So the time has come for your son or daughter to get behind the wheel of their own vehicle.

Here at the Tilbury Auto Mall, we know the decision you’re going to be making over the next days or weeks are going to be challenging. The vast majority of our staff have been there, and we know that just like our kids did, yours are probably going to want something sporty and cool, while you’re more concerned about them driving something that’s safe and reliable.

While we may not be parenting experts, we are new and used vehicle experts, and our experience has shown that quite often, letting your teen in on the process of picking out their vehicle can help teach them responsibility and give them a lesson about money that will lay the ground work for helping them make smart choices in the future.

Here’s a few things we’ve learned over the years.

First off, you’re going to want to manage their expectations. Vehicles are generous gifts and not something they should perceive as having right to. A lot of teens don’t realize the full range of expenses involved in owning a car or truck beyond the purchase price – insurance, maintenance, replacing tires and the like. Shopping together can provide you the opportunity to explain all of these factors.  Even if your teen has enough money to buy his or her own vehicle, the final call should be up to the parents on how much to spend and which vehicle to choose.

Another thing we’ve seen often over the years in that parents believe sometimes think bigger is better, and their teen will be safer in a truck or SUV. While large vehicles may fare slightly better in a crash, they can be more cumbersome to park and drive, especially for newer drivers.

SAFETY FIRST!

Always choose safety over looks. Safety should be the top priority, and while parents realize this, teen drivers seldom do. Teen drivers between the ages of 16 and 19 are four times more likely to crash than older drivers. Consider a vehicle with a high safety rating over one they think looks cool, or comes with a lot of distracting extra features.

Of course there’s always the time honoured tradition of passing down the current family vehicle. While your new driver might expect being handed the keys to a brand-new or previously owned vehicle off of the dealership lot, giving them a set of keys to a car that’s already in the driveway might be more practical. Everyone involved already knows the history, driving capabilities, safety statistics, and potential quirks of cars that have been in the family for a while.

If you decide to go that route, make sure you come and see us here at the Tilbury Auto Mall where we have more than 1,000 new and used vehicles to choose from every day. No need to bring your parents either… unless of course they’re looking for a great deal too.