Safe vehicles for teens

For teenagers, the combination of immaturity and inexperience makes driving especially risky. If they’re going to drive, choosing a safe vehicle is key.

IIHS and Consumer Reports (CR) have joined forces to make it easier for young drivers or their parents to find a safe used or new vehicle within their price range.

Young driver safety
An IIHS-HLDI guide for parents of teens

Our recommendations include two tiers of used vehicles, Best Choices and more affordable Good Choices. Starting prices for recommended used models range from under $5,000 to nearly $20,000. A separate list of new vehicles for teens offers an even higher level of safety.

Read the news release about our May 2025 update.

Remember to check for recalls!
Use the vehicle identification number or license plate to check for outstanding recalls before buying a used vehicle. To receive future recall notices, notify the manufacturer of your purchase. NHTSA also advises vehicle owners to check its database for new recalls every six months or so.

Some listed models have exceptions for vehicles produced in a certain time period or before a certain date. This applies when a manufacturer makes changes to improve safety in the middle of a model year. Information about when a specific vehicle was manufactured can be found on the certification label typically affixed to the driver door or near it.

Best Choices — used

Updated May 1, 2025

All listed vehicles have a curb weight greater than 2,750 pounds and earn good ratings from IIHS in the original moderate overlap front, driver-side small overlap front, original side, roof strength and head restraint tests. They also have average or better scores from CR for braking and for emergency and routine handling (scoring at least 3 out of 5) and CR usability scores for controls and displays of at least 2 out of 5.

Best Choice vehicles have standard automatic emergency braking systems that earn an advanced or superior rating from IIHS in the original vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention test or the daytime pedestrian front crash prevention test. They also have headlights that earn a good or acceptable rating from IIHS.

Prices, provided by Kelley Blue Book and rounded to the nearest $100, are average U.S. values from March 27, 2025, for the lowest trim level and earliest applicable model year. The estimates are based on the following criteria: vehicle in good condition, typical mileage and private party purchase.

Good Choices — used

Updated May 1, 2025

All listed vehicles have a curb weight greater than 2,750 pounds and earn good ratings from IIHS in the original moderate overlap front, driver-side small overlap front, original side, roof strength and head restraint tests. They also have average or better scores from CR for braking and for emergency and routine handling (scoring at least 3 out of 5) and CR usability scores for controls and displays of at least 2 out of 5.

Prices, provided by Kelley Blue Book and rounded to the nearest $100, are average U.S. values from April 19, 2024, for the lowest trim level and earliest applicable model year. The estimates are based on the following criteria: vehicle in good condition, typical mileage and private party purchase.

Recommended new vehicles

Updated May 1, 2025

All listed vehicles are winners of the 2025 IIHS Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+ award and come with standard vehicle-to-vehicle automatic emergency braking and good-rated seat belt reminders. They have average or better scores from CR for braking and for emergency and routine handling (scoring at least 3 out of 5) and CR usability scores for controls and displays of at least 2 out of 5. All were priced under $45,000 as of April 2025, according to Kelley Blue Book.