Back to school: Tips for choosing the right vehicle for a young driver

For some students, going back to school may mean getting a new or new-to-them set of wheels. There are many factors to consider in choosing the right model for a young driver, though a used car is a smart place to start. A 2-3 year-old pre-owned vehicle can be a good value since it likely still has some factory warranty left and usually comes with cheaper insurance and taxes than a new vehicle. In addition, a used vehicle has already taken its biggest hit in depreciation and there may be less family stress over preserving it in showroom-caliber condition.

Buying used is often a way to get a better-equipped vehicle than you'd be able to afford new. Features such as electronic stability control, side curtain air bags, and antilock brakes are important especially for an inexperienced driver. These valued safety features will be more readily found on recent models. Buying a car for a young person is a compromise on features, style, and budget, but you should jump through hoops to buy a vehicle with the most safety features you can afford, plus good crash protection. Our model overview pages present crash test results from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, as well as our own dynamic test findings. 

Reliability is another key consideration when looking for a used car. You want a car that will last long and have few problems.

To make your search simple, see our list of best and worst used cars to find the most reliable vehicles that also scored well in our testing. Or target the best used cars for under $20,000. 

Besides safety and reliability, young drivers need versatility to transport luggage, furniture, and people—especially those who are heading off to college. Sedans and hatchbacks are good choices that offer additional cargo space when the rear seats are folded and roomier trunks. We do not recommend your young driver get into SUVs or pickups since they can have trickier handling and are more prone to rollovers. Sporty cars are too tempting to be driven fast and have a high crash and insurance rates. Plus, their fuel economy lags behind smaller vehicles.

Check out our list of recommended cars for teens and our best used car deals to find the models that will best suit your needs and wallet.

—Liza Barth