8 Things to Do Before Your Teen Gets a Driver's License

There's a good chance the laws for new drivers have changed since you last took the test; many states now have graduated licensing, which can include restricted driving hours, limits on passengers, and stages of driving privileges based on time behind the wheel.

When do you need to add your new driver? Do you need more coverage? How much will your premium increase? See if your insurance offers good student discounts, which are based on current grades (good to know a few months ahead of time if your teen needs to boost her G.P.A.).

Your car may have a service that tracks a car's location and average speed, can reach emergency services with the push of a button, and report diagnostics to your phone or computer. If not, you can purchase a system such as hum by Verizon, which plugs into most cars from 1996 and on.

For $10 a month (plus equipment, taxes, and fees), you can do all of the above, plus receive maintenance alerts, and your teen can call roadside assistance and hum's emergency response team with the push of a button (hum automatically calls the emergency response team for assistance if a collision is detected).

You want to be sure you teen will be safe when he's on his own, so schedule a tune-up for the brakes, tires, fluids, and other important systems, and replace or fix anything that needs it.

If your teen knows where she's going, the names of major streets and roads, and neighborhood boundaries, she'll be more confident behind the wheel and less likely to need to reach for her phone to get her bearings. Old school paper maps are great; they show the big picture as well as details.

Teach your teen the basics of car maintenance, like how to check the oil level and how to read tire inflation numbers (hint: they're found on a sticker on the inside of the driver's side door).

Hum can help with this; the system reports a car's diagnostics straight to your phone or computer so you can review it together.

What is his curfew? Where is he allowed to drive by himself? When is he allowed to drive with friends? What are your expectations for grades and other responsibilities? By having your teen be part of the process, he'll better take ownership of these rules and responsibilities.

And if you haven't been, it's never too late to start! Of course, leave your phone alone, but also don't yell at other drivers, use caution when sharing the road, and be courteous — in short, be the driver you want your teen to be.