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Finding a Car For Your Teenaged Driver | Davis Law Group

For teens turning 16 years old, getting a driver's license is a dream come true and the monumental first step toward adulthood. However, for parents it can be a nightmare. The number one cause of death for teens is automobile accidents, and it's not even close. Choosing a car you know your son or daughter will be safe in can be a difficult decision. However, there are also other factors that parents need to take into account. Those factors include price, fuel economy, reliability, and of course style, were outlined in an article by CBS Moneywatch last year. Their analysis and conclusions were very helpful for anyone who is looking for a vehicle for their teens or themselves.

Safety
When most people think of their first car, they tend to think of an beat up piece of junk that simply got them from place to place. However, for parents who are legitimately concerned about the safety of their child, especially in today's society, giving them an old jalopy is simply not going to cut. According to Cars.com, cars that have made since 2005 are the safest due to the expanded number of airbags that were placed in almost all vehicles beginning that year. So for a parent who wants their child to be as protected as possible, buying a fairly new car is the best way to go.

Price
Since teen drivers are likely to get into an accident, whether or not it is serious, damage to the car will take place. Because of this fact, spending a lot of money on your teen's first car is not a smart idea. However, if you buy a car that is old and cheap, the price you pay be that of your child being in a serious accident or constant car troubles, leaving your teen stuck on the side road somewhere. The budget we recommend is between $5000-$9000. For that price range, you can find reliable, older cars, such as a Honda Accord or Toyota Camry.

Fuel Economy
No teenager wants to be spending all of their money at the gas pump. So getting them a car that gets good gas mileage is key. Plus, no parents wants to be subsidizing trips to school and soccer practice.

Reliability
Aside from an accident, one of the worst things that can happen to a teen driver is to have constant car troubles, especially late at night. That is why making sure that the car you buy your is reliable cannot be overstated. Some cars are much more expensive to repair as well, such as German cars such as Volkswagen. Knowing which cars are more expensive to fix is a must know as well.

Style
For some parents, making their teen drivers drive an old car that has absolutely stylistic appeal is right of passage. However, some parents feel the pain of their kids and understand that having a car that looks is a key part of the equation.

After taking all of these factors into consideration the two best cars for parents to purchase their teen drivers are the 2005 Honda Civic LX, and the 2005 Toyota Corolla. Both cars can be found within the budget between $5000 and $9000, are very reliable, get great fuel economy and are fairly easy on the eye. 

Some other cars that met some of the criteria but not all include the 2005 Ford Explorer, 2006 Scion XA, and the 2005 Volkswagon Jetta.