Finding the Cheapest Car Insurance for Teen Drivers

Car insurance for teens can be expensive. There are ways to save, but the cheapest option is to be included on a parent's or guardian's policy.
Ben Moore
By Ben Moore 
Updated
Edited by Lacie Glover

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money.

Finding the cheapest car insurance for a teen driver can be difficult. Since teenagers are inexperienced drivers, they’re considered very risky to insure, and policies can cost thousands of dollars a year.

It’s usually a lot cheaper to add a teen driver to an adult’s auto insurance policy than it is to purchase a separate policy. And the best way to find the cheapest coverage is to shop around and get quotes from multiple companies.

While it may not always make sense for a teen driver to purchase a stand-alone policy, looking at those rates can give you a sense of how much car insurance costs for teen drivers and how much prices vary. With this in mind, NerdWallet checked car insurance rate estimates from the largest auto insurers in all 50 states, plus Washington, D.C. We analyzed rates for hypothetical male and female teenagers driving a 2017 Toyota Camry LE with no tickets or traffic violations.

While it’s cheaper for a teen to stay on a parent’s or guardian's policy, in our analysis, these numbers can provide a benchmark for car insurance costs.

How much is car insurance for teen drivers?

Mile for mile, teen drivers get into car crashes four times as often as drivers 20 and older, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Further, car accidents are the leading cause of death for teenagers in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

That all translates to higher insurance costs for teens, but how much depends on the state where the teen lives, gender and age, and whether the teen is the primary policyholder, among other factors. Our analysis shows that a newly licensed 16-year-old driver can pay an average of 44% more for full coverage than a more seasoned 19-year-old driver.

While the cost of car insurance for teen drivers varies widely by state, here are the average annual prices we found for both full and minimum coverage, by age:

  • 16-year-olds: $6,613 for full coverage; $2,733 for minimum coverage.

  • 17-year-olds: $5,373 for full coverage; $2,206 for minimum coverage.

  • 18-year-olds: $4,837 for full coverage; $1,938 for minimum coverage.

  • 19-year-olds: $3,716 for full coverage; $1,451 for minimum coverage.

Full coverage insurance policies in our analyses include comprehensive and collision coverage, as well as uninsured/underinsured motorist protection and increased liability limits. Minimum coverage policies include state-mandated coverage only.

Cheapest car insurance for teen drivers from large companies

To determine the cheapest insurers for teen drivers, we first looked at large companies that are available in almost every state.

The five largest auto insurance companies in the country are Allstate, Geico, Progressive, State Farm and USAA. However, USAA insures active military members, veterans and their families only.

Below we’ve ranked the largest companies, excluding USAA, from cheapest to most expensive based on average annual prices for both full and minimum coverage.

Geico

Age

Average full coverage rate

Average minimum coverage rate

16

$4,148

$1,574

17

$3,566

$1,333

18

$3,158

$1,167

19

$2,533

$916

State Farm

Age

Average full coverage rate

Average minimum coverage rate

16

$6,329

$2,613

17

$4,922

$2,007

18

$4,414

$1,774

19

$3,455

$1,365

Allstate

Age

Average full coverage rate

Average minimum coverage rate

16

$7,779

$2,892

17

$6,356

$2,278

18

$5,545

$1,831

19

$4,299

$1,327

Progressive

Age

Average full coverage rate

Average minimum coverage rate

16

$9,139

$3,460

17

$7,684

$2,874

18

$6,514

$2,393

19

$3,911

$1,417

Coming from a large company doesn’t make an insurance policy better — local and regional insurers often have the cheapest rates in those areas. Before choosing a car insurance company, make sure to shop around for quotes to find the cheapest insurer in your state.

Cheapest car insurance for teen drivers by state

The cheapest car insurance company for a teenager varies depending on the state. For example, the cheapest average full coverage rate for a teen driver in Hawaii is around $950 annually, while the cheapest average rate in Alabama is over $3,000.

Use the map to see the cheapest car insurance company for teen drivers based on average annual full coverage rates.

Average cost of car insurance for 16-year-olds

Sixteen-year-old drivers are the most expensive to insure because they are minimally experienced.

Hawaii is the cheapest state for both full and minimum annual coverage policies for 16-year-olds because the state doesn't allow the use of age to price car insurance. The average full coverage rate in the state is between $1,000 and $1,100 for a driver of any age.

Meanwhile, Louisiana is the most expensive state for annual full coverage policies for teenagers. Average full coverage rates for a stand-alone policy are over $11,500 per year. If you’re a 16-year-old driver in Louisiana, it’s highly recommended that you try to get on an adult’s auto insurance policy to take advantage of multidriver and other discounts.

See how your state stacks up for full and minimum coverage rates for 16-year-old drivers.

State

Average annual full coverage rate

Average annual minimum coverage rate

$7,286

$2,821

$5,434

$1,738

$6,362

$3,259

$10,416

$4,150

$6,184

$2,147

$7,689

$2,640

$10,177

$5,023

$8,447

$4,503

$8,600

$2,310

$7,703

$3,502

$1,079

$352

$4,146

$1,654

$6,131

$2,585

$4,669

$1,837

$3,937

$1,192

$5,342

$1,894

$10,596

$4,662

$13,409

$5,447

$4,242

$1,799

$7,451

$3,456

$4,979

$2,020

$10,423

$5,234

$4,315

$1,954

$6,657

$2,469

$8,194

$3,090

$6,988

$2,071

$4,728

$1,626

$9,150

$4,823

$5,232

$2,115

$9,561

$3,997

$5,773

$2,054

$7,904

$4,189

$3,173

$1,332

$4,819

$1,657

$4,059

$1,759

$6,973

$2,285

$5,675

$2,885

$5,499

$1,988

$11,948

$6,407

$6,399

$2,955

$4,952

$1,335

$5,350

$1,982

$10,210

$4,016

$6,690

$3,097

$4,765

$1,480

$5,961

$2,540

$5,113

$2,249

$7,242

$3,459

$6,034

$2,199

$4,719

$1,765

$4,492

$1,379

Average cost of car insurance for 17-year-olds

While not as costly as for a 16-year-old, car insurance for a 17-year-old driver will be a hefty sum. The national annual average rate for a 17-year-old is just over $5,370 for full coverage and $2,206 for minimum coverage.

Besides Hawaii, North Carolina has the lowest annual average rate for a full-coverage policy for a 17-year-old at just under $2,660. The cheapest annual minimum coverage rate for a 17-year-old in Iowa is just over an average of $930. On the other end of the spectrum, Louisiana has the highest average full coverage rates for 17-year-olds — $9,255 for a 12-month, full-coverage policy. Michigan has the most expensive annual minimum coverage rate at just under $4,070, on average.

See how your state stacks up for full and minimum coverage average rates for 17-year-old drivers.

State

Average annual full coverage rate

Average annual minimum coverage rate

$6,400

$2,481

$4,403

$1,405

$5,341

$2,693

$8,201

$3,033

$5,730

$1,984

$6,253

$2,126

$7,807

$3,965

$6,732

$3,597

$7,406

$1,991

$6,765

$3,198

$1,079

$352

$3,385

$1,342

$4,817

$2,048

$3,951

$1,552

$3,112

$933

$4,704

$1,649

$8,198

$3,675

$9,255

$3,761

$3,618

$1,521

$6,699

$3,108

$4,285

$1,762

$8,224

$4,068

$3,629

$1,637

$5,622

$2,090

$6,067

$2,316

$6,032

$1,749

$3,954

$1,339

$7,559

$3,842

$4,296

$1,777

$7,211

$3,115

$4,598

$1,651

$7,265

$3,867

$2,656

$1,073

$3,827

$1,315

$3,298

$1,436

$5,862

$1,901

$4,280

$2,201

$4,833

$1,753

$8,395

$4,160

$5,356

$2,413

$3,992

$1,051

$4,442

$1,680

$7,349

$3,048

$5,223

$2,451

$4,047

$1,210

$4,734

$2,036

$4,284

$1,903

$5,885

$2,787

$5,217

$1,905

$3,886

$1,417

$3,852

$1,144

Average cost of car insurance for 18-year-olds

The national annual average rate for an 18-year-old driver with full coverage is just over $4,830, while the average rate for minimum coverage is $1,940 per year. Besides Hawaii, North Carolina offers the cheapest average full coverage rate at $2,398 annually, and Iowa offers the cheapest minimum coverage at $812. Louisiana has the most expensive rate for full coverage, while Michigan is highest for minimum coverage.

See how your state stacks up for full and minimum coverage average rates for 18-year-old drivers.

State

Average annual full coverage rate

Average annual minimum coverage rate

$5,728

$2,179

$3,947

$1,214

$4,790

$1,926

$7,196

$2,541

$5,399

$1,856

$5,710

$1,902

$7,178

$3,606

$5,894

$3,093

$6,559

$1,774

$6,241

$2,945

$1,079

$352

$3,063

$1,199

$4,300

$1,801

$3,474

$1,342

$2,771

$812

$4,270

$1,464

$7,401

$3,292

$8,213

$3,335

$3,310

$1,373

$6,147

$2,790

$4,084

$1,680

$7,274

$3,702

$3,326

$1,461

$4,928

$1,808

$5,480

$2,029

$5,540

$1,568

$3,623

$1,195

$6,941

$3,196

$3,756

$1,520

$6,290

$2,666

$4,146

$1,420

$6,430

$3,404

$2,398

$907

$3,467

$1,156

$2,996

$1,299

$5,305

$1,712

$3,835

$1,953

$4,440

$1,595

$7,111

$3,314

$4,892

$2,175

$3,604

$906

$3,827

$1,425

$6,673

$2,723

$4,713

$2,185

$3,711

$1,101

$4,260

$1,812

$3,862

$1,684

$5,476

$2,566

$4,711

$1,682

$3,472

$1,248

$3,465

$976

Average cost of car insurance for 19-year-olds

Nineteen-year-old drivers are the cheapest teenagers to insure because they typically have been licensed longer and have more experience on the road. The average annual national rate for a full coverage policy for a 19-year-old is about $3,717. A 12-month, minimum-coverage policy averages to about $1,451.

Besides Hawaii, the cheapest state for a 19-year-old driver is North Carolina, which averages $1,490 annually for full coverage and slightly under $550 annually for minimum coverage. Meanwhile, Louisiana has the most expensive full coverage average — over $6,240 per year. Michigan has the most expensive minimum coverage policy for an 18-year-old, averaging about $2,890 a year.

See how your state stacks up for average full and minimum coverage rates for 19-year-old drivers.

State

Average annual full coverage rate

Average annual minimum coverage rate

$3,994

$1,473

$3,194

$919

$3,600

$1,428

$5,650

$1,906

$3,775

$1,283

$4,235

$1,390

$5,105

$2,544

$4,503

$2,314

$4,850

$1,290

$4,731

$2,182

$1,079

$352

$2,390

$912

$3,547

$1,459

$2,903

$1,106

$2,346

$653

$3,413

$1,132

$6,101

$2,597

$6,242

$2,463

$2,743

$1,111

$4,916

$2,250

$2,652

$1,052

$5,677

$2,890

$3,014

$1,276

$3,669

$1,346

$4,579

$1,645

$4,201

$1,125

$2,860

$879

$5,465

$2,422

$2,878

$1,145

$4,533

$2,001

$3,069

$1,024

$4,853

$2,443

$1,491

$546

$2,470

$798

$2,265

$968

$3,718

$1,163

$3,004

$1,514

$3,408

$1,158

$5,332

$2,404

$3,728

$1,641

$2,637

$658

$3,017

$1,105

$5,393

$2,129

$3,572

$1,639

$3,232

$899

$3,430

$1,436

$2,994

$1,259

$3,925

$1,697

$3,697

$1,286

$2,685

$938

$2,754

$731

Why is car insurance for young men so expensive?

Young women can pay a lot for car insurance, but in general, young men see some of the highest auto insurance rates among people with clean driving records. In part, that’s because they are inexperienced and don't have a driving record for insurers to use to set rates.

When insurance companies can’t reference a driving record to determine how likely you are to file a claim, they rely on statistics to gauge risk and set prices. A newly licensed teenager receives high insurance quotes because his peers file a lot of claims, more expensive claims or both.

Male teenagers cause crashes at higher rates than any other group. Teens ages 16 to 19 cause nearly three times as many fatal accidents as adults 20 and over, according to data from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Teenage boys caused roughly two-thirds of those crashes in recent years, down from 75% in 1975, the data shows.

In addition to the risk that they will crash, teens typically lack a credit history, are unmarried and haven't completed as much education — all of which can increase car insurance rates.

See below for how the top five auto insurance companies stack up for female and male teen drivers, for both full and minimum coverage policies.

Average annual full coverage rates by gender from the five largest U.S. auto insurers

Company

Female teen drivers

Male teen drivers

$5,563

$6,427

$3,126

$3,577

$6,454

$7,170

$4,328

$5,232

$3,253

$3,556

*USAA is available only to military, veterans and their families.

Average annual minimum coverage rates by gender from the five largest U.S. auto insurers

Company

Female teen drivers

Male teen drivers

$1,991

$2,174

$1,180

$1,316

$2,440

$2,632

$1,759

$2,120

$1,288

$1,369

*USAA is available only to military, veterans and their families.

How teens can save on car insurance

If you’re a teen driver, the best way to save on car insurance is to get on a parent's or guardian’s insurance policy. If that isn’t an option for you, start by shopping around for multiple car insurance quotes to find the cheapest rate.

When shopping for car insurance, be on the lookout for possible discounts, including:

  • Good grade discount. Some auto insurers offer discounts for maintaining a high GPA or getting straight As.

  • Defensive driving discount. If you take a defensive driving course, some car insurance companies may offer you a discount on your rate.

  • Student away-at-school discount. If you’re enrolled in college or go to school away from home, you could qualify for a student-away discount.

Methodology

NerdWallet averaged insurance estimates from the largest insurers in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., for single male and female drivers with good credit and no tickets or violations. For full coverage policies, we used the following coverage limits:

  • $100,000 bodily injury liability per person.

  • $300,000 bodily injury liability per accident.

  • $50,000 property damage liability per accident.

  • $100,000 uninsured motorist coverage per person.

  • $300,000 uninsured motorist coverage per accident.

  • Collision coverage with a $1,000 deductible.

  • Comprehensive coverage with a $1,000 deductible.

In states where required, minimum additional coverages were added. Some policies include additional coverages at the insurer’s discretion. For drivers with minimum coverage, we adjusted the numbers above to reflect minimum required coverage by law in the state. We used a 2017 Toyota Camry LE for all drivers and assumed 12,000 annual miles driven. We analyzed rates for drivers of the following ages: 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75 and 80.

These are rates generated through Quadrant Information Services. Your own rates will be different.

Get more smart money moves – straight to your inbox
Sign up and we’ll send you Nerdy articles about the money topics that matter most to you along with other ways to help you get more from your money.