What Every Parent Needs to Know Before Getting Their Teen a Car

It's one of the most emotional rights of passage among modern humankind – the moment

your teenager gets behind the wheel of their first car. Excitement, fear, sadness, and pride

swell in the heart of the parents, while nothing but unbridled joy radiates from the teen.

Just as when they were five years old and learning to ride a bike, the only thing that

tempers your enthusiasm is knowing how easy it is for something to go wrong. Rest

assured, parents, the number of critical accidents among teen drivers is relatively low,1

especially when parents take time to research and purchase a reliable car with lots of

safety features. Here is your guide for choosing that beloved first car for your teen, along

with some helpful information on preparing them to drive it safely.

Buying for Safety: A List of Dos and Don'ts for Parents

What qualities and features make for a safe first car?

● Bigger is better -- Don't be tempted to purchase a tiny car that's easy to park on

campus. Instead, surround them with lots of sturdy metal that can withstand

impact.2

● Think beyond airbags -- Features that prevent accidents (instead of just protecting

bodies during accidents) are more beneficial. Look for electronic stability control,

antilock brakes, rearview cameras, parking assistance, and other features to help

teens avoid an accident before it happens.

● Cool cars aren't cool for teen drivers – Additional horse power is just additional

temptation to hammer down, which is the last thing a novice driver needs to do.

● Reviews and ratings matter -- check the ratings given to the vehicle by the

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Find out how the vehicle rates before

buying or handing down a vehicle.3

Why a New Car Might Be the Best Option for Your Teen

Recent studies show that the number of fatal accidents among all drivers of new vehicles

has dropped by two-thirds in the past decade.4 Innovations in automotive manufacturing

combined with stricter government regulations for safety have combined to produce safer

cars. Many of the most important features recommended for teens -- like electronic

stability control and parking assist -- are only available on newer models.

Additionally, it might be easier to get your teen excited about a car with less than 200

horsepower if it's brand new. Compromise by getting a brand new Ford or Chevy, instead

of that coveted pre-owned sports car that screams "Go fast!" Teens might also be more

1

https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/?1dmy&urile=wcm:path:/dmv_content_en/dmv/teenweb/more_btn6/tr

affic/traffic# 2 http://www.iihs.org/iihs/sr/statusreport/article/49/5/1

3 http://www.iihs.org/

4 http://blogs.wsj.com/corporate-intelligence/2014/12/22/dad-i-really-do-need-a-new-car/

careful in a new car they can take pride in. An old clunker is no big loss if they scratch

and dent it up. Besides, the safety features on new vehicles can lower insurance rates,

taking some of the "ouch" out of insuring your teen driver.

Beyond the Car: What Parents Can Do to Keep Teen Drivers Safe

Your teen's success behind the wheel starts long before you hand over those car keys.

You can prepare your young driver beginning in the early teen years with these tips:

● Teach driving by example. If you obey traffic laws, stay calm in tense driving

situations, and take care of your vehicles, this will go a long way toward instilling

respect for driving and cars within your teen.

● While driving, take time to explain how the flow of traffic works. Make sure they

understand the proper procedure for merging into traffic, handling a sudden steep

curve, merging for vehicles stopped on the shoulder, and other techniques that

might not be obvious to a learning driver.

● Give your teen time to learn. It might not be convenient to let them drive when

you're trying desperately to get errands done and back home before dinnertime,

but the experience they get while they have a learner's permit helps them stay safe

when they're on their own. If your 16-year-old isn't ready to drive, don't force the

issue. Give them time to become comfortable with the new responsibility.

There are certain situations that drastically increase a teen's chances of being involved in

an accident.5 Know these, and impress them on your teen:

● Driving while impaired -- Some parents offer a "no questions asked" policy, so

their teens can call home for a ride if they do end up sampling some alcohol at a

party. Of course, there are moral questions to consider here, but many parents had

rather pick up a tipsy teen and nurse a hangover than get that dreaded late-night

call.

● Driving with friends in the car -- Studies show that teens are far more likely to

take chances behind the wheel or to lose concentration while driving with a car

load of buddies.

● Driving at night -- It's harder to see and easier to get confused and have an

accident when it’s dark out.

● Driving while distracted -- Cell phones are an absolute NO for any driver.

● Driving while tired -- Make sure your working teen, budding athlete, or promising

musician who practices late gets sufficient rest to be safe behind the wheel.

When you're ready to make that life-changing first car purchase, head down to Jack Key

Auto Group. This experienced and knowledgeable group of sales professionals can walk

you through the safety features, safety ratings, easy of maneuvering, and other aspects of

buying your teen their first car. Make that special experience a pleasant one at Jack Key.

5 http://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/teen_drivers/teendrivers_factsheet.html

Company Bio

Jack Key Auto Group is the trusted automotive dealer in the West Texas and Southern

New Mexico area. We have helped many parents find safe, reliable, affordable vehicles

to keep their teen drivers safe. Instead of visiting a dealership where salespeople pressure

you to buy, the Jack Key sales staff will focus on getting you and your teen driver in the

right vehicle. With dealerships in Alamogordo, Las Cruces, and Deming, we're just a

short drive away from wherever you are.