IAM director Mike Kavanagh says opting for the cheapest vehicle can mean cutting safety corners and paying more to run it. "Newer cars tend to have better safety features and are usually more economic too,” he says.
IAM advice is to make features such as anti-lock braking (ABS) a priority. It has been a standard fitting on cars for many years and should be widely available on the used car market. Electronic stability control (ESC or ESP) is another life saver and, while not as widely available on used cars, is well worth seeking out.
“In many cases, a 5-year-old car with ABS can be had for €5,000," says Mike Kavanagh. "And parents who are helping to pay for the car should consider insisting on function over style, for example by looking for a car with EuroNCAPs 4- or 5-Star rating for crash protection."
