Buying a Car for Your Teen? Check These 11 Things Before They Drive It
Your teen has been hinting for months. Maybe it’s the “just so I can get to practice” speech, or the way they casually scroll used car listings while sitting next to you on the couch.
Now you’re actually shopping, and it hits you: this car will carry the person you love most, often without you in it.
You don’t need to be a car expert to shop well when buying a car for your teen. You need a short list of things to check and the habit of not rushing. Here are 11 things to go through before your teen drives the car home, in plain language.
1. Look Up the Crash Test Ratings
Before you fall for a specific car, see how it did in crash tests. Two free sources make this easy:
NHTSA’s safety ratings give cars a score from 1 to 5 stars.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (iihs.org) runs its own tests and names the safest models each year.
Also look for electronic stability control. It helps the car stay on its path if it starts to skid, which matters for new drivers who may panic on a wet road. Most cars from about 2012 on have it, but confirm it for the car you’re considering.
2. Check for Open Recalls
A recall means the maker found a safety problem and has to fix it for free. The catch is that used cars sometimes have recalls that nobody ever got fixed.
Find the 17-character VIN (vehicle identification number) at the lower corner of the windshield on the driver’s side, or on the sticker inside the driver’s door. Type it into the NHTSA recall lookup. It takes about two minutes.
If there’s an open recall, you can still buy the car. Just ask the seller to get it fixed first, or take it to an authorized dealer yourself right after.
3. Get a Vehicle History Report
A history report tells you things the seller may not mention: past accidents, flood damage, odometer rollbacks, or a title marked “salvage” (meaning an insurance company once decided the car wasn’t worth fixing).
Services like Carfax and AutoCheck charge a fee, and the seller will often provide one. Not perfect, but it can save you from a car with a hidden past. If the seller won’t share the VIN so you can run one, treat that as a warning sign.
4. Look Closely at the Tires
Tires are the only part of the car touching the road. Worn tires mean longer stopping distances, especially in rain.
Here are 3 quick checks:
Tread depth: Stick a penny into the tread with Lincoln’s head upside down. If you can see all of his head, the tread is too low and the tires need replacing soon.
Age: Find the four-digit code on the side of the tire. “2319” means the 23rd week of 2019. Many tire makers suggest replacing tires after 6 to 10 years, even if they look fine.
Wear pattern: If one edge looks more worn than the rest, the car may have alignment or suspension problems.
New tires aren’t cheap, so factor that cost into the price you’re willing to pay.
5. Test the Brakes
Take the car for a drive, and during the test, notice:
Does the brake pedal feel soft or sink toward the floor?
Do you hear squealing or grinding?
Does the car pull to one side when you brake?
Does the steering wheel shake when you slow down?
Any of these means the brakes need work. Brake repairs are normal for older cars, so this isn’t always a dealbreaker, but you should know about it before you pay.
6. Make Sure Seat Belts and Airbags Work
This sounds obvious, but it’s easy to skip. Buckle and unbuckle every seat belt. Check that each one pulls out smoothly and clicks in tight.
Then turn the key to the “on” position without starting the engine. The airbag warning light should come on briefly, then go off. If it stays on, or never comes on at all, the airbag system may not work. Ask a mechanic to look at it.
7. Check the Lights, Wipers, and What Your Teen Can See
New drivers have enough to worry about without struggling to see.
Turn on the headlights, brake lights, and turn signals, and ask someone to walk around the car and confirm each one works. Check that the wipers clear the windshield without streaking, and that there are no big cracks in the glass.
While you’re sitting in the driver’s seat, check the blind spots. Some cars, especially those with thick rear pillars, are harder to see out of than others. Have your teen sit there too.
8. Pay for a Mechanic’s Inspection
This is the single best money you can spend. Ask an independent mechanic, one who doesn’t work for the seller, to look the car over before you buy. It usually costs somewhere around $100 to $200 in the U.S., though prices vary.
A mechanic can spot things you can’t: leaks, rust under the car, worn suspension parts, and engine trouble that’s just starting. If the seller says no to an inspection, walk away.
While you’re at it, check that no warning lights stay lit on the dashboard after the car starts. A lit “check engine” light can mean anything from a loose gas cap to something expensive.
9. Pick the Right Size and Power
Teenagers and powerful engines are not a great combination. A sporty car with lots of horsepower makes it easy to go too fast too quickly. At the other extreme, a very small car may not protect your teen as well in a crash.
A mid-size sedan or a small-to-mid-size SUV with good safety ratings is a sensible middle ground for most families. Giant trucks and large SUVs can be harder to park, steer, and stop, which matters for new drivers.
10. Put Together an Emergency Kit
Even a good car can break down. Before your teen drives alone, make sure the car has:
A spare tire, a jack, and a lug wrench (and that your teen knows how to use them, or knows to call for help)
Jumper cables or a portable jump starter
A flashlight with fresh batteries
A phone charger
A basic first aid kit
A bottle of water and a small snack
A card with your phone number and roadside assistance details
Spend an afternoon in the driveway letting your teen practice changing a tire. It’s a lot easier to learn when you’re not on the side of a dark road.
11. Get an Insurance Quote Before Buying a Car for Your Teen
Insurance for teen drivers can cost a lot, and the price changes depending on the car. A sporty or expensive model can cost far more to insure than a plain family sedan.
Call your insurance company with the exact make, model, and year you’re thinking about, and ask for a quote. Also ask whether adding a teen driver to your existing policy or giving them their own makes more sense, and whether there are discounts for good grades or driving courses.
It’s much better to learn the real monthly cost before you sign anything.
One Last Thing: Talk to Your Teen
A safe car helps, but a safe driver matters just as much. Once you’ve picked the car, sit down and agree on a few ground rules together: seat belts every time, no phone while driving, and limits on late-night trips or extra passengers in the first months. Teens are more likely to follow rules they helped set.
Your Quick Checklist
Check crash test ratings
Look up open recalls
Get a vehicle history report
Inspect the tires
Test the brakes
Test seat belts and airbags
Check lights, wipers, and visibility
Get a mechanic’s inspection
Choose a sensible size and power
Pack an emergency kit
Get an insurance quote first
You won’t catch everything, and no used car is perfect. But if you work through this list, you’ll know what you’re buying, what it will cost, and whether it’s ready for the person who matters most to you.
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