How to find the best car for a teenager that’s safe, not cheap
Seeing your teenage child get their licence is a special moment for any parent, but it can also be nerve-racking.
It’s perfectly normal to be nervous too since they’re not only young but inexperienced as drivers. This is why you need to be very careful with the car you get and make sure that they adopt safe driving practices from the get-go. Let’s look at how to find the best car for a teenager.
The car has to be safe
The very first thing you should do is check any vehicle’s safety rating before you consider it. If you want to facilitate your search, look for a list of some of the safest vehicles in the country, and start your search from there. Build a list of vehicles that have the characteristics you want and be careful to not focus on hatchbacks only.
The reason why you shouldn’t choose a hatchback for your teenager’s first car, even if they seem like a logical choice, is that they’re much less forgiving than bigger vehicles. They are not as steady as saloons on motorways, and if your child gets into a collision, the chances of them suffering major injuries are greater.
Safer vehicles are better at avoiding collisions and handle better. Another benefit of getting a car with a high safety rating is that you’ll save on insurance. And, if you want to drive your insurance costs down even further, you should check out a service that allows you to compare car insurance quotes in Northern Ireland like CompareNI.
The car has to be economical
Unless you’re expecting to pay all the bills related to the vehicle and fuel, then it would be wise to get a vehicle that your child will be able to afford to drive. Try to look for a vehicle with a high mpg, and make sure that the vehicle is known for being reliable. Also try to find out how much certain repairs will cost, if the vehicle has recurring issues, and the cost of spare parts, among other things.
The car’s year of manufacture should be fairly recent
Don’t make the mistake of getting a vehicle that was made five to seven years ago just to save on costs. These vehicles will not have all the safety features of more recent vehicles and will usually cost more to run. It’s much better to go with a recent vehicle since it will usually be much safer and handle more precisely, which are two things you want for a teenage driver.
Let them have a say!
Unless you’re expecting to pay all the bills related to the vehicle and fuel, then it would be wise to get a vehicle that your child will be able to afford to drive. Try to look for a vehicle with a high mpg, and make sure that the vehicle is known for being reliable. Also try to find out how much certain repairs will cost, if the vehicle has recurring issues, and the cost of spare parts, among other things.
This is all you need to know if you’re trying to find the best vehicle possible for a teenage driver. Try to be with them as much as you can when they’re starting out so that you can monitor their habits, and focus on getting them a vehicle that will be safe, instead of cheap.