Auto Insurance and Teen Driving Lessons

 

In North Carolina, teen drivers between the ages of 15-17 are required to go through a process called "graduated licensing" before being allowed to receive full driving privileges.  This process has strict requirements for teens as they gain the on-the-road experience needed to drive a vehicle with minimal restrictions and no supervision.

Eligibility requires that a teen driver: 

• Be at least 15 years old
• Has received a Driving Eligibility Certificate
• Has completed a state-approved driver education course

Driving Eligibility Certificate

Students completing their high school requirements will be issued a Driver Eligibility Certificate by their school.  They must be between the ages of 15 and 17 and currently enrolled in school and be making progress toward achieving either a high school diploma or GED.

Driver Education Courses

Teens 14-1/2 years old or older and progressing toward a high school diploma or GED may enroll in an approved driver education course.  These are provided through North Carolina high schools.  

Driver education courses consist of:

• 30 hours of classroom instruction
• An eye test
• Six hours of behind-the-wheel training on the road 

Upon completion, a Driver's Education Certificate is awarded, which is part of the requirement for obtaining a learner permit, step one in the graduated licensing process.  Click here to see descriptions of all three levels of the graduated licensing process.

Driving Lessons

Driving lessons extend throughout the North Carolina teen graduated licensing process.  They start while qualifying for step one, obtaining the Limited Learner Permit, while completing the driver education 30 hours of classroom instruction and six hours of behind-the-wheel training.

Driving lessons continue during the 12-month learner permit period and an approved adult driver is required to be in the passenger seat during all drive times.  A minimum amount of 60 hours driving time, certified by a supervising driver, is required before moving onto step two of the process, Limited Provisional License.

Teens driving their parents' vehicle during the 12-month learner permit period are automatically covered under their parents' auto insurance.  Once the Limited Provisional License is obtained, the teen driver must be added to the parents' auto insurance or a separate policy taken out.  Offspring of insured drivers may stay on the parents' auto insurance policy as long as they reside in the same home or are away at school.  This is often a less expensive option than getting their own policy.  Parents should expect premiums to rise significantly.