Kids and parents alike are in for a world of new stresses and thrills when the former gets their learner’s permit and starts discovering the wonders of the road. Beyond the challenges of learning the rules of driving and how to operate a motor vehicle safely and effectively, there’s also the issue for parents of insuring your learner’s permit driver.
We’ll talk about several of the best ways you can make sure you keep your teenage driver safe and sound when they start to drive. We’ll also talk about how to save money on things like driver’s education courses and the aforementioned insurance costs of adding teen drivers to an already existing policy.
With careful planning and a willingness to get out of your comfort zone, you can help your teen driver learn how to get behind the wheel with confidence.
#1 – Understanding Your Child’s Driving Needs
If you’re going to help your child learn how to drive, one of the most important things to do is understand how their personality meshes with yours when you’re on the road. Some kids need more patience than others. If you start out on the offensive, yelling and screaming every time they make a mistake, some teens will get angry and resist your tips.
If you know your child has been someone who is able to take constructive criticism effectively throughout their life so far, they might be able to take your teachings without getting too upset.
If you’ve already taught a previous child how to drive, it doesn’t mean everything you did the first time will work out with your second kid. Everyone is different and needs different help behind the wheel.
Talk to your child about what they worry about when driving, and what they hope to get out of their learner’s permit and driver’s license. Do they want to drive to school? Or do they want to go out with friends on the weekends?
The latter might require more practice driving on the freeway. Be aware of what your child wants and work with them to compromise and fulfill everyone’s wants.
#2 – Getting Your Child Insured
You may be wondering how to add your child to a car insurance policy when they get their learner’s permit. It shouldn’t be as difficult as you might think it is at first glance. Just talk to your agent about adding your teen driver to your policy. You don’t need to worry about the process being any different between a teen driver with a license and a learner’s permit.
The one item all insurance companies care about is the driving record of whoever is being added to a policy. This means your child needs to start out strong when they get their learner’s permit. If they make mistakes on the road, violate traffic laws, and get pulled over, it’s going to be very hard for them to overcome this poor reputation at the start.
The price of auto insurance for teen drivers is already higher than any other age group. It’s imperative teens keep their driving records clean so it doesn’t get even more expensive to get insured. This starts with encouraging your child to practice the skills they’re learning in driver’s education classes.
Remember that your child can get discounts on their insurance with good grades in school, too.
#3 – Taking Driver’s Education Courses
Getting a good driver’s education is a great way for teens to start out their lifetime of driving. Decide whether you want to enroll them in an in-person driving course with instructors who will take them out on the road, or go with an online class where you do the hands-on driving instruction.
There are pros and cons to both options. You may not be as qualified as a driving instructor to give tips and advice on how to drive. At the same time, you know the personality of your child, the type of trouble they might get into on the road, and how to correct their mistakes so they don’t get discouraged.
Ask your child what they would prefer before making this decision. Sometimes the online approach is better if they also are juggling school work and after-school activities. Summer driving courses are more suited for in-person sessions. And when the time comes for the test, try finding a driving test at the most suitable date in your area.
#4 – Talking About DUIs
Teens can get very rebellious when they get into high school. Peer pressure encourages them to make poor decisions, like driving while under the influence. As a parent, you really need to impress upon your young driver how dangerous it is to drive after drinking. In the event of a collision due to any form of dangerous driving, it is almost certain that the injured party would hire an attorney to get involved. If you have experienced a similar incident then click here to connect with a trusted attorney who can assist you with your case and help you claim compensation.
Teens aren’t even allowed to drink until they are 21, so they would be breaking multiple laws by driving while drunk. Try giving statistics and showing the bad things that happen to teens who make these mistakes. Seeing the impact of reckless driving may be able to instill a greater respect for the road in them.
Other forms of distracted driving are having too many friends in the car and using cell phones while behind the wheel. Driving courses should talk about these issues some, but it’s a parent’s duty to really impress upon their teen how dangerous these things can be once they get their learner’s permit.
#5 – Choosing What Vehicle Your Teen Will Drive
Kids might have a certain vehicle in mind when they get their license. Safe cars are the smartest purchase when teens first start driving. Small vehicles like the Honda Civic or the Toyota Corolla have long been popular, but some kids might want to graduate up to something different depending on their interests.
If your child wants to become a truck driver at some point in their life, maybe start them out with a pickup truck or an SUV after the sedan. There are some driving classes that will focus on these types of vehicles, so do your research and find the ones specializing in them so your teen is educated properly.
Sports cars may not be the best purchase for any new driver. They are more expensive to insure, and they may encourage teens to want to look cool instead of driving safely. They’re not a financially practical vehicle.
If you plan ahead and communicate with your child about what they want to accomplish when they first learn how to drive, there’s no reason for the process to be as stressful as it’s made out to be.
