Your child has just turned 16 and wants to learn to drive? Offer him accompanied driving or supervised driving if he is over 18 years old.
This learning of the road for young driver is very advantageous. While preparing your child as well as possible for the driving license, it allows him to better understand the road and to gain self-confidence.
But that’s not all: it also opens the doors to cheaper car insurance. Here are the steps to take to ride well protected in accompanied driving.
What steps should I take to get started with accompanied driving?
REQUEST AN EXTENSION OF YOUR CAR INSURANCE
Has your child signed up for driving school and chosen accompanied driving? Will you be his guardian with your vehicle? Do not delay and call your car insurer quickly.
Indeed, to be well protected, you must notify him of this change. Here’s how it goes:
- 1st formality: notify your insurer
- When the learner driver has had his code and has taken at least 20 hours of driving lessons with an instructor, ask the driving school to provide you with the Certificate of completion of initial training (AFFI). Your insurer requires it to grant you an extension of cover.
- The insurer makes an amendment to your contract, that is to say a modification. You therefore receive a new insurance certificate. You are now well insured for accompanied driving.
Normally, this insurance extension is free. Be very careful though:
There are price differences depending on the insurance. This drafting can lead to an additional cost: 10 to 20 euros.
Some professionals increase the deductible on this occasion.
Indeed, they think that with a novice behind the wheel, accidents are more frequent. In order not to burden their disaster budget, they therefore leave a larger sum at your expense.
CASES WHERE THE INSURER MAY REFUSE YOUR REQUEST
In general, your request for extension to accompanied driving is accepted without problems. But if you have had a lot of responsible claims or are badly terminated, some insurers will be reluctant to accept your request.
It’s the same thing if you have been convicted of certain traffic offences: flight, drink-driving, homicide or involuntary injuries, refusal to comply, license suspension.
The solution? Ask a friend or relative who has a better history than you to be your child’s guardian. He must agree to accompany him with his own vehicle.
Even if you are present when the young driver is driving, never take the passenger seat. This could be a problem in the event of an accident.
IF YOU HAVE AN ACCIDENT DURING AN ACCOMPANIED DRIVING SESSION
You are the guide for the learner driver. As such, you are therefore responsible for its conduct. He has a collision and damages another car? If it is an accident for which he is wholly or partly responsible, the penalty is for you.
Next year, you will therefore pay more for your insurance.
Before leaving the wheel, make sure your child is comfortable on the road. This is not the case. Advise him to take a few additional driving lessons with an instructor.
At the beginning, take roads with little traffic, ride very carefully and for short periods so that his attention is optimal.
Why opt for the accompanied driving option?
What is accompanied driving really for – risky or useful practice: On the insurance side, in any case, it is very beneficial. Your child realizes this when he applies for an auto insurance claim on his own and for the first time.
YOU PAY LESS
Car insurance for young drivers is often very expensive.
In general, insurers apply an additional premium of 100%. The reason? According to statistics, they cause more accidents and therefore cost more to their insurer.
This is a little less true when you have followed accompanied driving.
You pay much less than your classmates, especially in the 1st year thanks to the granting of a bonus linked to accompanied driving. However, this percentage varies greatly depending on the insurer.
Why do you pay less if you followed accompanied driving? Insurers think you’re more experienced on the road than newbies.
You will therefore know how to cope better than them with perilous circumstances: emergency braking, complicated overtaking, bad weather.
According to statistics from professionals, you have fewer claims. You therefore cost them less and benefit from a reduction during the first 3 years.
You find an insurer more easily. Did your accompanied driving go well? You had no accident and your driving was irreproachable? Your parents’ insurer has certainly trusted you.
For him, you are a good potential customer:
- Some offer you a discount on your first insurance.
- You decide to find your own organization? You will certainly struggle less than classic young drivers to find an insurance offer.
Why do you pay less if you followed accompanied driving?
Insurers think you’re more experienced on the road than newbies.
You will therefore know how to cope better than them with perilous circumstances: emergency braking, complicated overtaking, bad weather.
According to statistics from professionals, you have fewer claims. You therefore cost them less and benefit from a reduction during the first 3 years.
1. YOU FIND AN INSURER EASIER
Did your accompanied driving go well? You had no accident and your driving was irreproachable? Your parents’ insurer has certainly trusted you. For him, you are a good potential customer:
- Some offer you a discount on your first insurance.
- You decide to find your own organization? You will certainly struggle less than classic young drivers to find an insurance offer.
Conclusion
Getting full insurance when learning driving is very vital. It’s gives one and edge and advantage over any unexpected incident.
I hope this post has shown you how this can take place without stressing out.
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