Auto · Updated September 2026
Teenage drivers have the highest crash rates of any age group, and carriers price accordingly. Adding one to a policy frequently raises the household premium substantially, and there is no way around the underlying math.
What you can control is which carrier you are with when it happens. The increase for adding a young driver varies enormously between companies — some are far more competitive on households with teens than others. If you have been with the same carrier for years, the renewal before your teenager is licensed is the right time to shop.
Good student. Commonly a B average or better, and it is one of the larger discounts available for a young driver.
Driver training. Completion of an approved course earns credit with many carriers.
Student away at school. If your teenager attends school beyond a set distance from home and does not keep a car there, many carriers reduce the rate considerably.
Telematics. A monitoring app or device can produce a meaningful discount for a careful young driver — and it gives you the data to coach them, which matters more than the discount.
Assigning the teenager to the least expensive vehicle to repair, rather than the newest one, usually costs less. A vehicle with good crash ratings and modest repair costs is the right combination both for the premium and for the outcome.
Resist the temptation to leave a licensed teenager off the policy. An unlisted household driver is a claim problem waiting to happen, and carriers do find out — usually at the worst possible time.
This is the part parents miss. A teenage driver increases the chance of a serious at-fault accident, which is exactly the scenario state minimum limits do not cover. A judgment above your limits reaches your home equity, your savings and your future earnings.
For most families with a young driver, higher liability limits and an umbrella policy are more important than any discount on the list above. The umbrella is usually inexpensive relative to what it protects.
A teenager who moves away permanently and takes a car should come off your policy and onto their own. One who is away at school usually stays on yours, often at a reduced rate. Tell us which it is, because leaving a departed driver on the policy quietly costs money every month.
It varies widely by carrier, vehicle and the teenager's record, but it is typically the largest single increase a family policy sees. The spread between companies is wide, which is why shopping before they are licensed is worth doing.
If they live in your household and are licensed, yes. Leaving a licensed household driver off the policy creates a serious coverage problem when a claim happens.
Good student, driver training, student away at school, and telematics are the main ones. Most families qualify for more than they are getting.
Usually not while they live at home — a household policy is normally cheaper and simpler. Once they move out with their own vehicle, a separate policy is appropriate.
Yes. Assigning them to the least expensive vehicle to repair usually lowers the premium, and a car with good crash ratings is the better outcome regardless of price.
Questions about your own situation? Call 417.623.8300 or send us your current policy. We are licensed in Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma.
Questions about your own policy? Send it over and we will go through it with you.