Almost every teenager is anxious to get his or her first car. As a parent, you should help your kid buying it because of not one, but many reasons. Since teenagers don’t have much experience to avoid accidents, finding the right car for your teen means that you need to be extra careful about safety.
In the following article we discuss how you can find a suitable car for your teen, and help him or her buy car insurance at a discounted rate. Although finding the best new cars is not always easy.
Finding Your Teen the Right Car
1) Go for cars that have consistently ranked high in the five star ratings of National Highway Transportation Safety Administration’s. The organization rates car models from one to five stars on things like safety, with five stars being the most safe.
2) Choose a larger, heavier car instead of smaller one. Why? Because teenagers are more prone to accidents, and according to reports, more smaller cars have been involved in accidents than their heavier counterparts.
3) Buy a used vehicle, but avoid purchasing one with more than 100,000 miles because cars typically experience problems when they reach the 100,000 mile mark. You can easily search online for used cars in manchester (or a used car in your particular area) to locate a dealership in your area and find a car that suits your requirements. Be sure to examine the car to ensure there are no leaks, the steering is smooth, the brakes are working and there isn’t any problem with the engine.
Getting Discount on Car Insurance for Your Teenager
Before your teen gets license, you need to know how to buy car insurance for him or her. Here’s how you find the the best insurance at an affordable premium…
#1: Check Your Teen’s GPA: Make sure you check on the grade point average or GPA of your teenager before you contact any of the insurance companies. Having a GPA average can help in getting discount on the insurance as it shows responsibility and character.
#2: Contact Insurance Companies: Some insurance companies may offer discounts for teenagers that take part in the driver’s education program and pass with a good score. So contact some of the reputed companies like 21st Century insurance to find out if they offer such discount on insurance.
#3: Put Teenager on Your Insurance: When you’re looking around insurance for your teenager, it makes sense to put him or her on your (parent’s) insurance. This may give you discount for multiple vehicles or drivers. It can also apply to multiple insurance policies with one company.
#4: Select the Best: Once you find an insurance company that gives good discounts and is right in every other way, select the best or the most suitable insurance. This will not only help in lowering the cost of insurance for your teenager who has a driver’s license, but will also him or her more peace of mind in the long run.
With the help of the above article, you can help your teen have his or own car. But always remember that being a parent, you should be by your teen’s side even after everything’s in place so that he or she doesn’t get into trouble.
Mary Beth Elderton says
Good information!
courtney b says
love this blog post, very different.. and love the jeep !
Eileen says
Oh HOW I know! We are soon to have our 5th (of 6) kids driving. And it doesnt get any easier. It all depends on each kid’s personality I guess.
Anyway, our son will be driving our truck, older but safe. Blah on the gas mileage though so he will learn a lesson about what it cost to RUN a vehicle. Eiy yi yi!
Glogirl says
Great points! As a teenager I never had my own car. I had to share the family car!
Jimmy Arcade says
Good tips. Thank you for sharing. My wife and I do not yet have kids, but we can use all the advice we can get. 🙂
saminder gumer says
these are all great tips. i remember when i got my first car. i was so excited. i had to drive my younger sister places, but that did not bug me at all. it was great.
Diana C says
These are great tips. My husband and I don’t have any kiddos yet, but we will take any and all advice for the future. Thanks!
Diana C
Tiffany Winner says
my 1st car was a dodge neon i got at 18 years old, i paid half and my dad paid half
Betty Baez says
Great tips! I’m dreading the all 3 of mine are on the road
Jean says
My girls are at least 10 years away from driving, but I agree with everything you suggest here. My husband worked to buy his first car (his dad kicked in half) and they shopped for insurance together. My parents did it all for me (out of love I’m sure) and it set me back later in life when I went to buy my first car.
Ambrielle Bender says
Mine aren’t old enough yet but I know the time is fast approaching, When I first started driving, I had to pay for my car and my own insurance. Parents were poor so I didn’t get my own car until I was 19, but I wish someone would have given me these tips then! I bought a car with LOTS of miles and my insurance was expensive because I paid for it myself and at the time did not know that I could get a discount!
Tammy S says
Great tips. We did all of those when we helped our son to get a car. Now my daughter will be looking for a car in the next few months. It helps to be involved in the process but to also make them do some of the work. That way thry will have a idea of what to expect when they go to buy their next car.
Karen Glatt says
Good tips on what to know when buying a teen a car. I do not think that you should go in debt to buy a teen a car. There are cars out there that are great deals that a family can afford. No need to get a car that is too expensive. When the teen is old enough they can get a part time job to help out with the gas and upkeep. This teaches them to be responsible.
Jennifer Dysart says
Wow…I don’t have teens but what a scary time! I was lucky, when I graduated high school my family gave me an old used car to get me around 🙂
phillisha says
I still haven’t gotten my first car, but I’m hoping to get one soon enough.
Christine Mayfield says
I do not look forward to getting our kids first car because there are 5 of them lol.
Tania B says
Boy, these are some great tips. I wish more parents stopped and thought about the whole car-buying process for teenagers!
Ari says
As someone who never had a car while I was a teenager or in college, and who has worked at an insurance company, let me just say, the best option is to ALWAYS get a reliable OLD car for your teen. Especially if you have a teenage boy.
ellen beck says
Great tips- but also factor in some states require kids under 18 to take drivers ed. which is about $250 here. Lots of kids detassle in the summer to earn not only the course but also something towards the car/insurance costs.