How to Pick Out a Car for a New Driver

There is something magical about getting your driver’s license. It’s the first real taste of freedom a lot of people experience. It’s also the first time a young person is given the burden of responsibility. The dream of owning the perfect automobile often collides with harsh realities like price and practicality. Just because someone has a Ferrari poster on their wall doesn’t mean they should be driving one at 16 years old. So, how do you pick out a car for a new driver? The team at Davey Auto Sales has a lot of experience in this area, and our team has come up with a few tips they’d like to share.

READ MORE: What Should You Ask About When Buying a Used Car?

3 Things to Consider When Buying a Car for a New Driver

It’s hard for parents watching their kids grow up each and every day, knowing they will eventually leave the nest. Adding automobiles to that equation simply compounds the fear many parents have as they begin to let their kids have a bit more freedom. Here are a few things you might want to consider.

• Safety Features: We are in a golden era of automotive safety features. Not only have almost all vehicles become better at protecting passengers in the event of a crash, but modern safety sensors can even help avoid collisions in the first place. Even a vehicle that is a few years older than the current model year will provide some advanced protection systems while also providing value at the point of sale.
• Insurance Costs: Auto insurance companies are notoriously concerned about new drivers. That’s why rates can be higher for people under 25. A new vehicle is naturally going to be more expensive to insure than a pre-owned model. The same goes for repair costs in general. New drivers are bound to make mistakes, and knowing that a few scratches on a car’s bumper doesn’t have to be a major deal can provide people with the peace of mind they’re looking for.
• Performance Capability: Just about every automaker on the planet offers high-performance cars, trucks and SUVs. These are incredible machines, to be sure. However, automotive safety experts and insurance brokers advise against putting a new driver behind the wheel of something with several hundred horsepowers that also makes a matching amount of torque. They are simply too inexperienced to handle such a vehicle and the temptation to, ‘see what it can really do,’ is often too much for the most experienced drivers to handle. 

Are Big Vehicles Safer Than Small Ones?

Certainly, the size of a vehicle plays a factor in how well it will be able to protect passengers in the event of a collision. However, going too far in the other extreme (too big) causes issues too. Platforms like compact crossover SUVs offer excellent safety features, outward visibility and the potential capability to handle adverse weather conditions better than a small sedan or hatchback. 

Also, remember that larger vehicles are going to be more expensive to insure (especially with an inexperienced driver) and to fill with fuel.

Make an appointment with a Davey Auto Sales product expert, today, if you’d like to take a look at our expansive and growing inventory when it’s time to find a vehicle for a new driver.