Personal Insurance - Teen Drivers

When to Talk to Your Agent About Your Teen Driver

When your teen is getting ready to begin driving, tell your insurance agent that there will be another driver in the house.

Keep Insurance Costs Down with a Teen Driver

Premiums can be higher to insure teens because they lack experience, but there are a few ways you can help keep costs down:

• Make sure your teen is driving a safe car
• Encourage him or her to earn good grades to qualify for a good student discount
• Explain the importance of maintaining a clean driving record to keep costs down

Preparing Your Teen to Drive

Set a good example: When it is time to teach your teenager how to drive, remember this: recent studies suggest that most teens drive as their parents do, not as they say.

You can begin preparing your teen to drive by practicing safe driving habits now. If you are in the habit of speeding or driving without a safety belt, for example, your teen may think it is okay to do the same when he or she begins driving.

Help for teaching your teen to drive: The Ohio Insurance Institute (OII) offers a step-by-step guide, including steps for preparation, a parent/teen driver contract template, and suggested lesson plans.

Set ground rules for the road

• Limit the number of passengers in the car. As the number of passengers increases, so does the likelihood of loud music, laughter, food and other distractions that can make it difficult for your teen to focus on driving. Also reinforce that each passenger must wear a safety belt at all times.
• Limit the time of day your teen can drive. Your teen may be looking forward to getting behind the wheel to take friends out on a Friday or Saturday night, but weekend nights can be the most dangerous times for teens to be driving. Setting a curfew for your teen can help keep them off the road during these times.
• Limit where your teen can drive. Based on where you live and the activities your teen is involved in, you will need to decide the distance and time it is reasonable for your teen to drive. You may set a limit on the number of miles or hours your teen can drive each day, or how far away from home he or she is allowed to drive.

Westfield and Teen Driver Safety

With half of all new drivers involved in a crash before they turn 20, we need better ways to prepare and protect teen drivers. Westfield works to help improve public awareness of the importance of teen driver safety and supports programs that educate and inform young drivers and their parents. Learn more