{"id":279,"date":"2022-06-03T20:01:51","date_gmt":"2022-06-03T20:01:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lauratotten.com\/?p=279"},"modified":"2025-03-10T13:42:18","modified_gmt":"2025-03-10T13:42:18","slug":"the-safest-cars-for-new-teen-drivers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lauratotten.com\/index.php\/2022\/06\/03\/the-safest-cars-for-new-teen-drivers\/","title":{"rendered":"The Safest Cars For New Teen Drivers"},"content":{"rendered":"

Teen drivers pose a special risk on the road.\u00a0 Their lack of experience and risk-taking behavior, such as speeding<\/a> or texting and driving, increase the likelihood of accidents<\/a>, including fatalities resulting from those accidents.\u00a0 According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), teen drivers have crash rates<\/a> nearly four times those of drivers who are age 20 and older per mile driven.\u00a0 In addition, the fatal crash rate per mile driven for 16- to 17-year-olds is three times the rate for drivers 20 and older. However, as a parent, if you are purchasing a car for your teen, you can make an impact to help ensure their safety on the road, and possibly the safety of others.\u00a0 In fact, the right car purchase can even be an overall savings to your wallet.\u00a0 Here\u2019s what to look for when it comes to buying the safest cars for teens, as well as recommended models for your new teen driver.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

What To Look For In A Car For Your Teen<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n

If you are purchasing a car for your teen, you\u2019ll want a car that is a combination of safety, reliability, and affordability.\u00a0 Of the three, safety should be your number one priority.\u00a0 Brand new vehicles, generally, are safer, but safe models also exist in used or certified pre-owned vehicles.\u00a0 Either way you choose, you\u2019ll want to avoid any model that is too big, which could be tough to park or maneuver for your teen, as well as any vehicle that is too small, which could prove dangerous in a bad collision.\u00a0 Also, you\u2019ll want a vehicle with a 4-cylinder engine \u2013 which are safer than a vehicle with a larger engine or increased horsepower.\u00a0 This will clip the capability, and therefore, possibility of higher speeds being driven by your teen driver.\u00a0 Four-cylinder vehicles come in compact-size<\/a> model vehicles to small SUV-sized model vehicles.<\/p>\n

Reliability, the second factor to look for in a car for your teen, will offer you some stability as your child gains experience on the road.\u00a0 The purchase of a vehicle with a proven record of reliability may save you money in the long run and prepare you accurately for any repair or maintenance costs.\u00a0 Lastly, you\u2019ll want to factor in affordability.\u00a0 Putting your teenager on the road with their own car means insurance premiums on your policy will go up.\u00a0 This will need to be factored into any budget for your teen\u2019s car. Parents may see the cost of their insurance double, or even triple, with the addition of their teen driver to their policy.\u00a0 While many insurance companies can offer discounts to help reduce the premium, such as good student discounts or discounts from driving safety courses, the overall cost of putting your teenager on the road will need to be considered when shopping for a car for your teen.<\/p>\n

New Or Used?<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n

A new car has plenty of advantages for a new teen driver.\u00a0 Newer models will have more advanced safety features and driver assists, but the vehicle costs and insurance will be higher.\u00a0 Many experts recommend cars between three to five years old, though luckily, cars as old as 2013 come with three very important safety features now: anti-lock brakes, traction control, and stability control.\u00a0 More recently, rearview cameras are now a requirement; cars from 2018 or later have this safety feature.<\/p>\n

In our opinion, a used car with good safety features is a better investment and may be easier to find right now due to the chip shortage that has resulted in a lack of new car inventory.\u00a0 If a low price is the deciding factor for you, there are many options on the market at $10,000 or less with solid safety features, durability, and fuel efficiency.<\/p>\n

Safety Features To Look Out For<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Antilock Brakes (ABS) for Traction Control And Stability Control<\/strong><\/h4>\n

A key safety feature, ABS enables traction control, which limits how much a wheel can spin, and stability control, which helps a driver maintain control of a car.\u00a0 This is important in case you need to make a hard stop.<\/p>\n

Forward-Collision Warning (FCW)<\/strong><\/h4>\n

FCW is a safety system that detects or alerts other vehicles or objects in the front of a driver\u2019s car.\u00a0It uses radar, lasers, or cameras to make these detections.\u00a0 Forward collision warning reduces front-to-rear crashes.<\/p>\n

Blind-Spot Monitoring (BSM)<\/strong><\/h4>\n

BSM is a driver assist system that alerts drivers of \u201cblind spots\u201d or obstructed or escaped visibility in side-view mirrors.\u00a0 In this system, a visual warning on the mirrors, A-pillar or elsewhere will appear.<\/p>\n

Other Features<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Other features that are nice to have are outboard mirrors with turn-signal indicators, adaptive cruise control, at least six airbags and auto on\/off headlights.<\/p>\n

Turn To The Experts<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n

There are several organizations you can check out when evaluating some of the safest cars for teens.\u00a0 IIHS and the government\u2019s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) are the gold standard for crash-test ratings.\u00a0 The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety uses a \u201cgood\u201d to \u201cpoor\u201d scale when testing how each area of the car performs in various crash experiments, while NHTSA uses a star system, with five being the best and one being the worst; it scores based on how well cars perform in a frontal crash, a side crash, and a rollover crash.<\/p>\n

Consumer Reports is also a good, comprehensive source for safety ratings and information.\u00a0 The consumer organization has tested cars for over 85 years.\u00a0 Kelly Blue Books offers additional information and reviews.<\/p>\n

The Top Picks For Teens<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n

Our list is not all inclusive. There are plenty of new and used car models that would work great for your teen. Just be sure to do your research and look at their IIHS and NHTSA scores, along with Kelly Blue Book prices and average costs to insure these cars for your driver.<\/p>\n

Honda Civic <\/strong><\/h3>\n