If life was like the movies, every teenager would get a red sports car on their 16th birthday. However, let’s be honest: A red sports car may not actually be the best vehicle for your teen to drive first. From insurance issues to ridiculously expensive maintenance costs, there are dozens of reasons to avoid emulating popular culture and television—and that’s without even thinking about the price.
So, what sorts of features should you look like in your teenager’s first car? Read on to learn about some of the most important aspects of any first-time driver’s car.
Analyze The Cost
When choosing a car for your teen, price is one of the most important factors to consider. This is because depending on how much you’re looking to spend, your options increase or decrease dramatically. Generally, you don’t want to spend more than ten thousand dollars on a used car for your child. This is because the likelihood that your teen will put the vehicle through its paces is quite high.
You don’t want that kind of wear and tear on a newer, more expensive car since it will necessitate repairs far more often than an older, less expensive vehicle. Best of all, at the ten thousand dollar price range, it isn’t unreasonable that your teen could help pay for some of the costs.
Consider The Car’s Safety Features
Of course, as a parent, you’re going to want to be sure that your child is safe in their car. Finding a car with working headlamps, seatbelts, and airbags is crucial when shopping for a used car. You may also want to take a look at the safety ratings on particular makes or models online. Checking out what the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has to say about a particular vehicle can help steer you in the right direction. It’ll also give you the peace of mind you need to hand the keys over to your kid since you can rest easy knowing that the car hasn’t had any major safety recalls or other issues.
Choose Something Cool
While your kid may want the latest and greatest features, consider what’s practical and fits your budget before committing to a particular car. For example, while Bluetooth connectivity has been coming standard in many cars since 2016, it might be a cheaper option to install an aftermarket sound system. Conversely, you may be the kind of parent that wants this sort of system since it’ll connect to your child’s smartphone and help them keep their eyes on the road. Distracted driving among teens is a serious thing to consider, so keep this in mind when evaluating which features help and which are a hindrance.
Be Sure It’s Driveable
Finally, you want to make sure that your teen enjoys driving the car! If they have an issue parallel parking the car or feel that it isn’t the right size or fit, that can be a dealbreaker. Finding a car that your teen feels comfortable driving will ensure that they take care of the car and could even help them drive more safely.
Thankfully, technology has made it easier to find the right vehicle for your teen. By sourcing listings from dealerships around the country, for example, it’s possible to purchase a used Honda from a car dealership in North Olmsted, OH and have it shipped to you in a manner of a few days.
Picking from a list of reliable enclosed car shippers allows you to get the exact car you want to be delivered to you safely and soundly. Best of all, car businesses like Easy Car Shipping offer online estimates so that you understand how much it will cost to transport your car before you decide to buy from one state or another. Accurate quotes from companies like this can help keep you within your budget for your child’s first car, while still ensuring that you get the right features for the price point you’re shopping at.