Your Child’s First Car… What Do You Need To Look Out For?
The day that you passed your driving test, remember it? It was like the equivalent of climbing Everest in your shorts, a massive accomplishment! The world has opened up for you, and it’s now time to buy a car. Now, back in the day, it was simple enough to buy an old banger, and that would be fine. But now your son or daughter has passed their driving test, do you want them to get in a car that’s been passed through more hands than a cold virus? It’s unlikely. So, what do you need to look out for?
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It’s the eternal dilemma, do you go for a brand new car with all the trimmings, which will cost you a pretty penny, or do you save some money and get a used car? Really, it doesn’t matter about the condition of the car per se, but more how safe the vehicle is and if it’s reliable for the cost. If you’ve ever sold a car, you know that you can’t disguise any of the problems by doing a quick fix. And you know fully well by now what you’re looking for when buying a used car, safety! But if you’ve not bought a car for some time, here are some of the basic safety features that should be on top of your list:
ABS – Anti-lock braking system, which stops the wheels from locking while braking.
Airbags – Self-explanatory, but you need to find out if they’ve ever been deployed or when the car was last in for an overhaul or MOT. The more airbags, the better.
Headrests – Did you know that they are a legal requirement? Make sure they are positioned properly and haven’t been tampered with.
ESC – Also known as stability control, which will benefit if the car starts to slide.
Traction control – This will stop the wheels spinning on slippery or icy terrain.
Other factors to bear in mind when deciding on a new or an old car is the cost of the insurance. Yes, when you insure a car for someone who has just passed their driving test, the premiums will be higher, but the fact is that an expensive car isn’t costlier to insure. The way insurance premiums are calculated is based on the risk of damage. The majority of motor claim payouts are for personal injury rather than the repairs of the cars themselves, so it doesn’t necessarily matter on the age of the car. The best piece of advice is to check out the safety tests of organizations like Euro NCAP, who test the most popular cars that are sold in Europe. But, if you know what you’re looking for when it comes to the safety features, you can help your son or daughter to make a much more informed decision. Ultimately, it’s when they pass their test that your child needs the most help in their driving. And, in the UK, young drivers account for over two in five road deaths, so be mindful of the stats across the board.
When buying a used car, there are some simple tips to getting the best out of your funds. Firstly, make sure to set a budget as this will determine your upper limit and you can compare it to cars on the market for that price. Be sure to pick your seller wisely; buying from a used car dealer will end up costing you a bit more, but the seller is far more reputable than someone from the used car ads. And as dealers provide a warranty as well as service the cars, you’re definitely getting a bit more bang for your buck.
And the big bone of contention with buying a car for your son or daughter is style over substance. Modified cars are very attractive to the younger driver, but they can point towards the fact that the car has been driven hard by the last owner. You’ll need to ask if the car is road worthy or is it a matter of style over substance? A lot of insurers won’t accept highly modified cars, or the premium might be higher. This may cause a few discussions around the dinner table. But if you need to reach a compromise, then fork out for personalized DVLA number plates; it is a little token of personalizing their first car, but without the bells and whistles that tend to come with modified vehicles.
The next thing to do is to test the car, in every sense of the word. Make sure that your child takes a test drive to see how it handles in every possible area they are likely to drive in. If they plan on using the car for a lot of commuting to work, take it down the motorway for a couple of junctions. You need to see how it handles on open roads as well as intercity routes. Make sure that the basics are checked, such as the steering, the gears, and the brakes. If you’re buying from a private seller, it’s unlikely that they’ll let you drive it by yourself, so ask them to take you for a drive, and listen out for any odd noises. You will need to test the electrics, and for your child, the excitement of buying a car can mean that they potentially will overlook little things like lights if you’re buying during the day. Keep an eye on the lights, wipers, the horn, and test out the dashboard. Look at the bodywork and tires for any signs of aging, like rust, tire tread, or any dents that can’t be fixed. If you see anything like discolored panels, this might be a sign of previous repair work. And don’t let your child feel pressured into buying something, if it’s not right, there will be plenty of other cars to see.
While your son or daughter will want to pick their own car all by themselves, if you can strike the right balance between safety and style, their first car will be perfect for them, as well as perfect for your peace of mind!
