IIHS and Shopper Stories spotlight a variety of protected and reasonably priced choices in their up to date suggestions for younger drivers.
By
Could 1, 2025
Watch a dwell Q&A with Jessica Jermakian, IIHS senior vice chairman for automobile analysis, on YouTube or Facebook this Friday, Could 2, at 11 a.m. ET
Households with newly licensed teenagers have a variety of choices this yr in terms of protected automobiles for his or her novice driver. An up to date list of suggested vehicles for teens from the Insurance coverage Institute for Freeway Security (IIHS) and Shopper Stories (CR) contains 74 used automobiles priced at $10,000 or much less. One other 48 fashions that include automated emergency braking and extremely rated headlights might be discovered for beneath $20,000.
“Given customers’ financial anxiousness and the uncertainty round future automobile costs, the supply of a variety of protected, reasonably priced used choices is welcome information,” mentioned Jessica Jermakian, IIHS senior vice chairman for automobile analysis. “Serving to your child obtain a milestone of independence shouldn’t require compromising on security.”
“This listing is designed to assist patrons slim their search to automobiles that may assist drivers keep away from crashes and likewise shield automobile occupants within the occasion {that a} crash does happen,” mentioned Jennifer Stockburger, director of operations at Shopper Stories Auto Check Heart. “That mixture will increase the chances of protecting new drivers protected as they achieve expertise.”
For many who are able to spend extra, a separate listing of really helpful new automobiles names 22 mannequin yr 2025 automobiles geared up with the most recent in crash safety and security know-how. For the primary time, the standards embody a very good score within the seat belt reminder analysis that IIHS launched in 2022.
“Autos with good belt reminder rankings have loud, persistent prompts which can be troublesome to disregard,” Jermakian mentioned. “It is a nice function for everybody, however particularly younger folks, who’re much less more likely to buckle up than different adults.”
The annual listing of juvenile automobiles, which CR and IIHS have produced collectively since 2020, is meant to assist households prioritize security with out busting their budgets. It may be tempting to present a younger driver a really outdated and cheap automotive, however there’s a very good probability the beater rusting in your driveway lacks key security options and the very best ranges of crash safety.
Teen drivers are already at heightened danger due to inexperience and immaturity, so automobile selection is especially vital for this demographic. Luckily, as this yr’s listing exhibits, there are numerous moderately priced choices with a excessive degree of security. Dad and mom of youthful kids may also think about using the listing to discover a household automotive that could possibly be handed alongside to an adolescent later.
As in previous years, the listing doesn’t embody something with extreme horsepower relative to weight or something marketed for efficiency. Such automobiles can entice younger drivers to take dangers or cause them to velocity unintentionally.
The listing additionally doesn’t have any minicars or something that weighs lower than 2,750 kilos. Though many smaller fashions are in style with younger drivers, they will’t shield their occupants as nicely in crashes with different automobiles.
On the flip aspect, massive SUVs and huge pickups might supply larger crash safety in some configurations, however they aren’t appropriate for teenagers as a result of they are often exhausting to deal with and take longer to cease. Additionally they pose extra danger to others on the highway, together with pedestrians, bicyclists and other people in smaller automobiles.
Vehicles with shorter stopping distances and extra composed dealing with are a big boon to inexperienced drivers, easing their capability to function the automobile safely in all conditions. That’s why each used and new automobiles on the listing have common or higher scores (3 out of 5) from CR for braking and for emergency and routine dealing with. Additionally they have usability scores for controls and shows of not less than 2 out of 5, that means the automobiles with probably the most complicated and distracting setups are excluded. All have commonplace digital stability management — even the 2011 Mini Countryman, the one automobile on the listing from earlier than the 2012 mannequin yr, when the know-how grew to become obligatory.
In relation to safety in crashes, all really helpful used automobiles have good rankings in 5 IIHS checks: authentic average overlap entrance, authentic aspect, driver-side small overlap entrance, roof energy and head restraints.
Fashions within the prime tier of used automobiles, designated as Finest Selections, include headlights that earn a very good or acceptable score from IIHS throughout all trim ranges. Additionally they have commonplace automated emergency braking (AEB) that performs nicely in IIHS observe checks. AEB, which may help drivers keep away from rear-ending one other automobile — and in lots of instances putting a pedestrian — is a crucial know-how for all drivers. It’s significantly related for teenagers, who’re extra apt to lose focus or make errors.
Along with having good-rated seat belt reminders, the really helpful new automobiles are winners of the 2025 IIHS Prime Security Choose or Prime Security Choose+ award, which implies they excel within the Institute’s newer, more difficult crash checks. Additionally they have commonplace good or acceptable headlights and commonplace, high-performing AEB.
In fact, security and worth usually are not the one elements that go into selecting a automobile. Customers also needs to think about the price of insurance coverage and the reliability of a given automobile. The IIHS-affiliated Freeway Loss Knowledge Institute publishes insurance losses by make and model, which might present a way of which automobiles may price extra to insure. You may get a selected quote out of your insurance coverage firm earlier than shopping for. In relation to automobile reliability, CR maintains rankings for its members.
Regardless of the dearth of high-horsepower fashions within the suggestions, many listed automobiles have efficiency variants or might be configured with extra highly effective engines. Teen drivers ought to avoid these and as a substitute keep on with the bottom engine.
As well as, further warning is warranted in terms of electrical automobiles. Though EVs are essentially simply as protected as gas-powered automobiles — and there are a number of on the listing — fast acceleration is usually a concern. Not like gasoline engines, electrical motors give drivers rapid entry to all the automobile’s energy. Dad and mom ought to preserve that in thoughts if they’re contemplating an EV for a teen driver.
