When it comes to buying, driving or maintaining a car, safety should always be your number one priority. While it’s easy to be swayed by in-car tech and shiny paintwork, these can’t compete with advanced safety features and reliability. To help you make the right choice when you buy your next motor, take a look at these three often overlook aspects of car safety:

1. Damaged Bumpers

Every time a car is involved in a prang, it affects the subsequent performance of the bumpers. Even if no visible damage occurs, the bumpers could be weakened, while means they won’t perform as well in the future. It’s not unusual for drivers to bump their car on a low wall or a parking post, but few of us realise the effects this could have. 

2. Degraded Headlight Seals

Headlights seals are designed to prevent moisture and debris from making their way into the headlight, which could reduce your visibility while driving. If you notice misting or condensation on the headlight lens, it’s a sure sign that the seals have degraded or been damaged. Similarly, if the lenses themselves are cracked or damaged, it will affect your visibility once you get behind the wheel. 

3. Missing Airbags

Airbags are only designed to be used once, so, once they’ve been deployed, they’ll need to be replaced. However, if previous car owners have failed to do this, an airbag could be missing from your vehicle without being aware of it. As airbags sometimes deploy in low-impact collisions, there might not be any noticeable signs of damage or repair, which can make it harder to determine whether the airbag is actually present or not. 

How to Buy a Used Car

Buying a car can be a challenging process, particularly when you consider how many safety features you’ll need to check. If you do not have the knowledge to do this yourself, be sure to have a qualified mechanic check the vehicle on your behalf. Not only will this uncover potential issues, but it will also help to give you peace of mind too. 

If you’re worried that your budget won’t allow you to purchase a vehicle with an enhanced safety rating, don’t be. With car finance, you may be able to increase your budget and invest in a safer vehicle. While you might be prepared to forego optional extras, like alloy wheels or air-con, safety features should never be considered a luxury. 

Finding the Right Car for Your Family

When you’re going to be travelling with children, it’s vital to ensure that your new vehicle has a good safety record. You can find out which makes and models are considered to be the safest, which can provide a good starting point for your search. Once you have this information, you’ll be able to compare each model to determine which ones suit your needs. By putting safety first, you can be confident that whatever car you buy will make you feel calm and confident on the road.