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"Shopping for a vehicle for a teen driver?  Knowing which factors to prioritize may be difficult.  The goal is to make the safest, most sensible, choice," says Attorney Randall Spivey, of Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.

Here are some tips to consider:

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) conduct independent crash testing that gauges a vehicle's ability to withstand various types of collisions. These vehicles are then assigned ratings to reflect their crash-worthiness.

1. Look for good rating in front and side crash tests.
2. Look for a strong roof.
3. Pick a car with a good seat and head restraint rating.
4. Buy a car with an Electronic stability control.

If a vehicle does not have anti-lock brakes, experts feel the vehicle should be avoided. Vehicles  equipped with multistage advanced front air bags, side and head-protection curtain air bags, electronic stability control, along with anti-lock brakes are good choices.

The size of your teen's vehicle plays a significant role in its overall safety. Parents should avoid the smallest cars, since even a subcompact with the best crash test scores will not provide as much collision protection as a larger vehicle. The largest vehicles should also be avoided since these can be difficult to maneuver and intimidating for new drivers. Mid-size vehicles are best because of their ideal mix of crash protection and maneuverability.. "A mid-size car is big enough to protect the occupant in a crash, but small enough to be easy for a novice driver to handle," according to Edmunds.com in "Choosing a safe car for your teen driver".

When it comes to safety, a vehicle's age is less important than the features it offers. Reliability is key when choosing a used car because it probably will not have the warranty protection common on new cars. However, every used car gets treated differently. The older a car gets, the more its care and maintenance history will affect its overall performance and reliability.

Once you have narrowed your shopping list to cars that are likely to be smart choices,  make sure it is inspected by a qualified mechanic before purchasing. 

Fort Myers Personal Injury Attorney,  Randall L. Spivey is a Board Certified Trial Attorney – the highest recognition for competence bestowed by the Florida Bar and a distinction earned by just one (1%) percent of Florida attorneys.  He has handled over 2,000 personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida.  For a free and confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights, contact the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., in Lee County at 239.337.7483 or toll free at 1.888.477.4839,or by email to Randall@SpiveyLaw.com.  Visit SpiveyLaw.com for more information.  You can contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.in Charlotte County at 941.764.7748 and in Collier County 239.793.7748.