As your Ohio teenagers approach driving age, plan early to get them the insurance coverage they will need
Car insurance for Ohio teens, as for most teens, can get tricky. When you are considering adding a teenage driver to your Ohio family car insurance coverage, there are some things you should know about the unique licensing and insurance needs of your teen driver(s).
Licensing and coverage requirements
Like the majority of states in the country, Ohio adopted new rules to reduce the tragedy of teen car accidents and established a Graduated Driver License (GDL) program. Teen drivers must successfully navigate several phases before being granted full driving privileges in Ohio. These phases are similar to those found in other states with GDL program and include:
Stage 1, temporary permit – when an Ohio teen reaches age 15-1/2, s/he can apply for a temporary permit and begin the journey toward full driving privileges. The permit is valid for a full year, though if the teen successfully completes the terms and conditions of a temporary permit status in six months, they can then proceed to the next stage. Some of the requirements for Ohio teen drivers in this initial phase include:
- Completing a minimum of 24 hours of classroom instruction and eight hours of behind-the-wheel instruction in an approved driver training class.
- Completing a minimum of 50 hours of driving with a parent or guardian, including at least 10 hours of nighttime driving (parents or guardians must document and verify that this has been completed.)
Stage 2, probationary license – any Ohio teen driver who is 16 years of age and has successfully completed the temporary permit phase of the GDL can then apply for a probationary license. The probationary license is valid until the driver turns 18. There are some time and situational restrictions on Ohio teens holding a probationary license and as long as the teen driver follows those restrictions and avoids receiving any moving or other violations, s/he can then transcend to the final stage of the GDL.
Get free estimates for insuring your Ohio teen driver
Stage 3, full driving privileges – for Ohio teen drivers who turn age 18 and have successfully completed all requirements of the previous two phases of Ohio’s GDL program, they an then apply and test for a full drivers license.
(For a complete explanation of Ohio’s GDL program, click here.)
If you have Ohio teens approaching driving age, be sure you make them aware of what the minimum insurance coverage requirements for the state are:
- Bodily injury liability coverage of $12,500 for a single person injured in an accident
- Bodily injury liability coverage of $25,000 for more than one party injured in an accident
- Property damage liability coverage of $7,500 for damage to another car or destruction of property in a single accident
Managing your costs
Adding a teenage driver to your Ohio family car insurance coverage will likely make your car insurance coverage costs go up. In Ohio, you have an advantage in that the state is historically one of the most affordable in the nation for car insurance coverage. But you still don’t want to be over-burdened when the time comes to cover you teen driver(s).
While Ohio law requires that all licensed drivers carry minimum levels of liability coverage, your insurer may be able to extend coverage to your Ohio teen driver who has successfully completed his/her GDL requirements on an existing policy for a short period of time without any additional increases. This can give you time to research discounts that may be available to you and your family to reduce the cost of insurance and possibly help you instill good driving habits in your Ohio teen driver. Some of these discounts include:
- Good student discounts – for students who maintain good grades (in some cases, even into college)
- Driver training/defensive driving school discounts – for young drivers who enroll in and complete additional driver training
- Safety pledges discounts – some insurance companies offer discounts if your teen driver takes a safe driving pledge and if you install electronic monitoring devices that tell you whether your teen driver is adhering to safe driving practices.
Ask your insurance agent about these and other possible discounts for adding a teen driver to your coverage.
Other steps for saving
Assigning your teen driver to the cheapest-to-insure vehicle in your family can help keep your rates low. Car insurance for Ohio teens is priced partly on the car that's being insured, and if the teen's car is on the inexpensive side, you may find savings. Likewise, if the car your teen driver will be using has added safety features or is already rated as a safe car, you may find your rate hike won't be quite so high. Because adding a teenage driver to your Ohio family car insurance coverage can be such a significant change in your coverage, it's not a bad idea to use the occasion to conduct an auto insurance policy review. Look for places where you may need to drop or add coverage.
By doing your homework, preparing properly, and shopping around, you can save money on car insurance for Ohio teens. Reply! can help by linking you with local insurance pros familiar with the details of adding a teenage driver to your Ohio family car insurance coverage.