As a parent, seeing your child grow up and reach new life milestones is a great feeling. One of the most significant milestones in their teenage years is getting their driver’s license and buying their first car.
With so many different options and such little experience, choosing a first car can be a very intimidating experience for any young adult.
As a parent, you can help your child make the right decision by setting them up for success and arming them with the knowledge to choose a car that suits their specific needs and your needs as a parent.
Understand Your Child’s Needs and Wants
Before beginning the car search, it’s important to sit with your child and understand their needs and wants from their first vehicle.
Discuss the reasons for getting the car, whether it’s for commuting to school or work, running errands, or just for enjoyment.
Establishing the purpose for their first car can help narrow down the choices available to them.
Set a Budget
One of the most valuable lessons for teens buying their first car is learning to set and follow a budget. For most young adults, buying a first car is their first hands-on experience making a large financial decision.
Work together to set a realistic budget that will allow them to purchase a safe and reliable car without breaking the bank.
Consider Safety Features
Safety should be a top priority when choosing a car for your child. Some safety features should be non-negotiable such as airbags, anti-lock brakes, and stability control.
However, more expensive safety equipment such as automatic emergency braking, a backup camera, and blindspot monitoring should also be considered. These features can be especially helpful to new drivers because a majority of crashes occur due to driver mistakes.
Read about it here. All these features can help prevent mistakes and car accidents but may increase the vehicle’s overall price, so it’s important to consider the tradeoffs within your budget.
Research Car Models
Once you have a clear idea of your child’s needs, budget, and safety features, it’s time to research car models.
Look for cars that are known for their reliability and safety ratings. These factors can change with each vehicle’s model year so keep this in mind, especially if shopping for used cars.
Popular options for first time car buyers include the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Mazda 3, and Subaru Impreza.
Test Drive Multiple Cars
Before making a final decision, it’s essential to encourage your child to test drive multiple cars. This allows them to get a feel for what they like and don’t like in a car.
Perhaps they like sitting higher up on the road in an SUV or prefer the nimble handling of a compact sedan. Encourage them to take their time and ask questions, this will help them make an informed decision.
Emphasize Responsibility
Buying a car comes with significant responsibility. Teach them the importance of safe driving and maintaining their vehicle, including regular oil changes, tire rotations, and other maintenance items.
Encourage them to take ownership of their car and make responsible decisions while on the road.
Takeaways
Choosing a first car as a young adult is a significant milestone for any young adult. As a parent, you can help guide your child into making an informed decision by understanding their needs and wants, budgeting, considering safety features, researching models, encouraging test drives, and emphasizing responsibility.
With these tips, your child will be equipped to choose a safe and reliable car that gives you one less thing to worry about as they take on this new chapter of their life.
