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The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and Consumer Reports (CR) said today they 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.*
“We curate this annual list specifically for teens because driving holds extra risk for them,” said IIHS Senior Research Scientist Rebecca Weast. “That said, the suggestions are suitable for drivers of any age looking to balance affordability with crash protection and crash avoidance.”
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“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.
What Teens Should Avoid
- 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 2750 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.
- 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.
Requirements
- 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, 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 Requirements
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.
- 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 Factors
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.
*AutoInformed on
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
Teen Drivers – Good Vehicle Buys With Solid Safety Credentials
Click to Enlarge.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and Consumer Reports (CR) said today they 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.*
“We curate this annual list specifically for teens because driving holds extra risk for them,” said IIHS Senior Research Scientist Rebecca Weast. “That said, the suggestions are suitable for drivers of any age looking to balance affordability with crash protection and crash avoidance.”
Click to enlarge.
“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.
What Teens Should Avoid
Requirements
New Vehicle Requirements
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.
Other Factors
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.
*AutoInformed on
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.