have caused controversy in some states. New Jersey, for example, has seen heated debate over the requirement that young drivers place notification stickers on their cars, since some say this makes them more vulnerable to car theft.