What you require to know ahead of purchasing a automobile for your child

Are you seeking to get a auto for your son or daughter?

As a parent, maintaining charges low and making certain the vehicle is secure are the 2 key issues. But there doesn’t have to be a trade-off among the 2.

I asked Crispin Moger (pictured), CEO at Marmalade, provider of automobiles and insurance coverage for young drivers, what he thinks parents should look for when buying their kid’s first car…

“When they’re starting out, young drivers and their parents usually start browsing for a utilised automobile, rather than a new model, due to the fact they consider that is the only inexpensive choice.

“But this isn’t usually the case. The older the vehicle, the higher the charges of maintenance, tax and insurance coverage. What’s far more, some young driver insurance policies won’t in fact cover older cars, which tends to make life challenging if they’ve currently bought the automobile.”

Security concerns

Crispin continues: “Aside from these further costs, there is also the essential situation of security. The basic truth is that newer cars have a tendency to be much more robust, greater created and equipped with a lot more and better security attributes.

“Research shows that young drivers are most at danger of being in an accident when they are inexperienced and haven’t accrued the road hours that support them to judge and react in a protected manner.

“That’s why a new automobile ought to be the preferred option. An adult may possibly have the encounter and capability to drive an older vehicle without undue concern, but that possibly will not be the case for his or her kid.”

What to appear for in a new vehicle

Crispin offered a couple of pointers on how to hold a lid on expenses when getting a car that nonetheless ticks the boxes safety-sensible:

• Engine size The more effective the engine, the a lot more risk of the young driver speeding and driving dangerously. That is why we advise a reasonably modest maximum size of 1.4 for young drivers, and we will not insure anything bigger


• Optional extras You may discover a excellent deal for vehicle that has alloys, tinted windows and all the trimmings, but beware as these are all characteristics that drive up the price of insurance for young drivers


• Age of the car Not only are older vehicles much less robust in crashes, but the newer the auto, the a lot more security functions it is probably to have. Anti-lock Brakes (ABS) have been a common feature of all new cars given that 2004 and help the driver to hold control of the vehicle in an emergency. Further features such as electric windows and steering wheel audio control adapters help to decrease distractions for drivers and enable them to remain focused on the road. The newest models also benefit from automatic emergency braking


• MoT It is also worth remembering that, if a vehicle is new, it will not call for an MoT for 3 years.


• Telematics Look for a vehicle that will function with a telematics-based insurance policy as this may well aid to keep you child protected on the roads.

How can telematics support?

A single of the main improvements to the safety of young drivers in current years has been telematics.

Installing a black box in your child’s vehicle to monitor driving efficiency and traits has numerous rewards, not least that it tends to make them feel about their driving when behind the wheel.

Some policies also operate ‘curfews’, which hold young drivers off the road at instances when there is a higher frequency of accidents.

And the important point is that great, sensible and secure driving is eventually rewarded with decrease premiums, although undesirable, reckless and unsafe driving is deterred by the threat of higher premiums.

Data protection

Crispin added: “As effectively as encouraging your youngster to drive safely, telematics can also assist if there is an accident.

“If it wasn’t your child’s fault, the information in the black box might aid to prove their case. And if the automobile is stolen, you will be in a position to maintain track of the car so that it can be recovered.”

What you require to know ahead of purchasing a automobile for your child