Choosing the Safest Car for Teen Drivers: 3 Important Considerations

When your young teenage driver needs their own car, there’s no doubt safety’s at the forefront of your mind. When it comes to choosing the right one, it’s important to find the safest, cleanest and most efficient vehicle you can afford in your price range.

Here we look into the 3 main considerations to keep in mind when buying a car for your teen - the vehicle’s safety features, what insurance options are available and whether to purchase a pre-owned or new vehicle.

Safety features

Safety is always a significant consideration regardless of who owns or who drives the car. Unfortunately the crash and casualty statistics for younger drivers is high in New Zealand, which means it is even more important your child is protected with the safest vehicle you can afford.

Start by looking closely at the safety equipment that comes with the vehicles on your shortlist, as well as ensuring they come from a reliable brand you can trust. Generally the newer the vehicle, the more modern the structural design and the later the safety technology included.

Check if the car has an ANCAP safety star rating and review its report, like this one for the Suzuki Swift. The standards for a 4 or 5 star ANCAP rating have increased over time as newer technology like reverse cameras and collision detection systems have become available. So, it is still important to check the features of the car alongside its crash test result.

In some instances, the vehicle you are looking at may not have a rating or is untested against the ANCAP system. Again, it’s essential to review what safety features the vehicle has and decide if this is the safest one for your child to drive.

Once you start your search, especially for a pre-owned or used car, you are likely to come across a range of used import vehicles. Some used imports may not have the same safety requirements as new cars when they are brought into New Zealand, so it’s a good idea to compare the specifications, especially the fundamentals like airbags, ESP/ESC and any previous damage.

When comparing safety features on potential vehicles, here are some fundamental requirements for an ideal first vehicle for teenagers.

Airbags

These inflatable cushions shield your teenager from the impact of an accident, minimising damage and pain. Working in conjunction with properly worn seat belts, airbags are connected to a sensor and only deploy when a severe impact is detected.

Safe cars for teen drivers (and all drivers) should have a minimum of six airbags, including;

• Front — covers the wheel and fills the dash area in the event of a front-on impact/collision
• Side — inflates between the driver and the door during a side impact
• Curtain — drops down from the inside of the roof and over the windows
  
  

Anti-Lock Brakes (ALS)

Inexperienced drivers can easily find themselves in driving situations where they need to brake suddenly. Anti-lock brakes are an automated system that prevents the wheels from locking up and causing uncontrolled skidding. ALS helps your teen maintain more control over the vehicle when braking and reduces the stopping distance of their car too.

Traction and Stability Control

ESP or stability control keeps the vehicle safe and stable on the road by preventing the car from losing traction on the road and sliding out. And traction control maintains grip at the driven wheels — rear, front or all-wheel drive — to help correct the vehicle if it begins to slide on the road.

Reverse Camera

The reverse camera is one of the most useful safety features when parking and reversing out of tight spaces and avoiding potentially costly damage to the vehicle. It offers a clear view of the rear and blind spots and will help your teenager to confidently navigate car parking buildings, curbs and driveways safely.

Bluetooth/Smartphone Connectivity

Teenagers are prolific phone users, so take the temptation of texting or answering their mobile phone (which is illegal and very unsafe) away, by ensuring their phone can connect to their vehicle for voice calling and answering, as well as access to maps and their favourite music streaming services.

Forward-Collision Warning

Available in newer vehicles, a forward-collision warning system utilises sensors to monitor what's happening in front of the vehicle. The forward collision warning works with the front automated emergency braking to sound an alert, and can sometimes even automatically apply the brakes.

Other Features to Consider

Here are a few more that could protect your child’s life:

• Adjustable driver’s seat
• Tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel
• Daytime Running Lamps
• Automatic high beams
• Automatic on-off headlamps
• Adaptive cruise control
• Hill hold control
• Infotainment system with voice recognition
• Blind-spot monitoring
  
  

Safety Rating

The car safety rating is essential when looking for reliable and affordable cars for first-time drivers. You want a vehicle with the highest safety rating and a proven history of development and improvement in vehicle safety.

Vehicle safety ratings in New Zealand come from the following three sources:

(ANCAP) Australasian New Car Assessment Program — an independent vehicle safety authority for popular vehicles entering the New Zealand market. ANCAP ratings are valid for seven years and also factor in features that assist in the prevention of a crash and the protection of other road users such as pedestrians and cyclists.

(UCSR) Used Car Safety Ratings — evaluates the level of safety of used cars in the New Zealand market. These ratings are calculated by Monash University and are based on real-world crash data and measure how well a vehicle is likely to perform in a crash based on the overall safety the vehicle provides to all road users. This includes both NZ new and used import models that may have previously been sold with different levels of safety specifications which will impact the overall rating for each model.

(VSRR) Vehicle Safety Risk Ratings — assess vehicles that lack ANCAP or UCSR ratings.

Insurance

Watching a teenager get behind the wheel of a car for the first time (and many times after that) can be both exciting and nerve-wracking.

Generally, teenage drivers are more likely to speed, commit traffic offences, and sometimes violate their licence conditions. As a result, they have more insurance claims than older, more experienced drivers.

While acquiring vehicle insurance in New Zealand is not mandatory, you’ll want to have your teen driver covered — to cover the costs in the unfortunate event of an accident.

Some factors that influence the premium payments for their insurance include:

Age — the lower the driver’s age, the higher the price of insurance. For instance, a 17-year-old teen will pay more than a 21-year-old driver, depending on a few factors. Excess costs decrease when a driver turns 21 or 25, and policy costs decrease as well (all other factors being equal).

How long you've had your licence — the more experience your teenager has as a driver, the lower the price of the policy in most cases.

Comprehensive (i.e. full) or third party cover — third-party is always cheaper, but their car won’t be replaced or repaired if they cause an accident, so it might be worth forking out the few extra bucks for comprehensive cover.

Car model and value — in general, expensive high-spec luxury or larger vehicles are more costly to insure compared to hatchbacks or SUVs with small engines.

Where you live — whether the car is parked on the street, on a driveway, or in a locked garage, will also play a role in how much car insurance will cost.

Car modifications — new stereos, spoilers and other after-market additions will make your teenager’s car more attractive to thieves, which can increase insurance costs.

Annual mileage — the more time they spend on the road, the bigger the risk and the more you or they’ll pay for insurance.

How often it’s paid— unfortunately, paying the insurance monthly is always more expensive, as insurers usually discount policies by up to 20% for those who pay a year in advance.

What excess you choose — this is the amount that has to be paid to make a claim in the case of an accident. Most young driver policies have a high $750 or $900 minimum excess before the insurance company covers the cost to repair the vehicle.

The drivers named on the policy — if you have someone older who will be sharing the car with your teen driver, this can bring down the insurance cost as an older driver is less risky to an insurer. However, it is considered insurance fraud to name someone as an additional driver if they won’t drive the vehicle, and you may invalidate your policy.

Roadside Assistance – consider including 24/7 roadside assistance in the insurance policy. That way you know that someone will come to their rescue if you’re not able to get to them quickly.

Some insurance companies in New Zealand don't offer insurance to young drivers, so it pays to shop around and compare different insurance companies before purchasing a policy.

Pre-owned or new?

Pre-owned or used cars are usually cheaper than new vehicles and they can be excellent alternatives, especially if they have a good service record and are no more than a few years old.

While new vehicles might be more expensive up front, you are likely to be protected from repair costs for longer with the coverage from the manufacturer’s warranty. As the latest release of that model, they come with many of the modern safety features you need to keep your teen safe while on the road and buying new means you get to have a say in which colour is the safest one for them to be seen in too.

When your teen is ready to hit the road, you want to ensure that they are as safe as possible. These 3 important factors to consider will guide you in the right direction when it comes to choosing the right vehicle for your young driver.

For all the other steps in finding the right car for your family, check out our Guide to Buying a New Car today!