After all the years of guiding and protecting your children, handing over the car keys can be a nerve-wracking experience. This is a big step. Here are a few things that might help you prepare:
- Education First: Ensure they understand the rules of the road and the responsibilities of driving. A solid foundation in traffic laws and safe driving practices is crucial.
- Start Slow: Begin with short, low-pressure driving sessions in less congested areas. Gradually increase complexity as they gain confidence and skill.
- Stay Calm: It’s natural to feel anxious but try to stay calm and positive. Your attitude can greatly influence their confidence and learning process.
- Set Clear Expectations: Discuss rules and boundaries before they start driving. Make sure they understand the importance of following them.
- Practice Patience: Learning to drive can be challenging. Patience and encouragement will go a long way in helping them become a safe and confident driver.
- Emphasize Safety: Reinforce the importance of safety measures like seat belts, avoiding distractions, and not driving under the influence.
Auto Insurance
- Before getting a learner’s permit, call your insurance professional. Your agent or rep can clearly explain the costs involved in insuring a teenage driver.
- Involve your teen in the car insurance discussion. It's important to talk to your child about the relationship between driving a car and the responsibilities, including insurance costs.
- Encourage positive behaviors. Auto insurers offer discounts or reduced premiums to: Students who maintain at least a “B” average in school, teens who take a recognized driver training course, College students who attend school at least 100 miles away from home and don't bring their car to campus.
- Choose the right auto insurance company. It's generally less expensive for parents to add teenagers to their own auto policy than it is for teens to purchase one on their own. Insurance companies differ in how they price policies for young drivers, so do some research and talk to your agent about your decisions.
- Increase your liability insurance for greater protection. If your teen gets into an accident, state minimums for liability insurance will not be enough to fully protect you from lawsuits. Depending on the value of your financial assets, you may even want to have extra protection that a personal umbrella liability policy provides.
At Suburban, we can offer the right coverage with the personal touch you would expect from your neighborhood insurance agency. Call us at 201-796-1881.
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