Buy Your Teen a Safe Car

A parent's guide to protecting your precious child, a teen's guide to scoring a new car on your sweet sixteen.

I was reading an interesting article in The Family Circle Magazine today and I thought I'd share it with the parents out there who have a teen. I was reminded that teens have a high crash rate; teens crash four times more than an adult 20 or older. (See my previous post about safe teen driving.)Even with this fact, only 20 percent of parents said that safety was the most important factor in selecting a car for their new teen.

The good thing is that there is hope for teen drivers out there; a shocking statistic was found by The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Between 1996 and 2005, accidents among 16-year-olds (the highest-risk drivers) fell 40 percent. This is due mainly to new safety features.

A few questions that may come up include: Big or small? Basic or loaded? New or used? Dull or dream?

Big or small? Midsize
Small cars generally have low crash scores, but big cars generally have bad handling and easily loose control. For more crash ratings go there iihs.org/ratings

Basic or loaded?
electronic stability control (ESC) is a great safety breakthrough. It can selectively add abs or reduce power to certain wheels. It is also highly effective


I'd like to encourage you to do some research before you turn over the car keys or make your next car purchase.

• Find more information about buying a safe car.
• For a list of vehicles that offer ESC(electronic stability control) as standard or optional equipment, go to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
• For further information on auto safety, visit Consumer Reports.

Auto Insurance Terms to Know (Part 2)

Are you confused when talking with your insurance agent? Do you wonder what your declarations page is telling you about the coverage you are paying for? Here are some basic terms you should know:

Medical Payments Coverage: Typically provides protection for reasonable and necessary medical expenses incurred as a result of bodily injury sustained by you** in a covered accident.

Personal Injury Protection (PIP): Typically provides coverage for certain expenses incurred by you** due to an accident, such as medical, hospital and funeral expenses. Lost wages benefits may also be included.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Bodily Injury Coverage: Typically provides coverage if you** are injured or killed in an accident caused by a negligent driver without applicable or adequate insurance to cover your damages.
(**includes covered drivers and passengers)

To see more insurance terms check out Auto Insurance Terms to Know (Part 1)

Auto Insurance Terms to Know (Part 1)

Are you confused when talking with your insurance agent? Do you wonder what your declarations page is telling you about the coverage you are paying for? Here are some basic terms you should know:

Bodily Injury Liability Protection: Typically provides coverage if you are legally liable for damages resulting from a covered auto accident where others are injured or dead. The Michigan State Minimum is $20,000/$40,000.

Collision Coverage: Helps pay for damage to your insured vehicle caused by a covered accident with another vehicle, a rollover, or a collision with almost anything else, such as a tree. The Deductible is your responsibility to pay before insurance company coverage kicks in.

Comprehensive Coverage: Helps pay for damage to your insured vehicle caused by falling objects, fire, theft, vandalism, hitting a deer and certain other non collision losses. This deductible is also your responsibility to pay before insurance company coverage kicks in.

Property Damage Liability Protection: Typically provides damage coverage if you are legally liable for damages to an other's property resulting from a covered auto accident.

For more insurance terms see our post at Auto Insurance Terms to Know (Part 2)