Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All opinions are 100% my own.

Car Buying Tips for Teens

It’s hard to believe that I have a child that can drive! And another that will be driving in December. For all of you out there who have kids that are learning to drive or will be soon, and are terrified, I want you to know that you’re not alone. I, too, was a nervous wreck when my son first got behind the wheel. My baby! Wasn’t I just changing his diapers and getting up in the middle of the night with him? And now he is operating this huge machine all by himself? Needless to say, his dad took him driving the first few (dozen) times or so. We signed him up for drivers education over the summer after he turned 15. And we continued to practice with him. The day after he turned 16 he took the driving test and got his license. And I cried. Tears of joy and pride with a side of fear.

Fast forward about 7 months after receiving his license. School was about to begin. This meant our calendar was going to fill up and I was going to become taxi mom once again. Four kids in sports, two different schools, and a homeschooler. Plus youth group, drama club, library visits, group projects, and of course the teen social life – football games and movie dates. I knew what was coming …… “Mom, when can I get my own car?”  The thing is, getting another car is almost necessary with the amount of after school activities everyone has. So, I was already researching cars when he got the courage to ask. Cars.com is a lifesaver when it comes to finding the perfect car for anyone, including my teens. Cars.com has information that makes buying a car a breeze. From figuring out monthly payments to deciding exactly what you can afford. You can also compare cars right on their site. My first order of business was finding out which cars are the safest. Cars.com has that information too!

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SAFETY

My #1 priority when choosing a car for our teens was safety. The only thing I knew or thought I knew about car safety was that larger vans, trucks, SUV’s were the safest. But even that I wasn’t sure of. I was in luck that Cars.com was a great resource to learning about our potential purchase. They have a huge selection of information that will provide you with everything you need to make an informed purchase. Be sure to check out their videos and reviews feature located at the top right of the website. They provide extensive reviews about a wide variety of cars.

COMPARISONS

We made lists of cars that we found to be the best in safety tests, handling, and price. We compared them side by side to help make our decision. Cars.com offers Popular Side-by-Side Car Comparisons. They have  grouped sets of the most popular cars on the road so you can see how they’re similar and how they’re different. Cars.com does all the work for you!

RESEARCH

No matter whether you buy a new, used or lease a car, you do not want to overpay. Do your research to find out if the car your purchasing is worth what they are asking.

SCRATCHES ARE OK!

I’m sure your teen, like ours, wanted a shiny car free from any cosmetic issues. Here’s the thing, a few scratches or dings (from other car doors etc) are OK! A few cosmetic issues are going to keep the price low, a huge plus in my book. On top of that, I’m sure that a few more scratches will be added by your teen. Heck, my minivan has plenty of scratches and dings! However, if you’re seeing dents that seem to be from previous accidents, that is a red flag to get a background check.

TEST DRIVE

Mom and dad need to test drive the car options. But do make sure the teen that will be spending the most time in the car gets to take a test drive too. They need to feel comfortable and confident that this is the car for them.

KEEP TABS on your Teen Driver

Did  you know there are dozens of apps to keep tabs on your teen driver? There are apps that will let you know speed and location of your new driver. There are also maintenance apps to let you know if there are any issues going on with the car. Safety is what it’s all about.

Ready to shop?

Head on over to Cars.com where you can find answers to all of your car questions. You can compare prices on new and used cars near you. Cars.com is convenient and will save you time and money when purchasing your next vehicle!

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