Helping Your Child with Their First Car Insurance Quote

Getting a car insurance quote can be intimidating for a young driver shopping for it for the first time. We also understand your essential role as parents and how important it is to guide your child properly through this process. By encouraging active participation and offering practical advice, you can help ensure your child’s safety and peace of mind on the road. To that end, here’s a short guide to help you better explain the world of insurance to your teenager.

Start Talking About Car Insurance Early

Even before your child gets their driver’s licence, explain why it’s important to have insurance, how it works and the different types of coverage available. This will help your teen build a solid foundation for making informed decisions. Talk to them about the right habits for safe and responsible driving. These habits will not only keep them and others safe, but will also help them get more affordable insurance premiums in the future.

Buying the First Car

Involve your child in the process of choosing the right vehicle for them. Some cars are more expensive to insure because of various factors. By choosing a vehicle with insurance-friendly characteristics, you can help keep insurance premiums lower.

Factors That Affect an Insurance Premium

• The driver’s record:
  • Credit score
  • Criminal record
  • Driving experience
  • Number of claims or traffic tickets
  • Gender and age
• The vehicle to be insured:
  • Make and model
  • Value of the vehicle
  • How often this vehicle is stolen
  • Use
    • Used to get to school and/or work
    • Number of kilometres driven per year
  • Place of residence
    • Area with a high risk of crime or accidents
    • Area prone to natural disasters
  • Coverage and protections chosen

Knowing the Different Types of Coverage

Civil liability, collision insurance and insurance for accidents without collision or upset are types of car insurance coverage that offer different protection in the event of accidents or damage.

Civil Liability:

Among other things, it covers property damage and bodily injury you may cause to others in a car accident for which you are found responsible. It is designed to protect third parties (damage to a pole owned by Hydro-Québec, a home, a pedestrian during a trip to the USA, etc.) from the costs of an accident you caused. It also covers damage to your vehicle if you are found not responsible for an accident.

Car civil liability insurance is mandatory for all owners of road vehicles.

Insurance Against Collision and Upset:

It covers physical damage to your own vehicle resulting from a collision with another vehicle or an object. For example, if you hit a tree or lose control of your vehicle and end up in the ditch, collision insurance will pay the cost of repairing your vehicle, minus your deductible. It’s optional coverage, but it can be especially useful if you drive a high-value vehicle.

However, it does not cover damage unrelated to a collision, such as theft of your vehicle or natural disasters.

Insurance Against Risks Other Than Collision or Upset:

This coverage protects against damage to a vehicle when no collision or upset is involved. Among other things, it covers partial or total theft of the vehicle, vandalism, glass breakage, natural disasters, etc.

The Importance of Comparing Insurance Prices

Teach your teen how important it is to compare insurance prices from different companies, since prices vary from one company to another depending on your record. Also explain the difference between a broker, an insurer and an insurance comparison site so they can understand the roles of the different players involved in their search for insurance.

At ClicAssure, we make this process easier by offering quick and simple access to car insurance offers online. Encourage your child to explore different options to find the right coverage at the best price.