Insurance Costs for Teen Drivers Drop but Vary Widely by State
An unavoidable truth in the automotive world is that teenagers are risky drivers who are expensive to insure.The fatal crash rate per mile driven for drivers between the ages of 16 and 19 is almost three times higher than all other age groups, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).It should come as no surprise that adding a teenage driver to an existing auto insurance policy often causes a severe spike in annual premiums. What may be shocking, however, is that premiums can sometimes double when a teen is added to the mix.For the fourth year in a row, a Quadrant Information Services study, commissioned by insuranceQuotes.com, examined the economic impact of adding a driver between the ages of 16 and 19 to a family's existing car insurance policy. The numbers were once again staggering."Anytime you add a driver that is likely to be involved in more accidents, as well as more serious accidents, the rise in insurance cost will be steep," says Mike Barry, spokesman for the nonprofit Insurance Information Institute.
Summer travel insurance tips: How to stay protected
Hitting the road this summer? You're not alone. Statistics Brain reported that U.S. residents make about 657 million long-distance trips each year from Memorial Day to Labor Day, with these vacationers traveling an average of 284 miles each way to reach their destinations.And while you might have packed the sunscreen, reserved your hotel rooms and bought that new bathing suit, have you also reviewed your insurance to make sure that you'll be protected this summer travel season?See also: SUVs roar back: See our 5 top picksPlenty of companies, including the one that provides you with your rental car, offer travel insurance to reimburse you if your flight is canceled, you get sick while vacationing abroad or if someone sideswipes your rental car. The question is whether you need this extra protection.The good news for your travel budget? Usually, you will not. Most travelers will find that their existing health, auto and even homeowners insurance will provide them with all the protection they need, whether they're taking a trip one state over or across the globe.Here are some key insurance tips to keep in mind while you're traveling this year.Summer travel insurance tips: What to do, and what not to doYou probably don't need emergency medical insurance: The thought of getting sick while traveling to another country can be frightening. But that doesn't mean that you should buy emergency medical insurance before your big trip. That's because your existing health insurance will probably cover your medical expenses even if you get sick in another country.
But check first: There are some exceptions, though. If your insurance provider won't cover you once you leave the country, then you will need to purchase emergency medical insurance for your trip. And if you're on Medicare or Medicaid? Emergency medical insurance is a smart buy. Medicare doesn't cover you outside the United States at all. Medicare is little better; you might be able to get coverage in Canada and Mexico, but only in certain situations. Our best advice? Call your insurer before you leave to make sure that you are covered when you exit the country. Trip-cancellation insurance might make sense: What if your airline carrier goes out of business a week before your trip? What if you get seriously ill and have to cancel your hotel reservation three days before you're due to check in? Trip-cancellation insurance can help. This insurance will reimburse you for hotel reservations and airline tickets if your trip is cancelled or delayed.But not if you're traveling on the cheap: But trip-cancellation insurance might not be worth it if you haven't spent a lot of money upfront before your trip. Say you got a bargain on your airline tickets and you're only paying $99 each way. And maybe you've only reserved one night in a hotel room for another $100. That's probably not enough upfront costs to justify investing in trip-cancellation insurance.You probably don't need accidental death insurance: You can buy insurance that provides your survivors with a sizable payout should you die on your trip. But if you have existing life insurance, this is probably a waste of money. Your life insurance policy should make a payout to your listed beneficiaries should you die while traveling. Again, make sure to call your insurance provider before you leave to make sure.
5 factors for picking a child car seat
Any new parent will tell you the first time strapping a baby into a car seat and pulling out into traffic is a terrifying experience.Knowing you've put time into finding the right car seat can help ease this anxiety. Here are five factors to consider when shopping for the best child car seat.1. The size and age of your childYou'll need to update your child's car seat at each phase of her growth. Here are the main types of seats:Rear-facing seats connect to your car, and they have their own safety belt for your child.Forward-facing seats connect to your car and are designed to face forward.Booster seats simply raise children up, so the car's seat belt fits them properly. Some booster seats have backs with neck and head support.Convertible seats change from rear-facing to forward-facing with a harness and tether.All-in-one seats change from rear-facing to forward-facing to booster seats.Travel systems include a base, car seat and stroller. The seat snaps into the base in your car and into the stroller, making it easier to transfer a child from car to stroller.Infants should be in a rear-facing seat until they're at least 1 year old, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration advises. It's safest to keep children in a rear-facing seat as long as they remain within the manufacturer's height and weight limits — about three years. After that, it's time to face forward.See also: 7 pet safety lessons for drivingUse a forward-facing seat until your kid is around age 7, checking the manufacturer's weight and height requirements to know when it's time to next move into a booster seat. Children can move out of booster seats around age 12, or once they're big enough that the lap belt rests against the child's upper thighs (not the stomach) and the shoulder belt lies snugly across the shoulders and chest (not the neck or face). Children should continue to ride in the back seat through age 12.Check SaferCar.gov to find seat recommendations based on your child's age and size.