Having a teen driver can bring up complicated emotions. While you’re excited for them to become more independent and start doing more things on their own, it’s also easy to worry about safety risks on the road.

Without school taking up their schedule, teens have a lot of time to practice driving in the summer before school begins. This extra practice time can help them build confidence before they start driving more independently. Whether your teen has just gotten their permit recently or is close to finally earning their license, there’s a lot you can do to prepare as a parent. Before your teen starts driving to school, sports practices, or activities on their own, it’s a good time to review your insurance options and make sure your family is ready.

Adding a Teen Driver to Your Car Insurance

Before your teenager can begin driving with their learner’s permit, they need to be insured. Many parents choose to add their teen to their existing policy, but this is also a good time to compare your options and see whether another insurer may better fit your family’s needs and new circumstances. This way, you can pick the best option for you and your family based on your budget and the type of protection you’re looking for.

It’s common knowledge that teen drivers generally increase premiums because of their lack of experience on the road. Other factors influence premiums, too, like the type of vehicle being driven, where you live, and the driving history of everyone on the policy. If you want to get the best possible coverage for a reasonable price, ask a local insurance agent to walk you through your options and help you find the coverage that fits your family’s needs. Ask them if there are ways to manage insurance costs with a teen driver such as available discounts for good grades, safe driving programs, or other savings opportunities. Your teen’s vehicle choice could affect your rate, too.

Related Reading: Learn more about ways to manage car insurance costs before adding a new driver to your policy.

How to Help Your Teen Become a Safer Driver Before School Starts

Learning the rules of the road means preparing for challenging driving situations like busy intersections, bad weather, nighttime driving, and highway merging.While your teen has their permit and practices with an adult, you can teach them how to get through these situations safely. Once they’re driving to school and work on their own, though, they won’t have that guidance in the passenger seat.

As you teach them how to navigate these high-risk road conditions, make sure they understand the rules of the road that apply to them once they get their license. In Chicago, that means that until they’ve had their license for a year or turn 18, they can only have one passenger in their car under the age of 20. They also have nighttime driving curfews per Illinois’ Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) Program. Illinois’ GDL program is designed to help new drivers gain experience gradually before taking on fewer restrictions.

Once school starts and your teen begins driving independently, they need to be especially careful. Preparing them ahead of time can help them make safer decisions when they are driving to school, work, sports, or activities with friends.

Getting Insurance Help During a Big Family Change

Car insurance can be relatively simple for a couple with clean driving records, but once they add a teen to the plan, their decision on what plan works best for the family becomes more complicated. That’s why it’s important to do your research, ask questions, and pick the right plan as soon as your teen gets their permit.

While many things can be handled online today, insurance is still something many families prefer to discuss with a real person who understands their situation. That’s why many parents like having the option to talk with an expert at a local Amigo Insurance office.

Amigo Insurance considers the fact that some people have different communication preferences. Parents can reach out in English or in Spanish, and they have the option to contact us online, through the phone, or in person. We understand the needs of drivers in Chicago, including new drivers and students, and we understand the stress parents go through making the right decision for their teen driver.

Related Reading: How much care insurance does your family legally need in Illinois? Learn about Illinois care insurance requirements here.

Preparing Your Teen Driver for the Road Ahead

Adding a teen driver is a major step for your family. Taking time to review your insurance options, understand Illinois driving rules, and talk through safe driving habits can help you feel more prepared. When you’re ready to update your policy or compare coverage options, Amigo Insurance can help. Get a quote online, call a local office, or visit a neighborhood location to speak with a team that understands your needs.

Adding a teen driver? Get a quote in minutes with Amigo Insurance.