Posted by John Coyle on Tue, Feb 03, 2009
Amidst the excitement of your teenager getting his or her first driver’s license, you no doubt feel a strange blend of mixed feelings. You are thrilled about their newfound freedom; all the while feeling anxious about letting them hit the open road in a motorized vehicle. In order to minimize your fears and feel better about your teenager behind the wheel, consider the following:
Insurance: Just because your teenager is sixteen and ready to drive, doesn’t mean that your insurance will skyrocket. Your insurance premiums will be lower if your teenager keeps a clean driving record. Also, putting your teenage driver on your policy will benefit you both because any discounts your receive will be passed on to them. Tri Star Insurance Professionals Inc. in Plano, McKinney and North Dallas can help you find a policy that will offer your teenage driver full coverage without draining your wallet. As a member of the Independent Insurance Agents of Texas, Tri Star Insurance represents many different companies such as Travelers, Kemper, Safeco and Germania in order to find you the most competitive rate.
Driving School: It used to be that teenagers would reach the age of sixteen, high tail it to the Department of Motor Vehicles and take a standardized driving test. Some high schools even taught driver’s education as a mandatory class. Nowadays though, there are only two options, practice with mom or dad and take the test, or go to a driving school. There are many driving schools to choose from in Texas, and many range in price from rather expensive to very expensive depending on the curriculum. Though a bit costly, teens that take formal driving lessons are less likely to get into an accident and are proven to be all around better drivers.
Safe Car: No parent feels completely comfortable with letting his or her child drive, but a safer car will not only lower your insurance costs, but also fare better in an accident. In lieu of a shiny new sports car, there are many reasonable yet stylish cars on the market. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has loads of information about car safety and car crash performance on their website to help you with your car buying decision.
Driving Tips: Teenage drivers need to know more than just the old adages "always wear your seatbelt" and "obey the speed limit." To become great drivers, teens should be aware of many things including how to drive in bad weather, in the country and other defensive driving tips. A nifty website called Teendriving.com, dedicated to educating teens and parents, is an excellent source of information for new drivers.
The best way to cut down on motor vehicle accidents is to prevent them in the first place. By working with your teenager to become the best driver possible, you will be lowering their chances of becoming just another statistic.
Don’t take a chance with your teenage driver and let Tri Star Insurance find an auto insurance policy that will keep them covered out on the open road. For more information or to talk to an agent call 214-387-0600 today or visit www.tristarins.com.