Tips on Shopping for Your Teen’s First Car

Disclosure: In any review for a product or service, products or compensation may have been provided to me to help facilitate my review. All opinions are my own and honest. I am disclosing this in accordance with FTC Guidelines. Please see “Disclose” and "Terms of Use" tabs for more information.

If you were a teen looking for a new car, you’d likely want something loud, fast,
and flashy. Most teens are trying to impress their peers, and this is exactly the attitude
that gets them into trouble behind the wheel. As a parent it is your job to temper your
teen’s desire to act in a foolhardy manner and it starts with the car you allow him to
drive. Although you’re probably fine with putting him behind the wheel of your old-school
minivan, rife with safety features, the truth is that you probably need that car. As a
result, you might be looking at getting your teen driver his own sets of wheels. So here
are just a few tips to help you go about in in the right way.

1. New vs. used. There are very few cases in which a teen driver should get a
   brand new car. The major exceptions would be advanced safety features, alternative
   fuel options, and hands-free technology, all of which are more readily available on newer
   vehicles. Still, you could look at certified pre-owned options that are only a year or two
   old. The idea here is that your teen is likely to ruin a first car, not only with accidents,
   but from the pure wear and tear that a new driver will heap on his vehicle as he hones
   his driving skills. This isn’t to say that you should cheap out on a car that barely runs,
   but considering how much money you stand to lose, it doesn’t make sense to buy new in
   most cases.
2. Consider associated costs. Another thing to think about is the additional costs
   that come with buying a car. New cars will have higher registration fees and insurance
   premiums (especially since you have to hold a full coverage policy while paying a loan),
   while used cars may include more maintenance. This is one great reason to check out
   certified pre-owned vehicles; their sticker prices are greatly reduced and most come with
   a partial or even a full warranty.
3. Check consumer reports. Safety is of the utmost importance when shopping
   for a car for your teen considering the increased likelihood that he will experience an
   automobile accident; according to the CDC, drivers in the 15-20 demographic are four
   times more likely than other age groups to be involved in a crash. Even if your teen is
   responsible and trustworthy, you’ll feel better knowing that the vehicle he’s driving is one
   of the safest on the road.
4. Look for extra tech. There are now cars that can control speed based on the
   key in the ignition (Fords that feature the MyKey system) and report when drivers are
   exceeding speed limits, curfews, or geographic boundaries (Hyundais with the Blue Link
   system). But many vehicles also come with hands-free hookups that alleviate the need
   to touch a phone for the purposes of talking and texting. It’s not a bad idea to consider
   these factors when searching for a car for your teen.
5. Make him work for it. While you might be keen to present your 16-year-old with
   a box containing a car key, you really aren’t doing him any favors by treating this weighty
   responsibility like nothing more than an upgraded Tonka truck. A car represents a
   teen’s first steps into the independence and responsibility of adulthood, so handing over
   the keys to the kingdom, so to speak, deemphasizes the meaning inherent in driving.
   By making your teen get a job to pay for a portion of the vehicle expenses, do the
   legwork to find comparison vehicle insurance online, and stick to a budget,
   you’re allowing him to feel a sense of pride in what he has earned, even if it’s nothing
   more than an old clunker, and you’re imparting valuable lessons that will help him to
   function in the world when he leaves your care. Instead of just a car, give your teen the
   skills and confidence to be independent; this is a far better gift than four wheels.