There’s nothing like the gut clenching terror that comes along with handing over your keys the first time-unless it’s the feeling you get when you see what having a teen driver in the house is going to do to your car insurance rates! Teen drivers are 60% more likely than their parents to be in an accident, and car insurance companies are going to make you pay for that difference. Here’s a look at how you can pick up insurance for your teen without killing your bank account.

1) Limit the amount of time they spend out on the road. Most car insurance companies are going to ask for a detailed run down on where, when and how often your teen is going to be out on the highways. Teens who drive back and forth to school and work are much more likely to be in an accident than ones who go out on the occasional Saturday. Limiting the amount of time they spend behind the wheel is going to be better for both of you.

2) Crack the whip at homework time. Your job and your credit score both factor in when your insurance company is calculating your car insurance rates. Since your teen’s “job” is to go to school and they aren’t eligible for a credit card to help build a credit score, your car insurance company is going to want to know what their grades look like. Honor roll students are eligible for discounts on their insurance, so give your teen a push to keep up their end of the bargain.

3) What’s your teen driving? Expensive cars cost more to insure than clunkers, no matter who’s behind the wheel. Handing over the keys to your Jag is going to hurt your insurance rates, so if you have another option for your teen you might want to use it. Remember, there’s a reason most parents pick out clunkers for their kids’ first cars!

4) Did your teen take a Driver’s Ed course? Driver’s Ed adds positive points onto your license, so if your child hasn’t taken a class (or if it’s been a few years) you might want to encourage them to take a driver improvement course. Most counties offer them, and once they finish the class (which usually only lasts two to three days) they’ll be eligible for discounts on their car insurance rates.

5) Call around. When you add a teen driver to your car insurance is a good time to start exploring your insurance options. Some companies are more conservative with their insurance rates for teen drivers than others, so you might be able to save just by switching providers. It’s worth a try.

6) Keep their record clean. The best thing for you and your teen is to make sure your teen isn’t constantly racking up speeding tickets and traffic violations from accidents. Teach good driving habits, and set a good example. Remember, they’re going to drive the way you do. If you’re an aggressive driver don’t be surprised when your teen is too.

7) Is your teen helping to pay for their insurance? Believe it or not, a great way to keep your car insurance rates down is to have your teen pay all or part of the difference in your insurance premiums. When they’re spending their money they’re going to be a lot more respectful of the need to keep their insurance costs as low as possible.