Is it better to buy a teenage driver a larger vehicle?

Nov 17, 2020

Buying a car for a new driver can be a stressful experience for many parents. With a wide variety of vehicles in different shapes and sizes to choose from, it can be difficult to know what kind of car to get. Some parents may be wondering, is it better to buy a teenage driver a larger vehicle?

Buying a learning driver and SUV

Many parents will want to buy their teenage driver a larger vehicle because of the assumption that a larger SUV or truck will be safer in the event of an accident. This logic is not faulty, but there are other factors that should be considered as well.

Larger vehicles tend to be less maneuverable than smaller cars. Heavier SUVs and trucks will also almost always have a longer stopping distance than a smaller vehicle. This can make it harder to avoid an accident in a larger vehicle than in a smaller car.

Another factor that should be considered is that a larger SUV with more rows of seats can hold more people. More seating means more friends in the vehicle potentially distracting the driver. If you would like to limit the number of passengers your teen can have with them in their vehicle, a smaller car would be a wiser choice.

This is not to say that larger vehicles are not a good choice for a learning driver. If you live in an area where inclimate weather is a concern, a truck or SUV with all-wheel drive or four-wheel drive would be a practical choice.

OkCarz offers many practical pre-owned cars that are great choices for learning drivers. Interested car shoppers can view our inventory or apply for financing here on our website.