Photo Credit: Burdun Iliya / Shutterstock Teen drivers are one of the highest-risk groups on the road. Young drivers are more likely to make mistakes from inexperience, get distracted by devices or other passengers, or engage in risky behaviors like speeding, not wearing a seatbelt, or drinking and driving. In recent decades, more states have implemented policy change in an effort to reduce risks for teen drivers and those who share the road with them.

Canva Every new car depreciates in value once it’s driven off the lot—but in the months and years that follow, some cars retain significantly more value than others. Today, that information is more valuable than ever: The resale market in 2020 was more than three times larger than the market for new cars, with 39.3 million used vehicles sold as opposed to 14 million new ones. CoPilot looked to its database of new and used vehicle sales to determine which vehicle models saw the highest average depreciation in 2021.

Photo Credit: Maridav / Shutterstock The spread of COVID-19’s Delta variant has been a significant step backward in the U.S.’s efforts to fight off the coronavirus pandemic. Cases and hospitalizations reached their highest levels since last winter and could rise again this winter, with large portions of the population still unvaccinated and fall’s cooler temperatures and indoor gatherings approaching. In response, many jurisdictions returned to mask requirements, capacity restrictions, and other public health measures to slow the spread of the Delta variant, and individuals are rethinking their own behaviors and preferences to avoid the variant.

Photo: Canva In 2020, about 15 million cars were sold in the United States. Most Americans bought their new vehicles outright, but about one of every four vehicles were sold via a lease option. Leases allow buyers to drive a car for some contracted time frame—most often three years—while they make monthly payments until the lease expiration date. It’s an arrangement with several advantages, especially for the foreseeable future, despite the bounce back in the economy.

Photo Credit: Harbucks / Shutterstock A year and a half into the pandemic, COVID-19 is still having profound effects on the global economy. The abrupt shutdown of many aspects of daily life from last spring has diminished, but the economic recovery has been inconsistent, affecting supply and demand differently across sectors. This unsteady path to economic recovery has stoked fears of inflation, as prices in many sectors are showing dramatic fluctuations and challenging household spending.

Leasing is an auto industry shorthand term for a long-term rental of a new vehicle, a method often used by businesses that provide company cars for their employees. But leasing is incredibly popular in the consumer market as well. Experian reports 26.66% of all new vehicles were leased in the first quarter of 2021—down from 30.68% in the first quarter of 2020, before the coronavirus hit the U.S. economy and workforce.

Photo Credit: Alamy Stock Photo Perhaps no part of daily life changed as much by the COVID-19 pandemic as mobility—how often residents leave their homes and where they go. With stay-at-home orders in effect for large parts of last year, Americans upended their daily routines and, where possible, began working from home, increasing their reliance on delivery services, and avoiding public spaces, including public transportation. Amid these changes, it wasn’t immediately clear how consumer spending and borrowing would be impacted, especially for cars and trucks.

Image Credit: Pexels Americans go big when it comes to our car purchases. In fact, throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a 91% increase in the number of vehicles priced around $80,000 sold. Despite the economic setbacks, consumers still save for and buy luxury cars that provide a more comfortable driving experience. One kind of vehicle that has increasingly garnered interest from consumers are self-driving cars, which are poised to deliver luxury on another level.

Photo Credit: Alamy Stock Photo During the COVID-19 pandemic, millions of workers transitioned to working from home all or part of the time. At its peak, about 35% of workers teleworked because of the pandemic. However, many jobs are not conducive to working from home —a fact that has been especially challenging for parents with kids living at home. Besides reduced flexibility in work location, workers who can’t telecommute also tend to earn less, which for parents, limits alternative childcare options.

Nestor Rizhniak // Shutterstock If you want proof that the COVID-19 pandemic didn’t affect everyone equally, look no further than car-buying trends. While overall car sales in 2020 were down 14.6% year-over-year, dealer profits ballooned by 48%, according to 2020 survey results from the National Automobile Dealers Association. Tighter inventories, reduced workforces, and less—if any—need for dealer incentives all contributed to the spike in dealer profits. Profits were also aided by the kinds of cars being sold off the lot.