Are you planning to teach your teenager how to drive?

Well, if you live in Sydney and your child has no prior experience behind the wheel of a car, you might be wondering the best way to go about it to improve their confidence and brush up their skills.

While it is recommended that they take some lessons with a professional and fully qualified driving instructor, there are some things you can do to help them along.

Ensure they are aware of the road rules

Before anyone is permitted to start driving, they must first obtain their learner’s permit by passing a written test about the rules of the road.

To do this, encourage them to study diligently and quiz them on it regularly, both at home and whilst in the car with you.

Overall, to pass the written theory test, L-Platers will need to demonstrate an understanding of proper driving behaviour before they are able to practice on a real road. This includes everything from understanding speed limits and indicating before turning to know who has the right of way in any given situation.

Add your child to your car insurance policy

If you intend to let your teenager drive your vehicle, you will need to modify your car insurance policy.

Legally, your teenager won’t be able to drive your vehicle if they are not covered. So, you will need to contact your insurance provider to get them to make the necessary amendment.

Don’t be surprised if your premiums go up!

Fully familiarise your teenager with your vehicle

Before letting your teenager practice on the road, you should make sure they are completely familiar with the various functions of your vehicle.

Get them to sit in the car and adjust the driver’s seat and mirrors to their liking. Then make sure you give them a proper run down of all its main features, including the ignition, indicators, windscreen wipers, fog lights and high beams, air conditioning and hazard lights. Of course, you can find driving lessons with EZLicence where you can compare instructors and find the right one for your child.

Before you let them drive anywhere, you need to have the confidence that your teenager will be able to quickly and correctly use the correct car features when responding to various circumstances, they might encounter whilst on the road.

Initially Practise at an empty car park

Once you are confident your teenager is familiar with the inner functionality of the car, you should let them drive it.

Initially, the best place to do this is in an empty car park, for example at the weekend at your local school or university or a big supermarket before it opens in the morning.

Be supportive and encouraging as you guide them through the basics of accelerating, braking, reversing, turning and driving around in a loop. Whatever you do, don’t shout or raise your voice, as this can make them more nervous than they already might be.

Your main goal here should be to help your child feel in control of the car and develop their spatial awareness, while familiarising themselves with the major techniques involved in driving it.

If they are really showing an aptitude for managing the car’s controls, you could even teach them more advanced moves such as reverse or parallel parking.

Drive on a proper road

If they have mastered the basics and proved they can drive around an empty car park with no issues, then you should feel confident enough to let them head onto public roads with you.

You should make sure you put their L-plates on the car before you do this, however it is a good idea to head to a business industrial area, again at the weekend, when less cars are likely to be around.

They may well be very nervous the first time of do this, but if you remain calm and supportive, they should quickly adjust to the road conditions. When they do this, their confidence will soar, and they will start to showcase everything they have learned.

Reward progress

Teaching them to drive is as much about building up the confidence of your teenager as it is about the skills involved in doing so.

For this reason, recognising milestones and giving your teenager praise is very important. It can be a very motivating force for them.

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