Guide To Choosing A Safe Vehicle for Your Teen

Teenage drivers have the highest risk of crashing, but there are ways parents can help reduce the risks by being a role model, getting involved with their kids in the practice of essential driving skills, and talking with them about the many dangers of driving.

“Choosing a safe vehicle for your teen is of paramount importance, and settling on a vehicle your family can afford is also very important,” says Jack Nerad, executive editorial director and executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book. “Kelley Blue Book provides you with updated vehicle prices and values that are unique to your area, so KBB.com is a great site to visit as you finalize your buying decision.”

Teenagers should drive vehicles that reduce the chances of crashing, as well as protect them from injury in case they do crash. Parents should seek out a vehicle with the highest crash test ratings they can afford.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety just published the latest updated list of recommended used vehicles for teens to help families find safer vehicles that fit within their budgets. List follows few basic principles, which should always be taken into account when shopping for a vehicle for a teenager:

• High horsepower and young drivers don’t mix. Teens may be tempted to test the limits of a powerful engine. Vehicles that come only with powerful engines have been left off the lists, but some recommended models have high-horsepower versions. Stick with the base engine.
• Bigger, heavier vehicles are safer. There are no minicars or small cars on the lists. Small SUVs are OK; they weigh about the same as a midsize car.
• Electronic stability control is an essential feature. This technology, which cuts single-vehicle fatal crash risk nearly in half, has been required on new vehicles since the 2012 model year. It helps a driver maintain control on curves and slippery roads. All listed vehicles have the feature standard.

In effort to reduce teen driving crashes and prevent fatalities and injuries, we encourage parents to:

• Establish and practice effective driving rules for their kids.
• Follow basic principles when choosing vehicle for teens.
• Check out the list of recommended used vehicles for teens.
• Check out for outstanding recalls.
• If possible, when buying the next family vehicle, choose an IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK or TOP SAFETY PICK+ with at least 4 or 5 stars from NHTSA.