Three things you should consider when buying a car for a teen driver

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Seeing your teenage son or daughter getting their driver's licence is an emotional moment for most parents, and you may have thought about buying them their first car to commemorate the event. This could make for a great gift and could also give you the chance to choose which type of vehicle they will be driving. Buying a car for a new driver is not like buying one for a seasoned one, and their inexperience will affect things like cost and security, among other things.

Let's take a look at a few things to consider when buying a car for a teen driver.

Safety

Safety should be the first thing on your mind when picking a car for a new driver. You need to look for security features like adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, lane departure warning/lane keep, and more. Another thing you have to do is not make the mistake of getting a compact car for a first car.

That is because a small car will leave much less of a margin for error in case they get into an accident. You also never know who they will be sharing the road with. A bigger car will give them more protection and will reduce the risk of serious injuries.

Maintenance Costs

One thing a lot of people overlook when buying a car for a new driver is that they will often have bad driving habits, and these habits could increase maintenance costs on the vehicle. For instance, some new drivers will tend to wait too long to make certain fluid changes, which can lead to certain parts giving out before they should. They may also do things like accelerating too fast, leaving the motor idle, or braking too abruptly. Or they may not have the reflexes to avoid potholes and other obstacles on the road. All of this leads to premature wear and tear which is why you need to pick a car that is known for being reliable. You also have to make sure that the cost for replacement parts is not too high and that the parts are easily available.

Fuel Consumption

Fuel consumption will also be important since they'll probably have to pay for it instead. The cost of fuel is very high at the moment too, and you have to pick a vehicle that has a reasonable consumption rate or they might not be able to afford to drive it.

Now could be a good time to look at electrical vehicles as well. The cost of electricity is not rising at the same rate as petrol, and there are tons of great EVs out there for new drivers. If you want to know where to start your search, you can check out a guide on how to choose an electric car.

These are all things you'll need to think about before buying a new car for your teen child. Make sure that they are ready for the responsibility first, however, and think about their well-being first and foremost.

Photo credit Jan Baborák via Unsplash