Getting a driver’s license is one of the biggest rites of passage in most people’s younger lives. With that piece of plastic, freedom feels endless, only second to your first bicycle.
With that freedom also comes a huge dose of responsibility.
Car choice plays an important role. Putting a new driver in the right car can go a long way to promote safety and responsible driving.
I remember growing up and getting my first car, a blue 1961 Beetle. It was an awful car but sparked a mechanical career that I still benefit from. It would not be a car that I would pick for my son. It was cheap, but unsafe and unreliable to a point I had the tow company’s number memorized. Part of my roadside kit was quarters to call them.
Car selection will be a compromise. As the mature party, picking a car that is safe, reliable, economical enough, and aligning with the likes of your child, can be quite a task.
Safety is most likely a parent’s biggest concern, and for good reasons. According to the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety drivers 15-19 make up only 3.7% of licensed drivers but accounted for 7% of traffic fatalities. Nationwide Insurance has said that 43% of first year drivers and 37% of second year drivers will be involved in an accident.
Accidents caused by such behaviors as distracted driving, speeding, driver error, and intoxication are all much higher in younger drivers than those with more experience. Even if your teen never suffers an accident, tickets and higher insurance costs will make this an expensive affair.
As a teen, if I had my way, a slick sports car or powerful truck would be my pick, of course!
Cars like this come with a lot of risk. High performance vehicles for inexperienced drivers may be a recipe for disaster. I know if my father bought me what I really wanted, there is no way I would have had the emotional maturity or judgement to not show out in front of my friends.
Luckily, the 40-horsepower engine in the back of my Bug kept me grounded.
A newer vehicle is almost always going to be safer, with options such as back up cameras, hands free connections, and even advanced systems like collision avoidance, lane assist, and automatic emergency braking. These vehicles will be coming with an added cost of purchase, plus a higher insurance premium due to the car being worth so much.
Savings can be seen with pre-owned vehicles in good condition. The depreciation of a new vehicle the moment it is driven off the lot, it is almost to the degree that if you only drive it around the block and bring it back as a trade, you will lose several thousand dollars just for your name appearing on the title.
Hand me down vehicles are also a great idea. My girlfriend’s daughter just turned 18 and she is getting her mom’s trusty 2012 Ford Focus as her first car. I have the car at my shop now going through it and fixing a few things it needs to be 100% road ready.
I am also doing a radio upgrade that is adding navigation, Bluetooth, back up camera, and Apple Car Play for phone interface. This option only costs a few hundred dollars but makes the car much safer than the stock form. Sometimes, the best car for your kiddos is the one that is in your driveway.
Before buying a car for your kids, make sure that they will be comfortable with driving it. Now, I am not talking about looking cool, I mean does it fit their needs and size.
Is it manageable to park? How is the visibility? Does it have the space for their belongings? Can they afford the upkeep and insurance? These are all questions that will change for each situation, but important, to say the least. Taking them to test drive the car before you buy can save you headache in the long run.
Also, the education doesn’t stop with the driving test at the local DMV. Make sure your child knows what to do in an accident, a traffic stop, and a roadside emergency.
Show them where the jack and spare tire is on the car, and how to use it. Teach them how important maintenance is, how to properly read gauges, and what to do if they suspect a problem with their car. Checking fluids and what fuel to use are also important things to pass along to your new driver. Take them with you if any of the family cars need service to make them comfortable with the process or have them help you if you do your own maintenance.
As for me, I will see you on the road! And tell your kiddos to wave if they see me in traffic!
