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| Driving Test from Shutterstock |
Driving is a rite of passage for most teenagers and a key life skill to learn. It can be fraught if not handled properly and, of course, there’s a price tag attached. Each stage needs negotiating carefully and there are plenty of ways that a parent can guide a teen in the right direction. Heres how you can help:
Learning
to drive
This
usually takes the form of lessons from a reputable driving instructor
interspersed with further sessions - perhaps with yourself supervising your
offspring as they practise what they’ve been taught.
Finding
a suitable driving instructor is important, so research carefully. Ask around for recommendations –
feedback from others can be invaluable.
If
you can, provide a good foundation before lessons begin. It’s possible to run
through the basic operations of a car with your child before they begin with an
instructor. Having this basic knowledge in the bag can save time when it comes
to paid-for sessions and help them hit the ground running.
If
you think you’d find it difficult to stay calm while your teenager wrestles
with clutch control and roundabouts, then you’d be doing them no favours. It
may be better to ask a responsible friend or relative to help out. A clam,
experienced granddad can be worth his weight in gold.
The
driving theory test
A
driving theory test is a vital part of the learning process – it’s one thing
mastering clutch control but if your teen doesn’t understand signs and the laws
of the road they’ll be all at sea. This also offers a way in which you can help
too.
Test
your teen on their Highway Code knowledge and direct them to online resources where they can take mock tests just like the real
thing. Don your metaphorical examiners hat to help and spend time revising
parts of the theory that they find hardest to grasp – you might even brush up
on some rusty bits of your own knowledge too.
The
car
Whether
your teen uses a family car or has their own, insurance will be a significant
(and probably costly) factor.
Using
a family car: it’s fine to add them to your insurance policy but it’s
likely to cost extra to add them, and they won’t be building up their own no
claims bonus.
Using
their own car: if it’s their car and they’re the main driver, then
they need their own insurance policy. Don’t be tempted to insure it in your
name and add them as a named driver - this is known as ‘fronting’ and is
illegal.
You
could be added as a second driver, which could bring the premium down. Try
investigating young driver insurance specialists and comparison
sites. Shopping around could make a huge difference.
Buying
a car
Clearly
something as inexpensive to run and insure as possible is desired, unless money
is no object. If you’re helping financially, it’s important to set a budget
everyone agrees on, and choose accordingly. Buying a car, especially a first
one, might be exciting but it’s important to stay level headed and show your
teen the value of making a well-researched financial decision.
If
buying used, even from a reputable dealer, observe the following:
• Have it
checked over by a knowledgeable friend or organise an AA inspection or similar
• Make
sure it’s a car your teen can live with day to day
• Check it
hasn’t been modified - this can bump up insurance premiums
• Check
running costs - especially insurance
• Be sure
it falls within your set budget (maybe you can negotiate the price down)
I hope you find the advise here useful and all the best to your teen who is about to embark on this exciting journey.
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