When Is the Right Time to Buy Your Teen a Car?

We have all been through the stage in our youth where we wanted to look cool in front of our friends, whether it's with nice clothes, fancy shoes, video games, or modern bikes. We all dreamt of getting a car from our parents, but most of them were likely hesitant and demanded something in return. 

As parents, it's now our time to decide if we are going to surprise our teen with their dream car or family car. You may consider these tips to help you when making this decision:

Sufficient Driving Skills

Your first step should be to make sure your teen has their required driver's license. Once they've obtained their license, be your teen's passenger and let them drive on busy streets to know how well they are doing. If you feel comfortable with their driving, maybe it's time to reward them. It's best if you teach them what to do if they get into any trouble. According to Herrman & Herrman PLLC: Teen Driving Accident Lawyers, giving teens this information is vital to helping them deal with driving accidents, while allowing them to be aware of the consequences. 

Driving Defensively

Driving a vehicle can be both a fun and frightening experience. Data shows that teen driver deaths are increasing every year. The causes of these deaths are general negligence, lack of experience in driving, and aggression. Experienced drivers know that defensive driving means protecting people's lives. To do this, a driver must follow all traffic rules at all times. Your teen should learn to give the right of way to other drivers, communicate, keep their heads cool, and be alert for crossing pedestrians. 

Almost all modern vehicles have advanced safety features such as airbags, cameras with sensors, and even driver assist, but it would be better if your teen learned how to prevent an accident from occurring.

If you want to reward your teen a car, consider the safety features and read reviews about the car from owners. We all know that looks come in first for our young ones, but as an experienced driver, you need to know the priorities required for owning a car.

Don't Cut Communication

Some driving experts urge parents to continue communicating with their teens about their driving. Even if they have their driver's license and can drive on their own, you should get some information on how they can improve their driving skills. Communicating with your teen will encourage them to ask more questions about driving a vehicle. If you feel that your teen is interested in this subject, maybe it's time to give them their own. 

Help your teen develop their skills in driving and inform them of your experiences. Teach them how to take care of the car, and how to do troubleshooting when the vehicle experiences any issues. If your teen is willing to get dirty when performing car maintenance, it's a good sign of their readiness to have their own car.