Check for Car Safety Features

One of the most important considerations when looking for a car is what safety features they have. You should be able to understand what they are and what they are worth to you. If you haven't bought a car in many years, you may not be familiar with some of the newest safety features. Some features are mandatory and some are optional. Safety features on many recent models include:

• Front and side air bags.
• Head injury protection such as head air bags (shield you from impact with the upper interior of the car).
• Anti-lock brake systems (ABS).
• 4-wheel drive with traction control (usually with ABS).
• Automatic dimming rear-view mirrors (to reduce glare).
• Daytime running lights.
• New child seat attachment systems.
• Built-in child safety seats.

For detailed information on these features and the crash-test rating of the car you are interested in, check out the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) web page on 'Buying a Safer Car.'