As kids go back to school we know keeping your teen driver safe is a top priority. If you are shopping for a car for your teenager, the process can seem overwhelming. There are so many choices, and while you want safety, your teen wants style. You also have to think about which vehicles will cost the most on your car insurance.
Here are five things to consider to help you find the best car for your teen driver. Also, remember to contact a Texan insurance agent to learn more about how to insure your teen driver.
Safety Features
There’s no perfectly safe car, but there are models which offer added protection. Look for features such as crash avoidance technology, anti-lock brakes, traction control, and vehicle stability control.
Certain manufacturers also offer technology specifically geared toward facilitating safe teen driving. Ford’s MyKey and Hyundai’s Blue Link offer features that allow parents to monitor teen drivers.
With MyKey, parents can program a key to limit the top speed of their teen’s vehicle and set earlier low-fuel warnings. This technology prevents teens from deactivating certain safety features and allows parents to set speed-alert chimes that go off at 45, 55 and 65 mph.
Hyundai’s Blue Link can be used to help parents track the location of their teen’s vehicle, and enables them to set speed alerts that notify them if the car is driven over a certain speed. Blue Link can also be used to uphold curfews. It can be programmed to send parents text or phone message alerts if a teen’s vehicle is used outside of a predetermined time interval.
Both Hyundai’s Blue Link and Ford’s MyKey telematics systems can also prevent texting while driving by giving parents the ability to block incoming texts when the teen’s vehicle is in motion.
New vs. used
Nowadays even used cars has great safety features. Newer cars tend to have the most advanced safety features, but you have to consider that they will cost more. You can get many of the same features if you opt for a used model that’s maybe one or two years older and save some money.
One important feature to prioritize whether the car is new or used is electronic stability control. Other important features that parents should consider are airbags, an antilock braking system (ABS), automatic transmission, and daytime running lights.
Speed and power
Avoid sporty cars because too much power can be tempting to teens who are already more likely to speed. Plus, sports cars are likely to result in higher insurance costs. Keep in mind that sluggish cars can be unsafe too, as they make it harder to merge and change lanes.
V6 engines are popular with shoppers, but they offer more power than a teen driver needs or should have. A better choice would be a more modestly endowed inline-4.
Four-cylinder engines offer adequate power, but not so much that they’re likely to tempt teen drivers into engaging in risky behavior.
Vehicle size
Teens are generally safer in mid-to larger-size cars. Midsize vehicles are the ideal mix of crash protection and maneuverability.
Small cars may seem easier to maneuver, but they’re lighter and don’t fare well in crashes with larger vehicles. However, big SUVs are not the best choice because they are more difficult to handle and have higher rollover rates.
Crash tests
One way to evaluate the cars you’re considering is to check crash-test results. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) conducts independent crash testing that gauges a vehicle’s ability to withstand various types of collisions. These vehicles are then assigned ratings to reflect their crashworthiness.
Parents should choose models with a “Good” IIHS rating (the top score offered) in all or most of the institute’s four crash tests. IIHS’s annual “Top Safety Picks” list reflects its most recommended choices. All models on this list must receive a “Good” rating in all crash tests to qualify. With NHTSA ratings, parents should select vehicles with five-star (or mostly five-star) crash test scores.
Remember to get a car insurance quote for your teen driver today! Call Texan Insurance and we’d be happy to answer any questions and concerns you might have!