C(r)ashing Out: Should Teens Drive Luxury Cars?

Driving around in an old family car is a right of passage for most high school students once they receive their license. For some students, a new Audi or BMW is their own right of passage— a very expensive one.

A quick survey of the parking lot suggests that luxury vehicles are becoming the norm at the School, with Range Rovers being spotted on campus. However, the number of minor incidents in the lot and the statistics around teen drivers call into question whether the tradition of teens receiving luxury cars should continue.

Within the first month of licensure, the risk of accidents is incredibly high. According to the CDC, for 16-year-olds, the crash rate per mile driven is about 1.5 times higher than it is for 18–19-year-olds.

Certain luxury cars, specifically sports cars, are meant for style over safety. Based on research conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the Chevrolet Corvette and the Ford Mustang GT have a much higher death rate than most sedans.

Statistics provided by Business Insider suggest that a majority of the safest car models, when it comes to the driver death rate, are luxury SUVs and large SUVs. 

Given the costly repairs for a luxury car, and the high expense of teen driver insurance, parents must ask themselves the question: would you rather pay for repairs on a 2021 BMW SUV or a 2010 Toyota Prius, and should your teen pay for that damage?

Many students prioritize academics over jobs, limiting their potential income, and ultimately leading them to ask their parents to cover the vehicle costs.

While this makes sense from a student perspective, teens may fail to understand the true value of money, and never take responsibility for their actions if they do not have a financial stake in their vehicle.

Cost aside, safety should be a driver’s largest concern. Thus in balancing the cost of a vehicle, drivers must also think about the safety of their car. If an older car model would put them at risk for serious injury, then perhaps they should upgrade to a newer vehicle. 

While everyone wants the luxuries of seat warmers, Bluetooth, and a sunroof in their first car, families should look for a balance of cost and safety in their purchases. Luxury cars, especially driven by teenage drivers, can potentially throw off that balance.