Teenagers are considered to be the riskiest drivers on the road. Therefore, it pays to get car insurance for your teenage children. Getting their license is of course important, but the period after that is more crucial—getting their first car and getting that car insured.

A little-known fact is that most of the time car insurers charge higher when it comes to auto insurance for teenagers. Why? Because more often than not, these companies see most teenage drivers as more accident-prone than adults.

Still, there’s a way to lessen charges for a teenager’s car insurance. For one, young adults can take a defensive driver course, which could raise their comprehensive and collision coverage deductibles. Also, you could purchase a home or renter’s policy through the same car insurance company. And probably the easiest solution? Buy a safer car.

A “safer” car may seem more expensive, but will save you more money in the long run. First of all, safety features such as airbags, antilock brakes, automatic seatbelts and daytime running lights will prevent or lessen damage to the human body in accidents. Thus, it can save you thousands of dollars in case of hospitalization. More so, your car insurance charges can be minimized.

Grades also matter. Good grades, that is. If your teenager is still studying in high school or even college, their good grades could earn them discount premiums up to 15%.

Comparison shopping also helps. Canvassing online could be a very big factor. Most online car insurance websites can give quotes, so you could easily compare one company’s rates from the others.

Another good idea is to consolidate your policies. As with most loans and policies, consolidation is much cheaper in the long run. Even if at first it looks more expensive because of increased premiums, the additional amount or cost will still be more or less 15% cheaper than if your child paid for his or her own policy.

And finally, teach your children to follow traffic rules and regulations, as well as their license restrictions. They should avoid violating traffic regulations or getting speeding tickets as much as they can. This will ensure a clean or spotless driving record for your teen children, and lower premium payments for their car insurance.