It’s a provocative question, but which vehicle owners are the worst drivers in the country? Are Chevrolet customers the ones to steer clear of, or is it Mini? What about Acura, Nissan, or Porsche? Online financial services comparison company LendingTree has an answer.
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Steer Clear Of Teslas (And, Rams)!
Based on its QuoteWizard tool, between January 1, 2024, and December 31, 2024, LendingTree reports that Tesla drivers are the worst in the nation, with 36.94 incidents per 1,000 drivers, which is “up significantly from 31.13 in our late 2023 analysis.” For clarification, an incident includes things like accidents and DUIs as well as speeding and traffic tickets. Overall, 30 automotive brands were analyzed in this study.
The reason for the all-electric brand’s poor showing is not immediately clear, but according to the report, “The cheapest Tesla – a standard Model 3 with rear-wheel drive – can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 5.8 seconds. Other packages of the Model 3 can accelerate from 0 to 60 in 4.2 and 3.1 seconds.” Incredible power and performance in the hands of inexperienced drivers could be a major factor.
Following closely in Tesla’s tire tracks is Ram. The dedicated pickup truck brand landed in second place with 33.92 incidents per 1,000 drivers. Believe it or not, this is actually an improvement. Before, Ram drivers were the worst in the U.S. Subaru found itself in third, with 32.85 incidents per 1,000 drivers.
It may have slipped one spot, but Ram still put up a fight. The brand was flat-out the worst in a whopping 16 states (compared to nine states for Tesla), with New Jersey being the most egregious. Motorists in the Garden State reported a whopping 74.20 incidents per 1,000 drivers.
It should be no surprise, but the automotive brands with the worst drivers also had the highest accident rates. Once again, per 1,000 motorists, Tesla had 26.67 crashes, Ram 23.15, and Subaru hit 22.89.
What Brands Have The Best Drivers?
If those three companies are the worst, which are the best? Well, Mercury owners were actually rated No. 1, followed by Pontiac and Cadillac. It’s interesting that two of the brands with the best drivers have been discontinued for years and years.
Despite its low incident rate, Pontiac also earned a black eye. Drivers who own one of these vehicles were the most likely to drive under the influence. LendingTree reports this happened 3.11 times per 1,000. BMW and Tesla owners were right behind Pontiac, while Volvo, Hyundai, and Kia had the lowest DUI rates.
All of this means certain brands cost more to insure. In the report, Rob Bhatt, a LendingTree auto insurance expert and licensed insurance agent said, “Most of these incidents are going to make your rates go up.” He continued, “If Tesla drivers get into accidents at a higher rate than other drivers, insurance companies will probably spend more to insure them than other vehicles. This, in turn, may prompt insurance companies to charge higher rates to insure a Tesla.”
Auto insurance is a necessary evil, it’s an expense no one wants to pay for, but this list from LendingTree could help drivers save money. Knowing which brands are more accident-prone can help motorists make more informed choices and even reduce their insurance costs.