Where to from “Mum, Dad, can I have a car please?”

Find the safest car for your child’s first vehicle

That day is finally here; the day when the licensing department has legally permitted your hiding-pizza-under-the-bed,still-a-teenage person with a severe allergy to rules, to publically operate a moving vehicle. First there’s fear, then confusion, then pride, and finally it’s all systems go in finding the  best mobile safety cell on the planet – preferably a military tank. .

You have spent years keeping your child safe and now they want to jump into the nearest vehicle and take off down the road; it’s a completely unnerving, and yet proud, moment. It’s also a whole new level of concern when you look at the mass car market and don’t know which vehicle is the safest as your child’s first car.

Through the years, the motor industry’s regulations and safety standards have become more refined and stringent with the evolution of design, the increased number of vehicles on the road, and the need for better cars. Crash testing, advanced safety features and active technology all form part of the most basic modern car designs. So, should you consider a new or used car?

New or used

Many parents and industry professionals believe that your teen should drive a new car if you can afford it. It does not need to be top-of-the-range, however it does need to be fitted with the latest active safety technology such as automatic emergency braking assistance  and crash-safety features such as multiple air bags and a strongly built cabin.

It’s highly unlikely that you will find advanced safety features in older models unless they’re recent used model in which case you should purchase from a renowned dealer. So, what type of car do you look for?

SUV

Sports Utility Vehicles are a firm favourite with families; they’re considered one of the safest options on the market. Large utility vehicles are heavy and more grounded, they often have impact bars and are built for tougher conditions. However, others may disagree about the suitability of SUVs for first-time drivers simply because they’re bigger to manoeuvre and some older designs were candidates for rolling in extreme emergency manoeuvres. If this concerns you, remember that not all SUVs are unwieldly mammoths, and smaller SUVs are available with the same safety features.

Smaller vehicles

It’s recognised that small vehicles don’t always offer adequate protection. Their designs focus on making them lighter and more fuel efficient, which puts many of them on the low end of the safety scale. There are however, a high number of compact cars on the market with 5 star safety ratings. Most automobile industry governing bodies are inclined to agree that medium sedans are generally the safer option in a real world crash scenario.

Mid-size vehicles

Medium sedans are often on par with SUVs with manynewer models featuring the newest safety additions, such as automatic emergency braking, lane keep assistance, advanced stability control, reverse warning systems, and multiple airbags.

It’s time for you to seriously consider which vehicle is the best option for your child’s first car, and which car loan options will suit your pocket. With this information under your belt you are equipped to ask the right questions when meeting with a car dealer.

Whether you decide on a new or used vehicle, you want an easy and professional applied car loan that is going to allow you to consider investing in the safest vehicle for your child. Contact Yes Loans today for more information on financing and insuring the used or new car for your child.

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