Cheapest car insurance for 20-year-olds by company: Auto-Owners

Auto-Owners offers the cheapest full coverage car insurance for 20-year-old drivers in most states, based on a rate analysis by Insurance.com. Its average annual cost for a full coverage policy is $2,958. USAA is the cheapest carrier for 20-year-old drivers at $2,757 a year, but it provides services only to military members, veterans, and their families.

Travelers, Geico, Nationwide, and State Farm also offer great rates for full coverage policies.

Granted, rates can vary significantly from company to company. But if you shop around and compare quotes from multiple carriers you should be able to find the right policy for your needs.

Below is a list of companies that offer cheap car insurance for 20-year-old drivers:

Cheapest car insurance companies for 20-year-old drivers
CompanyAvg annual premium
USAA*$2,757
Auto-Owners$2,958
Travelers$3,108
Geico$3,387
Nationwide$3,652
State Farm$3,922
Progressive$4,171
Farmers$4,715
Allstate$4,728

*USAA auto insurance is available only to military members, veterans, and their families

Data refreshed as of Apr 2024
Read our full methodology

Cheapest car insurance for 20-year-old drivers by state: Hawaii

When it comes to car insurance rates, there is no one-size-fits-all. Depending on your state, the average rates for car insurance can vary greatly.

Insurance.com found that Hawaii has the cheapest average rates for 20-year-old drivers at $1,538 per year. On the other hand, Louisiana has the most expensive average rates for 20-year-olds at $5,703 annually.

The differences in car insurance rates across states can be attributed to several factors, including state laws, weather conditions, average accident rate, etc.

The table below shows the average annual car insurance rates for 20-year-olds by state:

Car insurance rates for 20-year-olds by state
State Avg annual premium
Hawaii$1,538
North Carolina$2,219
New Hampshire$2,680
Ohio$2,816
Maine$2,876
Virginia$2,889
Idaho$2,949
Iowa$3,053
Illinois$3,090
Indiana$3,098
Washington$3,370
Vermont$3,389
Wyoming$3,401
Wisconsin$3,409
Oregon$3,457
New York$3,476
North Dakota$3,483
Alaska$3,497
Massachusetts$3,543
Tennessee$3,554
Alabama$3,686
Texas$3,688
Nebraska$3,740
Pennsylvania$3,775
Utah$3,817
New Mexico$3,867
Kansas$3,884
New Jersey$3,936
Maryland$3,967
Minnesota$3,975
Missouri$3,976
Arizona$3,996
Georgia$4,019
Mississippi$4,027
Arkansas$4,045
South Carolina$4,061
West Virginia$4,131
Connecticut$4,147
Oklahoma$4,200
South Dakota$4,276
Colorado$4,286
Nevada$4,291
Washington, D.C.$4,368
California$4,381
Rhode Island$4,439
Kentucky$4,464
Montana$4,789
Michigan$4,910
Florida$5,054
Delaware$5,209
Louisiana$5,703

Data refreshed as of Apr 2024
Read our full methodology

Cheapest car insurance for 20-year-old: male vs female

Travelers has the cheapest car insurance for 20-year-old females, at about $2,962 a year, and at $3,255 per year for 20-year-old male drivers. USAA has the cheapest rates for both 20-year-old male and female drivers in most states, but it provides insurance only to military members, veterans, and their families.

Geico, Nationwide, State Farm, and Progressive are a few other companies offering cheap car insurance for 20-year-old drivers.

The table below looks at average rates by company for female and male 20-year-olds.

Cheapest car insurance for 20-year-olds by gender
Company20-year-old female20-year-old male
USAA*$2,698$2,817
Travelers$2,962$3,255
Geico$3,302$3,472
Nationwide$3,430$3,875
State Farm$3,577$4,267
Progressive$3,940$4,402
Farmers$4,507$4,920
Allstate$4,457$5,002

*USAA auto insurance is available only to military members, veterans, and their families

Data refreshed as of Apr 2024
Read our full methodology

Average car insurance for a 20-year-old by coverage level

Male drivers are typically charged more than female drivers for car insurance because of their risky driving habits. On average, a 20-year-old male driver pays $3,943 for a full coverage car insurance policy, whereas female drivers pay $3,537 for the same coverage.

Insurance companies base their rates on risk. Men are more likely than women to have accidents, get tickets, or be arrested for a DUI conviction, thereby resulting in increased insurance rates, according to a study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.

Here's what both genders pay for car insurance by coverage level:

Car insurance rates for 20-year-old drivers
CoverageFemaleMale
State Minimum BI/PD$967$1,043
Liability Only - 50/100/50 BI/PD$1,192$1,275
Full Coverage - 100/300/100 BI/PD - 500 Comp/Coll$3,537$3,943

How can 20-year-old drivers save on car insurance?

Here are a few things that 20-year-old drivers can do to save money on car insurance:

  • Stay on your parent's policy: One of the easiest ways a 20-year-old can save money on their car insurance is by staying on their parent's policy.
  • Shop around: Car insurance for young drivers can be expensive, but shopping around can help you find affordable insurance. Make sure you get quotes from at least three insurers before deciding on your insurance company.
  • Good student discount: If a student has earned a 3.0 (B) grade in high school or college, use a good student discount to trim your car insurance cost.
  • Student away discount: If full-time students are on their parents' policy and attending school 100 miles away from home, parents can get a discount on their insurance policy.
  • Defensive driving course: Drivers can lower their car insurance premiums if they complete a defensive driving course from a government-approved institution.

Methodology

Insurance.com collected data from Quadrant Information Services for multiple insurance companies across the U.S. We used full coverage rates based on the sample profile of a 20-year-old driver with a clean driving record and for the coverage limit of 100/300/100, which represents $100,000 for bodily injury per person, $300,000 for bodily injury per accident and $100,000 for personal property damage.

To be on the list, the company must provide its services in at least ten states. You can use these averages to compare companies based on price, but your insurance rates may vary.

Source:

Insurance.com has prepared in-depth car insurance guides for drivers of different ages. You will learn how much you expect to pay for insurance based on your age and how you can save on premiums each year. Check out the guides below: