Every parent has a moment of panic when a teen ask for the car keys. When you certainly have the option of saying no, chances are you will end up sharing your car. Rather than praying for it to come back intact, there are some things you can discuss with your teen to make sure the car stays in good shape and your kid is safe.
- Have a talk about general car maintenance and security. Don’t make it about protecting the car from scratches but instead focus on how to look out for warning signs of car trouble, how to drive in extreme conditions and how to do small maintenance things, including changing a tire.
- Talk about emergency situations and come up with a plan. If the car breaks down in an empty road, what is your teen supposed to do? If you have an AA membership, share the phone number and explain how the process work. They should also have access to a few phone numbers of adults (family or family members) they can contact in an emergency. If you have a trusted repair shop or mechanic in town, give them that number too.
- Establish rules about driving. While chances they will be broken once in a while, you can set rules on how far your teen can drive, whether he can take road trips and how often he should call and check in. Don’t be obsessive and allow for some breathing room. Asking your teen to call if he’s running late is normal and should be enforced.