The Specs To Abide By When Buying A Car For Your Teenager
As much as most parents don’t like to think about it, there will come a time where their kids eventually grow up. If your children are mid-way through their teenage years, you are probably already thinking about their impending ability to drive. Being able to drive can have a huge impact on your teen’s life, and your family’s life in general. They will no longer ask you constantly for lifts, and it can help their independence flourish. However, it can also be a big concern for every parent, as you may know only too well the dangers that the road can present. Even if you trust your own teenager to the moon and back, you may not necessarily trust every single other person who is driving at the same time as your child. Regrettably, the statistics speak for themselves; road traffic accidents account for a shockingly large proportion of deaths in under 25s. Therefore, when you are out shopping for a car for your teenage driver, you need to take various features into account. Of course, it is still highly unlikely that anything bad will occur, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry. If you’re a complete novice when it comes to what cars are best for newbie drivers (after all, it could be years since you passed your test!), take a look at the following things you may want to take into account.
Insurance costs
Due to the aforementioned statistics affiliated with new, young drivers, you may find that insurance premiums are shockingly high for your teen. If your child is male, you may struggle to find them cheaper insurance than if they were a girl, as male drivers tend to be at a greater risk of RTAs. That being said, there are still certain cars that come with a low insurance rate, provided you are happy to be somewhat limited in the model you choose. The Vauxhall Corsa, the Kia Picanto, and the Skoda Fabia are all examples of cars with typically low insurance costs, and therefore are common choices for a teen’s first car. It can also be worth discussing with your child the prospect of having a black box fitted in their car, as this can significantly lower their insurance premiums providing they drive safely.
Safety features
You don’t need to be a driving expert to know that most of the time, car accidents are down to driver fault, rather than anything to do with the vehicle itself. But that doesn’t mean to say that on paper, there are some cars that are safer than others. Some vehicles, for example, are designed with experienced drivers in mind. A car like this, which could very well be extremely powerful and difficult to handle, may not be something a new driver will be able to cope with. Typically speaking, you will want something that isn’t too large nor too powerful. You may also want to consider a few little extras that can help give your teenager greater confidence behind the wheel. Power steering is a must, and things like parking sensors can help them to avoid any nasty bumps or scrapes. Either way, you will always need to make sure that your child is up to their neck in insurance, just on the off chance that they do get into an accident. Providing the injury wasn’t their fault, they should be able to claim via a company such as personalinjurysolicitorsdublin.info/whiplash-claims/. Any kind of accident can easily make a new driver nervous about ever getting back on the road, so do everything in your power to keep your young driver safe.
Economic efficiency
Whether it’s you or your child themselves who are paying for their car, something you will both want to take into account is how much they cost to run. Certain models can simply eat up gas, and it can be a bit of a pain when you only realize this when it’s too late. Do plenty of research before purchasing your teen’s vehicle as to what is going to be most economically viable. If your child is going to do long journeys in their first car and plans on doing them frequently (to travel to work, for example), a diesel car could be the best option for them. But generally speaking, a car that runs on petrol will be fine for most new drivers, even with the occasional long journey thrown in there.