There are times when parenting teenagers become as stressful as when you need to find a safe vehicle for them. It’s important to do this because the car that they drive can help improve their safety while they drive. Here are four ways in which you can go about doing this so that they set out on the best foot.

1. Make Sure That It’s Reliable

The first thing that you need to do is to make sure that the vehicle you’re considering buying is reliable. It should not be a vehicle whose manufacturers have a track record for having safety issues. Steer clear of cars that have been recalled in the recent past and go instead for cars that are known to be easy to maintain and run well. This is important because, apart from helping ensure that your teen will be safe as they drive, there may be lower maintenance and repair costs associated with the car. About one out of three drivers have their car break down annually, and this adds up to roughly 69 million breakdowns each year. Ensure that there’s a low chance of your teen experiencing a large number of car breakdowns by choosing a car that’s known for its reliability.

2. Prioritize Safety Over Speed and Flashiness

A safe car for your teen should be one that’s safer rather than one that looks flashy and fun and can go extremely fast. This is because if it has the potential to reach high speeds, your teen will likely be tempted to push the limits in a thrill-seeking moment. Needless to say, this puts them at risk that may have been avoided if they had a good car. Keep this in mind when shopping for a car and go for one that feels and looks moderate. While they may have objections, you will have more peace of mind knowing there’s a low chance of them being tempted to try crazy things while driving.

3. Buy a New Car if Possible

When shopping for a car for your teen, consider buying a new car if you can afford it. This is because for a used car, with increasing mileage comes an increased risk of safety issues. The extra cost you pay for a new car may be worth the easier process of handing over the car to your teen as they’re likely itching to have it. Otherwise, make sure that the car you get for your teen has been inspected by an expert whom you trust. In the last 10 years, the average length of car ownership for both new and used cars has gone up by 60%. This shows that people are keeping their cars for a longer time, so if you go for a used car, you must take steps to make sure that it’s in a good state.

4. Choose One That’s the Right Size

The size and weight of a car play a major role as far as safety goes. While you may feel like a bigger car is always safer, this is not necessarily the case. This is because SUVs and other cars that are extra-large have a bigger chance of rolling in case the driver loses control. With this in mind, go for a moderately-sized car that will be easier to control even in tricky driving conditions such as when the weather is a bit harsh. A DWAI, which is when a motorist’s blood alcohol content is between 0.05 and 0.08, is different from a DUI which is when the blood alcohol content is above 0.08. In these cases, any driver may be unable to control their car well, so you can imagine how much harder it would be for an inexperienced teenager. Remind them to never drink and drive because the risks are never worth it, but get them a car that will be easy for them to handle all the same.

Keep these four tips in mind when choosing a car for your teenager so that you can get them the safest one possible. This is an important part of parenting teenagers as it helps you ensure that they’re likely to be safe even when out of your sight.