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The Consumer Guide Used Car Rating Guide

If your budget can support buying your teen a new car, chances are most recommended safety features will be standard issue, and your biggest dilemma will be choosing a paint color. However, if you are looking at used cars for your teen driver, you may have to do a little more research to find a car with appropriate safety equipment. Here are some tips from the experts at Farmers Insurance Group that can help you find the best car for your new driver:

* A good place to start is with “The Consumer Guide Used Car Rating Guide.” This useful publication talks about the pros and cons of buying a used vehicle, which is especially useful if you haven’t shopped for a used car before.

* Check out the consumer information on car safety available from the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Insurance Information Institute, and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. This background can help you zero in on cars that can better protect your teen in case she’s ever involved in an accident.

* Choose the newest model your budget can afford, since most of today’s cars are better designed for crash protection than vehicles six to 10 years old.

* Make sure the car has working airbags. Many models manufactured after 1993 or 1994 have at least a driver’s side airbag.

* Know the market before you shop. Use the Internet or your local library to research prices on the make and model car you’re interested in. Armed with this information, you’ll be in a better position to negotiate a good deal.

* Use the power of the Internet to make your search easier. Check out an online car buying site for details on used cars in your area.

Once you find a car you’re interested in, don’t take the owner’s or the dealer’s assurances as the last word on whether the car is in good shape. Check the horn, lights, heat, air-conditioning, brakes, seat belts and steering.

Look for evidence that might indicate the car was in a major accident, such as cracks in the dashboard or doors that don’t quite shut properly. Check the car for evidence of tampering, like any marks on the odometer or numbers that don’t line up. Ask the owner or the dealer for the car’s accident and maintenance record.

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