There are a lot of reasons why we think that buying used cars for the teenage drivers in your household is a good idea. It teaches your kids financial responsibility and important adult concepts like car maintenance and insurance terms. Before you take your teenager out shopping, here are a few important things to keep in mind.
Get Preapproved and A Budget in Mind
The first thing you'll need to do is get preapproved and figure out your budget. If you're having the car financed, talk to the finance manager at the dealership about what you and your teen will be able to afford. Having a set budget in mind before you go shopping is going to be key in not getting more car than you can afford.
Research Makes and Models Online
Together with your teen, research online the different makes and models. For your teen drivers you'll want to make sure the car has excellent safety ratings but also comes with the right price point. If your teen is going to be paying for their own gas or insurance or is going to be taking over all or a portion of the monthly payments, the vehicle needs to be reasonably priced so they can still focus on schooling while juggling a part-time job.
Let Your Teen Take It for A Test Drive
Have your teen take it for a test drive (with you in the passenger seat of course!). They should take the car out on the highway as well as in slower neighborhoods. Going for a test drive in stop and go traffic is a good indicator of how well the car's brake response functions.
An increasing number of parents are getting used cars for their teenage drivers. If you choose to do this, you're doing a great thing for your teen and for yourself. Keep the above tips in mind before you start so you can get the best deal on a car for your kids.
