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Things to Know When Buying Your Teenager’s First Car

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Buying Your Teenager a CarIt seems like yesterday your child was taking his or her first steps. Then life’s next few milestones flew by. Don’t look now but your toddler has turned into a teenager and is asking for a car. Let’s put the emotional issues with this news aside and focus on some additional things to consider for this new transition in your child’s life.

For many families, adding a new driver to the mix does not mean adding a new vehicle. It just isn’t financially possible. Many times, the solution is to pass down a vehicle the family already owns.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), two-thirds of parents say the vehicle passed down to their teenager was from 2006 or earlier. This can be problematic because older vehicles are much less likely to have safety features such as electronic stability control (ESC) and side airbags.

The IIHS recommends teen vehicle choice be guided by four main principles:

  • Young drivers should stay away from high horsepower. Vehicles with more powerful engines can tempt them to test the limits.
  • Bigger, heavier vehicles protect better in a crash. All other things being equal, occupants in a bigger, heavier vehicle are better protected than those in a smaller, lighter vehicle.
  • ESC is a must. This feature, which helps a driver maintain control of the vehicle on curves and slippery roads, reduces risk on a level comparable to safety belts.
  • Vehicles should have the best safety ratings possible. At a minimum, that means good ratings in the IIHS moderate overlap front test, acceptable ratings in the IIHS side crash test and four or five stars from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The IIHS compiled a list of affordable used vehicles that meet important safety criteria for teen drivers. You can use this as a guide.

Remember: Before giving your teen a car, you should set the tone. Experts suggest creating a “Rules of the Road” contract for them to sign. It can include things such as how many people can be in the car at once, who will pay for gas, insurance and maintenance, what happens to driving privileges if the child gets a ticket or has a wreck, and what time curfew is, among other things.


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