5 Things Every Parent Should Teach Their Teen About Auto Insurance
Most teaching falls upon parental shoulders, whether it applies to general knowledge, life skills, or important privileges in life such as driving. There are at least 5 important things every parent should teach their teen drivers about auto insurance and their responsibilities as a driver.
Some are practical tips, others are knowledge the parents gained in their own school of hard knocks. All are a good starting point for any discussion parents must have when their teenager first begins asking about taking driver’s education classes to obtain an early driver’s license.
Here are 5 of the top things parents need to communicate to their teenage driver before they get out on the road with others:
1. Accidents and tickets will cost them more than the immediate expense; there are long term effects that linger after any accident or injury they cause. If they are involved in any type of accident, no matter how minor, or if they incur points on their driving record from tickets, it will cost them for many years in higher rates for insurance. If they cause property damage, they are responsible for working hard to make restitution for those damages. If they cause injury or death to another, even in a true accident rather than from negligence or stupidity, there will be long lasting mental effects. They need to understand that a vehicle can become a lethal weapon in a fraction of a second, and if they harm others while driving, they will never forget it. They must understand their very serious responsibility to drive with care and not harm others.
2. 3 out of 4 vehicle deaths are due to lack of use of seatbelts and drinking. Teenage drivers, with their lack of driving experience and life experience, are prone to have accidents; this is why they automatically have higher insurance costs from day one. Seatbelts should always be worn by all occupants in a vehicle, latched prior to starting the car engine. Drinking and driving should never be mixed; teen drivers are underage for drinking in most states.
3. They are responsible for their driving expenses, including insurance and any deductibles, whether on your policy or theirs. Get a low deductible they can afford.
4. Good grades keep premiums down and so do safe driving classes or driver’s education training. Teens must spend more time studying and less time driving around if they want to keep grades up and premiums down.
5. Low rates are more important than the ride; car types affect insurance rates. Discuss the benefits of driving a “beginner’s” car rather than a sporty model with regard to insurance rates and driving habits. There is a learning period for driving; teen drivers would do well to get a reliable older car and learn to drive responsibly first.
Teaching responsibility for driving begins not with driver’s education classes, but very early on in childhood. Nothing is more heart wrenching to a parent than watching their new teen driver drive away from them for the first time, all alone in the car. It is one of those milestone moments in a parent’s life. All they want is for their new driver to return safely, unharmed. It is at this moment that a parent fully understands that all they have taught their youngster from the beginning is in place, and it is too late now to add comments.