Cheapest Car Insurance for 18-Year-Olds
- Expertise: Auto insurance, home insurance and renters insurance
- Education: University of California-Berkeley (BA in History)
Rob Bhatt is a licensed insurance agent and joined the staff of Lending Tree in 2021. Previously, he spent more than 20 years writing for and editing regional publications in California, Nevada and Washington. Rob enjoys helping readers understand how different coverages work so they can make informed purchasing decisions, and he specializes in producing research-backed content for LendingTree about auto, home and renters insurance. His work has been cited by ABC, Business Insider, MSN and Yahoo.
Midsize companies such as Erie and Country Financial have the cheapest car insurance for 18-year-old drivers. If you’re a young driver, it’s usually cheaper to be added to your parent’s car insurance than it is to get your own policy.
Cheapest car insurance companies for 18-year-olds
Erie has the cheapest minimum-coverage car insurance for 18-year-olds. Its rates average $1,282 a year, or $107 a month, but it is only available in 12 states and the District of Columbia.
Among companies available nationwide, State Farm has the cheapest minimum coverage for 18-year-olds. Its rates average $1,835 a year, or $153 a month.
USAA’s minimum-coverage auto insurance rates are the cheapest overall for 18-year-olds. However, USAA is only available to current and former members of the military and their families.
Cheapest liability car insurance for 18-year-olds
| Company | Annual rate |
|---|---|
| Erie | $1,282 |
| Mercury | $1,301 |
| Country Financial | $1,401 |
| Farm Bureau | $1,582 |
| Auto-Owners | $1,700 |
| State Farm | $1,835 |
| Geico | $2,050 |
| USAA* | $1,032 |
*USAA is only available to military families.
Minimum coverage provides the basic coverage and limits you need to drive legally. The requirements vary by state.
Cheapest full-coverage car insurance for 18-year-olds
Country Financial has the cheapest full-coverage car insurance for 18-year-olds. Its rates average $2,226 a year, or $186 a month.
The next-best rates are available from Erie, at $3,129 a year, and Mercury, at $3,821 a year.
Cheapest full coverage rates for 18-year-olds
| Company | Annual rate |
|---|---|
| Country Financial | $2,226 |
| Erie | $3,129 |
| Mercury | $3,821 |
| State Farm | $4,159 |
| Auto-Owners | $4,207 |
| Farm Bureau | $4,378 |
| Geico | $5,006 |
| USAA* | $2,805 |
Full coverage includes collision and comprehensive (comp) coverage, which covers your car for theft and damage. Neither is required by law, but both typically are required for a car loan or lease.
How much is car insurance for an 18-year-old?
The average cost of car insurance for an 18-year-old is $2,446 a year, or $203 a month, for minimum coverage.
Full coverage costs an average of $5,801 a year, or $483 a month, for 18-year-olds.
On average, an 18-year-old pays about three times as much for car insurance as a 30-year-old.
| Driver age | Minimum-coverage rate | Full-coverage rate |
|---|---|---|
| 18 | $2,446 | $5,801 |
| 30 | $777 | $1,984 |
Why is car insurance so expensive for young drivers?
Young drivers have higher crash rates than other age groups. This is one of the main reasons they are charged so much for car insurance.
Accidents cost insurance companies money in the form of claims payments. Insurance companies offset these costs by charging more to those seen as more likely to have a claim.
Also, young drivers, by virtue of their age, have not yet had time to establish a safe driving record, good insurance history and/or good credit. These are among the factors that help you qualify for cheaper rates in your mid-20s.
Is it cheaper to add a young driver to a parent’s car insurance?
The average cost of adding an 18-year-old to a parent’s car insurance is $4,245 a year, or $354 a month, for full coverage.
This amount is 27% cheaper than the cost of stand-alone full coverage for an 18-year-old.
A parent can typically keep a child of any age on their car insurance if the child lives at home.
Young drivers can usually also stay on a parent’s car insurance while away at school or if a parent is listed on their vehicle’s title. However, the policies on this vary by insurance company.
Car insurance rates for 18-year-old males vs. females
An 18-year-old female pays 12% less for minimum-coverage car insurance than an 18-year-old male and 16% less for full coverage.
The main reason young female drivers pay less for car insurance than young males is because female teens have lower crash rates than their male peers.
For example, the death rate for male teens in vehicle crashes is three times higher than it is for females, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
| Type of insurance | Annual rate males | Annual rate females |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum coverage | $2,446 | $2,152 |
| Full coverage | $5,801 | $4,873 |
How to get cheaper car insurance for young drivers
Shopping around, looking for discounts and adjusting your coverage can help make car insurance cheaper for young drivers.
Your age is among the many factors insurance companies use to determine your rate. The others include:
- Your driving record
- The value and safety record of your vehicle
- Any discounts you may be eligible to receive
Since each company weighs these factors differently, you may qualify for a much lower rate with one company than you do with others.
We recommend comparing quotes from at least three companies when you shop for car insurance.
Best car insurance discounts for young drivers
Here are key discounts that can also help make car insurance cheaper for young drivers.
Good student discount: Most car insurance companies offer a good-student discount to young drivers who maintain a B average or better in school. You don’t have to provide school transcripts to get quotes, but you may need them to confirm your eligibility with the company you choose.
Driver’s education discount: Several companies offer a discount to young drivers who complete an approved driver education program. Some companies, including State Farm and Allstate, offer programs that combine online learning with on-road driving exercises. Others offer a discount for completing any state-accredited driver education program.
Away at school discount: Many companies give parents a discount if the young driver on their car insurance is away at school. Some companies require the school to be more than 100 miles away from home.
Safe-vehicle discounts: Driving a safe vehicle may help a driver of any age get a discount on car insurance. For example, several companies offer a discount to those whose vehicles have antilock brakes and/or airbags.
Car insurance coverage adjustments for young drivers
Changing the coverages on your policy is another way to help a young driver get cheaper car insurance.
A minimum-coverage policy, which costs about half as much as full coverage, may be enough for a young driver with their own policy.
If you’re adding a young driver to your family’s car insurance policy, list the teen as the primary driver of the cheapest vehicle in your household. If the teen drives an older car with a low market value, consider removing collision and comp from the vehicle to save more.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. In most states, 18-year-olds can enter into any legal contract, including car insurance. If you’re younger than 18, you can usually only get your own car insurance if a parent or guardian cosigns your application.
An 18-year-old with their own car insurance may only need minimum coverage. If you’re the parent of an 18-year-old, you shouldn’t lower your liability limits. Instead, consider dropping the collision and comprehensive coverage on the 18-year-old’s vehicle if it has a low value.
Young drivers often begin to see their car insurance rates level off when they reach their mid-20s – if they keep their driving record clean.