Low-price entry level cars from car-makers like Kia may be attractive to a lot of young drivers. They're inexpensive (as low as $11,395 for a Kia Rio) and you still get that new car smell.
You may be able get more value and more safety in a used car but unfortunately, given the frequency of accidents involving new drivers, not enough attention is given to vehicle safety.
According to The New York Times, "A survey released in June by the Insurance Institute found that vehicles bought in anticipation of adding a new driver to the family were more likely to be of sizes and types considered less safe than vehicles already owned."
Experts recommend buying an older mid-size vehicle rather than a newer compact or, heaven forbid, an SUV or van. Studies have shown that the more passengers there are in a car, the more likely a new driver is to crash it.
The most important thing is to stand up to your kid and be the parent. Of course, few kids will feel cool driving a Volvo station wagon (the only kind of car my mother would let me drive), but trading coolness for safety is a deal parents have to be willing to make.
For more information, check out Consumer Reports' guide to Cars for Teen Drivers.
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