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I remember my first car. I bought it from a college student who worked with my parents. I paid a whopping $150. It was a 19-something powder blue Chevy Vega. I drove my little car everywhere and you couldn't tell me it didn't look like a Porsche.
$150 for a car. You think that's something I remember once I paid $100 for a Chevy Chevette from one of my neighbors. I drove the heck out of that little car also.
Flash forward and I'm the parent and my oldest recently earned their learners permits so now it's time to start looking for a car.
Fortunately, I come from a long line of knowledgeable car lovers who were ready to drop tips on shopping for the perfect car. Overall, everyone suggested making sure we bought a vehicle with air bags but shared a few other things to consider when purchasing a car for teens.
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| Honda Accord Photo Credit: cars.com |
Drive It. Let your kid drive the car a few times before buying. You want to make sure you kid feels comfortable behind the wheel. One of our sons prefers driving his dad's pickup truck while the other likes the family SUV.
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| Honda Accord Interior Photo Credit: cars.com |
Check IIHS Safety Ratings. Ever listen to a car commercial and hear the announcer say "Top Safety Pick..." Well, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is an organization responsible for performing crash tests to determine how safe a vehicle is. Cars.com offers
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| Kia Forte Photo Credit: cars.com |
Slow and Steady. Avoid buying a muscle car for your teen. Opting for a car with average horsepower is a safer, more affordable choice and when you factor in fuel costs, insurance and repair costs, it just makes sense to opt for a car with average horsepower.
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| Kia Forte interior Photo Credit: cars.com |
Check for Recalls. A couple of years ago, we received a recall notice on one of our family vehicles. Hubby and I were unaware of any issues with our vehicle until we received the notice from the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) advising us of the recall and steps to take to get the necessary repairs. If you're in the market for a car for your teen, be sure to visit Cars.com and click on the Service and Repair tab to search Safety and Recall Notices.
Small, Medium, Large... Size Matters Size matters when it comes to choosing a vehicle for your teen. Larger vehicles have a steadier base that's easier to stabilize in difficult driving situations. This feature is known as ESC or electronic stability control.
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| Ford Fusion Photo Credit: cars.com |
We are happy to report our Kia Sorento received the IIHS Top Safety Pick AND a 5 star overall rating from the NHTSA in the 2017 Best SUV for Teens category. GO ME!!!
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| Behind the wheels of the family SUV |
What are some things you think parents should consider when looking for a car for their teen?
Comments
It probably is coming to a time I need to get another though and I'll have to check out cars.com.