From the moment our kids are little we teach them to say please and thank you, how to tie their shoes, and eventually how to drive. But there are some life skills that are overlooked by parents. Insurance may be one of them. When our teens get their permit we add them to our policy and most likely pay the additional premium. Although this helps them in the short term, it does not help in the long term. So many times we see twenty somethings come in to our office to get their first car insurance policy and they have no idea where to begin. They call their parents while at an agent’s desk to get the details of their previous policy. Our number one job as a parent is to teach our kids to become a responsible independent adult.
When you add your teen to your policy sit down with them and go over your current auto policy. Explain the coverages, the discounts you receive and why auto insurance is so important. They should know the basics, which are collision coverage, comprehensive coverage, liability and deductibles. You can do your best to explain to them the difference between Full Tort and limited tort. When it comes to underinsured motorist coverage and uninsured motorist coverage explain to them what these coverages protect against. Then there is towing, rental and roadside assistance. Better yet, bring your teen into your independent agents office when they are first added to the policy. This would also be a perfect time to review your insurance coverages/deductibles and will certainly provide a wonderful teaching moment for your teen. Not to mention show them the cost of auto insurance.
Don’t forget to ask your son/daughter to sign a no texting and driving contract, as well as discuss safe driving practices. It is so important to have a conversation with young drivers about registration, following state laws while driving and the consequences for not abiding by the rules and laws. As parents we should reinforce our expectations while taking the car out. All of this goes hand in hand with auto insurance. To keep your rates low, a good driving record is needed. If they are a good student, they may qualify for a discount. Be sure to ask your agent if there is a discount for Good Student on their car insurance policy.
When you have these conversations with your teen you teach them valuable life lessons that they can carry on into adulthood.
