If you have a newly licensed teen driver in your home, there’s a good chance that they have their own vehicle. While many families, with teen drivers, take turns sharing the family car, it’s often more convenient to find an affordable car just for the young driver to use.

Even if you did your research to ensure that you purchased a safe and reliable car for your teen, you might have overlooked some things that make it more of a lemon than a car you can trust.

Here are some signs that may indicate that your teen’s car is a lemon and if you haven’t purchased a car yet, here are some things to consider to avoid buying a dud.

Is Your Teen’s Car A Lemon?

In a perfect world, every parent of a new driver would buy a brand new vehicle with all the up-to-date safety features, but as you well know, cars can be expensive, and teens are some of the most inexperienced drivers on the road (which makes them more likely to get in a fender bender); gently used and reliable cars are typically the most popular choice for teen drivers.

Even if you think you purchased a good car for your young driver, you’ll need to be on the lookout for any signs that indicate that it’s a lemon:

The Price Is Too Good To Be True

Affordability is a significant factor for most people when they are shopping for a vehicle for their teen. If you find a car that is in your budget (or well below), it’s essential to do a little more investigating before buying; same goes for if the dealer has a great price but a limited warranty.

If you’ve already purchased a car, there’s a good chance that you found a good car at a great price, but pay close attention to anything that goes wrong with the car and take good notes, as it may be a lemon.

You Need Immediate Repairs

A lemon is a car that needs frequent repairs and doesn’t function properly after it’s been purchased. When you buy a used car, there’s always the risk that you’ll need to take care of some minor repairs after you purchase it, but your car may be a lemon if it’s immediately problematic from the start.

It’s On A Recall List More Than Once

While millions of cars are recalled for defects such as faulty airbags, it doesn’t necessarily mean that those vehicles are lemons. If your teen’s car is continuously recalled, there’s a good chance that the car is a lemon. Keep in mind that the car could be a lemon, even without a history of recalls.

Ways To Avoid A Buying Lemon Car For Your Teen

The best way to avoid buying a lemon for your teen to drive is to do extensive research before you purchase. Even if you think that you researched all the right things, there may be some things that you are missing.

• Always check the VIN and car’s history

• Look up problematic vehicles

• Visit your mechanic

• Inspect the interior and exterior of the vehicle

• Be suspicious of questions that can’t be answered

If you happen to buy a lemon, check out the lemon laws in your state, take extensive notes on the vehicle (including any repairs you’ve already made), and proceed with resolving the issue of owning a problematic car.