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5 Car Safety Features to Look for When Buying Used Cars

2020 Toyota Corolla | Frederick, MD
Today's car buyers aren't looking just for fuel efficiency and affordability anymore. They also want to know they'll be safe on the road. Luckily, safety options are more advanced than ever, and you don't even have to pay sticker price if you buy used! You might be wondering which features will keep you and your loved ones the most protected. Keep reading to learn the top 5 car safety features you should look for when shopping for a used car!  

1. Blind-Spot Monitoring

The first modern safety feature to seek is "blind-spot monitoring," which can come in both active and passive versions. This feature alerts you when another vehicle is in your blind spot, and it uses sensors on the bumper and/or side mirrors to detect them. This safety feature will warn you with a light on the side-view mirror and/or a sound. It's especially great at notifying you of cars in adjacent lanes that you might miss while changing lanes.  

2. Lane-Departure Warning

Another safety feature to look for is "lane-departure warning." Cameras on your vehicle detect your current lane lines and use those as guidelines to ensure you're driving safely within your lane. This system is also smart enough to understand when you're intentionally exiting your lane for lane changes and turns. This feature is perfect for highway driving and windy roads and provides a second pair of eyes when you're distracted!

3. Automatic Emergency Braking

The third modern safety feature you should look for is "automatic emergency braking." This system automatically activates your brakes if it senses you're about to crash into something. This is a pretty smart safety feature because not only does it help prevent collisions, but it may also help avoid fender benders and even single-car incidents.  

4. Adaptive Headlights

The next modern safety feature to look for when buying a used car is "adaptive headlights." Strategically placed sensors on the vehicle are used to auto-detect and adapt to changing road conditions. Your headlights will adjust to focus your light ahead of you properly. For instance, if you're driving up a hill, your headlights will angle upward, so you have light at the correct angle. It sounds like magic, doesn't it?  

5. Rear Cross-Traffic Alert

The final modern safety feature on the list is "rear cross-traffic alert." This safety feature will alert you when a pedestrian (or vehicle) crosses behind you unexpectedly while you're in reverse mode. It's beneficial when you're backing out of a parking spot. This works similarly to blind-spot monitoring but covers the rear of your vehicle.   As a driver with safety concerns, you might be wondering which features will keep you as safe as possible in case of an accident. These are just some things to think about before purchasing a used vehicle. Looking for your next used car? Browse our selection at DARCARS Used Car & Service Center of Frederick today so we can get you a deal! We are committed to excellence, and we want to provide you with a memorable, positive ownership experience!  
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