When you’re looking for a new vehicle, it’s essential to make sure you’re looking for features that make it safe and secure for the entire family. This can be daunting with so many different cars on the market. Fortunately, you can narrow down your options by focusing on the vehicles that fit your family’s needs (and wants).
Here are five tips you can use to help make finding the right car for your family a little bit easier.
1. Set your budget
This might seem like a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised by how many families end up going over-budget for a vehicle because it’s such a nice car. However, you don’t need to spend a small fortune on a vehicle to find one that meets your needs. Remember that your car is a way to get from Point A to Point B and doesn’t need a lot of bells and whistles. Set a budget that works for you and stick to it to make sure you’re getting a vehicle that works for your family, but won’t leave you sweating over your bank statements each month.
2. Check car-seat compatibility
About 60% of the car buying process occurs online. While you’re doing your research, make sure to consider car-seat compatibility. Most new vehicles that are sold in the U.S. come with the LATCH system, which is when you can snap your car seat into place rather than strapping the car seat into the vehicle with a seat belt. However, if you’re buying a used vehicle, you may not have the LATCH system available. In this case, be sure to take a look at the car’s center seating position and the amount of space between the first and second row of seats.
3. Don’t rely solely on brand names
Some brand name cars have a bigger reputation than others. For instance, in 2019, the Mercedes Benz’s brand value was at $23.36 billion. However, don’t rely solely on a brand name when you’re looking for a new vehicle. There are different vehicles from a wide variety of brands that are considered great for families and offer plenty of space and security. Some of the top vehicles for parents in 2020, according to Parents.com, include the Volkswagen Atlas, Toyota Highlander, and the Subaru Ascent.
4. Check for crash test data
In a perfect world, you would be able to rely solely on your own driving ability to keep your family safe when you’re behind the wheel. But accidents happen and sometimes other drivers make dangerous decisions. According to CDC statistics, about 1.8% of California’s 26 million licensed drivers admit to driving after drinking too much. That said, it’s crucial to make sure that your family vehicle is able to keep your family safe in the event of an accident. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration collects crash test data on all types of vehicle models so you can find all the details you need about a car before you choose to invest in it.
