Parent–teen driving agreement: a free printable template
By WingMiles · 5 min read Published · Updated
A parent–teen driving agreement puts your family’s expectations in one place: who can ride along, when the car needs to be home, how to ask for help, and how privileges can grow. Write it together before the first solo trips and choose a date to revisit it.
Your family's first-year driving plan
A two-page worksheet you can fill in on your device or print and complete by hand. No signup needed.
Download the free agreement (PDF)Save a copy before filling it out. Your answers stay in your PDF; this page does not collect them.
This is an original WingMiles planning worksheet for US families. Check your state’s licensing restrictions first: a family agreement cannot give a teen permission to drive outside the law. Our graduated licensing guide links to official agencies. You do not need WingMiles or any tracking app to use the agreement.
What to put in your agreement
Use the PDF or copy these prompts into a document. Be specific enough that both of you would give the same answer about a planned trip.
| Topic | Decide together |
|---|---|
| Start and review dates | When does this version begin, and when will we discuss it again? |
| Licensing restrictions | Which permit or license rules apply? Where did we check them? |
| Passengers | Who may ride along, how many, and when is permission needed? |
| Driving hours | What is our curfew? What is the plan if a shift or activity runs late? |
| Roads and weather | Which trips need more practice or an adult in the car? |
| Phone | Where will it be stored? Set navigation before moving; park safely before making changes. |
| Safe ride home | Who can the teen call if they feel unable to drive or a ride feels unsafe? |
| Check-ins and privacy | When do we check in? If using an app, who sees which data and when? |
| More independence | Which specific privilege could change, and what will we discuss before changing it? |
| When a rule is broken | How do we pause, understand what happened, and agree on the next step? |
Commitments for every trip
Our template asks the teen to buckle everyone in, follow speed limits and road rules, put the phone away, avoid driving while impaired or too tired to drive safely, and ask for help when needed. It asks the parent to model those same habits, avoid texting a teen who is driving, make time for practice, and help arrange a safe ride home.
Parent commitments matter too. A plan that only lists consequences can make it harder to ask for help. Agree that getting home safely comes first, and choose a calmer time to discuss what happened.
These topics are consistent with the CDC’s parent–teen driving agreement guidance. The CDC also offers its own downloadable agreement if your family prefers that format.
A filled example
This is an illustration of family choices, not a recommendation about what a particular license allows. Any applicable legal restriction still takes priority.
Maya and Alex’s first month: Maya is newly licensed. They agree to familiar trips to school and work, no teen passengers initially, and a family curfew of 8 p.m. Navigation is set before departure and the phone goes in a bag. Maya checks in after parking; Alex does not send messages while she is driving.
When plans change: If a work shift runs late, Maya calls from a safe parked location and they arrange a legal way home. Heavy rain on an unfamiliar route means calling for help or practicing that trip together first.
At the review: They talk on the first Sunday of next month. They discuss whether the agreed trips felt manageable, any missed check-ins, and one skill to practice. They may add a new route after supervised practice if Maya’s license permits it. A score from an app is one discussion prompt, not proof that every drive was safe.
How to introduce it without starting an argument
- Ask your teen which parts of driving alone feel exciting and which still feel difficult.
- Check the legal rules together, then explain the family choices you want to add.
- Write down your own commitments alongside theirs.
- Choose a short, regular review and one achievable next step toward independence.
- Keep a copy somewhere you can both find it. Update the agreement when the plan changes.
If you use a tracker, discuss it openly before installing it. Decide who can view trips, what alerts matter, and when you will discuss them. Our guide to GPS trackers and phone apps explains the differences and limitations.
Why stay involved after the test?
Passing a road test is a milestone, and the first solo months still involve learning. For the evidence behind night and passenger limits, read our first-year driving-risk guide. An agreement gives your family a practical way to turn that background into everyday choices.
WingMiles is being built to support these conversations with shared trip information and weekly driving feedback. The agreement works on its own today; joining the product waitlist is optional.