Oklahoma Auto Insurance
Drivers in Oklahoma are required to carry automobile insurance with a policy that meets certain minimum standards put in place by the Oklahoma Insurance Department. These standards include at least $25,000/$50,000 in liability coverage and a minimum of $25,000 in property damage coverage. Anyone found driving without auto insurance or a policy with coverage less than these minimum requirements can be exposed to severe penalties, fines and even suspension of their driving privileges.
If you’ve ever had a car accident before then you probably already know how low these numbers are. In fact, the Oklahoma Insurance Department encourages drivers to adopt policies in higher amounts in order to be adequately protected including considering the purchase of collision, comprehensive and/or uninsured motorist coverage. State minimum auto insurance requirements are set low so most drivers can afford auto insurance but these limits alone certainly do not provide full protection in the event of a car accident.
How much is auto insurance in Oklahoma?
Average auto insurance rates in Oklahoma are some of the highest in the nation with only Louisiana and Michigan drives paying more. With annual premiums running almost $1,900 a year Oklahoma drivers pay over 30% more than the national average for the same coverage. Auto insurance premiums vary by state due to different laws, statistics and more so complaining about the high cost of auto insurance in Oklahoma will not do much however you can save by shopping around. With such high cost of auto insurance its important to learn how auto insurance works, what discounts are available and compare as many auto insurance companies as you can.
Oklahoma Teen Driving Laws
One thing that can certainly make the already high auto insurance rates in Oklahoma rise even further is having a teenage driver on your policy. Teenage drivers are classified as high risk by auto insurance companies and premiums can cost well over $2,000 a year. While there’s little you can do about the “high risk” label associated with young drivers there are some things you can do to help the cost of auto insurance gradually go back down. First and foremost, make sure your teen knows and understand all basic driving laws, as well as all laws and restrictions pertaining to his or her driving privileges. Violating these privileges is an easy way to face not just increased insurance but fines, fees, and tickets.
Oklahoma State law requires a teenager to be at least fifteen years old and six months, to the date, in order to qualify for a learner’s permit. Without a learner’s permit, no teen may operate a motor vehicle at any time, except in allowed driver education courses. Teens must keep their permits for a period of six months before they will be able to test and apply for a restricted driver’s license. During this period of time, drivers must get in at least fifty hours of driving practice, ten of which should be during the evening hours.
When teens reach the age of sixteen and have had their permits without incident for six months, they are then eligible to apply and test for their restricted drivers licenses. The license will be unrestricted when the driver reaches the age of sixteen and a half to the date and has completed driver’s education courses. If a student does not complete driver’s education courses, he or she must be seventeen years of age to have a full license. During the restricted period, teens may not drive between the hours of 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. and they may not carry more than one passenger.
As your teen successfully completes each step of the process to being a licensed driver, your insurance rates will gradually go down. If your teenager happens to be a good full-time high school or college student with at least a B grade point average, you can pay even less for car insurance by taking advantage of the “good student” discount offered by most providers in the state. Be aware, however, that you should be proactive and alert the provider that your child qualifies, as many providers will not come out and tell you about possible discounts. You can also get more discounts by installing safety features on your teen’s car and making sure he or she does not have a very expensive vehicle with a high net value.
