There are over 227 million licensed drivers in the United States. Will your teen be joining them this year?
One of the most memorable events in a teenager’s life is picking out their first vehicle. It’s something most kids dream about for years and they usually have a good idea of what they want.
For many teens, that dream is a beautiful pickup truck.
But as a parent, what should you look for when choosing your child’s first pickup truck? We’re here to help. Keep reading for tips to consider when shopping around for your new driver.
Determine a Budget
The word “budget” is probably the last thing your teenager wants to hear when it comes to shopping for his first pickup truck. But, setting a budget from the beginning will help you determine which models to research.
During the budget discussion, it’s also a good idea to think about how much you and/or your teen will want to pay to fill up the gas tank after you purchase the truck. Pickup trucks use more gas than cars, so you’ll want to pay attention to average miles per gallon when looking at models.
Decide If You Want to Buy New or Used
Does your teen like the idea of a shiny, brand new pickup truck? Or is he dreaming of a cool old school pickup truck instead?
There are pros and cons to both options and it really comes down to what works best for your new driver. Of course, nothing quite beats the feeling of climbing into a brand new truck.
On the other hand, there are plenty of old truck models that are in great condition and will work for years to come. If you decide to go the used route, just be sure to only buy a Certified Pre-Owned vehicle.
Compare Popular Models
A quick online search for must have vehicle options will give you a breakdown of some of the most popular pickup trucks on the market. When looking through them, you’ll want to compare the following things:
- Price
- Size
- Safety rating
- Top features
- Gas mileage
- Length of cab
- Engine
From there, you can narrow down the makes and models you’re most interested in seeing in person.
Go for Test Drives
Now comes the fun part! Take your teen out to test drive several models. The best way to get a feel for a pickup truck is to get behind the wheel and take it for a spin.
Your teen might find that her favorite model from online research doesn’t fit her needs once she actually tries driving it. After test driving a few models, it’ll be much easier to decide which pickup truck is the right choice for your new driver.
You Never Forget Your First Pickup Truck
Now that you know what to consider when shopping for your teen’s first pickup truck, you can have peace of mind that your teen will be safe. And, you’ll get joy out of knowing they’ll be making amazing memories.
Browse through our website for more information about driving that can help keep your teen safe when out on the road.
