Vehicle Selection for Older Drivers

As we age it’s common to find that the things we find important change as well. And driving and our choice of vehicle are no different.

Changed personal circumstances, life needs and the individual’s financial situation are just some of the factors that drive these changes. This often means that our choice of vehicle also changes, either by necessity or choice.

For some it might mean the chance to get that sporty car they always wanted, more commonly though it will be about more practical and affordable transport options.

This fact sheet provides some useful information to consider when selecting your next vehicle.

Vehicle type

• Look for easy entry and exit. Vehicles that you need to lower yourself into or climb up to enter may not be the best choice if your movement is restricted. Consider vehicles such as smaller SUVs and some passenger cars that have a fairly upright and high seating position.
• Ensure that your new vehicle has wide opening doors to make entry and exiting easier, and don’t overlook the needs of your passengers.
• If you regularly carry items in the boot consider also how user friendly it is. Boots that have high loading lips can make lifting items in and out harder. Also consider how far the boot lid opens as this can affect ease of loading and unloading. Vehicles with a flat boot floor are often easier to live with and use. Many of these considerations also apply to station wagons and SUVs.  
• Choose a vehicle that meets your motoring needs, remembering that smaller cars are often cheaper to buy and maintain, which may be important if you’re on a fixed income. They can be easier to park in confined spaces too. Also consider if the vehicle will fit your garage space and still provide sufficient room to open doors for easy entry and exit. This could be an important consideration for those who have moved to a smaller home, such as a townhouse or retirement village, or are considering such a move.
• Don’t overlook ease of use of child restraints, even if you only occasionally carry children. Child restraint anchor points in the rear floor or roof could be difficult to use or may interfere with items in the boot, other seating positions or rear vision.

Assessing the vehicle before purchase

• Assess driving controls for ease of access and use, look at steering wheel, seat belt and seat adjustment range to ensure a comfortable driving position can be found.
• Always take the time to test drive prospective vehicles to ensure you are comfortable in the car and can access all the controls in a convenient and comfortable manner.
• Good all-round vision is important. Identify any blind spots the vehicle may have. Check positioning of mirrors and for adequate adjustment range, check placement and size of roof pillars and rear seat head restraints, particularly for reversing vision.
• Check if desirable features such as reversing cameras and parking sensors are fitted or are available as optional equipment.

Buy safe cars

Buying a vehicle with a high level of inbuilt safety is paramount. Older drivers are more susceptible to injury in a crash and often take longer to heal, so choose a vehicle that has a high ANCAP crash rating and a comprehensive list of safety features (i.e. a full-set of air bags, ABS, ESC etc).

Other considerations

• Consider the running costs of a future car when making your choice. Aside from fuel costs, there are servicing, repairs, tyres, insurance and registration costs that add up over time.
• The length of warranty cover a new vehicle comes with will also be important to many as this can be seen as protection against unexpected major repairs. 

Further assistance

• Make use of RACQ’s assistance. Our web site has information on new-car crash test results (ANCAP), used car crashworthiness, safety features, new car reviews, running costs and fuel saving tips.