Teens pose a serious risk for auto insurance companies. That means they're never the cheapest to insure. The national average car insurance rate for teens at age 16 is $7,203 for full coverage. However, shopping around will help you to find the cheapest car insurance company for teens. Both Nationwide and Erie offer teen car insurance rates that are cheaper than average for 16-year-olds.
It’s good to keep in mind that the cheapest insurance isn’t always the best car insurance for teens. Basic car insurance does not offer the same level of protection as full coverage would. It all may come down to whether your teen drives an old car or a newer model.
Below, we’ll help you to find the cheapest car insurance for teens by age and location.
Key takeaways
- The average cost of car insurance for teens is $7,203 a year for a 16- year-old.
- In some states, teens can get a discount of 10-15% for completing a state-approved defensive driving course.
- Almost every car insurance company offers a discount for good students, which is often one of the biggest teen discounts.
How much is car insurance for teens?
Teenagers are the most expensive to insure of all age groups. 16-year-old males pay the most.
"Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among teens," said Loretta Worters, vice president of media relations of the Insurance Information Institute.
"Immaturity and lack of driving experience are the two main factors leading to the high crash rate among young people ages 15-19. Teens' lack of experience affects their recognition of and response to hazardous situations and results in dangerous practices such as speeding and tailgating."
Average car insurance rates for teens are at their highest for 16-year-olds and dip with each year until the young driver is well into their mid-20s.
According to the most recent data, the average cost for full insurance for those very young drivers, by year:
- 16-year-old - $7,203
- 17-year-old - $5,924
- 18-year-old - $5,242
- 19-year-old - $3,874
- 20-year-old - $3,532
Rates vary by company as well as by state, so finding the cheapest auto insurance for teens takes a little research.
Cheapest car insurance for teens by company
Every company has different rates for teen drivers, and shopping around is the best way to get a good deal. Take a look at sample rates from multiple companies by gender below to get an idea of how much you could save.
Cheapest car insurance for male teenage drivers
Below are the cheapest car insurance rates for teen male drivers by company.
| Company | 16-year-old male |
|---|---|
| Nationwide | $ 2,700 |
| Mapfre | $ 2,744 |
| Erie Insurance | $ 3,107 |
| USAA | $ 3,138 |
| State Farm | $ 3,560 |
| American Family | $ 3,615 |
| Auto-Owners | $ 3,919 |
| Hartford | $ 3,989 |
| Chubb Ltd | $ 4,087 |
| Progressive | $ 4,265 |
| Travelers | $ 4,519 |
| Allstate | $ 4,670 |
| Farmers | $ 5,279 |
| Shelter | $ 5,411 |
| Mercury | $ 5,977 |
| Company | 17-year-old male |
|---|---|
| Nationwide | $ 2,578 |
| USAA | $ 2,604 |
| Mapfre | $ 2,744 |
| Erie Insurance | $ 2,852 |
| American Family | $ 3,199 |
| State Farm | $ 3,273 |
| Auto Owners | $ 3,440 |
| Hartford | $ 3,615 |
| Travelers | $ 4,043 |
| Chubb Ltd | $ 4,087 |
| Progressive | $ 4,274 |
| Allstate | $ 4,299 |
| Farmers | $ 4,972 |
| Mercury | $ 5,931 |
| Company | 18-year-old male |
|---|---|
| USAA | $ 2,270 |
| Nationwide | $ 2,506 |
| Mapfre | $ 2,744 |
| Erie Insurance | $ 2,756 |
| American Family | $ 2,894 |
| State Farm | $ 3,072 |
| Auto-Owners | $ 3,165 |
| Hartford | $ 3,345 |
| Travelers | $ 3,603 |
| Chubb Ltd | $ 3,673 |
| Progressive | $ 3,874 |
| Allstate | $ 4,111 |
| Farmers | $ 4,791 |
| Automobile Club MI | $ 4,826 |
| Mercury | $ 5,570 |
| Company | 19-year-old male |
|---|---|
| USAA | $ 1,950 |
| Frankenmuth | $ 2,218 |
| Nationwide | $ 2,255 |
| Erie Insurance | $ 2,647 |
| American Family | $ 2,655 |
| Mapfre | $ 2,744 |
| Auto-Owners | $ 2,756 |
| State Farm | $ 2,895 |
| Travelers | $ 3,075 |
| Hartford | $ 3,203 |
| Chubb Ltd | $ 3,364 |
| Progressive | $ 3,556 |
| Allstate | $ 3,702 |
| Mercury | $ 4,396 |
| Farmers | $ 4,644 |
Cheapest car insurance for female teenage drivers
Below are the cheapest car insurance rates for teen females by company.
| Company | 16-year-old female |
|---|---|
| Mapfre | $ 2,496 |
| Nationwide | $ 2,552 |
| Erie Insurance | $ 2,684 |
| USAA | $ 2,946 |
| State Farm | $ 3,244 |
| American Family | $ 3,372 |
| Chubb Ltd | $ 3,569 |
| Shelter | $ 3,660 |
| Hartford | $ 3,864 |
| Auto-Owners | $ 3,916 |
| Travelers | $ 3,986 |
| Progressive | $ 4,009 |
| Allstate | $ 4,336 |
| Mercury | $ 5,113 |
| Farmers | $ 5,145 |
| Company | 17-year-old female |
|---|---|
| Nationwide | $ 2,431 |
| Erie Insurance | $ 2,447 |
| USAA | $ 2,455 |
| Mapfre | $ 2,496 |
| State Farm | $ 2,964 |
| American Family | $ 2,997 |
| Auto-Owners | $ 3,447 |
| Hartford | $ 3,511 |
| Chubb Ltd | $ 3,569 |
| Travelers | $ 3,622 |
| Allstate | $ 3,981 |
| Progressive | $ 4,012 |
| Farmers | $ 4,863 |
| Mercury | $ 5,049 |
| Company | 18-year-old female |
|---|---|
| USAA | $ 2,151 |
| Nationwide | $ 2,360 |
| Erie Insurance | $ 2,374 |
| Mapfre | $ 2,496 |
| American Family | $ 2,720 |
| State Farm | $ 2,775 |
| Auto Owners | $ 3,209 |
| Hartford | $ 3,260 |
| Chubb Ltd | $ 3,261 |
| Travelers | $ 3,280 |
| Progressive | $ 3,592 |
| Allstate | $ 3,776 |
| Auto Club | $ 3,956 |
| Mercury | $ 4,597 |
| Farmers | $ 4,705 |
| Company | 19-year-old female |
|---|---|
| USAA | $ 1,835 |
| Nationwide | $ 2,144 |
| Erie Insurance | $ 2,224 |
| Mapfre | $ 2,496 |
| American Family | $ 2,499 |
| State Farm | $ 2,588 |
| Auto-Owners | $ 2,790 |
| Travelers | $ 2,821 |
| Chubb Ltd | $ 2,950 |
| Hartford | $ 3,128 |
| Progressive | $ 3,273 |
| Allstate | $ 3,418 |
| Mercury | $ 3,632 |
| Kentucky Farm Bureau | $ 4,385 |
Cheapest car insurance for teen drivers by state
Teen car insurance rates vary by state. While you might not move just to get cheaper car insurance, it’s good to know how rates look elsewhere.
Cheapest car insurance for 16-year-olds by state
The youngest group of drivers will pay more at 16 than any other age. The average policy for a 16-year-old costs $7,203 per year for full coverage auto insurance.
| State | Female | Male |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $ 2,847 | $ 3,117 |
| Alabama | $ 3,128 | $ 3,400 |
| Arkansas | $ 3,549 | $ 3,915 |
| Arizona | $ 3,929 | $ 4,456 |
| California | $ 4,919 | $ 4,919 |
| Colorado | $ 4,173 | $ 4,492 |
| Connecticut | $ 2,981 | $ 3,259 |
| Washington D.C. | $ 3,540 | $ 4,028 |
| Delaware | $ 3,237 | $ 3,540 |
| Florida | $ 6,178 | $ 6,639 |
| Georgia | $ 3,398 | $ 3,743 |
| Hawaii | $ 1,338 | $ 1,338 |
| Iowa | $ 2,263 | $ 2,417 |
| Idaho | $ 2,257 | $ 2,481 |
| Illinois | $ 3,416 | $ 3,928 |
| Indiana | $ 2,821 | $ 2,993 |
| Kansas | $ 2,968 | $ 3,223 |
| Kentucky | $ 4,418 | $ 4,805 |
| Louisiana | $ 7,081 | $ 8,014 |
| Massachusetts | $ 3,706 | $ 3,706 |
| Maryland | $ 4,251 | $ 4,909 |
| Maine | $ 2,491 | $ 2,821 |
| Michigan | $ 7,781 | $ 7,781 |
| Minnesota | $ 3,334 | $ 3,563 |
| Missouri | $ 5,190 | $ 5,858 |
| Mississippi | $ 3,278 | $ 3,570 |
| Montana | $ 3,428 | $ 3,428 |
| North Carolina | $ 3,404 | $ 3,404 |
| North Dakota | $ 2,459 | $ 2,722 |
| Nebraska | $ 3,468 | $ 3,767 |
| New Hampshire | $ 2,260 | $ 2,470 |
| New Jersey | $ 4,595 | $ 5,125 |
| New Mexico | $ 3,364 | $ 3,647 |
| Nevada | $ 4,750 | $ 5,148 |
| New York | $ 3,849 | $ 4,378 |
| Ohio | $ 2,367 | $ 2,577 |
| Oklahoma | $ 3,938 | $ 4,755 |
| Oregon | $ 3,102 | $ 3,280 |
| Pennsylvania | $ 3,386 | $ 3,386 |
| Rhode Island | $ 4,303 | $ 4,839 |
| South Carolina | $ 3,873 | $ 4,030 |
| South Dakota | $ 2,638 | $ 2,959 |
| Tennessee | $ 2,950 | $ 3,223 |
| Texas | $ 4,330 | $ 4,733 |
| Utah | $ 4,253 | $ 4,672 |
| Virginia | $ 3,130 | $ 3,556 |
| Vermont | $ 2,424 | $ 2,687 |
| Washington | $ 3,441 | $ 3,635 |
| Wisconsin | $ 4,220 | $ 4,764 |
| West Virginia | $ 3,405 | $ 3,854 |
| Wyoming | $ 3,355 | $ 4,015 |
Cheapest car insurance for 17-year-olds by state
Although 17-year-olds have a whole year of driving under their belt, premiums aren’t considerably lower yet.
| State | Female | Male |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $ 2,480 | $ 2,716 |
| Alabama | $ 2,949 | $ 3,204 |
| Arkansas | $ 3,280 | $ 3,596 |
| Arizona | $ 3,689 | $ 4,126 |
| California | $ 4,587 | $ 4,587 |
| Colorado | $ 3,998 | $ 4,281 |
| Connecticut | $ 2,777 | $ 3,038 |
| Washington D.C. | $ 3,319 | $ 3,795 |
| Delaware | $ 2,962 | $ 3,289 |
| Florida | $ 5,919 | $ 6,346 |
| Georgia | $ 3,321 | $ 3,664 |
| Hawaii | $ 1,338 | $ 1,338 |
| Iowa | $ 2,093 | $ 2,237 |
| Idaho | $ 2,065 | $ 2,271 |
| Illinois | $ 3,213 | $ 3,693 |
| Indiana | $ 2,472 | $ 2,628 |
| Kansas | $ 2,749 | $ 2,975 |
| Kentucky | $ 4,196 | $ 4,528 |
| Louisiana | $ 6,575 | $ 7,335 |
| Massachusetts | $ 3,498 | $ 3,498 |
| Maryland | $ 4,081 | $ 4,726 |
| Maine | $ 2,323 | $ 2,642 |
| Michigan | $ 7,405 | $ 7,405 |
| Minnesota | $ 3,111 | $ 3,274 |
| Missouri | $ 4,638 | $ 5,231 |
| Mississippi | $ 3,116 | $ 3,388 |
| Montana | $ 3,177 | $ 3,177 |
| North Carolina | $ 2,689 | $ 2,689 |
| North Dakota | $ 2,339 | $ 2,588 |
| Nebraska | $ 3,269 | $ 3,554 |
| New Hampshire | $ 2,114 | $ 2,308 |
| New Jersey | $ 4,357 | $ 4,860 |
| New Mexico | $ 3,240 | $ 3,524 |
| Nevada | $ 4,481 | $ 4,950 |
| New York | $ 3,697 | $ 4,211 |
| Ohio | $ 2,172 | $ 2,353 |
| Oklahoma | $ 3,766 | $ 4,502 |
| Oregon | $ 2,862 | $ 3,036 |
| Pennsylvania | $ 3,139 | $ 3,139 |
| Rhode Island | $ 4,040 | $ 4,589 |
| South Carolina | $ 3,600 | $ 3,739 |
| South Dakota | $ 2,421 | $ 2,692 |
| Tennessee | $ 2,613 | $ 2,872 |
| Texas | $ 4,039 | $ 4,429 |
| Utah | $ 3,806 | $ 4,151 |
| Virginia | $ 2,887 | $ 3,268 |
| Vermont | $ 2,222 | $ 2,463 |
| Washington | $ 3,231 | $ 3,408 |
| Wisconsin | $ 3,897 | $ 4,381 |
| West Virginia | $ 3,228 | $ 3,673 |
| Wyoming | $ 3,161 | $ 3,766 |
Cheapest car insurance for 18-year-olds by state
Now considered legal adults in most states, an 18-year-old driver may have two years of driving experience. However, an annual policy still costs over $4,000 in many states.
| State | Female | Male |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $ 2,254 | $ 2,474 |
| Alabama | $ 2,702 | $ 2,939 |
| Arkansas | $ 3,007 | $ 3,335 |
| Arizona | $ 3,333 | $ 3,727 |
| California | $ 4,337 | $ 4,337 |
| Colorado | $ 3,723 | $ 3,984 |
| Connecticut | $ 2,508 | $ 2,746 |
| Washington D.C. | $ 3,060 | $ 3,548 |
| Delaware | $ 2,834 | $ 3,108 |
| Florida | $ 5,562 | $ 5,979 |
| Georgia | $ 3,019 | $ 3,350 |
| Hawaii | $ 1,338 | $ 1,338 |
| Iowa | $ 1,918 | $ 2,055 |
| Idaho | $ 1,924 | $ 2,118 |
| Illinois | $ 2,952 | $ 3,393 |
| Indiana | $ 2,244 | $ 2,390 |
| Kansas | $ 2,539 | $ 2,748 |
| Kentucky | $ 3,823 | $ 4,130 |
| Louisiana | $ 5,943 | $ 6,794 |
| Massachusetts | $ 3,343 | $ 3,343 |
| Maryland | $ 3,904 | $ 4,526 |
| Maine | $ 2,145 | $ 2,455 |
| Michigan | $ 6,890 | $ 6,890 |
| Minnesota | $ 2,904 | $ 3,027 |
| Missouri | $ 4,140 | $ 4,725 |
| Mississippi | $ 2,731 | $ 2,989 |
| Montana | $ 2,956 | $ 2,956 |
| North Carolina | $ 2,514 | $ 2,514 |
| North Dakota | $ 2,155 | $ 2,383 |
| Nebraska | $ 3,051 | $ 3,301 |
| New Hampshire | $ 1,946 | $ 2,125 |
| New Jersey | $ 4,057 | $ 4,535 |
| New Mexico | $ 3,068 | $ 3,348 |
| Nevada | $ 4,161 | $ 4,547 |
| New York | $ 3,408 | $ 3,915 |
| Ohio | $ 1,980 | $ 2,152 |
| Oklahoma | $ 3,480 | $ 4,133 |
| Oregon | $ 2,588 | $ 2,756 |
| Pennsylvania | $ 2,901 | $ 2,901 |
| Rhode Island | $ 3,734 | $ 4,166 |
| South Carolina | $ 3,243 | $ 3,368 |
| South Dakota | $ 2,280 | $ 2,531 |
| Tennessee | $ 2,409 | $ 2,670 |
| Texas | $ 3,732 | $ 4,164 |
| Utah | $ 3,466 | $ 3,788 |
| Virginia | $ 2,633 | $ 2,978 |
| Vermont | $ 2,084 | $ 2,305 |
| Washington | $ 3,028 | $ 3,186 |
| Wisconsin | $ 3,557 | $ 4,002 |
| West Virginia | $ 3,003 | $ 3,446 |
| Wyoming | $ 2,953 | $ 3,489 |
Cheapest car insurance for 19-year-olds by state
Drivers at 19 years old will pay rates a lot lower than just three years ago, although rates are still high in some states.
| State | Female | Male |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $ 2,078 | $ 2,288 |
| Alabama | $ 2,390 | $ 2,610 |
| Arkansas | $ 2,601 | $ 2,881 |
| Arizona | $ 2,866 | $ 3,191 |
| California | $ 3,508 | $ 3,508 |
| Colorado | $ 3,253 | $ 3,476 |
| Connecticut | $ 2,221 | $ 2,444 |
| Washington D.C. | $ 2,817 | $ 3,278 |
| Delaware | $ 2,657 | $ 2,885 |
| Florida | $ 4,884 | $ 5,150 |
| Georgia | $ 2,677 | $ 2,986 |
| Hawaii | $ 1,338 | $ 1,338 |
| Iowa | $ 1,797 | $ 1,933 |
| Idaho | $ 1,671 | $ 1,849 |
| Illinois | $ 2,521 | $ 2,913 |
| Indiana | $ 1,978 | $ 2,113 |
| Kansas | $ 2,289 | $ 2,487 |
| Kentucky | $ 3,114 | $ 3,395 |
| Louisiana | $ 5,210 | $ 5,916 |
| Massachusetts | $ 2,785 | $ 2,785 |
| Maryland | $ 3,330 | $ 3,949 |
| Maine | $ 1,772 | $ 2,151 |
| Michigan | $ 6,338 | $ 6,338 |
| Minnesota | $ 2,592 | $ 2,691 |
| Missouri | $ 3,789 | $ 4,405 |
| Mississippi | $ 2,322 | $ 2,553 |
| Montana | $ 2,701 | $ 2,701 |
| North Carolina | $ 1,831 | $ 1,831 |
| North Dakota | $ 1,919 | $ 2,129 |
| Nebraska | $ 2,839 | $ 3,077 |
| New Hampshire | $ 1,716 | $ 1,875 |
| New Jersey | $ 3,481 | $ 3,943 |
| New Mexico | $ 2,613 | $ 2,850 |
| Nevada | $ 3,728 | $ 4,017 |
| New York | $ 2,754 | $ 3,237 |
| Ohio | $ 1,804 | $ 1,982 |
| Oklahoma | $ 3,147 | $ 3,695 |
| Oregon | $ 2,306 | $ 2,454 |
| Pennsylvania | $ 2,499 | $ 2,499 |
| Rhode Island | $ 3,219 | $ 3,551 |
| South Carolina | $ 3,009 | $ 3,161 |
| South Dakota | $ 2,162 | $ 2,415 |
| Tennessee | $ 2,131 | $ 2,379 |
| Texas | $ 3,324 | $ 3,761 |
| Utah | $ 3,045 | $ 3,309 |
| Virginia | $ 2,264 | $ 2,558 |
| Vermont | $ 1,864 | $ 2,069 |
| Washington | $ 2,440 | $ 2,557 |
| Wisconsin | $ 3,056 | $ 3,456 |
| West Virginia | $ 2,420 | $ 2,845 |
| Wyoming | $ 2,504 | $ 2,980 |
How to get the cheapest car insurance for teens
There are plenty of discounts and ways to save on car insurance for teens.
Just about every auto insurance company offers what good student discount. The discount is for teens going to high school (or college) and usually requires a "B" (3.0) average or better. The discount varies by company.
Most insurance companies will also offer a discount for students who are living away from home without a car.
Another option is a defensive driver discount. Teens can take this extra driver education or defensive driving course, which goes above and beyond the minimum state-mandated driver's education and training. In some states, discounts can run from 10% to 15% for taking these state-approved improvement classes.
Of course, you can also ask about other discounts ranging from paperless billing to auto and home bundling. Every bit of savings helps when it comes to teen car insurance rates.
Frequently asked questions: Cheap car insurance for teens
Can teen drivers join their parent’s insurance?
Yes, they can and, in most cases, should. Teens under the age of majority can’t legally sign a contract and, therefore, can’t get their own insurance policy.
Is it cheaper to add a teen driver to their parent’s policy?
It’s typically cheaper to add a new driver to a parent’s car insurance policy because the parents’ discounts and history with the company will mean lower rates.
