Buying your child’s first car is an exciting moment for any parent. Finally giving them the freedom to spread their wings with their first step of independence. Their first car is the one they will always remember as their little companion, so it is important to bear this in mind along with making sure they choose a car that is going to be reliable and economical.
Buying a car
Most young teenagers know what car they would like, often years before they can drive. They will want something that looks good and is likely to be a sporty car. Although, as a parent you know that there are many other things to consider than just the brand and colour such as; budget, running costs and insurance. It is all about making that compromise between a car that your child is happy with and something that is affordable.
Prior to buying any car, it is always advised to do your research of insurance prices as these can significantly differ depending on the car make, model and engine size therefore, it is essential to shop around. Also, it is advised that you run a vehicle history check to give you peace of mind that the car is safe and reliable before committing to buying. You can do this on with a HPI check that will give information about the vehicle that could be vital, protecting you from scams.
Looking at your finance options
There are many options to consider when buying a car. Whether you are buying your child a new or used car it is essential to make a smart choice when looking at finance options as you could end up spending way over the odds. The best options to consider are; personal loans, hire purchase, personal contract hire (PCH), personal contract purchase (PCP) or car lease to work out the best method of payment for you or your child in the long term. You can use the car finance calculator to find the perfect car for you.
Giving your child that helping hand they need onto the road of adulthood might seem like a welcomed relief as you will no longer be the local taxi driver. However, alongside this, as a parent you might feel nervous or apprehensive about your child getting behind the wheel and feel yourself worrying about their safety. However, there are ways to monitor their driving.
Insurance
Insurance prices are very high for first time drivers with prices starting from £1,200, but there are ways to reduce your children’s insurance premium and help to keep them safe. By agreeing with an insurance company to limit the number of miles driven and to not permit driving at certain times of the night, these methods can help to cut insurance prices. The average young driver is likely to drive fewer miles than those drivers over 25, driving only around 4,000 miles a year. Although It is impossible to control your children, you can keep a watchful eye on them with Fleet Smart Vehicle Tracking to make sure they comply with their insurance details.
It is important that your children are aware of the dangers of other drivers. It’s always a good ideal to put precautions in place in event of a faultless road accident. Installing a dash cam in your child’s car acts as a reliable 24/7 silent witness that will capture and record footage. This can be used as evidence if they are hit by another driver in a faultless or fraudulent claim, that could result in them losing their vehicle or increased insurance premiums. Along with this major benefit for first time drivers, dash cams also include GPS and road safety features that will help your child navigate safely when driving with very little distraction.
Maintaining the vehicle
Whether you decide to buy a new or old car for your child’s first car, reliability is essential as you don’t want your child stood on the roadside. Make sure that they have breakdown cover so they are prepared for all eventualities. It is a good idea to store a breakdown kit in their vehicle to make sure that if a breakdown occurs, they are equipped with essentials to keep them safe at the roadside until they wait for assistance.
Educating your children about safety on the road and how to maintain their car is an essential aspect of driving. There are various elements that will help to keep them safer on the road and it Is important for them to realise how their car will drive in different weather conditions and ensure their tyres are fit for purpose.
With thousands of makes and models on the market, making the compromise and finding a car that you and your child are happy with shouldn’t be too difficult.