Worth Investing: Teen Drivers

Worth Investing: Teen Drivers

When teens get behind the wheel, their families start to worry about several things, safety and finances among them. While the sticker shock of having another driver in the house can be intimidating, investing in your teen is important for their safety in a few ways.

New and improved

From rearview cameras to lane change alerts, there are more safety features available than ever to help maneuver the unexpected when it comes to teenagers driving. To help select the right features for your teen’s vehicle, search available safety and technology options that can help make their car, truck or SUV a perfect fit.

GM’s OnStar® program, available on most new GM vehicles, is a great option for teen drivers who need help preparing for the unexpected. With Automatic Crash Response, Crisis Assist and Roadside Assistance capabilities, OnStar ensures help is just a click away.

Extra options might increase the price of the vehicle overall, but they can help keep your teen safe on the road, making them well worth the money.

Stress safety first

It’s not just vehicle safety features that can have an impact, though. 

• Take time to talk. Investing time with your teen can make a world of difference in developing smart, safe driving habits that long outlive their first car. Just discussing driving basics like buckling up, using blinkers and maintaining a safe following distance can be key for new teen drivers.
• Tech distractions. With technology ever-present in our lives, it’s a good idea to talk about how to avoid distractions when driving. Changing a playlist, applying that final coat of mascara or talking with friends can be dangerous in the driver’s seat. Remind your teen to always be fully focused on the road.
• Pocket the phones. To take safety a step further, look into the settings on your teen’s phone. Do Not Disturb features are available on most smartphones, whether they’re built in or through a downloadable app.

These features can detect when the phone is moving or connected to your teen’s vehicle’s Bluetooth system, which automatically sets it to Do Not Disturb, so notifications are turned off. Don’t worry, though. Your teen will still have complete access to all notifications once they’re safely parked.

Remember the influence your driving has on your teen, too. They’ll likely model their driving style after yours, so ensure you continuously practice what you preach.

Lease or buy

There’s a lot to consider when it comes to getting your teen a set of wheels. Whether it’s determining safety must-haves, figuring out how to split the bill or choosing whether to lease or buy, there are many moving parts.

However, with benefits to both options, it’s all about your preferences and lifestyle.

Consider leasing if you:

• Like to experience new more often
• Want your teen to have the latest safety features available
• Plan to take advantage of lease-end options

Consider buying if you:

• Want the freedom to personalize the vehicle
• Prefer to worry less about wear and use
• Know the car may be driven a significant number of miles

Whichever option is best, review our current offers page to get you started right choosing the vehicle that’s best for your teen driver. 

Better safe than sorry

Your teen driver is well worth the investment. Keeping safety at the forefront of your teen’s driving experience — both through features and conversations about it — can help you breathe easier as you watch them pull out of the driveway.    

It can be challenging to keep track of everything when your teen is about to hit the road. Download our Road Map for Safe Teen Driving to guide you through the process and help you remember what’s important.

By Allison Scott, GM Financial

Allison Scott stays plugged in to all things electric cars-related, and likes to balance it out by sharing a budgeting tip or two. When she's not working, you'll find her jamming out to John Mayer, cracking "dad jokes" or cheering on the Dallas Stars.