Teen Drivers

Acuity's auto coverages are there to keep your teen driver safe

Demonstrate safe driving habits in your family and wear your seatbelt. Medical payments limits automatically increase if the injured person was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident.

Your teen is not the only one on the road. Protect yourself and your family against injuries caused by a driver who does not have enough insurance with uninsured and underinsured motorists coverage.

Feel relaxed knowing your teen is not stranded and help is just a phone call away. Include towing and labor coverage and receive Emergency Roadside Assistance.

Be rewarded for being responsible

Your teen works hard for good grades and to be a responsible driver. Acuity wants to reward that. Teens can qualify for good student and incident-free discounts.

Safe cars for new drivers

With youth and inexperience can come mistakes, and some vehicles tend to be more forgiving in an accident than others. We want to help you ensure your most precious cargo is driving a safe vehicle.

Newer vehicles often have more safety features that are designed to not only protect the driver, but also the passengers. Some things to look for when picking out a car for your new driver:

• Stability control. This helps the vehicle keep traction in less than ideal conditions. This will help your young driver maintain control of the vehicle and get safely to their destination.

• IIHS safety rating of good. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety tests numerous vehicles and provides a ranking for a variety of features and scenarios. Do some research and make sure you know what kind of results your vehicle has had.

• Check for recalls. If you are purchasing a used vehicle, make sure you know its history and do a check for outstanding vehicle recalls. CARFAX has a free tool you can use.

Regular maintenance checks. A simple and important part of owning and operating a vehicle is maintaining it. Help improve the vehicle’s longevity and safety by performing routine maintenance and checking the car to make sure it is in safe operating condition. Here are some tips to create a proper maintenance schedule for your car. 

Talk to your teen about safe driving

Like most parents of new drivers, you likely have a lot to think about and many worries running through your mind. Below are a few items to think about and potential conversation points for you and your teen.

• Wear a seatbelt. Start by setting an example; kids respond better if they see you do it versus being told, especially if you don’t follow your own rules! Whenever you are in the same vehicle as your teen driver, whether they are driving or you are, always make sure all occupants have their seatbelts fastened before the car moves.

• Avoid risky driving behaviors

  • Distracted driving. No texting, calling, or social media; set expectations and repercussions. Passengers can be a distraction too.
  • Speeding. Don’t be in a hurry. Remind your teen to take their time in getting places, because if they aren’t careful, they may not get there at all. For the tech savvy parent, there are smart phone apps that can help keep track of your teenager’s driving behavior, particularly how fast they may be going.

It's important your teen knows how to handle an accident. They should know to stay calm and report the accident immediately to the police. From there, they can follow these steps to ensure they are safe and everything will be taken care of.

Be active in your child’s driver education. Practice makes perfect. Help your teenager become a safer, more experienced driver by practicing with them. You didn’t learn it all with one lesson, and they can’t either. Be patient and supportive.