A Guardian’s Guide: How To Help Teen Drivers Be Safe

Hello, responsible guardians!

First of all, good for you. Good job researching how you can keep your teen driver safe. We hope we can help both you and your teen feel more confident about hitting the road with these tips.

Parent and teen driving rules
Parent-Teen Driving Contract template
Safe driving vehicle features
Apps to track your teen driver
Safe teen driving discounts
Adding a teen driver to your auto policy

Before you hand your teen the keys, establish some ground rules together to keep them safe. Keep in mind, every teen matures differently and will likely need different rules to help them be a safe driver.

Some rules to consider establishing with your teen driver can include:

No passengers, especially other teens
Minimize distractions

Make a list with your teen of specific things that may distract them (eating, music, phone calls, texting and social media)

Never drive under the influence of alcohol or any drug. Also, never get in the car with anybody under the influence
Follow the speed limit
Require everybody in the car to wear seatbelts
Be home by a set curfew
Follow traffic laws and signals

Consider utilizing videos and statistics from reputable safety organizations, like the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, to help explain why these rules are important.

Create a Parent-Teen Driving Contract using our template

To help your ground rules stick, you can create a Parent-Teen Driving Contract. Your teen will sign the contract to show they understand and agree to the terms of their driving privilege. Driving is a privilege and a responsibility, not a fun activity. To help you get started, we created this Parent-Teen Driving Contract template.

Equip your teen’s vehicle with safe driving features

Beyond setting rules for your teen’s driving, evaluate the car they will be using. Is it safe? Consider finding a vehicle with some of the newer safety features, if possible.

Some car safety features that may help your teen include:

Automatic emergency braking (AEB)
Rear-view camera/360-degree camera
Blind spot detection
Lane departure warning (LDW)
Lane keeping system (LKS)
Forward collision warning

Use an app to track your teen’s driving

For ultimate accountability, consider using an app that tracks your teen’s speed, phone usage and location. There are several options in the app stores; some of them are even free. For most apps, you will need to download the app on both your phone and your teen’s phone.

Some popular apps include:

Mama Bear
Automatic
TrueMotion Family Safe Driving
Life360
AT&T Drive Mode

Some phones and apps out there may also have drive detection, which can track when certain apps are used while driving. So, research your teen’s phone capabilities to see what’s available.

We give discounts for safe teen driving because it’s worth rewarding!

When you and your teen feel confident about their safe driving, we want to celebrate with you. That’s why we offer the following safe teen driving discounts.

You could work this into your Parent-Teen Driving Contract as an incentive. If they achieve our discounts, you can reward them with a special treat of some sort.

Teen Driver Monitoring Discount: If your teen driver has a GPS unit attached to the vehicle they use most or an eligible app on their phone, they may qualify for this discount. You will need to provide proof of purchase or other documentation for the GPS unit or the eligible phone app. Talk to your Bolder Insurance Advisor for more information.

Good Student Discount: To qualify for this discount, your teen must be a full-time high school, college, university or vocational technical school student (under the age of 25). They will also need to show us their report card or scholastic record to prove they meet one of these requirements:

Rank among the upper 20% of their class
Have a “B” average
Have an average of three points on a four point scale
Included in the dean’s list or honor roll

How do I add my teenager to my auto policy?

Contact your Bolder Insurance Advisor and let them know you need to add your teen as a rated driver. They will need to know what vehicle they will be operating and their daily commute.

Summary: Helping your teen navigate the responsibility and privilege of driving is daunting. Set boundaries, make a contract, give them lots of practice, be a good example and keep the conversation about safe driving going!

This information is provided by Auto-Owners Insurance, a Bolder Insurance partner