Summer is a popular time for teens to get driver’s licenses and teen auto accidents cost us around $40.7 billion per year, so the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on the Best & Worst States for Teen Drivers in 2024, as well as expert commentary, to identify where teens can enjoy this rite of passage while remaining as safe as possible.
WalletHub compared the 50 states based on 23 key metrics. The data set ranges from the number of teen driver fatalities to the average cost of car repairs to the presence of impaired-driving laws.
South Carolina ranks 20th overall in WalletHub’s analysis of the best and worst states for teen drivers, with notable challenges in safety. Despite this middle-ranking position, the state faces significant concerns, particularly with its high rate of teen driver fatalities, placing it among the bottom five states in this critical metric. This troubling statistic underscores the need for enhanced safety measures and stricter driving laws to better protect young drivers in the state.
| Best States for Teen Drivers | Worst States for Teen Drivers | |
| 1. New York | 41. Vermont | |
| 2. Oregon | 42. Alabama | |
| 3. New Jersey | 43. South Dakota | |
| 4. Washington | 44. Nebraska | |
| 5. Massachusetts | 45. Mississippi | |
| 6. Connecticut | 46. North Dakota | |
| 7. Alaska | 47. Idaho | |
| 8. Kentucky | 48. Wyoming | |
| 9. West Virginia | 49. Missouri | |
| 10. California | 50. Montana |
Best vs. Worst
- Alaska is the state with the fewest teen driver fatalities per 100,000 teens, which is 15.9 times fewer than in Montana, the state with the most.
- Tennessee has the lowest share of major roads in poor or mediocre condition, which is 5.4 times lower than in Rhode Island, the state with the highest.
- Hawaii has the lowest premium increase after adding a teen driver to a parent’s auto-insurance policy, which is 35 times lower than in Virginia, the state with the highest.
- New York has the fewest vehicle miles traveled per capita, which is 2.8 times fewer than in Wyoming, the state with the most.
To view the full report and your state’s rank, please visit:
https://wallethub.com/edu/best-worst-states-for-teen-drivers/4598
