OP here. I’ve decided to delay her taking the test to get more hours in. My insurance says we should put her on when she has her full license, but I am going to read this MD booklet about the rules in our state before taking next steps. Thanks again.

https://insurance.maryland.gov/Consumer/Documents/publications/teenautoinsguide.pdf

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If they have their own car, it is a lot more. So 2 cars and 3 drivers is much better than 3 cars and 3 drivers. Even if you do not think of that 3rd car as your teen's, your insurance will.

Not true for USAA in Va.

If the tern has his/her own vehicle, insurance rates them on that vehicle. If tern doesn't have a designated vehicle, insurance rates them on the most expensive of the parents ' vehicles.

That said, a teen with full access to his/her own vehicle is much more likely to get in an accident (can't remember the percentage, but it was pointed out in the Teen/Parent driving program we had to attend in VA.)

pardon my typos.... "tern" is meant to be "teen..."

And here is the link to the higher risk of accidents when teen has his/her own vehicle: https://abcnews.go.com/Health/MindMoodNews/teen-drivers-cars-crash/story?id=8675882


And here's some good data on costs of insurance at different ages and in different states. https://www.insure.com/car-insurance/teen-permit.html

Call your insurance and ask.

Anonymous wrote:If they have their own car, it is a lot more. So 2 cars and 3 drivers is much better than 3 cars and 3 drivers. Even if you do not think of that 3rd car as your teen's, your insurance will.

Not true for USAA in Va.

If the tern has his/her own vehicle, insurance rates them on that vehicle. If tern doesn't have a designated vehicle, insurance rates them on the most expensive of the parents ' vehicles.

That said, a teen with full access to his/her own vehicle is much more likely to get in an accident (can't remember the percentage, but it was pointed out in the Teen/Parent driving program we had to attend in VA.)

Anonymous wrote:When did you do this- when your child got their permit? Their full license? Did it make your rates go up astronomically? Also- how much did they drive before you had them take the test? My husband would say “that’s an hour” literally any time she drove at all, so even though her little booklet says she has the requisite number of hours, I know she doesn’t. Should I insist on more practice before having her take the test? TIA

Has she satisfied all of her in-car driving sessions with her driving school? I learned too late, that it's better to get driving in with Mom and Dad first and save the in-car sessions, or at least most of them, until closer to full (provisional) test time. I front loaded my DS with them last summer when we had more time, and he's developed some bad habits (e.g., not coming to a complete stop at a stop sign, not always signaling). He has one more session and I'm waiting until a week or two before he takes his test in April to get that last one in so the instructor can hopefully prepare him for the test.

Another option for you is to pay for additional driving time with the driving school. I have some friends and coworkers who have done that for their kids.

If they have their own car, it is a lot more. So 2 cars and 3 drivers is much better than 3 cars and 3 drivers. Even if you do not think of that 3rd car as your teen's, your insurance will.

Anonymous wrote:Add them when they get their license, not their learners permit or whatever they call it now. “Astronomical” is relative. I think around $1,000/yr is typical, a little less for girls and a little more for boys.

It was closer to $1500 for my son, but I think it also depends on what they are driving

Anonymous wrote:Add them when they get their license, not their learners permit or whatever they call it now. “Astronomical” is relative. I think around $1,000/yr is typical, a little less for girls and a little more for boys.

Ours went up $600 per 6 months and that’s with every discount imaginable. Quotes ranged from an additional $400 per 6 month to $2400 every 6 months, it varied widely among carriers. Spend the time getting a bunch of quotes.

In VA -
:45 hours of parental supervision including 15 at night
:7 hours of driving with accredited behind the wheel instructor and 7 hours of observation with the behind the wheel instructor.
:The behind the wheel teacher administered the driving test and submitted all paperwork to DMV.
:Classroom instruction, either through Health class in 10th grade or privately if health class done over the summer/virtual
: notify insurance when kid gets permit, but they don’t add (start charging) until kid is licensed

Minimum is only 45 hours in Virginia? That explains a lot about Virginia drivers...

Please don’t skimp on hours. It’s important.

For MD it is the same (add them when they get their license not permit), but it's 60 hours of driving, 10 of which has to be at night. The DMV gives the kids a book when they get their permit to track the practice hours, but skip it, as there is an app the kids like better (track in their phone the actual drive time rather than write estimates in the book).

Add them when they get their license, not their learners permit or whatever they call it now. “Astronomical” is relative. I think around $1,000/yr is typical, a little less for girls and a little more for boys.

The insurance companies don't charge you for the additional driver when the teen has a permit. They get added (and you get to pay a lot more) when they are fully licensed to drive on their own.

The minimum number of hours in VA is 45... but that is a MINIMUM... not a MAXIMUM. If you don't think your kid has enough experience to drive on his/her own, then you should not let your kid drive alone. Do you want your kid to be in an accident? That's ultimately the question.

How much driving is required for your state?

When did you do this- when your child got their permit? Their full license? Did it make your rates go up astronomically? Also- how much did they drive before you had them take the test? My husband would say “that’s an hour” literally any time she drove at all, so even though her little booklet says she has the requisite number of hours, I know she doesn’t. Should I insist on more practice before having her take the test? TIA