Atlantic Mutual, an insurance company, wrote up six ways to insure (pardon the pun) one’s teen drivers won’t be driving up their insurance rates. PR Newswire obtained three of them, including:

Create a driving contract. Sit down with your teen and develop a written contract that covers topics such as when he or she can use the car, where and how far he or she can drive, seatbelts, cell phones, alcohol, passengers, curfews, and the consequences of breaking the rules. Make some commitments yourself, such as promising to pick him or her up if trouble arises — without asking questions until the next day.

Remember that experience leads to better decision making. If you restrict driving as a punishment while your teen is still in the permit stage, he or she will miss out on valuable experience when you are in the car. Inexperience is a key factor in the higher crash rates of teens, especially in the first year. Try another punishment or consequence if your teen breaks a rule.

Check state laws for teen drivers; empower yourself to go beyond them. Many states have graduated licensing programs that introduce greater levels of responsibility in stages. Use them as a base, and seek out expert advice and use your good judgment to set additional rules, if needed. Don’t necessarily stop at the law or follow what other parents are doing.