They’ve finally passed – important considerations

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When your child turns seventeen, it can be a worrying time for a parent. Not only are you required to pay out for the cost of a course of driving lessons, there’s also the car to think of and of course getting it insured.

Here are a few things you should consider if you have a teen who’s about to take to the road.

Getting them insured

The first thing you need to do is decide which car they should be driving. If you’re going to be sharing, then you can insure them as a second driver on your own car. For those lucky enough to be bought their own car, then by law they must have their own insurance policy in place. Once you decide which route you’re going to take don’t just choose the first insurance policy you find; it’s important to get car insurance quotes online before you make your final decision.

You might also want to consider telematics. This involves a small electronic box being placed in your teens car that gathers data on how they drive, giving you an insight into how safe they are on the road. This can then be viewed online, providing feedback which can not only improve their skills, but can also help them to secure cheaper car insurance further down the line.

Making the insurance policy decision

Insuring them on your car may seem like a cheaper option, but there are a variety of factors that should play a part in your decision. The first is helping them to build up a no claims bonus; if for example they are named as a second driver on your policy, this means that they won’t be able to build this up themselves, as it will be part of your policy. If, however, they have their own car and don’t make any claims for the duration of their first policy, this will play its part when they come to renew.

If you name your child as a second driver on your policy when this is not the case, then this can actually be illegal. If your child is the primary driver and this is not declared on your insurance policy, this is known as ‘fronting’ and can invalidate your policy

An added level of security

When your teen passes their test, it can be a worrying time for all concerned. As a parent you want them to be as safe as possible, and while they probably don’t want to admit it they’re probably a little daunted by certain aspects of driving, like going on the motorway for the first time. PassPlus is an established training course run by the DSA and aimed at new drivers to help them build on their existing skills and become a more confident driver; this includes tackling some of the most daunting tasks like motorway driving Statistics show that new drivers are more likely to have an accident within the first two years after passing their test, so PassPluscan provide added peace of mind for the parents of new drivers.

Choosing the car

You’ll both have your own ideas about what is the right car, although their idea will probably be very different to yours. Remember, you want something safe (not an old banger), but don’t go too expensive or powerful as it will push the insurance up.