OP needs to shop for insurance first. ETA: Insurance average for a 16-yo is $2511 (minimum coverage) to $7625 (full). Answer from gin_bulag_katorse on reddit.com
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Kelley Blue Book
kbb.com › home › best cars › best cars for teens: the list every parent needs
Best Cars for Teens: The List Every Parent Needs - Kelley Blue Book
October 20, 2025 - Here is a list of the 30 best cars for teenagers and tips for parents on safety features and options to consider for your new driver in 2024.
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AutoNation USA
autonationusa.com › home › used car guides › top 10 cars for teen drivers
Top 10 Cars For Teen Drivers | AutoNation USA
The Hyundai Elantra has quickly gained a reputation for offering modern tech, sharp styling, and impressive safety. The 2021 redesign introduced standard safety features that rival luxury vehicles. Elantra is frequently featured on lists of top 10 cars for 16 year olds because of its combination ...
Discussions

What car should I buy as a 16 year old
OP needs to shop for insurance first. ETA: Insurance average for a 16-yo is $2511 (minimum coverage) to $7625 (full). More on reddit.com
🌐 r/whatcarshouldIbuy
103
14
January 29, 2024
Best First Cars for 16 Year Olds?
An old beater, runs well enough while they are still working out all the finer points of responsible driver. (And a maxed out auto policy with an umbrella) More on reddit.com
🌐 r/UsedCars
31
1
May 11, 2025
People also ask

What are the best used cars for teens?
Used vehicles might be the best cheap cars for teens if you’re looking for safe, reliable, and affordable options. The Honda Civic and Mazda3, for example, are reliable vehicles with high safety ratings. Another choice is the 2021 Toyota Camry, which Kelley Blue Book ranked best for resale value.
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insurify.com
insurify.com › car insurance › knowledge › best cars for teens
Best Cars for Teens: Guide to the Safest Picks | Insurify
What is the best car for a first-time driver?
If you’re a first-time driver, you need a car that’s easy to handle. Look for a vehicle with top-notch safety features and a proven track record of reliability. You may also want to consider a vehicle with excellent fuel efficiency and low maintenance costs as a budget-friendly choice for a new driver.
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insurify.com
insurify.com › car insurance › knowledge › best cars for teens
Best Cars for Teens: Guide to the Safest Picks | Insurify
What is the best SUV for a teenager to drive?
SUVs aren’t one-size-fits-all, so it’s tough to pinpoint the best one for a teenager to drive. But the Mazda CX-30, Mazda CX-50, Subaru Solterra, Toyota bZ4X, and Genesis GV60 have advanced safety features and rank highly in IIHS safety tests. You should also take into account factors like fuel economy, reliability, and cost.
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insurify.com
insurify.com › car insurance › knowledge › best cars for teens
Best Cars for Teens: Guide to the Safest Picks | Insurify
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Consumer Reports
consumerreports.org › cars › best used cars under $20,000 for teens
Best Used Cars Under $20,000 for Teens via @ConsumerReports
September 8, 2025 - The third group (available to Consumer Reports members only) are the safest cars that are also CR Recommended. This means that these vehicles also meet our stringent requirements for road-test performance, reliability, and owner satisfaction. • Good for Safety Under $10,000 • Best for Safety Under $20,000 • Recommended Used Cars for Teens
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Bumble Auto
bumbleauto.com › blog › safest-used-cars-for-teen-drivers-under-10000
Safest Used Cars For Teen Drivers Under $10,000 | Bumble Auto
October 19, 2023 - Mazda 3 is a good choice for learning experience and it can be counted as top 10 cars for 16 year-olds even in 2022 because it is highly affordable. Despite having less cargo space, its overall rating is not that bad as compared to its price.
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/whatcarshouldibuy › what car should i buy as a 16 year old
r/whatcarshouldIbuy on Reddit: What car should I buy as a 16 year old
January 29, 2024 -

Hello r/whatcarshouldIbut , Im sure you guys get lots of posts like this but im about to turn 16 and am looking for a car to buy. Im looking for something

- Not to expensive, around $6000-$9000 tops

- Won't cost me a fortune in repairs and something I could maybe repair myself with a bit of knowledge since I do take auto shop class

I would be a responsible driver and as for what type of cars I like, here's a few: Honda civic type r hatchbacks, bmw e30, bmw e36, Nissan 350 and 370z, and stuff like that.

Whatever recommendations you guys have and reasons why, please leave them below I would appreciate it a lot

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GTPlanet
gtplanet.net › home › forums › automotive › cars in general
Best Car For A 16 Year Old? | GTPlanet
May 26, 2011 - The best car for a 16 year old is a Honda Fit. Period. Enough cargo space to support an active lifestyle (two bikes), artistic expression (a drum kit) or practical concerns (a refrigerator?
Find elsewhere
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ACV Auction
acvauctions.com › blog › acv updates › best cars for teens: the must have models parents want
Best Cars for Teens | Top New & Used Car Models for Teens | ACV Auctions
March 13, 2024 - Given that parents are concerned about safety and reliability, it’s a good idea to stock cars with high IIHS safety ratings.6 The models on our list of top ten best cars for teens all meet these requirements and would make great additions to your inventory. With an MSRP of around $27,510 for a 2017 base model, The Prius V can be a more expensive proposition. Yet, its superior fuel economy and safety features have allowed it to gain a cult following among parents of new drivers. The later model years continue to up the ante.
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Ramsey Solutions
ramseysolutions.com › home › articles › insurance › home and auto insurance
What Every Parent Should Know When It Comes to the Best Cars for Teens
May 1, 2025 - IIHS made it a Top Safety Pick+, and as a midsize vehicle, it offers more protection than a small car. It holds its value well and earns an 85 out of 100 from J.D. Power for reliability. With a sporty-looking front grill, this four-door still has enough cool factor for your teen. And because it’s five years old, it’s already taken its biggest hit in depreciation.
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Insurify
insurify.com › car insurance › knowledge › best cars for teens
Best Cars for Teens: Guide to the Safest Picks | Insurify
December 18, 2025 - Teens are three times as likely to get into accidents as drivers 20 and older.[1] For teen drivers, it’s essential to choose a car that’s affordable and safe. To help you choose the best option, Insurify compiled this list of affordable cars that can keep your teen safe on the road. Here’s what you should know about safe vehicle options from Mazda, Honda, Subaru, Toyota, and more. Safety is a top priority when choosing the best car for teen drivers.
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Capital One
capitalone.com › auto learning center › finding the right car › the 10 best cars for teen drivers, according to science
The 10 Best Cars for Teen Drivers, According to Science | Capital One Auto Navigator
December 8, 2023 - Then there is the peace of mind you’ll enjoy thanks to its industry-standard warranty and five-year roadside assistance program. Your teenager will like the Limited trim level’s upscale look and feel, as well as the wireless smartphone charger and premium sound system. Fact that might surprise you: Thanks to its standard LED headlights, the Elantra Limited gets a “Top Safety Pick+” rating from the IIHS. It is one of two vehicles on our list to earn this distinction. ... Why it makes the list: A midsize car with lots of interior and trunk room, an industry-standard warranty and roadside assistance program, free connected services, and attractive design, the Kia Optima S is a well-equipped vehicle that should last a long time.
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Quora
quora.com › Whats-the-best-first-car-for-a-teen-3-8k-I-love-muscle-cars-and-want-to-get-into-the-car-hobby-but-want-something-reliable-but-fun
What's the best first car for a teen 3-8k? I love muscle cars and want to get into the car hobby but want something reliable but fun. - Quora
Answer (1 of 4): Probably the right answer here is a used Mazda 3 or Hyundai Elantra GT with a manual transmission. Reliable, cheap to service, and very fun without being so fast that you’ll get into big trouble.
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AAA
ace.aaa.com › automotive › advocacy › best-cars-for-teens.html
How to find the right car for your teen in 2025
Learn about things you should consider when picking a car for your teen driver and see our recommended models.
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Autoweb
autoweb.com › 10-good-cheap-cars-for-teenagers-under-10000
10 Good Cheap Cars For Teenagers Under $10,000 | Autoweb
Or should a teenager’s first car be affordable, dependable, safe, and fuel-efficient? For today’s list, we’ve focused on those criteria to develop a varied list of vehicles that will provide capable service in the high school parking lot and — barring a smashup or too many neglected oil changes — into adulthood. A $10,000 budget doesn't go as far as it did even a few years ago, but these 10 used cheap used cars for teenagers should still get the job done.
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The Zebra
thezebra.com › the zebra › resource center › driving › best cars for teens: 15 vehicles under $20k with top safety ratings
Best cars for teens: 15 vehicles under $20K with top safety ratings
April 24, 2024 - The Toyota Highlander, model 2014 or newer, is our top teen vehicle recommendation for cars between $15,000 and $20,000. The vehicle earned its spot for its 5-star safety rating and lower insurance premium.
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/usedcars › best first cars for 16 year olds?
Best First Cars for 16 Year Olds? : r/UsedCars
May 11, 2025 - A 16 yr old should never have a muscle car or any vehicle with lots of horsepower. They just can't handle it & you know teenagers, they want to show off & make their friends jealous. ... I would find a older but healthy Toyota. Very dependable and usually only need preventative maintenance done on a regular basis. ... Getting a beater will absolutely instill a inherent appreciation for newer cars that they purchase themselves
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Car and Driver
caranddriver.com › rankings › best-cars-for-teens
Best First Cars for Teens and New Drivers in 2026, Tested
Car and Driver's rankings are arrived at from the results of our extensive instrumented testing of several hundred vehicles each year and from our expert editors' subjective impressions gained in real-world driving. We've ranked the Best Cars for Teens based on roughly 200 data points encompassing acceleration, handling, comfort, cargo space, fuel efficiency, value, and how enjoyable they are to drive.
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IIHS
iihs.org › ratings › safe-vehicles-for-teens
Safe vehicles for teens
Prices, provided by Kelley Blue Book and rounded to the nearest $100, are average U.S. values from April 19, 2024, for the lowest trim level and earliest applicable model year. The estimates are based on the following criteria: vehicle in good condition, typical mileage and private party purchase. ... All listed vehicles are winners of the 2025 IIHS Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+ award and come with standard vehicle-to-vehicle automatic emergency braking and good-rated seat belt reminders.
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Cars.com
cars.com › home › news › latest news
What’s the Safest, Most Affordable Car for Teens? | Cars.com
May 21, 2024 - The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and Consumer Reports have released their annual list of recommended vehicles for teens, and the 2024 list offers more safety for less, as used- and new-car prices stabilize.
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RAC
rac.co.uk › drive › advice & guides › driving advice › cheapest cars to insure for new drivers 2026 - top 10
Cheapest cars to insure for new drivers 2026 - Top 10
2 weeks ago - And clearly the ABI recognises that sportier, more youthful appeal, putting it a few groups ahead despite both cars sharing many parts. Fortunately, you don’t need to slum it with the automated manual gearbox to get the lowest insurance group – both manual and auto Picantos sit in group 4 in base ‘2’ trim. You get affordable list prices, plenty of technology and Kia’s seven-year warranty, although its three-star Euro NCAP rating is a bit lacklustre.