The image source is Pexels.
Getting a driver’s license is a big milestone for any teen. Along with this license and newly found freedom, you will need to decide what type of vehicle your child will be driving. Here are five things to consider when helping your teen to purchase their first vehicle.
Set a Budget
The first step that you need to take when you embark on this journey of buying your teen a vehicle is to set a budget. This will give your teen a realistic expectation of what type of vehicle they can expect to get. It will also provide a guide as you start to research vehicles for purchase. Furthermore, setting a budget before you start shopping around will help to avoid disappointment and conflict down the road. Be sure to consider how much money you have in savings so that you know how much you can put down. You also need to figure out how much you can afford per month if you need to take on a payment. Do not forget to also account for the maintenance costs and insurance.
Look Beyond Your Immediate Area
Many prospective car buyers make the mistake of limiting their search to their immediate area. You will get a much better deal and have more options if you expand your search beyond where you live. In some cases, the savings of buying a vehicle from outside your area may actually pay for the trip to pick up the car and more. In addition, it will also be easier to find a vehicle that has the exact features that you want if you are willing to travel to purchase the car. Shopping online also saves you valuable time. For example, if you choose to buy a car online in Vancouver or your particular locale, you will enjoy the convenience of shopping from home along with the peace of mind of knowing that you are getting the most value out of your automotive purchasing dollar.
Take Test Drives
Just because a car looks perfect on paper, it does not mean that it will be a good fit for your new driver. This is why it is important to take numerous test drives of various vehicles to make sure that you are choosing the right vehicle for your needs. Do not be shy about bringing up potential issues when you test drive the vehicle. If something does not seem right to you, you should always trust your gut. Your teen needs to drive the prospective vehicles in a variety of situations, including on the highway and in traffic. This will help you to ensure that you are choosing a vehicle that they feel comfortable in through all types of driving situations.
Consider Upgrading Safety Features
While you do not need to buy a teen a vehicle that is loaded, it is recommended to add as many safety features as you can afford. All new vehicles are now equipped with a rearview camera, helping novice drivers to navigate out of tricky spots. Other features that are good to have for new drivers include anti-lock brakes, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and a blind spot monitoring alert system. Some vehicles even offer dedicated teen driving monitoring systems so that you can keep tabs on how your child is performing behind the wheel. All of these features will provide an extra layer of protection and guidance as your teen hits the roads.
Lay Down the Rules
Once you have selected the vehicle, it is important to sit down with your new driver and lay down the law. Do you want to limit how many passengers they can drive around at one time? Will the vehicle be available to the teen whenever they need it or do they need permission to take it out? You also need to set expectations about the financial aspects. For example, is your teen going to be responsible for paying for insurance or gas? Having these difficult discussions now can prevent arguments when issues arise.
Conclusion
There is no doubt that this is an exciting time for your teenager. You can help to make this transition easier by doing your research and knowing what to expect going into the process.
