Choose the Safest Car for Your Teen

By Floyd Arthur

All parents of teenagers want their children to drive the safest and most

reliable car

on the road. Unfortunately for many families, buying or leasing a new car with

all of

the latest safety features for a young driver is a luxury they cannot afford.

According

to the Insurance Highway Safety Institute, most parents buy their teens used

vehicles, spending between $5,300 and $10,000 on the car. Even within that price

range, however, it is possible to find an affordable option that will be the safest car

for your teen.

Teenagers having fun

Improvements in vehicle safety over the last 10 years means that more and more

used cars are equipped with safety features such as driver and passenger side

airbags

and electronic stability control. These cars may cost a bit more, says the IIHS, but

they are proven to save lives.

How to Choose the Safest Car for Your Teen

In October of this year, the IIHS released its list of the safest cars for teens along

with

a few common-sense suggestions for keeping teen drivers safe. Its

recommendations

include the following:

* Avoid “muscle cars:” Giving a young, inexperienced driver a high-

horsepower engine is inviting trouble, experts say. Teenagers are biologically

programmed to take risks, and they are much more likely drive too fast in a

300-horsepower Mustang than a Honda Accord. According to the National

Highway Traffic Safety Administration, speeding was a contributing factor in

30 percent of all fatal crashes in 2012 and was responsible for 10,219 deaths.

* Go for big, heavy cars: Overall, larger cars fare better in crashes than their

smaller, lighter weight counterparts. Furthermore, an analysis by the Highway

Loss Data Institute shows that teen drivers are less likely to be involved in an

accident if they are driving a heavier car.

* Insist on electronic stability control: Mandatory on all new vehicles since

2012, electronic stability control helps the driver maintain control on curves

and slippery roads. Since its implementation, the technology is credited

with

cutting single-vehicle traffic fatalities in half.

* Do your homework: At minimum, any car you choose for your teen should

have a four or five star safety rating from the NHTSA. Look at crash-test

statistics, too: The car should have at least a “good” rating in the IIHS

moderate-overlap front test* and acceptable ratings in the IIHS side crash

test.

**A crash test that simulates a 40-mph partial head-on collision in which at least

40

percent of the front of the vehicle is involved in the crash.

Some of the Safest Cars for Teens

A safe, reliable car for your teenager doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Here are a

few of

the under $10,000 models on the IIHS list of safest cars for teens, along with their

2015 Kelley Blue Book value as of September 2015.

* Volvo XC90--2005 and newer ($4,600)

* Subaru Tribeca/B9 Tribeca -- 2006 and newer ($6,000)

* Volvo S80 -- 2007 and newer ($5,800)

* Volkswagen Jetta -- 2009 and newer ($5,600)

* Volkswagen Passat sedan -- 2009 and newer ($7,300)

* Ford Fusion --2010 and newer ($7,400)

* Mercury Milan -- 2010 and newer ($7,400)

* Chevy Malibu -- 2010 and newer ($8,200)

* Honda Element -- 2007-2011 ($6,700)

* Volkswagen Tiguan -- 2009 and newer ($7,900)

* Subaru Forester -- 2009 and newer ($9,000)

* Dodge Journey -- 2007 and newer ($8,700)

Choosing the right car for your teenager is a very important decision, and making the

wrong choice could cost your child his life. Teens are three times more likely to be

involved in an accident than adults 20 years and older, so it is worth spending a

bit

more to keep them safe. Additionally, it essential to have adequate insurance to

protect your family from financial disaster if your teen driver wrecks his car or

injures someone else.

We at Carmoon Group Ltd. are experts in home, automobile and business insurance,

and we invite you to come in and discuss your needs with us. We are available every

weekday from 9 a.m. to 6.p.m, so call 516-292-3780 to schedule an

appointment,

or request a free consultation online today.

Visit www.CarmoonGroup.com