Which Car Brands Have the Worst Drivers? See the Surprising List, and What Insurance Companies Are Watching

New national studies show Tesla, Ram, and Subaru drivers are most likely to crash or get ticketed, while Pontiac drivers, though rare on the road, lead the nation in DUIs.

According to a comprehensive analysis of insurance data by Lending Tree, Tesla, Ram, and Subaru drivers had the highest rates of driving incidents — including accidents, DUIs, speeding, and citations — among all major car brands. Among the findings:

• Tesla drivers led the nation with 36.94 incidents per 1,000 drivers, a sharp increase from the previous year.
• Ram drivers followed closely with 33.92 incidents per 1,000 drivers, and were the worst in 16 states, including California, where their incident rate was an astonishing 70.78 per 1,000 drivers.
• Subaru drivers were third worst, at 32.85 incidents per 1,000 drivers.

These brands also had the highest accident rates, with Tesla drivers involved in 26.67 accidents per 1,000 drivers, Ram at 23.15, and Subaru at 22.89. Audi (32.23) and Mazda (31.86) rounded out the top five.

As for DUIs alone, a surprising brand led the way: Pontiac drivers have the highest DUI rate in the country, at 3.11 DUIs per 1,000 drivers, a dramatic jump from last year. BMW followed at 2.57, and Tesla is close behind at 2.23. No. 4 was Ram at 2.09 and Jeep was No. 5 at 1.93.

Surprisingly, despite Pontiac’s high DUI rate, its drivers had the second-lowest overall incident rate, suggesting that while rare on the road, Pontiac drivers are disproportionately involved in DUI incidents.

Researchers suggest several reasons why some brands have higher incident rates:

• Performance and Speed: Brands like Tesla offer rapid acceleration and high-tech features, which may tempt drivers to speed or take risks.
• Driver Demographics: Pickup trucks like Ram are popular among younger or more aggressive drivers, and their size makes them harder to handle in emergencies.
• Brand Reputation and Insurance: High incident rates can lead to higher insurance premiums for owners of these vehicles, regardless of their individual driving record.

On the other end of the spectrum, Mercury drivers had the lowest incident rate at 18.63 per 1,000 drivers, followed by Pontiac (19.72) and Cadillac (20.75). These brands, some of which are no longer in production, tend to attract older or more cautious drivers.

So, what do these results mean for regular drivers like you:

• Insurance Costs: If you drive a brand with a high incident rate, expect higher insurance premiums, even if you have a clean record.
• Safety First: Regardless of your car’s reputation, avoiding speeding, impairment, and distractions is the best way to stay safe and keep your rates low.
• Uninsured Motorist Coverage: Since you can’t control how others drive, make sure you have adequate coverage in case you’re hit by an uninsured or underinsured driver.

“Statistics may point fingers at certain car brands, but behind every number is a choice — speeding, drinking, or ignoring the rules,” said Chad Boyles, partner and attorney at the Law Office of Chain | Cohn | Clark. “At Chain | Cohn | Clark, we’ve seen firsthand how reckless driving and DUIs can devastate lives, no matter what car you drive. Safety isn’t built into the badge; it’s built into your decisions. When drivers let performance or peer pressure override responsibility, the consequences can be life-changing for everyone on the road.”

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If you or someone you know is injured in an accident at the fault of someone else, or injured on the job no matter whose fault it is, contact the car accident attorneys at Chain | Cohn | Clark by calling (661) 323-4000, or fill out a free consultation form, text, or chat with us at chainlaw.com.