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The morning of 16th birthday I begged my father to take me to the Department of Motor Vehicles to get my learner's permit. After waiting in line interminably, I finally approached the window and handed the woman my application. She looked down at it and asked me, "What took you so long?"
That was then. According to a Nationwide Insurance survey, today's parents, it seems, are making their teens wait longer before taking that trip to the DMV. At least one in seven families are choosing to delay their teen's driving.
The survey found that the top parental concern (65 percent) about teen driving is the cost of auto insurance, second only to distracted driving. The second biggest concern, at 55 percent, was the costs associated with teen driving, and in particular insurance costs if their teen gets into an accident. The third-ranking concern is the price of gasoline, at 54 percent.
According to the survey, 70 percent of parents of teen drivers insure their child on the family's auto policy and experience a yearly average increase of about $800.
Parents are tackling the rising costs associated with allowing their teen to drive by delaying their teens' driving, as well as by making financial cutbacks. The survey found 40 percent of parents are cutting back on entertainment expenses, 38 percent on eating out and 35 percent on vacations.
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