Being the parent of a teen driver might be stressful – but it shouldn’t be a stress on your wallet. Before you hit the dealership with your child, consider the following tips.
- Get your teen involved. Not everyone has the budget to purchase a car for your child. That’s ok! Learning how to save for their first automobile is a great financial learning experience for a teenager. In fact, even if you can afford to buy them a car on your own, consider making them a part of that experience anyway by having them save for a down payment.
- Make sure the car suits the needs. How often will your teen be driving? Do they have a long commute to school, or do they travel on any poorly-maintained roads? Striking a balance between mileage and features will help keep the new car affordable.
- Safety matters. Whatever car you choose, it’s important to remember that teens have much higher rates of accidents. So choose a car that has good safety ratings, and then back this up with firm expectations about when and where they can drive.
“Get your teen involved.” It is a sensible thing to do because it concerns their future car after all, right? If they are involved in saving for the money that would be used for its purchase, you can expect them to give more importance and care for the car. However, it shouldn’t just be your child’s choice that should be considered. The purchase of the car must involve both of you – the parent and the child must equally take part in the process.
ReplyDeleteDante Mallet
I agree with you Dante. You have a good point about getting your teens involved in picking a car. But for me, I would rather prioritize the safety features of the car. Teens have that tendency of driving over the speed limit, especially on the highway, and we can't control if they do that. All we can do is to add security features with the car to ensure safety. I'm not saying that any accident would happen, but being prepared and securing your child's safety is definitely a parent’s job.
ReplyDeleteEarlene Harps
The first car is always a good learning experience. That being said, parents are obliged to educate their children properly. Safety is number one when it comes to driving, so it must be emphasized to our kids. For example, teach them what they can and cannot do while behind the driver’s seat. Choosing a quality car is also a good skill to teach during this time.
ReplyDeleteLeisa Dreps
Proper guidance is important to teen who have their cars. I think one good car for a teen is a Stanley ford from Eastland, Texas.
ReplyDelete