For teenagers, the combination of inexperience and lack of driving judgment makes driving especially risky. Car crashes remain the leading cause of death for teens, so choosing a car for your teen driver is no simple task.
Two safety groups -- Consumer Reports and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety -- are sharing their top picks and features so you know what to look for when buying a used car for your young driver.
To help you strike a balance between cost and safety Consumer Reports and the IIHS identified more than 50 used cars under $20,000 with top safety and reliability ratings.
On the list, you’ll find some popular names, like the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla and Hyundai Tucson.
“Luckily, cars continue to get safer, and prices on the new and used market have stabilized. So, we’ve been able to point families to even better options this year,” explained Jen Stockburger with Consumer Reports.
Small used cars
- Toyota Prius | 2017 or newer | $13,800
- Toyota Prius Prime | 2017 or newer | $17,000
Midsize used cars
- Toyota Camry | 2018 or newer | $9,600
- Volvo S60 | 2017, 2021 | $10,200
- Volvo V60 | 2017,2021 | $12,300
- Subaru Legacy | 2019 | $14,700
- Hyundai Sonata | 2021 | $17,200
- Honda Accord sedan | 2020 | $19,200
Large used car
- Toyota Avalon | 2017 or newer | $14,400
Consumer Reports says that proven safety features like forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and blind spot warning are worth considering.
“A teen driver’s first vehicle should be a balance, not too small, not too big, and definitely not too fast,” Stockburger said.
Those who want and can splurge for a new vehicle have a number of recommended models to choose from. One benefit of buying new: the bumper-to-bumper warranty that usually comes with new cars.
To see the full list of safe, used or new vehicles for teens -- including small and midsize SUVs -- click here.