If you’re going to be getting your first car pretty soon, you’ll want to make sure you know what you want it to have. Here’s a list of things to consider.
Getting your first car is easily one of the most exciting parts of being a teen. If you’re lucky enough to have a say in which kind you want, you’ll want to be ready to give your parents an answer when they ask. That’s why we’re here to talk about what a teen should consider before getting their first car.
Vehicle Size and Type
A good place to start when looking at cars is their size. If you want something smaller, you’ll want to mostly look into sedans, but if those aren’t big enough for you, SUVs are also an excellent choice for beginners. If you have your heart set on a truck, that’s certainly a possibility, but some models might be a little too large for a first car. Once you nail this part down, though, other decisions about your future vehicle will be much simpler to make.
Price Range
Although no teenager wants to worry about price when it comes to their first car, it’s still something you should think about. Even if you’re parents plan on paying for the whole thing, the considerate thing to do is not pick out something that is way out of anybody’s price range. You don’t have to pick out something that’s dirt cheap either, but try to think about them when making a decision.
Obviously, if you’re going to have to help pay for it as well, that’s an even bigger reason not to go overboard on the price. It’ll feel good to contribute to your first car, but you don’t want to work your summers away to pay for your portion of it.
Specific Car Features
Now that you have an idea of the size, type, and price range you want, it’s time to pick out which features are must-haves for this vehicle. Maybe you want to have a 4-wheel drive car so that you can take it off-roading with your friends. Or perhaps you want a hybrid because you know you’ll be paying for your own gas.
Another thing to consider is if you want to try out a manual or not. They may be declining in popularity, but now is the time to learn if you’re interested. There are many reasons why car enthusiasts prefer stick shifts, so if you want to get more into cars yourself, this would be a good place to start.
The Personal Touch
Of course, no list of what a teen should consider before getting their first car would be complete without figuring out which aspects of the vehicle you would love to have. Most parents want their kids to be happy with their first car, so don’t be afraid to let them know what special features you’d like. If you’re dying to have an integrated smartphone setup in your vehicle, let them know. If a backup camera is a thing you need, tell them that. Maybe all you care about is that the car comes in red.
Regardless of what you want, be sure to let your parents know. Just don’t get too disappointed if not everything in the section of your list makes the cut. We’re sure they’ll do the best they can to include all of them, though.
