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It's no secret that more teens are receiving new cars as gifts from their parents and grandparents for graduation or birthdays. If you have ever watched "My Super Sweet Sixteen" on MTV, you can't seem to forget the squeals of delight as daddy surprises his little princess with a brand new BMW or Mercedes. But you don't have to break the bank to see your teens riding around safely in style. There are many new and used cars out there that would satisfy any teen's hunger for a vehicle and still be in budget.

Before you shop for a car for your teen, check with your auto insurance and get quotes on different models that would be in your budget. Also check and see if your teen would qualify for a discount if he/she takes a driver's training course. Research vehicle prices in newspaper classifieds, on-line, and with AAA or other auto information services. Keep in mind that statistically the accident rate for teen drivers is higher. Study crash-test ratings from AAA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Some cars offer greater protection for both driver and passengers.

When narrowing down your choices on which car to purchase for your teen, consider his/her needs. For instance, will they be driving their siblings to school? Do they have a lot of gear to lug around for practice and games? Keep in mind how many passengers your teen may drive around and keep it to a minimum. Your teen will be too distracted if he/she has a lot of friends in his/her car. So try to keep the model down to a four seater, eliminating any desire to tote around six or seven friends. Remember, when shopping for a new car, stay away from vehicles that are top heavy or a high-performance vehicle as these lead to roll-overs and excessive speeding.

If your budget can handle the purchase of a new car or if you have made the traditional deal with your teen: they save money that you match dollar for dollar, then here are a few nice models to consider. The Toyota Yaris is a fast growing trendy car with excellent gas mileage, safety ratings, and great affordable price under $15,000. There is also the Chevy Aveo which is also great on gas and comes with an affordable price tag. You could go for the Kia Rio which is a pretty standard car that would be reliable and safe or step it up to the Kia Spectra and give your youngster some options for his/her first new car. Try to find a car that is similar to the one used while learning to drive. Take the time to ride with your teen and let him practice handling the car in different situations before he is allowed to drive alone. Don't choose a vehicle on looks alone. Have your teen test drive the car to gage how well it handles and if he or she feels comfortable driving it. If a vehicle is difficult to park, or your teen feels uneasy backing it out of the driveway, it might not be the best choice.
Remind your teen that car ownership comes with a set of rules and responsibilities. Make sure he understands that driving privileges can be taken away for speeding, excessive tickets, transporting alcohol and drugs, or driving recklessly. Depending on the age and maturity of your teen, you may need to enforce mileage, destination, curfew, and passenger limits.

Learn more about this author, Tracy Johnson.
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