It is important to consider reliability and safety when purchasing a car for a teenage driver because teens don’t have a lot of experience.  Look for cars that score high in crash-test results and safety features.  Also, make sure you have a good auto warranty for the car you purchase because teens tend to be hard on vehicles.

In crash tests, big heavy vehicles typically perform the best, although they are harder to handle and have poor fuel-efficiency.  Large pickup trucks and SUVs aren’t recommended for teens, though, because they roll over easier than other cars in an accident.

A mid-size sedan with good crash test and safety ratings is the best bet for teenagers.  Some of the sedans with these features include the Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic, Ford Focus, Acura RSX, Mazda 3 and Subaru Impreza.

The best thing that you can do when purchasing a vehicle for your teen is to find the newest possible model that is very reliable.  Take a look at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety to find out the crash test results for cars that you’re interested in.  And, to protect your wallet purchase used car warranties.