Parent-Teen Driving Agreement: What to Include

A parent-teen driving agreement is a short written contract that lists your family's driving rules, the consequences for breaking them, and how privileges grow over time. Both the CDC and NHTSA recommend one, and the CDC offers a free two-page version you can print.

The point is not paperwork. It is a calm conversation, before the first solo drive, about what is expected. This guide covers what to put in it, how to tie it to your state's laws, and how to keep it working.

Why bother writing it down

NHTSA recommends that parents set ground rules and outline the consequences in a parent-teen contract, then enforce them. The CDC says the agreement should "clearly set expectations and limits", and suggests keeping it on the fridge and updating it as your teen gains experience.

Research is encouraging, if modest. NHTSA's review of parent programs found they increased parents' restrictions on teen driving, and families in one program were more likely to use a driving agreement and set stricter limits. NHTSA notes that stricter limits are linked to fewer risky behaviors and crashes, though evaluations have not yet shown crash reductions from the programs themselves. In other words, the agreement is a tool, and it works best when you follow through.

The sections to include

The CDC's printable agreement is a good model. Here is its structure, with notes.

1. Rules of the road

The teen promises to wear a seat belt and make every passenger buckle up, obey signals, signs and road markings, stay within the speed limit, and never race or drive to impress others.

2. Staying focused

No texting (reading, writing or sending), no phone calls including hands-free, no eating or drinking while driving, no headphones or earbuds, and driving only when alert and emotionally in control.

3. Alcohol and drugs

Drive only when free of alcohol and drugs, never allow them in the car, and ride only with drivers who are sober. The CDC agreement also includes calling a parent for a ride when needed. Make that promise mutual: you will come, and the talk can wait until morning.

4. Responsibility

Drive only with permission, don't lend the car, pay any tickets, and keep up with family responsibilities and grades. The CDC version has blanks for sharing costs like gas, maintenance and insurance.

5. Phased restrictions

This is where you write your limits, with blanks for how long each lasts:

• No driving after a set time for a set number of months
• A limit on teen passengers unless a responsible adult is in the car
• No adjusting the stereo, electronics or climate controls while moving
• No driving in bad weather for a set number of months
• Off-limits roads or places

6. Consequences

The CDC agreement lists a "no driving" period for each type of violation, such as texting, phone calls, alcohol or drug use, a ticket, breaking curfew, too many passengers, or a seat belt violation. You fill in how long.

7. Signatures, including yours

Teen and parents both sign. The CDC version includes a parent promise to "drive safely and to be an excellent role model." NHTSA makes the same point: kids learn from watching their parents, so put your phone away and buckle up before you start the car.

How to set the limits

Start with the law. Your state's GDL rules set the minimum: night limits, passenger limits and phone rules. Write them in first. Our Teen Driver GDL Restrictions Explained for Parents guide shows how much they vary.

Then add best practice. The CDC says parents can set additional restrictions if state GDL laws don't match best practice. Its suggestions for the first six months of licensed driving:

• No teen or young adult passengers, or no more than one if that isn't possible (CDC)
• Off the road by 9 or 10 p.m.
• A seat belt on every trip, for everyone

NHTSA's core list is similar: no cell phones, no passengers, no speeding, no alcohol, no driving when tired, and always buckle up. If your state has no passenger restriction, NHTSA suggests setting your own.

For the reasoning behind each rule, see The 8 Biggest Crash Risks for Teen Drivers (CDC Data).

Make consequences fair and automatic

• Agree on them in advance. The CDC suggests you work with your teen to outline hazards and consequences.
• Match the penalty to the risk. A late return is not the same as texting on the highway.
• Use the tools NHTSA lists: suspending driving privileges, limiting hours or places, or limiting phone access.
• Reward good driving. The CDC agreement says parents will expand privileges as the teen shows safe, responsible driving. Write down what earns more freedom.

Keep an eye on it

NHTSA suggests keeping a daily log of your teen's driving and talking with other parents about rules. If you consider a monitoring device or app, IIHS found monitoring worked best when parents were notified and teens got feedback, not when teens got alerts alone. Tell your teen about any monitoring up front and include it in the agreement.

A simple one-page outline

If you prefer to write your own, keep it to one page:

1. Our state's rules (copied from the DMV)
2. Our extra rules for the first 6 months, with a review date
3. Always rules: seat belts, phone away, no alcohol or drugs, call for a ride
4. Consequences for each rule
5. How to earn more privileges
6. Parent promises
7. Signatures and date

Hang it by the car keys or front door, as NHTSA suggests, and set a calendar reminder to review it.

FAQ

Is a parent-teen driving contract legally binding?

No. It is a family agreement, not a legal document. Its value is in setting clear expectations and consequences before problems happen.

Where can I get a printable teen driving agreement?

The CDC offers a free two-page Parent-Teen Driving Agreement as a PDF through its Parents Are the Key program.

What rules should a teen driving agreement include?

At minimum: seat belts for everyone, no phone use, passenger and night limits, speed, no alcohol or drugs, and not driving tired. Add your state's GDL rules and specific consequences for each.

How often should we update the agreement?

The CDC suggests updating it as your teen gains experience and more privileges. A review every few months, or after each GDL stage, works well.

Pair the rules with real training

An agreement sets the limits; practice builds the skill. If you add professional lessons, pick a school your state has licensed. You can search our directory and check a certificate issued through RoadVerified.

Find a verified driving school for your teen.