Helping your child get their driver's license is one of the most important projects you'll do with them as a teenager. Besides setting up their car insurance and choosing a vehicle, you also need to teach them the skills every driver needs to be safe on the road. The more effectively you teach them, the more successful they'll be as a driver, and the lower their risk of an accident. Before you hop in the car, plan out your lessons with the following rules in mind.

How Should You Teach Your Teen to Drive?

1. Be a Good Example

Long before your teen gets behind a wheel, they're absorbing the rules of the road based on your driving. With that in mind, model responsible, defensive driving. Follow all traffic laws; use your seatbelt, headlights, and blinkers; and never use your phone while driving. As your teen approaches driving age, try pointing out what you're doing when you drive and how you're making decisions on the road. Also, talk to them about safe driving techniques, traffic laws, car insurance requirements, and other general knowledge about cars and driving.

2. Cover Practical Skills

The car's basic controls—gas, brake, gear shift, and steering—are only your child's first lesson. When you drive, you use specialized skills, like keeping your car centered in the lane, backing up, different parking methods, timing your stops, entering and exiting a freeway, and accelerating and braking smoothly. Also, driving in different conditions—such as at night or in the rain—is a skill set of its own. Your child must practice all these scenarios repeatedly, so they're comfortable with them before their exam.

3. Keep a Constructive Attitude

It's normal to be nervous when your child gets behind the wheel. This is a big responsibility. Many parents worry that they might have a claim to their car insurance before their child even has their license. But if you're anxious or upset, you'll make your teen more nervous too, and they're more likely to make mistakes. They're also less likely to absorb what you're teaching them if they're upset. Stay calm, be reassuring and supportive, and focus on teaching your child the right way to drive, not reprimanding them when they do it wrong.

If you need affordable young driver’s insurance, Lafever Insurance Agency in Cookeville, TN, has a range of options. Serving the Upper Cumberland area for over 40 years, they offer a variety of policies, including RV, motorcycle, boat, and auto. They're in the office year-round to answer your questions or schedule consultations. Call (931) 526-3377 or reach out online for a quote.