If your teenager has just learned how to drive, they’re understandably going to be very excited to finally get behind the wheel.
Of course, they’ve been through driver’s ed and have earned their license like any other new driver. But now they get to go wherever they want without someone being in the car with them!
Being able to drive independently is one of the key gateways into adulthood, and it’s something most teens look forward to more than anyone else.
But before they borrow your keys and head down to the nearest drive-through takeaway for the first time, you’ll need to make sure you’ve got the issues below all squared away.
Add Them Under Your Car Insurance
In most states, it’s a requirement for any licensed drivers in the household to be added to the car insurance of any drivers already in the family. If you’re a dad with a car, and it’s the main vehicle that the family uses, any person who could end up behind the wheel should be on the insurance policy.
That’s why changing to comprehensive family auto insurance is usually a good idea, as you’re now dealing with a young driver as a necessary add-on. If they’re not, and they end up using the vehicle and having an accident, you won’t be covered against any damages.
Alternatively, if you end up buying them a car as a gift – or going ‘halves’ on one now they’re in their late teens – they’ll simply just need their own insurance instead.
Decide How You’ll Share the Car
If your teen doesn’t yet have their own car, you’re going to need to come up with a set of guidelines for where and when they can borrow your car.
Because they’re going to want to! But you also don’t want to wake up in the morning to see your car gone and no idea where your teen has taken it.
So sit down and work this out now. If your teen wants to borrow the car, do they just need to ask? Or will there be certain times when they have free reign over using the car themselves?
You should also set down some hard limits on what is and isn’t allowed when they’re behind the wheel. For example:
- They need to clean out the car after every use
- If they want to drive, they can’t have been drinking or just come from a party
- If they want to give their friends a lift, no more than 2 in the car at a time
- If they need to use their phone, they set it in a holder and use it in hands-free mode
When your teen passes their driving test, and is able to get a full and proper license, it’s time to tick off the to-do list above. Make sure they’re either on your insurance or have their own, and make sure you set down some borrowing/driving rules while they’re still under your roof.
