The vehicle identification number (VIN) is composed of 17 characters (digits and capital letters) that act as a unique identifier for the vehicle. A VIN displays the car's unique features, specifications and manufacturer.
The VIN can be found in a couple of places including on the car's registration label (1), on the compliance plate in the engine bay (2) or on the passenger side windshield (3), or on one of the door posts (where the door latches when it is closed) (4). See the image below:
Learning to drive is an exciting, but often nerve-wracking experience for young Australian drivers. Having the right car can make things less stressful, both for the person learning and the instructor. Ideally, a learner vehicle needs to be safe and easy to drive. The Volkswagen Golf ticks all these boxes; it's nimble, smooth and has an excellent safety rating, making it an ideal choice for learner drivers.
In this blog, we delve into the features that make the Volkswagen Golf such a star performer for Australian learners, and why you should purchase a car history report before you buy a used one.
1. The Volkswagen Golf is easy to drive
You won't get a car that's much easier to drive than the Golf, which makes it one of the best cars for learner drivers to use. Consider these features that reduce the anxiety of a new driver trying to navigate their way around Australian roads:
2. The Volkswagen Golf is the perfect size
Can you imagine learning to drive in a Honda Odyssey or a Kia Carnival? These are both popular family cars in Australia, but they can make parking for learner drivers a bit tricky. The Golf is 4,255 mm long, 1,799 mm wide and 1,452 mm high (compared to the Carnival's 5,115 mm length, 1,985 width and 1,740 height).1
While the VW Golf isn't the smallest vehicle on the market, it's still the idea size to efficiently manoeuvre into tight spaces, perform three-point turns and navigate parallel parks with ease, making it a good car to learn to drive in.
3. The Volkswagen Golf puts safety first
Statistics show younger drivers in Australia are at higher risk of fatality when driving. Drivers aged 15-24 are over-represented in road crashes globally, with a population-based annual fatality rate more than 50 per cent higher than other age groups.2 Safety is therefore of great importance when choosing a vehicle to learn to drive in.
You won't need to worry about safety when you're learning in the Golf, as it was a 2017 IIHS Top Safety Pick.3 It also has a five star ANCAP safety rating.4
The benefits of buying a used Volkswagen Golf
The Golf is one of the best cars to learn to drive in due to the features mentioned above. However, you don't need the latest model! A used VW Golf will still have the excellent features that make it a great car, but it won't matter so much if you accidentally get a ding on it.
The 2017 Golf retails from around $23,990 drive-away.5 However, used Golfs are priced significantly lower:
Considering buying a used VW Golf for your kids to practice in? Make sure you get a car history report before you purchase, so you can help make sure the car you're getting is worth your money. As the safety of your children is at stake, you don't want to risk anything being faulty. Give yourself peace of mind and get your report from My Car History in seconds.
1 Volkswagen. Golf dimensions - 5-door. Accessed December 2017; Kia. Dimensions. Accessed December 2017.
2 Australian Government, Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development. Young Adult Road Safety—A Statistical Picture. Accessed December 2017.
3 Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. 2017 Volkswagen Golf. Accessed December 2017.
4 ANCAP. Volkswagen Golf. Accessed December 2017.
5 Carsguide.com.au. Volkswagen Golf 2017 review. Accessed January 2017.
6 CarsGuide.com.au. Volkswagen Golf Pricing and Specs. Accessed December 2017.