So your child is finally that age. He or she just got her learners permit, and now it’s time to seriously think about getting them their first car. As a parent, it’s natural to be very picky in this situation. After all, you want to make sure that your child is driving a vehicle that is safe, reliable and will last. We’ve compiled a list of things you should look at before purchasing your child’s first car.
Size
Of course, your child is going to want the latest and greatest. To them, safety, reliance and gas mileage don’t really matter. What matters to them, is style. However, unless they’re paying for the car, you have the advantage of being the one who gets to choose.
The perfect compromise would be a midsized sedan. A midsized sedan tends to be the safest, as they have mass. The more mass means more safety when involved in a crash. With a low center of gravity, midsized sedans are also much less likely to roll over in the event of a crash.
With a midsized sedan, you should also be aware of the engine. Look into getting a vehicle with a four-cylinder engine. The benefit to these are they tend to be more economical – teenagers usually don’t have a lot of money in their bank accounts so every penny saved counts. As a parent, you can take comfort in knowing that four-cylinder engines make it harder to speed.
Safety
As a parent, this is the most important aspect f purchasing a car for your child. You want a car that is safe. After all, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for American teenagers.or Kids between the ages of 16 and 19 are four times more likely to crash than more experienced drivers. This is not a statistic to be taken lightly, which is why it is of utmost importance that your child’s first vehicle is one that is safe.
The first thing you must make sure if is that car has an adequate amount of airbags. In the event of a crash, you want to make sure that your child has the protection they need. For this reason, don’t even consider a car with fewer than six airbags – two in the front and then side-impact and side curtain bags. These make it so in the event of a crash there is less chance of injury, which is important for a teen driver.
Next, you’ll want to make sure that you have antilock brakes and stability control. Again, these safety features offer protection to your child and can help avoid any fatal accidents. These features are especially important if your child is going to be driving any high-sitting vehicle such as an SUV or truck.
Take It For A Test Drive
Although it may embarrass your child a little bit, it’s important that you get a feel for their car before they do. This doesn’t mean take it around the block – really take it for a drive. Speed it up on the highway, take it for some hard turns, take it through a variety of situations to get a feel for how well this car reacts. Again, even though your child may not like you driving their car before they do it’s important that you feel safe with this car first.
Talk To Your Child
The most important and effective thing you can do to ensure your child’s safety is sit down and talk with them. Don’t be confrontational – the teen is not in trouble. Approach them and tell them that you care about them, and you do not want to see them hurt. Talk to them about the dangers of speeding, drunk driving, and distracted driving. Let them know that driving isn’t a right – it’s a privilege and it can be taken away very easily.
Buying the first car for your child can be a nerve-wracking experience. Knowing your child is going to be driving on their own is a terrifying thought. Luckily, cars have come a long way and are safer than ever. Just make sure that you get your child a car that is safe and reliable!
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