Your teenager learning to drive is another reminder that the kid you used to cart around is growing up. Soon he will be able to run errands for you and drive you places. Will you share your car? Has your teenager been saving up for one? Will you be buying a new or used vehicle for your son or daughter? Who will pay for the additional car costs, such as gas, oil, tires and other upkeep? Insurance, too, will need to be discussed.
Start Them Small
Becoming an accomplished driver doesn’t happen overnight. New drivers are not all alike. Take it slow with your teen, and keep an open mind when it comes to who will be giving the driving lessons. Your child might have already practiced backing out of the driveway. Maybe on the weekends, you can take them to an empty parking lot and let them get in some practice. Some parents (and their kids) prefer someone unrelated to provide the driving lessons. You can hire a third party. Don’t do more than your teenager is ready for. When you are both comfortable with everyday driving, it might be time for them to try the freeway, according to DriversEd.com.
Set Clear Rules
Driving age or not, your teen is still your child. You’re the parent, and so as the Children’s Health Network says, you are allowed to set rules about driving. For example, perhaps the most important rule is for your teen to not use his or her phone at all while driving. No talking. No texting. Not even hands-free functions. Another guideline is for the new drive to have no passengers at first (except an adult when the driver still has a learner’s permit). You can decide when to allow passengers. The last rule is to always follow traffic laws. If your child is pulled over, tell him to be polite and have his ID, registration and insurance information ready.
Prepare For Insurance Costs
New drivers, especially males, will cause your insurance rates to go up. According to Insurance Center Associates, this is because new drivers don’t have a driving record for insurance companies to base policy prices on. Based on statistics, most insurance companies use that criterion when quoting new rates to you. Another reason for the increase is that teen drivers cost a lot to insure. Given that fact, you might need to adjust your monthly budget or have your child contribute toward the insurance bill.
Learning to drive is a rite of passage. Every person on the road learned to drive at one point in his or her life. It’s often more difficult for parents to get past this stage. Your parents were eventually fine with it. You will be, too.
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