At Farm Bureau, our agents know how important it is to help teens become safe, skilled drivers. The statistics are telling:
- Accidents, including motor vehicle crashes, are among the leading causes of death for 15- to 19-year-olds in the United States.
- Teen drivers 16 to 19 years old have a fatal crash rate almost three times as high as drivers ages 20 or older.
Teen motor crashes are a largely preventable problem. As a Farm Bureau agent, you could be part of the solution from the moment a teen driver first grips the steering wheel. Here are some of the ways our agents help teens learn to drive more safely.
Creating Safe Drivers
Despite the startling statistics on teenage car accidents, many parents of teenage children have not yet talked to their teens about the key components of safe driving.
When you become an insurance agent, you have the opportunity to help. When clients come to you to add a teen to an auto policy, you have a chance to remind them to talk to their teens about vehicle safety, answer their questions and help them find ways to keep costs down. Plus, you help shape a responsible attitude about teenage driving in your community.
Here’s what Farm Bureau insurance agents do every day to improve teen driver safety in their neighborhoods, cities and towns.
1. Start the Conversation
Effective parent-teen communication is critical to helping teens recognize and choose safe driving behaviors. As a Farm Bureau agent, you can serve as an ongoing resource for parents on safe teen driving practices. You can offer them proven strategies to help young drivers stay safe on the road, such as:
Covering the basics. Before handing over the keys, your client should talk to their teen about car safety:
- Always wearing a seat belt. In 2024, when passengers were killed in a car driven by a teenage driver, more than half of those killed weren’t wearing a seatbelt.
- No drinking or drugs. Teen drivers involved in deadly crashes were drinking 22% of the time in 2024.
- Following traffic laws. Speeding is especially dangerous for teens, since it reduces the amount of reaction time they have to avoid an accident.
- Limiting passengers. Passengers distract teens, and your state may have restrictions on passengers in cars with teens. Parents may also want to set their own limits on how many people can be in the car when their teen is driving.
- Sleeping enough. Driving while tired is risky for everyone, especially teens. It’s important for new drivers to get the sleep they need and to avoid driving late at night.
Leading by example. Young teens spend a lot of time in the car with their parents, so remind clients to model smart driving behaviors, including putting their phone on Do Not Disturb mode so they aren’t distracted by notifications.
Talking about the risks. Most parents talk to their teens about the risks of drinking and driving. But what about texting, talking on the phone, putting on makeup, fixing hair, eating or drinking or having passengers in the car? Help your clients understand the dangers so that they can communicate them to their teens.
2. Answer Questions About Auto Insurance for Teens
Parents have enough to worry about when their teenagers are learning how to drive. Getting auto insurance for teen drivers shouldn’t be one of them. When you help answer your clients’ questions, they can focus their energy on the important things, like helping their teen get their license and learn how to drive responsibly.
Here are some common questions parents ask about insurance coverage for teen drivers.
When Should Teens Get Car Insurance?
In most states, teens driving with a permit with adult supervision in the vehicle are automatically covered by their parent’s auto insurance. Teen drivers need their own car insurance when they get their license and are legally allowed to operate a vehicle on their own. It’s a good idea to remind your clients who have teenagers about the rules and requirements in your state.
Why Do Teen Drivers Typically Have Higher Insurance Rates?
Teen drivers do not have as much driving experience as adults, nor do they have fully developed judgment skills. For these reasons, adding a teen driver to a policy often results in increased premiums.
3. Keep Costs Down
Safety is typically the top concern of parents who are preparing their teens to drive, but keeping costs down is a priority, too. Fortunately, there are several ways you can help your client save when they add a teen to an existing Farm Bureau policy.
- Young Driver Safety Program: Drivers age 25 or under may qualify for a discount if they complete this program, which involves watching a driving safety video, driving under supervision for 30 hours and committing to a safe driver pledge.
- Driveology®: With Driveology, good habits earn discounts. By driving at safe speeds, accelerating and braking gently and avoiding phone use, you can save money on your auto insurance. Every driver listed on your policy can qualify for discounts.
Are You Ready to Make a Difference in Your Community?
From guiding parents on teaching their children safe driving habits, to helping them find the best insurance for teen drivers, Farm Bureau agents make a difference in the safety of their communities. If a future with Farm Bureau sounds like it could be right for you, contact us to learn more about what it means to be a Farm Bureau insurance agent.