Shopping for Transportation

If you’re starting to think about getting a vehicle for your teen, consider these points. New drivers need safe, reliable and affordable transportation. Here’s a quick summary of what you should look for when shopping for your teen’s first car.

• Vehicle type: Newer sedans make good choices for teens. Sports cars or other high-performance vehicles may tempt some teens to speed or drive recklessly. Pick-up trucks and SUVs can also be bad choices due to their clumsy handling and higher rate of rollover crashes.
• Safety features: Look for modern safety features such as antilock braking systems (ABS), daytime running lights, electronic stability control, airbags and adjustable/lockable head restraints.
• Affordability: A new car may be the most desirable option, but not within your budget. A certified used car might offer similar peace of mind at a lower price. Researching insurance costs and fuel mileage before selecting a vehicle can help keep down ownership costs.
• Reliability: Look for a warranty, check all maintenance and repair histories, have a trusted repair shop conduct a pre-purchase inspection and avoid vehicles with excessive mileage.
• Familiarity: Buy a vehicle similar in weight, power and size to what your teen uses for practice driving – or plan extra practice hours with the new vehicle.

AAA can help you buy a car with the AAA Auto Buying Service, discounts on CarFax vehicle history reports and Approved Auto Repair shops that can conduct a pre-purchase inspection. 

Additional resources:

• So Your Teen Wants a Car? — A parent's guide to choosing a vehicle for teen drivers.