Reader question:

My teen…I wish I didn’t even have to say it, it makes me so mad…has to get Michigan SR22 filed because he was caught driving drunk. I would love to take his car away from him, but I’m stuck because he has a job and if he doesn’t save money from his job, he loses college money, and I know it won’t help at all to punish him by making it harder for him to attend a good college. But I pay for his insurance now. How can I get this on the cheap?

Melanie

Great question, Melanie.

Sorry to hear you’re in that situation. I would be furious too. But, you have to make the best of it. To be honest, if I were in your position, I would just make him pay for his own insurance and let him walk to work. If the walk is to far, then I’d let him quit that job and find one closer. That way he doesn’t sacrifice anything.

Still, you might not be inclined to do that, so I’ll throw you a line. There is a way that you can lower your rates for Michigan SR22 insurance while still laying the hammer on him. He has a job and school? All right, so you make sure that every free moment he has is spent either studying or in class. Here’s what I mean.

A lot of Michigan SR22 companies have a discount for good students. This can be up to 25%–that’s a lot, eh? If your son can pull a B average, he can get this.

Secondly, he needs a defensive driving class anyway, so enroll him in one. Now, if he is already required to take one, then this won’t have any effect on the insurance premium of yours, but if he isn’t required, then you can get a discount.

Cheers,

Fashun Guadarrama.