Having a teenager in the home means having to teach them how to drive. Thankfully there are online resources that can help them pass the written exam such as Zutobi that offers Florida permit practice tests. Even after they pass their driving test, you will have a hard time letting your child out on the open road alone, especially with the vast amount of distractions out there. Although laws are in place to try and deter some of these distractions, it’s not like bad things can’t happen; however, driving is also a rite of passage for teenagers, so you want to be sure your child is adequately prepared when they drive. To do this, there are certain things you and your spouse must decide before your teen starts driving.

1. Frequency

When you have a teen driver, they will want to get behind the wheel as often as possible. However, chances are you will not want them to just take the keys and go at their leisure. Instead, you and your spouse must decide the frequency your child can drive. For instance, do you only want them driving to and from school or to and from work? Will you allow them to drive every day or limit them to a few days a week? It’s important to figure this out and then talk with your teen about to ensure they fully understand your rules.

2. Hours

Aside from how often your teen can drive, you should also decide if there are certain hours you’d like them behind the wheel. For instance, do you want your teen home before the sun goes down to limit the amount of night driving? Or would you rather keep them off the streets during busy rush hours to reduce the chance of collision? Or do you simply want to stick to the curfew hours set in place by your local law enforcement or state government? Again, it’s up to you, but you need to discuss this with your child.

3. Insurance

When you add another driver to your family, you need to talk with your insurance company and have them added. Chances are your insurance rates will go up, so keep this in mind as you talk with yoru insurance provider. In addition, you want to make sure you’re getting adequate coverage for the car your teen will be driving. If your car is totaled and your teen is driving, you want to be sure your insurance will cover the necessary costs. It’s also important to keep in mind that some insurance companies may have certain rules/regulations for teen drivers to follow in order to be covered, so make sure you also read the fine print.

4. Rules

As your teen’s parent, it’s important for you to ensure your teen doesn’t just follow the rules of the road, but also follows the rules you set for him or her. Come up with the rules you want your child to follow, such as how many people can be in the car, where your child can go, how fast they can go, etc. It may be a good idea for you to look into getting a car that has Teen Driver safety features built in. These vehicles, like the Ford Taurus, offers built-in features that allow parents to set speed limits, set a volume limit, set location limits and so much more. Even without a vehicle with this technology, you should talk with your child about the rules you have set.

5. Car Situation

In order for your teen to start driving, you need to provide them with wheels. Some parents allow their child to have their own vehicle, while some opt to simply share a vehicle that already exists in the family. The final decision is up to you, but you need to make sure you have a decision made. In addition, keep in mind that another vehicle will also affect your vehicle insurance prices, so use this to decide what to do with your teen’s vehicle.