What's a safe car for teen drivers? Here's an authoritative, no-hype, no-ads list
Consumer Reports and insurers have 45 suggestions for used and new cars that offer good crash protection and are suitable for teen drivers.
Letting your teen loose with a car is an angst-producing exercise but one that nearly every parent will face. And no, buying a new BMW isn’t the answer to ensuring a safe start.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and Consumer Reports (CR) have identified 45 used vehicles starting under $10,000 that offer good crash protection and are suitable for teen drivers. Another 29 vehicles that also have highly rated headlights and automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection can be found for under $20,000.
Here is the list of recommended used vehicles for teen drivers. It was compiled by experts using reliable data and is free of commercial influence.
“We curate this annual list specifically for teens because driving holds extra risk for them,” said IIHS Senior Research Scientist Rebecca Weast in a news release. “That said, the suggestions are suitable for drivers of any age looking to balance affordability with crash protection and crash avoidance.”
“A teen’s first car is a major milestone. Whether you’re buying them a vehicle or deciding which family car they should begin driving, these lists help parents make those choices with confidence, and without compromising on safety,” said Emily A. Thomas, associate director of auto safety at Consumer Reports.
For those who prefer a 2026 model, IIHS and CR have identified 22 vehicles with excellent crashworthiness and advanced safety features that are on the less expensive end of the new-car spectrum.
These cars can can help keep a new driver safe while staying within budget constraints. Many models on the list make good family vehicles too. That could be helpful for parents who plan to share a vehicle with their child or who are looking for one they can pass along to them in a few years.
What teens should avoid
As in past years, the list doesn’t include anything with excessive horsepower relative to weight or anything marketed for performance. However, many seemingly benign vehicles come in high-horsepower versions, so even when shopping from the IIHS-CR list, families should make sure to stick to the base engine. Powerful vehicles can entice young drivers to take risks or lead them to speed inadvertently.
Minicars, as well as anything under 2,750 pounds, are also excluded. Although smaller models tend to be popular with young drivers, they can’t protect their occupants adequately in crashes with bigger vehicles.
On the flip side, large SUVs and large pickups aren’t a good choice for inexperienced drivers because they can be hard to handle and take longer to stop. They also pose more risk to others on the road, including pedestrians, bicyclists and people in smaller vehicles.
Making the cut
All used and new vehicles on the list have average or better scores (3 out of 5) from CR for braking and for emergency and routine handling. They also have usability scores of at least 2 out of 5 for controls and displays, meaning the models with the most confusing and distracting setups are excluded.
Listed vehicles also provide strong protection in a crash, based on IIHS testing. For used vehicles, this means a good rating in the driver-side small overlap front test, which was introduced in 2012. This test was one of the final evaluations in the original series of IIHS crashworthiness tests, which also looked at side crash protection, roof strength and head restraints.
In recent years, most of the original tests were phased out — and in some cases replaced with more challenging ones. The small overlap remains in the current IIHS test line-up, making it a good proxy for comparing overall crashworthiness of vehicles of different ages.
When it comes to features that help avoid a crash, all listed vehicles have standard electronic stability control, which has been mandatory since the 2012 model year.
Models in the top tier of used vehicles, designated as Best Choices, come with headlights that earn a good or acceptable rating from IIHS across all trim levels. They also have standard automatic emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian detection that performs well in daytime IIHS track tests. In addition to reducing the risk of a pedestrian crash, AEB helps drivers avoid rear-ending another vehicle. The technology is useful for everyone but can be particularly helpful for young, inexperienced drivers, who may be prone to distraction.
New vehicle criteria
For families who can afford a new vehicle for a teen driver, IIHS and CR recommend getting the most state-of-the-art safety that money can buy.
The list of recommended new vehicles consists of winners of the 2026 IIHS Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+ award that also earn a CR Safety Verdict of Best.
The IIHS awards mean these vehicles have good ratings in the Institute’s newer, more challenging crash tests and have standard good or acceptable headlights and standard high-performing AEB.
A CR Safety Verdict of Best means the vehicles also have standard highway-speed AEB, blind spot warning and rear cross traffic warning.
Finally, the recommended new vehicles earn good ratings from IIHS for seat belt reminders. Young drivers are less likely to buckle up than others, and loud, persistent reminders have been shown to boost belt use substantially.
Other considerations
While the IIHS-CR list focuses on safety and price, families may also want to consider a vehicle’s reliability and the cost of insurance. The IIHS-affiliated Highway Loss Data Institute publishes insurance losses by make and model, which can provide a sense of which vehicles could cost more to insure. It’s a good idea to contact your insurance company to get a quote before buying. When it comes to vehicle reliability, CR maintains ratings for its members.
Electric vehicles, which are becoming more common on used car lots as leases expire, show up on this year’s list a few times. While EVs are fundamentally no less safe than gas-powered vehicles, they can allow for rapid acceleration. Unlike gas engines, electric motors give drivers immediate access to all of the vehicle’s power. Parents should keep that in mind if they are considering an EV for a teen driver.