According to the National Center for Health Statistics, motor fomite crashes are the leading induce of death among 15- to 20-year olds. A safe car is a necessity when it comes to newly drivers. 
Carinsurance.com has compiled a list of the best cars for teens that should make your occupation a bit easier. These vehicles all receive high base hit ratings and should n’t break the budget. here are the requirements we set :
- Only two of 10 cost more than $15,000
- They are rated an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) Top Safety Pick
- They keep fuel costs low with an EPA rating of at least 20-mpg combined (except one)
Key Highlights
- The Chevy Traverse is one of the best cars to insure for teenage drivers that is still affordable to purchase and insure.
- In most cases, it is cheaper to add a new driver to your insurance policy than getting them their own.
- In the small cars category, SubaruXV Crosstrek 2.0I is one of the best cars for teens in terms of safety. You can consider buying it, if you are not on a tight budget.
- When it comes to buying the best used cars for teens make sure to check its safety ratings.
Best cars for new drivers
Since base hit is a huge divisor for adolescent drivers, in addition to earning a “ lead condom Pick ” designation from the IIHS, all of our vehicles are at least a 2015 which means they come with electronic stability control ( ESC ). ESC was required as standard equipment on vehicles starting in 2012. ESC helps drivers regain control of a vehicle during a slide and can be a very lifeguard. According to Anne McCartt, senior frailty president for research at the IIHS, ESC is a must. “ Parents should never consider any vehicle that does n’t have electronic stability control, ” she said. here are a few of the safest use cars available, along with their average cost according to Edmunds, and the average annual policy cost for an 18-year-old who is buying their own policy coverage :
Cheapest car to insure for teenager
The best cars for teenagers are the ones that are the cheapest to insure. indemnity rates can be expensive, but there are ways to save money on your car policy. We have come up with a list of the best cars to insure for your adolescent driver. According to Carinsurance.com ‘s rate analysis, here are the cheapest cars to buy for new drivers and know how much it will cost you to insure them .
| Car
|
Cost
|
MPG
|
Average Insurance Costs
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 Toyota Camry LE | $13,500 | 28 | $1450 |
| 2016 Honda Civic LX | $14,500 | 31 | $1,353 |
| 2016 Subaru Legacy 2.5i | $14,500 | 30 | $1,327 |
| 2017 Hyundai Tucson SE | $17,000 | 28 | $1,217 |
| 2015 Chevy Traverse LT | $14,900 | 19 | $1,180 |
| 2016 VW Jetta | $10,500 | 33 | $1,385 |
| 2016 Toyota RAV 4 LE | $16,500 | 26 | $1,278 |
| 2015 Toyota Prius 2 or 3 | $14,500 | 52 | $1,332 |
| 2016 Mazda 6 | $13,500 | 30 | $1,421 |
| 2016 Ford Fusion | $12,500 | 28 | $1,390 |
Choosing the best cars for teenagers: Safety first, then price
What teens are looking for in good first cars and what you want them driving are much two different things. Boring is the direction to go, according to Penny Gusner, aged consumer analyst with CarInsurance.com. “ Parents need to look for a boring, used cable car with lots of safety features. You want a cable car that the adolescent is n’t going to drive beyond their skills. Sedans are democratic choices for novitiate drivers. ” After safety, most parents are looking for affordability. All of the vehicles on our list busted the $ 10,000 barrier but one came in identical close. The 2016 VW Jetta can be found for around $ 10,500 in many places but you may end up paying more for higher clean-cut levels. The most expensive car on the break through our $ 15,000 budget by $ 2,000. The 2017 Hyundai Tucson runs around $ 17,000 but it is a 2017 which is a year newer than most of the other vehicles on the list. Depending on what translation of the Tucson you end up buying it could be loaded with safety features that not alone keep your child dependable but could besides result in a big insurance deduction. Tucson Sport and Limited models come with blind topographic point monitoring, lane transfer aid, and rear cross-traffic alert. If you bump improving to a used Tucson Limited expect lane departure warn, rear parking sensors, forth collision warn, automatic emergency brake, and adaptive headlights. McCartt likes bigger cars for adolescent drivers. “ When thinking about condom, parents may focus on features like the number of airbags, but a key part of crash protection is a vehicle ‘s size and weight. Bigger, heavier vehicles are more protective in crashes than smaller, lighter ones, ” explains McCartt. The Chevy Traverse is a great exercise of a bigger fomite that is distillery low-cost to purchase and insure. It pushes up against our budget, coming in a $ 14,900 but it is besides the cheapest vehicle on our list to insure with an average premium of $ 1,180. Whatever cable car you choose, make certain your adolescent feels comfortable behind the wheel of the car they will be driving, advises Carl Anthony, Managing Editor of Automoblog. Consider your surroundings a well. “ As an exemplar, if you live somewhere with rough winters and lots of coke, it is advantageous to place your adolescent driver in a vehicle with four-wheel drive. many little SUVs and crossovers today have four-wheel or all-wheel drive as an option, ” says Anthony. “ Smaller versions of these vehicles will be easier for a young driver to maneuver and will be less expensive to purchase and maintain ampere well. ” The Toyota RAV4 fits this bill. A small SUV that is loaded with base hit features. It costs a spot more, coming in at $ 16,500 but it ‘s fairly humble policy cost of $ 1,278 will help make it more low-cost. Sports cars are an obvious no-no. Teen driver do n’t need the horsepower. “ I would not recommend putting your adolescent driver in a sports, performance, or brawn car, ” says Anthony .
Teen drivers: Better to put them on your insurance or their own?
While you surely love your adolescent, there is a good casual your insurance company will not. car policy for young drivers, whether you add them to your policy or they get their own, is always expensive. Teens bring stacks of hazard to the table and insurance companies will charge you for that risk. Teens are lousy drivers when they foremost get behind the wheel and cable car accidents are the leading killer whale of teens. According to data from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety ( IIHS ) :
- 16-year-olds have higher crash rates than drivers of any other age
- 56 percent of teens said they talk on the phone while driving
- 2,820 teenagers ages 13-19 died in motor vehicle crashes in 2016.
These depress stats are a major reason for your impend agio increase. “ Parents will normally see their car indemnity bill double when adding a adolescent, ” says Gusner. One of the biggest questions parents have when it comes to cars for teens and indemnity is whether they should put the adolescent on their policy or get the adolescent their own policy, if that is even an option. Teens under the age of 18 may have a unmanageable time getting their own policy. An policy policy is considered a contract which comes with legal ramifications. In order to legally sign an policy policy, a person must have reached the “ age of majority. ” This is the senesce that the express you live in considers a child to have become an adult. once a person reaches the long time of majority they can consent to medical treatment, sign a narrow, and do everything else an adult can legally do.
The old age of majority varies by state, but in all states, it is at least 18. There are a pair of states that have pushed the age of majority even higher. Alabama and Nebraska put their age of majority at 19. All of this means that in most circumstances, putting a adolescent on their own policy is not an choice unless they are at least 18. however, in most cases, it is cheaper to add a fresh driver to your policy than get them their own. We ran the numbers and adding a 16-year male to a rear ‘s full coverage policy will push your bounty up to $ 1,934. The pain is slightly less when adding a female of the same senesce, your bounty will only go up $ 1,592. While this is obviously a huge increase, it pales in comparison to putting a adolescent on their own policy. We besides looked at the monetary value of putting a 19-year-old on a parent ‘s policy when compared to a adolescent getting their own policy. The savings was reasonably dramatic, for a male, the price dispute was $ 1,193 and for a female, it was a more fair $ 858. In the end, putting your newly licensed adolescent on your policy is about always cheaper than getting them their own policy as the charts below picture :
| Age | Add Female Teen to Parent Policy | Add Male Teen to Parent Policy |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | $1,592 | $1,934 |
| 17 | $1,420 | $1,749 |
| 18 | $1,193 | $1,509 |
| 19 | $900 | $1,180 |
Safest cars for teens if you are not on a budget
If you have an inexhaustible budget for your teens fomite there are plenty of great options out there. A brand-new car comes with all of the latest base hit features american samoa well as a guarantee so you can rest assured your newly driver will be amply protected. We put in concert an entire list of safe new cars that are low-cost to insure, but here are a few examples of some of the safest cars for teens that are stigmatize newly and wo n’t empty your bank report to insure. Small Cars: When it comes to little cars, they are all less expensive to insure than the national average. The cheapest vehicle to insure in this category comes in 22 % lower than the national average. Subaru is obviously a big achiever in this category and an lend benefit is the fact that the EyeSight suite of accident-avoidance technologies are nowadays standard on all Subarus indeed even drivers who choose the al-qaeda model still get all the safety essentials .
- SubaruXV Crosstrek 2.0I: $1,397
- Subaru Impreza 2.0I Limited: $1,526
- Kia Niro Touring: $1,566
- Subaru Impreza 2.0I Limited: $1,622
Midsize Cars: These cars are slenderly bigger which can be a bonus if your adolescent is involved in an accident. once again, Subaru is the bigger winner with two models on this list .
- Subaru Outback 3.6R Touring: $1,467
- Subaru Legacy 3.6R Limited: $1,569
- Toyota Camry XSE: $1,676
- Hyundai Sonata Sport: $1,718
Small SUVs and Crossovers: A modest SUV or Crossover much make good cars for teens. This class has become highly popular in holocene years. automotive industry tracker, LMC Automotive found that 84 % of the vehicles sold by General Motors in the U.S. will be a hand truck or SUV by 2022, and Ford ‘s ratio of SUV and hand truck sales will hit 90 % and Fiat Chrysler ‘s could hit 97 % .
- Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring: $1,424
- Hyundai Tucson Limited: $1,451
- Toyota RAV4 LE: $1,526
- Subaru Forester 2.5I Sport: $1,529
This is just a small sample distribution of brassy to insure newly vehicles on our list, check out the wax list of the cars with the best safety ratings .
A few strategies for insurance and cars for teens
When it comes to insurance and raw drivers there are a few options for parents : Assign the teen to your policy: This is credibly the most common and best way to deal with a modern driver. While adding a adolescent to your policy can easily push your indemnity costs up anywhere from 100 % to 200 %, it is frequently the cheapest and most convenient choice. If your new driver is under 18 this may be the alone choice as teens can not sign a condense. Buy the teen a late-model used car: This is normally a reasonably expensive option but if you have the budget it can be a commodity option. A newer vehicle will come with plenty of safety features, but your insurance costs will absolutely go up. If you are considering this option be certain to get policy quotes on any vehicle you are considering so there are no surprises when it comes time to put a policy in identify. Stick to boring vehicles that are packed with advance guard features to help keep your policy costs reasonably low-cost. Buy the teen a beater car: There are plenty of cheap cars for teens available and putting them in a beater may make feel. A cheap older car may lower your insurance agio, but the vehicle will lack the most holocene safety features. If the vehicle is honest-to-god enough you may be able to dump comprehensive and collision coverage which will lower your bounty even further. If you would replace the vehicle rather of repairing it if it was in an accident, there is no need to carry these coverages. Giving the teen his or her own beater car and policy: If your adolescent is old enough to sign a contract ( 18 in most states ) you may want to put them in a beater and on their own policy. This is never going to be the cheapest option, putting a adolescent on their own policy is about always more expensive than adding them to your policy, assuming they do n’t have numerous tickets or accidents. If you put your adolescent on their own policy, you may want to exclude them from yours. This means that there will be zero insurance coverage if your adolescent joyrides your car so have surely they understand they can not drive your vehicles under any circumstances .
Safety and car Insurance tips for teen drivers
once a adolescent hits your policy there is no way to avoid the pain of a major rate increase. however, it is possible to minimize the damage a bite. here are a few tips to keep your premium low-cost : Be a role model : “ A well-trained driver is the most authoritative safety feature in any cable car, ” says Doug Herbert, founder of Put On The B.R.A.K.E.S. “ Practice frequently with your adolescent driver and be a good character exemplary behind the wheel. ” Make the consequences clear: Make it very clear to your adolescent what will happen if they get a speed tag or even worse, a DUI. “ A D.U.I. tag will cost teenagers bad time. As a adolescent driver, you ‘ll likely be canceled and if you can get insurance, expect to pay a much higher rate for the next three to five years. traffic crashes and citations will besides impact your premium. Rack up more than three and teens face cancellation or non-renewal, ” warns Carole Walker, Executive Director of the Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association. Teen-driver course discounts: many insurers offer safety courses or programs targeting teens. Most come with some type of discount once your adolescent completes the course. “ Ask your insurance company if there are discounts for a driver ‘s education course or if they have a adolescent program, ” says Gusner. State Farm has Steer Clear, Safeco has RightTrack, and American Family has a Teen Safe Driver Program. ” These programs normally involve driving train via an app equally good as monitoring their drive via the app or a circuit board device. once your adolescent completes the program a dismiss is applied to your policy. Defensive driving course: If your adolescent has been trained on how to deal with less than ideal situations out on the road it should lessen their odds of getting into an accident, which is music to an insurance company ‘s ears. Check with your insurance company to see if they offer a dismiss for completing a defensive drive course. Discounts vary but 10 percentage is reasonably coarse. Consider the car: If you are putting your adolescent in a new vehicle, look for one that has teen specific safety features. “ New Chevrolet vehicles utilize a feature called Teen Driver, which employs a number of parental control settings. For exemplar, parents can set a speed alarm, limit radio volume, and access an in-vehicle report batting order that gives them an idea as to how their adolescent is driving, ” advises Anthony. “ Do n’t assume an old clunker is your best insurance bet. Newer makes and models are designed to be safer and discounts may be available if you have automatic rifle seatbelts and airbags, deoxyadenosine monophosphate well as early active safety features, ” says Walker. Buy umbrella coverage: Consider an umbrella indebtedness policy. In our contentious company, you may want to have an extra layer of liability protection. For about $ 150 to $ 300 per year, you can buy a $ 1 million personal umbrella indebtedness policy. Good student discount. Tell Junior to keep his grades up. “ Most insurers offer a discount, some deoxyadenosine monophosphate high as 25 %, for students who maintain at least a B average, ” says Walker. Raise deductibles: Bumping up your deductible can be a major money saver, ampere long as you can easily afford it. Doubling your deductible can shave 10 to 20 percentage off of your bounty. Always choose a deductible that you can afford in the event you have to make a claim on your policy. Bundling: If you carry a kind of policies with your indemnity company you should be getting a bunch discount. “ If you have homeowners, renters, or life insurance with the like insurance company, ask for a discount. Bundling can be a significant money rescuer, up to 25 percentage, ” says Gusner. Policy adjustments for college: Once Junior is cook to head off to college you may be able to lower your bounty, particularly if they are headed to a college over 100 miles away and will not be taking a car with them. “ When your adolescent heads off to college, you may be eligible for lower premiums, provided the car stays behind. many insurers will reduce rates for students attending a school at least 100 miles away from base who do not have a cable car on campus, ” says Gusner.
What is the best starter car for a teenager? One with plenty of safety features
It is always tempting to put a adolescent in an previous car and save a bite of coin but that can be a mistake. New cars ( or newish ones ) come with solid condom ratings, ampere well as advanced safety features which can help prevent accidents. here are a few of the latest advance guard features to search for when looking for cars for teens :
- Lane departure alerts: This system detects if the vehicle is drifting out of its lane or changing lanes without first signaling. This system will alert the driver with a visual and audible alert.
- Forward-collision warning: This advanced safety system keeps an eye on the road in front of the car and alerts the driver if it feels a collision seems likely. If the driver ignores the alert, an automatic emergency braking system will bring the car to a stop or slow it down as much as possible before a collision. This system can literally be a lifesaver to a distracted teen.
- Rear cross-traffic alert: When the car is in reverse, backing out of a parking space or driveway, this system will send an audible alert if another vehicle is detected crossing the vehicle’s rear path. This can help teens avoid an accident and an expensive claim.
- Blindspot warning: A blind spot warning system keeps an eye on the blind spots of the vehicle and will alert the driver if a vehicle enters their blind spot.
Things to consider when shopping for the best used cars for teens
- Stay away from sports cars: The perfect car for a new driver is never a sports car. A powerful engine and a hankering for speed make these cars a recipe for disaster when it comes to teen drivers. Stick to a boring sedan with a smallish engine.
- Bigger vehicles are safer: If your teen is in an accident the bigger the car, the better the outcome. This doesn’t mean you have to put your teen in a Hummer, just avoid the smallest cars and consider going for a midsize or above if possible. A small SUV weighs roughly the same as a midsize car making these vehicles a good choice.
- Electronic stability control is a necessity: Electric stability control helps a driver maintain control of the vehicle in slippery conditions and curves. It also has a major impact on accident risk. ESC should be standard equipment on any vehicle you are considering for a teen. ESC was required as standard equipment starting in 2012.
- Look for best safety ratings: When it comes to the best used cars for teens you should always start by checking the safety ratings of any vehicles you are considering for your teen driver. At a minimum look for good ratings in the IIHS moderate overlap front, side, roof strength, and head restraint tests. If you are checking the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), only consider vehicles that have a four or five-star rating.