--- title: "Used Vehicles For Teen Drivers: What To Look For?" description: Looking for a safe vehicle for teen drivers can be difficult. What should you be looking for? Where should you start? image: https://www.thegibsonedge.com/hubfs/blog-files/Teen_Cars.jpg --- [**](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog/used-vehicles-for-teen-drivers-what-to-look-for#tmpmodule_1568675152246189) - [Client Login](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/gibson-client-login) - [Contact Us](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/contact) **** [![Gibson Logo](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Gibson%20UNISON%20Co_Horiz_Logo_Gold_White-1.png?width=2518&height=1088&name=Gibson%20UNISON%20Co_Horiz_Logo_Gold_White-1.png) ![Gibson Logo](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Gibson%20UNISON%20Co_Horiz_Logo_Gold_White-1.png?width=2518&height=1088&name=Gibson%20UNISON%20Co_Horiz_Logo_Gold_White-1.png) ](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/) [**](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog/used-vehicles-for-teen-drivers-what-to-look-for#tmpmodule_1568675152246189) - [Services](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/services) - [Employee Benefits](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/services/employee-benefits) - [Business Insurance](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/services/business-insurance) - [Private Client Group](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/services/private-client-group) - [Industries](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/industries) - [Insights & News](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog) - [Insights & News](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog) - [Webinars](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/webinars) - [Podcast](https://podcast.thegibsonedge.com) - [About Us](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/about-us) - [Become a Partner](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/become-a-partner) - [Leadership](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/leadership) - [Community Impact](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/impact) - [Sightline](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/sightline) - [About URA](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/ura) - [Offices](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/offices) - [Careers](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/careers) ** ###### 2 min read # [Used Vehicles For Teen Drivers: What To Look For?](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog/used-vehicles-for-teen-drivers-what-to-look-for) Feb 17, 2016 6:30:00 AM ![Teen_Cars.jpg](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/hs-fs/hubfs/blog-files/Teen_Cars.jpg?width=250&name=Teen_Cars.jpg "Teen_Cars.jpg")Your teenager is ready to take the wheel. You sent them through driver’s ed and spent countless hours practicing…but it is still scary to think of them driving on their own. Inexperienced drivers make mistakes and those mistakes can have big consequences. Before you hand over the keys, you need to be confident that your teen has all the tools and knowledge to be as safe as possible. One of those tools is a safe vehicle. A survey by the [Insurance Institute for Highway Safety](http://www.iihs.org/iihs/) (IIHS) found that the majority of parents who purchased a vehicle for their teen drivers chose a used car. And these purchases were also made with limited budgets. The average spent by parents on a teen’s car was $9,800 and a median of just $5,300. How do you find a safe and affordable used vehicle for your teen driver? [The IIHS recommends parents not to compromise on these 3 items](http://www.iihs.org/iihs/sr/statusreport/article/50/8/1): **High horsepower should be avoided.** The temptation to test the limits of a powerful engine is too hard for many teens to resist. Vehicles that only come with big engines have been left off the lists, but many recommended models have high-horsepower versions that should be avoided. The base engines of all the listed vehicles have adequate power for teens. **Bigger, heavier vehicles are safer.** Consumers won't find minicars or small cars among the best choices or the good choices. (Small SUVs, which weigh about the same as midsize cars, are OK.) **Electronic stability control is a must.** This technology, mandatory since the 2012 model year, helps a driver maintain control on curves and slippery roads. It's a proven lifesaver, cutting single-vehicle fatal crash risk nearly in half. All listed vehicles have the feature standard. IIHS also compiled [a list of their vehicle recommendations for your teen driver](http://www.iihs.org/iihs/sr/statusreport/article/50/8/1). They have it broken down into two categories – best choices and good choices, based on safety ratings. It is a great place to start your search!   [![Download the Safe Teen Driver Agreement](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/360304/8aca0e26-df21-48a0-a7fe-31124e3b6aed.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/360304/8aca0e26-df21-48a0-a7fe-31124e3b6aed) ###### Topics: [Personal Insurance & Risk Management](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog/topic/personal-insurance-risk-management) ![Gibson](https://via.placeholder.com/100x100.jpg/e0e7ee) #### Written by [Gibson](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog/author/gibson) Gibson is a team of risk management and employee benefits professionals with a passion for helping leaders look beyond what others see and get to the proactive side of insurance. 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