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7 Tips: Planning for a Family of Drivers

You may not have been planning for a family of drivers, but here you are, a few teenagers later and your driveway looks like a parking lot. If you are having trouble figuring out what to do next, don’t worry, you’re not alone. Check out these seven helpful tips for planning your future as a family of drivers to keep yourself and your family on the same page.

Not Everyone Needs a Car

First things first, not everyone needs to have a vehicle. Just because they have a license, doesn’t mean their birthday comes with a brand new car in the driveway. Of course, you are more than qualified to choose a suitable car for your teenagers. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t share.

Find a plan that you and your teenagers are comfortable with as far as who drives which car when. That way you can save money, save time, and not have four different car payments at once.

Always Have Coverage

Having a family of drivers means having a family of insured drivers. There are lots of great options out there for cheap insurance for teens and families. Never let the coverage lapse, as younger drivers aren’t used to being on the road and mistakes can happen. Always have coverage for the whole family, and be certain to check for family discounts with your provider.

Schedules are Important

No matter what, an important thing to remember is that everyone will have a different schedule. Not only will you have work and errands, but the kids will have school and extracurricular activities. That means planning out schedules is important, especially if you are sharing vehicles.

Carpool to Save on Gas

Carpooling is an excellent option for a family of drivers. However, with bigger families that can be a bit tricky. Here are a few things to remember when trying to carpool to save gas:

• Always be on time
• Plan ahead
• Make sure your route is efficient
• Don’t fight over who is driving
• Rotate driving responsibilities

Having a family of drivers is all about planning ahead and trying to save money where you can. However, just like getting use to having to insure a car you don’t own alone, you also need to get used to teenagers taking over driving responsibilities. Carpooling will save money for gas and mileage if you have other cars.

Mutual Respect

Having more than one driver using different vehicles means being respectful of each other’s time, space, and responsibilities. Having mutual respect for your family members’ needs will not only make sharing vehicles easy, but less of a hassle. Find ways to talk about issues openly, and you’ll have a more successful car sharing relationship with your family.

Maintenance is Key

Having more than one driver for a single vehicle can be tricky. Especially when it comes to maintaining the vehicle. Be certain to have a rigorous maintenance schedule for all of your vehicles. That way there are no nasty surprises for anyone in the family.

Staying Responsible

One of the most important factors about planning for a family of drivers is staying responsible. Not only for yourself, but for your loved ones. Having a conversation with your teenagers about responsibility on the road should be one of the first things you do when planning ahead for them to be behind the wheel. That way they are safe on the road and they can manage for themselves if something happens.

Planning for a Family of Drivers Can Be Simple

There are a lot of things to think about when trying to plan out having a family of drivers. Don’t be afraid to discuss being responsible, planning out schedules, and keeping mutual respect for each other. If you use these seven tips, you’ll be successful. Even with a full family of drivers.