Parents often ask, “What is the best car for my teen driver”. When buying a car for an inexperienced teen driver we should be sure to pay attention to three points. The car should be safe to drive and hopefully tricked out with the most necessary safety features. It is also important to have guaranteed proof that the vehicle is reliable. We don’t want our teenager to breakdown while on the highway. The last point to pay attention to when car shopping is affordability. While we can help our teens drive safely, not every teen is good at taking care of their vehicle. For this reason, we shouldn’t get a teenager a brand new $40,000+ car, no matter how reliable it may seem. Between these three notes, we can definitely find an appropriate vehicle for our teenaged driver.

Safe

When our child turns sixteen and prepares to hit the road solo, it can be nerve wracking, to say the least. Putting them into a safe vehicle is one of the best ways to ease our minds. A vehicle with lower horsepower won’t go as fast. This is a good idea as not to tempt teens to speed. It is also a good idea to pick a vehicle that is heavier. Compact and small cars aren’t as safe because they can be crushed more easily in the event of a crash. Midsized cars and small SUVs are the best-sized vehicles for teen drivers. For those driving in locations where it snows or gets heavy rain, Electronic stability control (ESC) is an absolute necessity. This feature will help the teen driver maintain control on slippery roads. At the end of the search for a car, check to make sure it has received a four or five-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report.

Affordable

It is quite possible that whatever car a teenager drives will lose a lot of value in its first couple of years. For this reason, it’s best to get an affordable car for our teens. This might mean that we buy a pre-owned vehicle or a new vehicle that does not have a lot of horse power.   We could also get a vehicle without all of the extra bells and whistles.  Many of the electronics in vehicles only add distractions that can take their focus off of driving.  A stock car will generally have all of the safety of the manufacturer without the extra cost. Just be sure not to disregard safety and reliability for the right price, after all, keeping our teen safe is the most important thing.  Make sure any vehicle you purchase or provide for your teen has safety features.  The recommendation is nothing older than a 2009 vehicle.

Reliable

A reliable car doesn’t necessarily mean that a vehicle is expensive or brand new. It just means that the engine and incorporated parts are in good shape. As we mentioned earlier, buying a brand new car probably isn’t the best idea for a teen driver. However, buying a dirt-cheap vehicle isn’t the safest option either. Certified pre-owned cars and small SUVs are a great option for a brand new teen driver. A certified pre-owned car is generally under warranty and will have a properly working engine. Aside from the engine, be sure that all of the tires are working and have proper tread. Popping a tire can cause a serious crash, but teaching proper maintenance can help a new driver avoid this danger.