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.
- Avoid high horsepower vehicles with powerful engines that may prove tempting to limit-testing teens.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 or toll-free at (877) 343-7510 to speak any of the experienced personal injury attorneys at Hepworth Holzer.