Picking a Safe Car for A Teen Driver

What's the Safest Car for Your Teen Driver?Sooner than I want it to be picking a safe car for a teen driver is an issue I will face.  I know other parents of teen drivers, often find themselves wondering how to choose the best car for their teen without draining his/her college fund.

Rules To Help Pick a Safe Car For A Teen Driver

For most families, a used car is the best way to go for a teenager from the affordability standpoint. But, of course, price isn’t the only consideration.   When searching for a first car for a teen, here are four other important  factors to consider.

  1. Avoid high horsepower vehicles with powerful engines that may prove tempting to limit-testing teens.
  2. Getting a bigger/heavier vehicle to provide added protection in a crash. An added benefit of these is often they have a  lower center of gravity also makes them less likely to roll over.
  3. Cars with better safety features like electronic stability control (ESC) and side airbags. Both of these features are just as important as seatbelt use in preventing injuries if a crash occurs.
  4. I certainly recommend any teen’s vehicle have at least a four, or better yet a five, star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Some of the better options for used cars for teen drivers with prices under $10,000 include:

  • Volkswagen Jetta 2009 and later
  • Volvo C30 2008 and later
  • Volkswagen Passat 2009 and later
  • Ford Fusion 2010 and later
  • Honda Element 2007 and later
  • Subaru Tribeca 2006 and later
  • Volvo XC90 2005 and later

You can see if a particular car you are interested in is a safe car for a teen driver on a list at the IIHS website.

Check Out The Teen’s Car

Once you’ve narrowed down the list of acceptable models, take any vehicle you’re considering for a thorough test drive. See how it handle on the highway and around some tricky curves your teen is likely to encounter. You should also  do a background check via Carfax or AutoCheck to see if the vehicle has previously been in an accident.  Of course, take the car to a mechanic ou trust for an independent inspection to uncover any potential issues.

Finally, before you hand over the keys, take the time to create a parent-teen driving contract that outlines your expectation for your teen’s behavior and the consequences for breaking the rules. The CDC website has a sample you can use as a starting point.

Hepworth Holzer  Can Help

As a parent, you want to do everything possible to keep your child safe.  Thats the point of getting a safe car for a teen driver.  Unfortunately, accidents still happen despite our best efforts as parents. If your teen is injured by a negligent driver, you may be entitled to compensation for your teen’s medical bills and other accident-related expenses. Call (208) 328-6998 to speak any of the experienced personal injury attorneys at Hepworth Holzer.

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