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 2026 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 27, 2026

All listed vehicles have a curb weight greater than 2,750 pounds and earn a good rating from IIHS in the driver-side small overlap front test. 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.

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

Prices, obtained from Black Book in April 2026 and rounded to the nearest $100, represent the median retail price for all trims of each model for the earliest applicable model year.

Good Choices — used

Updated May 27, 2026

All listed vehicles have a curb weight greater than 2,750 pounds and earn a good rating from IIHS in the driver-side small overlap front test. 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, obtained from Black Book in April 2026 and rounded to the nearest $100, represent the median retail price for all trims of each model for the earliest applicable model year.

Recommended new vehicles

Updated May 27, 2026

Listed vehicles are winners of the 2026 IIHS Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+ award and earn the CR Safety Verdict designation of Best. They also have good seat belt reminder ratings from IIHS. All have starting prices under $45,000.