Putting teens behind the wheel of your car can be intimidating for both teens and parents. However, it doesn’t need to be that way. Teen drivers are in a unique category compared to other drivers, sure, but they’ll lead to the same kind of final result: freedom in the form of a driver’s license.
When it comes to you and your teen making that next step towards them learning to drive, here’s what you should know.
Testing is in stages
A teen driver doesn’t just get to drive around without any kind of training, as you likely already know. In Texas, there are two stages of driver education. The first is the written test that can be done at the Tx DPS (Dept of Public Safety) office. Teens must learn the rules of the road and study to pass this test. This helps them get up to speed on driving essentials.
After that, there is going to be a 6-month wait for them to take their actual in-car driver’s test. During these six months, teens need to spend at least 30 hours driving, including 10 night hours. This helps young drivers learn the hands-on approach to driving a car and the responsibilities it can bring.
Insurance can be simple to set up
When your teen passes their written driver’s test and starts their in-car training, they shouldn’t need to be named on an insurance policy. Since they are always in the car with one of their parents (which is a requirement for learning drivers), the parent would be the policyholder in case of an accident. It’s always a good idea to have a conversation with your insurance agent to discuss how things will work best for you and your family now and when you do add them.
Once a teenager gets their driver’s license, after passing their in-car test, they will need to become a policyholder for car insurance. In Texas, all drivers must have insurance, even if they are considered new or young drivers — like your teen.
Again, if you are concerned about how your teen will be protected during the training period or have questions on rates for teen drivers, the best thing to do is call your insurance agent and have a meeting with them. This can also give you more personalized information on what to expect with your own policy.
Be aware of restrictions
Even after “graduating” to their full license, teen drivers do have restrictions. If your teen is under the age of 18, they are not allowed to drive between midnight and 6 am. While there are exceptions for emergencies or employment, this curfew is put on for safety on the road, for them, and everyone.
If your teen is caught driving within that timeframe with no excuse, they can receive a citation for it. What’s worse is that the parents can receive one, too, since they are legally responsible for their underage teen.
Without question, there is a lot to understand about insurance as it is… let alone adding teen drivers to the mix. However, it’s not as scary as most think — especially when you learn about why the waiting periods and restrictions are in place. Teen drivers get a bad reputation for making car insurance skyrocket, but this isn’t the case. Talking to your insurance agent will also help you get a much better feel for what you can expect with real numbers! Contact Paula at League City Insurance Agency at (281) 488-8880 with any questions or to get a free quote.