Many people are not prepared for how costly car insurance for new drivers can be. The two biggest questions people have are how much insurance do I need to get, and how can I save money on it. Whether you are buying insurance for an adult who hasn’t had insurance for awhile or a teenager with a brand new driver’s license, the following steps will help you choose the policy that is right for you.

1. Shop around. Can’t say it often enough. It’s easier than ever to find car insurance for new drivers with all the online tools available. Check out a few different websites and see what you come up with. While you are doing this, experiment with different deductibles. Higher deductibles means lower premiums. If you decide to save money on premiums this way, make sure you have the money saved up to pay the deductible if you need to.

2. Don’t stop with the online comparison. Consider this just the first cut. Once you’ve found a few attractive options, talk to an agent. If you’ve never had car insurance before, get the agent to explain the policy clearly to you so you know what you are buying. Ask about discounts. Completing a driver’s education course or having good grades often are taken into consideration, and can lead to lower premiums.

3. Know before you buy. If you are also adding a new car to your policy, check insurance rates before buying it. Premiums to insure a small inexpensive car will be much less than for a racy sports car.

4. Think about what you are insuring. Along those lines, if your car is 15 years old and you plan on replacing it within a few months, you don’t need a lot of insurance on the car itself. If the car is newer, then of course you’ll want better protection on the vehicle itself.

5. Be a little proactive. One reason car insurance for new drivers is so expensive is that many of them are teenagers, who as a group have higher accident rates. Before setting your teenagers loose on the roads, have a serious discussion about safe driving and the penalties you will inflict if they get tickets or are involved in accidents. Safe drivers’ rates don’t go up dramatically; unsafe ones’ do. Consider making a deal with your teenagers such as you paying for the insurance to begin with. If their unsafe driving leads to increased insurance premiums, then at a minimum, they will have to pay the difference. Many companies will reduce premiums after a year if there have been no claims. If this is the case for you, offer to split the premium reduction with your teenager.

So when buying car insurance for new drivers, exploring your options and not taking the first deal you are offered are smart move. You will be more likely to buy the right policy with the right coverage and save yourself some money.