Choosing The Right Car For Young Drivers
For some students, going back to school may mean getting a new or new-to-them set of wheels. There are many factors to consider in choosing the right model for a young driver, though a used car is a smart place to start. A 2-3 year-old pre-owned vehicle can be a good value since it likely still has some factory warranty left and usually comes with cheaper insurance and taxes than a new vehicle. In addition, a used vehicle has already taken its biggest hit in depreciation and there may be less family stress over preserving it in showroom-caliber condition.
Features such as electronic stability control, side curtain air bags, and antilock brakes are important especially for an inexperienced driver. Here’s Consumer Reports’s list of best and worst used cars to find the most reliable vehicles that also scored well in our testing (don’t be suprised that they’re all Asian). Or target the best used cars for under $20,000. I guess Consumer Reports assumes we can all afford newer models for our teenagers. Of course newer cars are safer.
Besides safety and reliability, young drivers need versatility to transport luggage, furniture, and people€”especially those who are heading off to college. Sedans and hatchbacks are good choices that offer additional cargo space when the rear seats are folded and roomier trunks. We do not recommend your young driver get into SUVs or pickups since they can have trickier handling and are more prone to rollovers. Sporty cars are too tempting to be driven fast and have a high crash and insurance rates.
