Tips for Choosing the Best Car For a New Driver

A teenager’s first few years on the road are, by far, the most risky. Teens have the highest driver rate of death than any other group of people, according to Geico.com. Proudly opening a brand new driver’s license and obtaining the keys to your very first car are exciting and important rites of passage. Totaling your new ride because you didn’t buy one that could keep you safe shouldn’t be par for the course, though. Whether you’re a teen who’s on your own with this decision or a parent who’s trying to steer their kid in the right direction, follow these tips for choosing the best car for a new driver.

Pick the Right Car

1. Making your first car one that’s bright red and that comes with every fun feature is asking for trouble. Certain cars encourage careless driving, especially in a teens who are more interested in upgraded features than staying in their own lane. Choose a car that has a somewhat uneventful image and definitely don’t opt for turbo-charging.

Some Cars are Impractical

2. Avoid getting your teen a sport utility vehicle, like a Jeep, when they’re just starting out on the road. These vehicles are much less stable than regular cars because they have a high center of gravity. That means that they’re more likely to roll over when a regular car would just skid or spin. Teens also tend to make abrupt maneuvers when they’re either not paying close enough attention to the road or when they’re overcompensating for an error. Quick steering moves can be risky in a sport utility vehicle.

Think Passenger Protection

3. No matter how great you think your teen is at driving, that does not guarantee that they won’t get into a crash. Protect your teenager by encouraging him to choose a car that offers the best crash protection available. Often, this means opting for a newer car as opposed to an old one. The extra expense is worth knowing that your teenager will be safe even in a bad driving situation.

Mid-Size Cars

4. Mid-size vehicles are better than both small cars and large vehicles. Small cars simply don’t offer the best crash protection you can find. Large vehicles may be the safest when it comes to crashes, but they can be extremely hard for a new driver to maneuver, which could actually increase the likelihood of a crash. Mid-size and full-size cars are the best types of vehicles for a new driver.

Make Sure the Car has all Safety Features

5. If you’re counting on your teen getting into a fender bender or two during her first year of driving, you may want to avoid wasting money by putting her in an old clunker. While you may think that you’re making a smart move financially, sticking your teen in a car that’s more than six years old really isn’t all that safe. Cars that were made more than a few years ago don’t have updated crash protection. For example, you may think that a large, old car is the best choice, but it’s not better than a pricier, newer mid-size vehicle with automatic seat belts and air bags.

Older Cars are Not Right for Teens

6. If you’re purchasing a used car, make sure that the seat belts work properly. There should be seat belts in the front and back seats (some really old cars don’t have seat belts in the back) and they shouldn’t stick or be hard to buckle. If possible, opt for a car that has automatic seat belts so that you know your teen will always be wearing it. You can also purchase a car that has an alarm that continually sounds if the driver and passengers aren’t buckled up.

 

Aaron Shorts is a specialist in the mining industry and frequently reports on the mining industry. He reports on all types of products, from WIlson FG Generators to Allight Sykes Self Priming Pumps.

Tags: best first car, cars for teens, new driver license, new drivers

Category: Car Purchase