Travel Tips for Teens

Parenting Tips:  Teens Traveling Without Your Supervision

As your teens grow up, they may want to test the waters on a road trip without parental supervision.  As a parent, you can alleviate some fears by teaching young drivers about travel safety before they hit the road.  Teens need to show responsibility and understand both the rules set by you and the laws where they will be traveling.

Travel Tips

• Have teens leave a detailed itinerary at home with names of the places they will be staying, along with the phone numbers of those who are traveling with them.
• Require teens to check in regularly with you.  Choose a time during the day they are expected to check in with you to keep some of your worries away.
• Be sure they know the traffic safety rules and laws of the destination to avoid conflict.

Before the trip, review your insurance coverage and involved your child in this process.  Then, make sure your child is aware of all the contact information needed to file a claim or receive assistance, whether it is using auto or health insurance.

Considerations for Auto Insurance

• Always have the current insurance ID card, title and registration in the vehicle at all times.
• If an accident occurs, have them call 911 for emergencies and the police for non-emergencies right away.  Then they should notify you.
• Talk to them about whether or not to file an insurance claim.  Have a plan so they do not allow other drivers involved in the accident to convince them they do not need to file an insurance claim.
• Have teens take pictures of the accident scene, including the vehicles and people involved.
• Always have teens request a copy of the police report or at least the report number.

Considerations for Health Insurance

• Teens should keep an insurance ID card, a list of drug allergies and a list of current medications with them when traveling.
• If urgent emergency care is needed, they should go to an ER immediately and have a friend or police contact you with the details.
• If medical care is needed but it is not an emergency, have teens contact your insurance company to find a local covered physician.  After being treated, keep all of your paperwork from the hospital, doctor’s office and / or pharmacy.  Keep a note with the name of the treating physician in case follow-up care is needed once they return home.

Helpful Hint

Since your own health and automobile insurance will generally not be accepted outside of the United States, contact your agent to clarify your coverage abroad prior to your trip.