A newly licensed teenage driver may be excited to get behind the wheel and take their first steps toward independence. But for parents, this can be a scary time. For that reason, most parents choose to add their teen drivers to their existing auto insurance policies. Below, discover some important aspects to know as you prepare to take this next big step in your child's life.

Increase Your Liability Limits

A teen driver isn't as experienced, so they have a higher risk of getting into an accident. To best protect them, as well as your investment in your vehicle, consider increasing liability limits on an existing policy. Lower liability amounts are cheaper, but they only provide the state's minimum coverage. In the event of an accident, you could still be on the hook for some significant expenses. If you have a teen driver, raise your liability coverage to at least $100,000 for bodily injury, $300,000 for total injury, and $100,000 for property damage.

Prepare for a Higher Premium

An increase in liability limits will come with a higher premium amount, but anytime you add a teenage driver to a policy, there will always be a higher cost. This has to do with the greater risk involved in insuring young drivers. Bear in mind that teenage boys typically cost more to insure than teenage girls.

Inquire About Discounts

Always ask a provider about auto insurance discounts to help offset the costs of putting a teenage driver on your policy. Student discounts for teenagers with a 3.0 GPA or higher can range anywhere from five to 25 percent. Some providers offer discounts if the child has passed a driver's education course.

Be sure to teach your teen smart road skills and monitor their driving behavior. A few providers have real-time telematics programs that transfer important data about a driver's habits, and positive results can yield lower insurance rates.

When you need to add a teen driver to your policy, an auto insurance professional can help. BestRate Auto Insurance has been serving Statesboro, GA, and the surrounding area since 2003. They offer auto, home, and renter's insurance solutions. They aim to get you the lowest rates and the highest levels of protection. Call (912) 489-5942 or visit their website to request a car insurance quote today.