Buying A Car For Your Child: What To Look Out For

As a parent, it's natural to want to help your child go through life with as few struggles as possible. While you might not be able to prevent them from having the occasional bad day at school or difficulty with friends, there are small things you can do to make their life that much easier. For example, getting them a car. Driving is a rite of passage for teenagers. It's their first step into adulthood and an important milestone that leads to bigger responsibilities like independence and housing. However, there are many factors to consider before buying your teen a car. Here are some things you should look out for when buying your teen a car.

Create A Budget

The first thing you should do when buying a car is to create a budget. It's important to know how much you can spend, so you don't overspend and harm your finances. How much you spend on your child's car will depend on a number of factors. These include the make and model of the car, fuel costs, insurance, maintenance and repair costs, and the cost of parking.

Pick A Car With A High Safety Rating

Whenever you buy a car for someone, one of the most important things you should look at is the car's safety. You want to make sure that your child is as safe as possible when travelling in their car. Look for cars with safety features like anti-lock brakes, stability control, and advanced airbags. They'll protect not only your teen but also pedestrians and other drivers on the road.

Think About Getting A Low-Emissions Vehicle

While safety should be your top priority, it's important to note that some cars have lower emissions than others. You'll want to buy a car with low emissions because you'll be helping to protect the environment. Low-emissions cars are the best choice for several reasons. First, they're cheap to run. Unlike other cars, these operate using very little fuel. Second, they produce less pollution. And finally, they also cost less to maintain.

Consider Adding A Personal Number Plate

There are many things you can do to personalise a car and make it unique. Adding a personal number plate is an excellent way to make the car stand out. Many people choose to add a personal number plate to the car, which can be a great way to personalise the car. You don't have to go overboard, but it can be a nice touch. However, it's important to make sure that the number plate is appropriate. Don't use a number plate that could be considered offensive. If you're not sure how to get started, you can use the automatic generator at Regtransfers, where you can input your child's name, initials, or anything else they might like on the number plate. This will bring up a list of results for which number plates are available so you can choose the best one for your child's new car.

Get The Right Insurance Cover

Before you buy any car, you need to consider the insurance. You'll need to find out how much a year is. If your teen is just learning to drive, they will be unexperienced. While you might want to consider insuring your teen's car under your own policy, it is often cheaper and better to get them their own policy. Teenagers are more likely to file a claim and having their own policy will protect them from being liable for any damages. Your teen's premium is calculated based on their age, the car they drive, where they live, and their driving record. You can also reduce the cost of their insurance by putting yourself down as a named driver. If you have a clean driving record and have built up your no-claim discount, this will significantly lower your premiums.

Buy A Service Plan

New cars are notorious for having costly maintenance. While you might be willing to pay for breakdowns and repairs, it's often cheaper to buy a service plan than pay for repairs as they arise. Service plans are an added cost, but they're often worth the investment, especially if your teen's car is likely to break down. You should also consider investing in an extended warranty if buying a new car, as this will ensure that any problems that occur are covered by the manufacturer.

Install A Dash Cam

Although this may not seem like an essential purchase, a dashcam could save you a lot of money in the long run. A dash cam is a device that records footage while you're driving. Ideally, you'll want to buy a dashcam that records in Full HD. A dash cam is great for a number of reasons. If there is an incident and the other driver denies any wrongdoing, the footage from your dashcam could prove otherwise. Secondly, they help to protect you from fraudulent insurance claims.