If you have a teen who’s now old enough to drive, you’re both likely trying to figure out how to safely, smartly, and affordably get your teen their own car to drive. Not only will this be more convenient for you as their parent, but it will also help your teen learn responsibility.
However, because it can also be very scary to allow your teen to get behind the wheel on their own, it’s important that you give this decision the time and attention it deserves in order to ensure that your teen will be as safe and protected as possible.
So to help you in making these decisions, here are three tips for getting a vehicle for your new teen driver.
New Vs. Used
One of the first things you should consider when getting a car for your new teen driver to use is whether you should get a new car or a used car.
According to iDriveSafely.com, new cars can often be more reliable than used cars, especially if you don’t know the exact history of the car. However, new cars will also be more expensive. And because the likelihood of getting in a car accident is higher for teen drivers, you might not want to risk this on a new and expensive car.
On the other hand, getting a used car for your teen driver could save you a lot of money and help you feel more comfortable with your teen being behind the wheel. But before you purchase a used car for your teen driver, make sure you’ve done your research about the reliability of the car and the repair history that it’s been through.
Choose Something Larger
Although your teen may be small, getting a small car isn’t necessarily the best idea if you’re wanting to get the safest car for your teen to drive.
Rick Newman, a contributor to Family Circle, shares that if you choose a larger car for your teen to drive, they’ll have more protection from the sheer mass of the car in the event that they’re in a car accident. Keep in mind, however, that bigger cars can also be harder to maneuver and require more stopping time. Because of this, your best bet might be to go with something that’s more mid-sized.
Discourage Speeding
When choosing the right car for your teen to drive, one area of their safety that you should be concerned with is how easily it will be for your teen to speed. Speeding can increase the chances of your teen getting into a car accident, so you’ll want to discourage this at all costs.
To help with this, Dalvin Brown, a contributor to USA Today, advises that you get a car that can get up to speed if necessary, like when going on a freeway, but not a car that will entice your teen to really see what the car is made of as far as speed.
If you’re trying to find the right first car to get for your teen driver, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you do just that.
