What Is A Good First Car For Young Drivers
If you’re a learner driver buying your first car, or a parent looking into buying a new car for your child, there are a few things you should consider when buying a car in Australia. You want to choose the right car for first-time drivers to ensure they start off on the right foot as they learn.
So in this guide, LTrent Driving School will discuss a few tips for choosing a car for an inexperienced driver, and a few top models that are very popular among young drivers in Australia. Let’s get started.
1. Choose A Small Car To Make Things Easier For First-Time Drivers
Trucks, utes, SUVs, crossovers, and other larger vehicles can be hard for young drivers to learn how to drive. They’re so tall and bulky that it can be hard to understand their position on the road, leading to problems when parking, switching lanes, and manoeuvering in general.
A compact or subcompact car is usually the best option for a learner driver. We recommend looking into the Toyota Corolla, Toyota Yaris, Volkswagen Polo, Honda Jazz, Hyundai i30, and Suzuki Swifts.
These cars are fun to drive but not too high-powered, tend to have low running costs, and provide good fuel economy, so they are a good investment that you or your learner driver can drive for years to come.
2. Buy A Used Or Pre-Owned Car
This depends on your budget, of course. But in general, it’s a better idea to buy a used or pre-owned car that’s 2-5 model years old – such as a 2016 Toyota Corolla, for example.
Cars that are a few years old will already have depreciated (lost value), while still being in great shape. Used and pre-owned cars from reputable dealers also usually come with a multi-year warranty, so you can still get repairs if something goes wrong with the car.
By choosing a used or pre-owned car, you can get more for your money, pay less for insurance, and pay less for repairs in the event that you or your learner driver is involved in an accident.
3. Look For Advanced Safety Features
When possible, look into cars that have advanced safety features. Regulations in Australia for safety have tightened recently, so all cars built after 2013 must have Electronic Stability Control (ESC). Anti-lock brakes (ABS) have also been mandatory since 2003 in Australia.
There are lots of other helpful advanced safety features that can help new drivers that are not mandatory, such as reversing cameras, blind spot detection systems, collision avoidance systems, and more. When possible, we recommend choosing a car that includes these systems to enhance driver safety.
Contact LTrent Driving School To Get Driving Lessons & Learn To Drive Your New Car
If you’re a learner driver and have purchased a car, or you’re the parent of a teen learning to drive, LTrent Driving School is here to help. Our professional driving instructors can help you or your child learn to drive safely, and build defensive driving habits and their knowledge of road rules in NSW and VIC. Contact us online to learn more about our lesson packages and get started today.
To get started, contact LTrent Driving School or book your lessons online today.