Tips on choosing the first car for your kid

No matter what age you get your first car at, it’s always a wonderful feeling. As a parent, it can be a tough decision to make as there are so many options to choose from and so many variables to consider. Moreover, your priorities and your child’s priorities are going to be very different, so finding a compromise can be quite difficult.

While buying the car is a one-time cost that you are going to be taking care of, it’s important you choose a car that is going to be relatively easy and cheap for your kid to maintain. While fuel costs are one thing, the overall maintenance for certain vehicles can be quite high, defeating the purpose of being a cheap car to use.

However, there are a number of options that should fit the bill. If you are trying to decide which car to go with, here are a few important considerations that should make it easier to choose.

1.  Purpose

This is probably the most important consideration as it will influence everything from the body style to the fuel economy of the vehicle. If your kid has a job where they need to haul large items or maybe they are looking for something that they can use to transport their surfboard, bicycle or musical instrument, they’re probably going to fit in a small hatchback unless you’re happy shelling out for a roof rack, too. There are a number of different vehicle types to choose from and while some are designed purely for aesthetics, others serve a more defined purpose. If you want a bit of both worlds, you might want to consider something like an SUV, or maybe a station wagon. There are a number of cars that are designed to meet varying needs and offer the storage and the power to go with it. You also want to keep in mind the kind of terrain that you will be driving on, it would be a good idea to choose a vehicle with four-wheel drive for difficult terrain.

2.  Reliability

There is always a chance of a breakdown but having the right vehicle significantly reduces this possibility. Japanese cars are well known for their reliability but according to this Audi dealer in Shawnee, German cars offer just as much reliability if not more. German products, especially their mechanical products are well known for being over-engineered with plenty of research going into their development. German products are well known in everything from aviation to automobiles. While they can be slightly more expensive to buy than other vehicles, they can be worth the money in the long run thanks to the performance and reliability that they offer.

3.  Maintenance

Maintenance is an inevitable part of owning a vehicle. Whether that means getting the oil changed every few thousand miles or getting it repaired in the case of an engine failure. Even though some of the most common car repairs are mechanical, it’s important to consider the cost of body parts in the case of an accident when you will need to get the body repaired. Secondly, you also need to consider insurance options for your car. Insurance will vary depending on the vehicle and whether it is new or used but be prepared to be paying a premium if you are getting it for your child. Being a first-time car owner, they will initially be paying a bit more for insurance but this cost will reduce over time as they build up their no-claims bonus.

4.  Preference

While we do buy cars for a certain purpose in mind, there is no denying that they are also an asset that grows on us and it is a bit of a passion for most first-time car buyers. Especially when this is going to be the first car for your kid, it’s important that you consider their preferences and see if that can work for their first car.

It’s never easy choosing a car, especially when it’s for a young adult but with some consideration and discussion, you can make it possible. It’s important that you talk to your kid about owning a car, driving safely, and ensuring that they get their driver’s licence before they get the car. You won’t always be there to monitor how they drive, so teach them the right way of doing things and trust that they will follow through.