Retirement & Financial Planning Report

Adding a teenaged driver to a parent’s auto insurance policy is costly but there are ways to hold down costs.

* Get quotes from multiple companies. There can be large differences in price from one insurer to another.

* If your teenager has a good academic record in school, ask your car insurance company if it offers a good student discount.

* Encourage your child to take driver training classes, which also might lead to discounts.

* When you choose a new vehicle, pick a car with safety features such as anti-lock brakes and anti-theft devices. They’ll lower your auto insurance rates.

Most of all, insist that your child drive carefully. A clean driving record is the best way to hold down auto insurance costs.