For Parents
Insurance, Defensive Driving & Traffic School
The moment your teen starts supervised practice, your insurance needs to know. Adding a teen driver increases rates — but not disclosing them can void your coverage in an accident. And if your teen gets a violation down the road, a defensive driving course may help protect their record and keep rates from climbing further. Here’s what to do and when.
When to contact your insurer
- Before supervised practice begins — report your teen as an occasional driver once they have a permit
- Again when they’re licensed — add them as a named driver once the provisional license is issued
- Rates will increase — now is a good time to compare across providers
- Teen drivers typically add $1,000–$3,000 per year to a policy depending on vehicle and location
- Good student discounts (B average or better) can reduce the increase by 10–25%
Important for parents: Most policies require you to disclose household members operating your vehicle. Failing to add your teen before an accident could result in a denied claim or policy cancellation.
Defensive Driving & Traffic School
Defensive driving isn’t just for after a ticket — it’s one of the smartest optional investments a new driver can make. A structured course builds real road awareness: hazard recognition, space management, and how to stay calm under pressure. For teens just starting out, that kind of training sticks in a way that studying a handbook simply doesn’t.
- Traffic Violator School — If your teen receives a citation, California’s Traffic Violator School program may be worth exploring. Completing an eligible course can keep the conviction confidential and prevent a negligent-operator point from appearing on their driving record. Eligibility is determined by the court.
- Insurance discounts — Many insurers offer discounts of 5–15% for completing an approved defensive driving course, whether or not there’s been a violation. It’s worth a call to your carrier before enrolling. The course may pay for itself.
Enroll in a defensive driving course →
Rate comparisons coming soon
Passing Lane will help parents compare teen driver insurance rates directly in the app. In the meantime, contact your current insurer first — staying with your existing provider is often cheaper than switching.
Passing Lane may earn a referral fee when you obtain a quote through a partner insurer. This does not affect the quotes you receive or our recommendations. We are not licensed insurance advisors — consult your insurer directly for coverage decisions.