Virginia Bureau Offers Teens Auto Coverage CD

The Virginia State Corporation Commission’s (SCC) Bureau of Insurance now offers a free educational compact disc (CD) geared to teenage drivers. The 15-minute CD is designed to give teens a basic understanding of automobile insurance and the impact their driving can have on their coverage.

The bureau developed the CD after surveying Virginia high schools to determine their interest in an educational program explaining auto insurance to teenagers. It plans to distribute the CD to every high school in Virginia in time for the start of the 2004-2005 school year. The program is designed to be self-running and self-taught, so students can view it on a computer at their convenience.

“We are very excited to offer this new way to help young people learn about insurance,” said SCC Insurance Commissioner Alfred W. Gross. “The CD provides a wealth of information in an interactive format that is quick and easy to review.”

The CD reviews the various types of auto insurance coverage – liability, collision, comprehensive, medical expense, and uninsured motorists. It also explains how insurance premiums are determined, what happens if you do not have insurance coverage, what to do if you are involved in a crash, and how to keep your insurance premiums low. It includes a question and answer segment, as well as contact information for the Bureau of Insurance in the event you have a problem with your insurance company or agent.

The CD complements the “Teenager’s Guide to Auto Insurance” pamphlet which was also produced by the Bureau. Both the CD and the pamphlet are available on the Bureau’s website at www.state.va.us/scc/division/boi or by calling the Bureau of Insurance Property and Casualty Consumer Services Section at (804) 371-9185 or toll-free at 1-877-310-6560. Consumers who are hearing or speech impaired may call through the SCC’s Telecommunications Device for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (TDD) at (804) 371-9206.

For additional information, contact kschrad@scc.state.va.us