Auto insurance rates are based on a variety of different factors, and your choice of vehicle for a young driver is going to be one of them. The first car your child drives will have a huge impact on the cost of insurance.


Older vehicles may seem like a cheaper option but might not always be the best choice in terms of safety features. Newer vehicles may have more safety features but might be more expensive to insure. It can be difficult to navigate what the best option is for you and your teenager, but looking at several quotes for different vehicles should help you make the best choice!

 

Affordable vehicles that account for safety

To help you get started, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety publishes a list of affordable vehicles that also accounts for safety features worth considering when picking out a suitable vehicle. Their selection is based on the following principles:[1]

  • Young drivers should not drive high-horsepower vehicles, which tend to encourage speeding.
  • Bigger vehicles can provide better protection in the event of an accident than smaller vehicles.
  • Electronic Stability Control (ESC) can substantially reduce fatal crash risk due to loss of control of the vehicle.
  • The car your teen drives should have the best crash test ratings possible. At a minimum, the vehicles on IIHS’s list have a ‘good’ rating in their original moderate overlap front, original side, and head restraint tests.

 

Safety features to consider

Kelley Blue Book also provides a list of safety features you should consider when looking to purchase your teen a new vehicle[2]:
 
  • Anti-lock Brakes
  • Traction control
  • Stability control
  • Forward collision warning
  • Blind-spot monitoring
  • Outboard mirrors with turn-signal indicators
  • Power-adjustable driver’s seat
  • Tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel
  • Automatic climate control
  • LED headlights and taillights
  • Automatic high beams
  • Adaptive cruise control
  • Hill-start assist
  • Head-up display
  • Infotainment system with voice recognition
  • Airbags, at least six
  • Auto on-off headlights
  • 360-degree cameras
 
While the more safety features to a vehicle can lead to a more expensive car, they may just save a young driver's life out on the road.
Ready to get quoted? Give us a call at 844-232-2700 or get a quote started online here!