Whitonomics - Issue 1 Jan 2014 | Page 11

I n b rief P.9 Car Insurance explained: not making the most money? Why do insurance firms charge teens so much? We’re C Rahmon Agbaje ar Insurance explained: Why do insurance firms charge teens so much? We’re not making the most money? It’s common knowledge that the car industry is a very daunting place for teenagers these days, especially with the extortionate car insurance quotes that practically every young person has to face. Car insurance is there to cover any driver who has been involved in an accident and needs to make a claim – everybody needs to have it as it keeps our roads safer. The simple reason why it is so much more expensive is that young people make more insurance claims than any other age group – mainly due to their inexperience. Young males are 10 times more likely to be killed or injured than a driver aged over 35 (sorry to scare you). The typical insurance claim by a young male adds up to around £4,500, compared with £1,200 when the driver is demand for car insurance is not very responsive to changes in price. This is because it is illegal to drive without it so if teenagers opt to buy a car they must buy car insurance or they will face severe consequences – therefore people must buy car insurance (it’s as essential as petrol, both are needed to drive a car these days ). Insurance firms take advantage of the complicated structure of this industry and middle-aged, whether male use evidence which shows or female (according to a teenagers are the most risky Guardian report). drivers to increase the price leve