3 Tips for Parents With Teen Drivers

BAY CITY, Mich. – Having a teen driver in the house can be exciting and nerve-racking at the same time. If your teen has started driving or has recently received their license, take a look at our 3 tips for parents with teen drivers. You may find that by applying these 3 tips to your teen’s driving experience they will not only grow into becoming alert and safe drivers, but these tips may also help you become more comfortable with them behind the wheel.

Take a look at our 3 tips for parents with drivers below:

Start Off With Small Trips
Your teen may be anxious to go on that cross country road trip with their friends, but you know they aren’t ready at first. Start your teen with making small trips around town. Whether they have their driver’s permit or just earned their driver’s license, making smaller trips will get them comfortable behind the wheel and help them grow more confident with their driving. So when you need a gallon of milk from the local grocery store, have your teen drive the car to get there!

Set A Good Example and Good Rules
Your teen will learn their driving habits from you! Set a good example by obeying traffic laws, not using your phone while driving, and always buckling your seat belt. If you want your teen to be a smart driver, then be one too!

Setting your own rules at home is a great way to implement a responsible driver. Curfews and passenger limitations are ways to know your teen is practicing safe driving. Also by having your teen participate in the financial cost that goes into a vehicle helps teach them about maintenance responsibilities.

Get Your Teen Prepared in Case of an Accident
Even if you have faith in your teen’s driving, getting behind the wheel of a car puts anyone at risk of many unexpected events. If your teen experiences getting in an accident you want to make sure they know what to do. Having emergency kits in the vehicle at all times is just one step you can take to get your teen more prepared.

By using these 3 tips for parents with teen drivers, you will be able to encourage and teach your teen how to be safe and responsible when they get behind the wheel. Along with teaching your teen how to become a safe driver, you should find a vehicle that also works to keep them safe like the new 2016 Chevrolet Cruze. The 2016 Chevrolet Cruze not only comes with top technology and safety features, but it also can be purchased with Chevy’s new 24/7 Promise. The 24/7 Promise offers everything from vehicle maintenance assistance to OnStar capabilities. Now your teen can have the support of you and Chevrolet.

Don’t know if buying another vehicle is right for your family? Take a look at our Buying vs. Leasing page. There you can learn about the difference between buying and leasing a vehicle and see which option is best for you. Then take a closer look at the buying and leasing processes with our How to Buy and How to Lease pages. At Graff Bay City we want you to be just as informed as we are! If you have additional questions about buying or leasing a vehicle you can contact our finance experts today.

Hank Graff Chevy is located at 3636 Wilder Road, Bay City, MI 48706 and we can help you find the perfect vehicle for your weekend getaway! For more information on Hank Graff Chevrolet, or for any questions call us at (989) 684-4411 or visit our website: www.GraffBayCity.com.

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IIHS Names 3 Chevrolets to Recommended Used Vehicles for Teens

BAY CITY, Mich. – A recent survey of parents by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety revealed that many teens drive older vehicles and more than half of the parent's young drivers drove a vehicle that was a 2006 model year or earlier. You're probably thinking what's the big deal about teenagers driving used cars? Well, many of those vehicles lack the important safety features and technologies that work to keep us, and especially new drivers, safe.

Worry not! For the first time ever, the IIHS released their Recommended Used Vehicles for Teen Drivers, and included three Chevrolets! Making the IIHS' Best Choices (under $20,000) list, the Chevy Malibu, Chevy Equinox, and Chevy Traverse all earned Good ratings in the IIHS moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraint tests; at least four out of five stars in federal government crash tests; and offer standard stability control to help avoid rollover crashes. So if your young driver is hitting the road soon and a brand new vehicle isn't realistic, check out these three Chevrolets on IIHS' List of Recommended Used Vehicles for Teens.

However, while a safe vehicle can help to protect your child, another important factor to remember when they get behind the wheel is behavior. A $2-million GM Foundation grant funded a recent Safe Kids Worldwide report which revealed some shocking statistics. It was found that motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death to teens between the ages of 13 and 19, and of those who died, half were not wearing their seat belts!

It can be a stressful time when you child becomes old enough to drive, but with safe vehicles and great training, we can keep our teens safe! If you need help finding a vehicle that will protect your young driver, we are here to help! Hank Graff Chevy is located at 3636 Wilder Road, Bay City, MI 48706 and we can help you find the perfect vehicle for your weekend getaway! For more information on Hank Graff Chevrolet, or for any questions call us at (989) 684-4411 or visit our website: www.GraffBayCity.com.

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How To Save Money On Teen Car Insurance

BAY CITY, Mich.– As a teenager, one of the most exciting moments in life is finally getting a drivers license. But as a parent, it is one of the most stressful. Not only are you stressed about your child's safety on the road and what vehicle they will be driving, whether you are purchasing it for them or not. But then comes the unavoidable cost of car insurance, which we all know can be difficult to find at an affordable price for a young driver. While we can't exactly relieve all of the stresses this life-stage brings, we can give you some tips on how to save money on teen car insurance!

How To Save Money on Teen Car Insurance

1. Check Out Your Options – Even if you already have a plan in place for yourself, make sure to comparison shop to find the best rates for your new driver whether you are adding them to your plan or looking for a separate policy. These days there is so much competition between car insurance companies and it is simple to receive quotes online to make shopping for car insurance easy.

2. Teen Driver Discounts – The good news is that there are a few teen driver discounts that you may be able to take advantage of with your current carrier or through a new provider. Look for companies that offer a discount for teens who have taken a driver safety education course, are good students (usually maintaining a B average), or are a low-mileage driver.

3. Expand Your Policy – When purchasing car insurance for your teen driver, you can either acquire a separate policy or add them to your current plan which is usually less expensive. You can even save more if your teen drives the vehicle that is the least costly to insure and they are assigned to that vehicle on the insurance policy. Even if you want them to be responsible for paying for their own insurance, you can set up a plan for them to pay you directly.

4. Consider The Car – Whether or not you will be buying a car for your young driver, they will be purchasing it themselves, or they will be sharing a family car, consider which car they will be driving. The best policy rates for teen drivers are generally associated with vehicles that have high safety ratings/features, aren't brand new, and are less prone to theft.

5. Safe Driving – It goes without saying that when your new driver hits the road, you want them to be as safe as possible. But reinforcing the importance of safe driving can continue to build good driving habits that will help keep them and other drivers safe while on the road.

6. Deductibles – Another option to carefully consider is increasing your deductibles. While this will lower your premiums, it's important to remember that in the event of an accident, paying a deductible could outweigh any premium savings you may have accrued.

7. Adult Driver Discounts – While you're at it, make sure that you are taking advantage of all the possible discounts for yourself as a policyholder too. If you don't have them already, you may be eligible for discounts related to multiple cars, multiple policies, good drivers, safe vehicles, or safe driver classes.

When it comes down to it, you definitely want to make sure that you have the security of sound auto protection for your teen driver as well as for yourself. You can also get some peace of mind by knowing they are in a safe vehicle. If you are still searching for the right one, check out our Sebewaing, MI Used Cars For Sale at our Used Car Dealership. Hank Graff Chevy is located at 3636 Wilder Road, Bay City, MI 48706. For more information on Hank Graff Chevrolet, or for any questions call us at (989) 684-4411 or visit our websites: www.GraffBayCity.com.

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Tips for Teen Drivers

Bay City, MICH.,- Is your teen driving by themselves now? Every parent is worried about putting their child behind the wheel alone. We found Things Teens Should Know About Cars and Driving over at edmunds.com. From traffic stops to road rage, read and pass this information along to your teen driver.

1. What to do when you're stopped by a police officer
Safely pull to the side of the road, turn off your car, roll down the window and keep your hands visible. Don't make any sudden moves or argue with the officer.

2. How to deal with a flat tire
Pull completely off the road, even if it means destroying the tire. Call roadside assistance and let that person change the tire. If you have a spare and know how to change the tire, make sure you are out of traffic and in plain sight of oncoming traffic before changing it yourself. Afterwards you can find Tire Discounts at Graff Bay City!

3. What to do when the "check engine" light comes on
If there is any change in the car's performance, any mechanical noises, smoke from the tailpipe or electrical smells, stop the car and call for assistance. If there are none of these symptoms, take the car to a dealer and let them diagnose the problem. However, if you just bought gas, the light might just be indicating that the gas cap is loose. Tighten the cap and continue driving. The light should go off on its own.

4. How to deal with a friend who is about to drive under the influence
Don't get in the car. Do anything not to drive with an intoxicated person, and that includes calling your parents for a lift or paying for a taxi. Your next move is to try to prevent your drunken friend from hurting themselves or someone else.

5. How to drive safely while talking on a cell phone
Most states ban all cell phone use by novice drivers, so be sure you know if these provisions apply where you live. If it's permissible to use a cell, always use a hands-free device so you can keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road. Learn how to pair your phone with the car's Bluetoothsystem. Don't even think about texting while driving (no, not even at stoplights).

6. How to get an honest quote for an automotive repair
Search Edmunds.com's Car Maintenance Guide or the Web to get an estimate for how much the repair should cost. Search online for garages with high customer ratings and ask friends for recommended garages. Call the garage and ask for a ballpark estimate and let the garage know you are contacting other places for their best quote.

7. What to do after an auto accident
If the car is drivable and there are no serious injuries, turn on your flashers and pull safely out of traffic. Call the police to report the accident. Exchange insurance information with the other driver but refrain from discussing the accident and who is at fault. Make notes and use your cell phone's camera to take pictures of the cars involved. Graff Bay City's Collision Center will get your car running like new again!

8. How to drive in rain and snow
Reduce your speed and leave more room between your vehicle and those in front of you. Understand how to handle skids. If possible, practice reacting to skidding in safe conditions, such as a snow-covered empty parking lot. Understand that a car might hydroplane on a rain puddle on the road and learn how to react to driving with reduced traction and visibility.

9. How to avoid road rage situations
Understand the severe consequences to you, your car and your driving record when minor disagreements escalate to life-threatening situations. When someone offends you, take a deep breath and know that your anger will dissolve in minutes. Don't anger other drivers by cutting them off or tailgating. If you've inadvertently angered another driver, don't get drawn into interacting with them. Ignore them or, if necessary, change your route. Finally, repeat this phrase: It's just not worth it.

 If you liked this article, we have other Driving Tips articles available for your reference too!

Graff Chevrolet is proud to be a Mid Michigan Chevy Dealer serving the auto needs of local families and their new drivers. We provide exceptional customer service, a warm and friendly environment, auto financing options to fit your budget, and an inventory of great new and used cars, trucks, SUV’s, and crossovers. Call us at (989) 684-4411 or stop in at 3636 Wilder Road, Bay City, MI, 48706 and check out our great GM inventory selection.

Visit our website at www.graffbaycity.com

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