Getting a Permit  |  Find a Driving School   |  Graduated Drivers License  |  Contracts  |  Choosing a Vehicle  

Ready to drive?

At 15 and six months your teen is eligible to drive, though this does not necessarily mean they are ready to drive. Make sure your teen is prepared to take this new responsibility seriously. Motor vehicle crashes are the number one cause of death for teens. When deciding whether or not your teen is ready to embark in the learning-to-drive process, make sure they have demonstrated responsibility in other areas such as school, chores, work or other family responsibilities.

Pre-permit workshop

Before you begin, Dare to Prepare! AAA offers a workshop that walks teens and their parents through everything they need to know before it is permit time. Check it out!

• First, find your local MVD office.
  
  
• Your teen will need to pass a written test. 
  Download study materials (2.85MB)
  
  
• There is a fee of seven dollars.
  
  
• A parent or guardian will need to sign for the permit.
  
  
• Your teen will need to bring two forms of identification.(53.8KB)

Top 

Find a driving school

Many parents spend money on swimming lessons, as it is vital for their child's safety. Driving is no different. In fact, ensuring that your teen has the best driver training possible is vital to their safety and your peace of mind. If you choose to send your teen to a driving school and invest in their safety on the road, choose carefully. Not all driving schools are created equally.

One way to assure a quality driving school is to choose a AAA Approved Driving School. With the Approved Driving School Network, AAA has done your homework for you and selected the top schools around who have met a stringent list of requirements to be approved. Visit the ADSN page for more information.

Here are some tips when looking for a driving school:

• Visit their facility (announced and unannounced).
  
  
• Check out their vehicles.
  
  
• Review their training materials.
  
  
• Ask for references.
  
  
• Make sure instructors are certified.
  
  
• Make sure that the school is a member of the American Driver Traffic Safety Education Association (ADTSEA).
  
  
• Look for a combination of classroom hours (minimum of four) and behind the wheel instruction.

Know your laws.

Until your teen is 18, a legal adult, you are responsible for making sure they understand the rules of the road. It is important to remember that laws are added and changed every year, so be sure that you are aware of Arizona's current traffic safety laws prior to teaching your teen to drive. To brush up on your driving knowledge, Download the State Driving Manual (2.85MB)

Top 

Graduated Driver License

Arizona recently passed the new Graduated Drivers License laws which went into effect July 1, 2008. Click to learn how this is going to affect your teen.

Contracts

AAA has developed this parent-teen driving agreement to help families work together to safely navigate the learning process. The agreement helps establish rules and consequences for teens, but also places responsibilities on parents. Safe driving generally requires much more than what state laws call for, and signing an agreement before the teen starts driving can be helpful in establishing expectations for the whole family. By working as a team, parents and teens can accomplish their shared goal — a safe, successful teen driver.

Download a parent-teen contract(68KB )

Download the parent-parent contract(85KB )

Choosing a vehicle: For teens, speed, looks and a sound system are generally the most important characteristics in a car. However, when choosing a car for your teen you should factor in safety and reliability. Safety features such as air bags, electronic stability control, anti-lock breaks and newer generation safety belts can help your teen avoid a crash or survive one. Also, choosing a reliable vehicle will help avoid break down and stranded situations.

• Dual-stage front airbags.

• Side-impact airbags.

• Anti-lock brakes (preferably with electronic brake force distribution).

• Electronic stability control (or traction control at a minimum).

• Adjustable and locking head restraints.

• Pre-tensioning safety belts (height adjustable).

• Side-impact door beams.

• Daytime running lights.

• Tire pressure monitoring system.

• Fresh tires, brakes, and other critical components.

Driver training products

Insurance tips

Top