Potential costs of teenagers driving

Insurance & Savings Ombudsman warns parents about potential costs of teenagers driving

The Insurance & Savings Ombudsman Scheme has investigated a number of complaints about motor vehicle insurance claims which have involved teenage drivers, so it comes as no surprise that a recent Otago University study found that teenagers are crashing at an alarming rate. The study also highlighted that teen drivers on restricted licences are routinely breaching the terms of their driving licence.

Karen Stevens, Insurance & Savings Ombudsman warns parents “if your teenager is breaching the terms of their licence and has an accident, they will not be covered under your insurance policy. We have seen many instances where teenagers and their families have faced large bills for the damage caused when the teenager was involved in an accident driving in breach of their licence.”

Ms Stevens stated “As a parent of teenagers myself, I appreciate it is difficult sometimes to get the message through to our children. However, my message to parents is, as the study shows, teenager drivers are more likely to crash. Make sure your child realises that if they drive at night or with passengers in breach of their licence they will face the bill for any damage caused. Your insurance will not cover your car or anyone else’s that is damaged.”

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