Cheap Car Insurance for Teenage Drivers (2026)
Erie has the cheapest car insurance for teens, but it’s only available in 12 states. State Farm is the cheapest large company for young drivers.
Best cheap teen car insurance
Cheapest car insurance for teen drivers
State Farm has the cheapest car insurance for teenage drivers among large companies. It charges young drivers $168 a month for minimum coverage Minimum coverage usually includes liability insurance, which covers injuries and damage you cause to others. Some states require additional coverage. car insurance and $396 a month for full coverage Full coverage includes collision and comprehensive, which cover your own car for damage and theft. .
Although USAA is cheaper, it’s only available to military families.
Cheapest young driver car insurance
| Company | Minimum coverage | Full Coverage | LendingTree score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | State Farm | $168 | $396 |  |
 | Geico | $181 | $444 |  |
 | Travelers | $200 | $441 | |
 | American Family | $223 | $569 |  |
 | Progressive | $241 | $601 | |
 | Nationwide | $264 | $602 |  |
 | Allstate | $297 | $679 | |
 | Farmers | $364 | $827 | |
 | USAA* | $106 | $307 | |
The actual price you pay for auto insurance depends on factors like your driving record, vehicle and location. Each company’s young driver rates vary by customer. It’s good to compare car insurance quotes from a few companies to find the cheapest rate.
Cheap regional car insurance companies for teens
Erie and Country Financial have the cheapest young driver car insurance among regional companies.
Erie has the cheapest minimum coverage for young drivers, at $97 a month. Country Financial has the cheapest full coverage, at $250 a month.
Cheapest regional companies for young drivers
| Company | Minimum coverage | Full coverage | LendingTree score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Erie | $97 | $290 | |
 | Country Financial | $115 | $250 |  |
 | Farm Bureau | $163 | $448 | |
 | Auto-Owners | $170 | $393 | |
Erie is only available in 12 states Erie is available in IL, IN, KY, MD, NY, NC, OH, PA, TN, VA, WV and WI. and the District of Columbia. You can only get Country Financial in 19 states Country Financial is available in AL, AK, AZ, CO, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, MN, MO, ND, NV, OK, OR, TN, WA and WI. . Large companies like State Farm and Geico are available almost everywhere.
Cheapest young driver car insurance by state
The cheapest young driver car insurance company near you may vary. State Farm has the cheapest young driver insurance in eight states. Erie is the cheapest company in seven states. It’s good to get quotes from large and regional companies when you shop.
Cheapest car insurance companies for teens
| State | Cheapest company | Monthly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Country Financial | $98 |
| Alaska | Allstate | $107 |
| Arizona | Travelers | $175 |
| Arkansas | Alfa | $80 |
| California | Geico | $128 |
| Colorado | State Farm | $177 |
| Connecticut | Geico | $266 |
| Delaware | Geico | $236 |
| Florida | Geico | $86 |
| Georgia | Farm Bureau | $182 |
| Hawaii | Geico | $27 |
| Idaho | State Farm | $62 |
| Illinois | Erie | $81 |
| Indiana | Travelers | $109 |
| Iowa | Progressive | $65 |
| Kansas | Travelers | $93 |
| Kentucky | Farm Bureau | $111 |
| Louisiana | Allstate | $211 |
| Maine | Travelers | $87 |
| Maryland | Erie | $149 |
| Massachusetts | Plymouth Rock | $115 |
| Michigan | Auto-Owners | $102 |
| Minnesota | North Star Mutual | $108 |
| Mississippi | State Farm | $97 |
| Missouri | Farm Bureau | $85 |
| Montana | State Farm | $58 |
| Nebraska | Farmers Mutual of Nebraska | $59 |
| Nevada | Travelers | $242 |
| New Hampshire | Concord | $95 |
| New Jersey | Geico | $97 |
| New Mexico | State Farm | $118 |
| New York | NYCM | $71 |
| North Carolina | State Farm | $82 |
| North Dakota | North Star Mutual | $44 |
| Ohio | Erie | $68 |
| Oklahoma | State Farm | $121 |
| Oregon | Country Financial | $135 |
| Pennsylvania | Erie | $64 |
| Rhode Island | Progressive | $245 |
| South Carolina | Farm Bureau | $160 |
| South Dakota | Farmers Mutual of Nebraska | $38 |
| Tennessee | Erie | $93 |
| Texas | State Farm | $125 |
| Utah | Farm Bureau | $215 |
| Vermont | Co-Op | $40 |
| Virginia | Farm Bureau | $94 |
| Washington | Mutual of Enumclaw | $120 |
| Washington, D.C. | Geico | $196 |
| West Virginia | Erie | $68 |
| Wisconsin | Erie | $55 |
| Wyoming | American National | $36 |
How much is car insurance for teens?
It costs an average of $364 a month to add a teen driver to a parent’s car insurance with full coverage.
Younger teens generally cost more to insure than older ones. For example, it costs $464 a month to add a 16-year-old to a parent’s car insurance. This is 64% higher than the average of $283 a month for a 19-year-old.
Auto insurance also costs less for teenage girls than it does for boys. This is mainly because young men have higher crash rates than young women.
Young driver car insurance costs
| Driver age | Monthly rate girls | Monthly rate boys |
|---|---|---|
| Age 16 | $438 | $489 |
| Age 17 | $362 | $408 |
| Age 18 | $303 | $344 |
| Age 19 | $268 | $298 |
| All teens | $343 | $385 |
Is car insurance cheaper for a young driver with a parent?
Young drivers usually get cheaper car insurance on a parent’s policy than they do on their own. For example, full coverage costs an average of $497 a month for an 18-year-old man. The same driver can get full coverage for 31% less on a parent’s policy at $344 a month.
Teens can save 22% on minimum coverage with a parent, compared to what they pay on their own.
Teen savings on a parent’s car insurance
| Policy type | Teens on their own | Teens with a parent | Savings with a parent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full coverage | $497 | $344 | 31% |
| Minimum coverage | $208 | $163 | 22% |
A young driver can usually remain on a parent’s car insurance if they live at home or are away at college. A teen living on their own can usually stay on a parent’s car insurance if a parent is on their vehicle’s title.
How to get cheaper car insurance for teens
Teens can get cheaper car insurance by shopping around and adjusting coverages.
Why shop around for car insurance?
Each car insurance company uses a different system to set your rate. Comparing car insurance quotes helps you find the cheapest company for your situation. This is true for parents insuring a newly licensed teen and young drivers on their own.
Car insurance coverage options for young drivers
Adjusting your coverage options can also help make car insurance more affordable for young drivers. For example, teens on their own usually don’t need as much liability coverage Liability covers injuries and property damage you cause to others. It’s required by law in almost every state. as their parents have.
You can also save on car insurance by dropping collision Collision covers damage to your car from a collision with another vehicle or object. and comprehensive Comprehensive covers your car for theft and damage from non-collision causes, like fire, flood and vandalism. coverage when you don’t need it. A teen with a car worth less than $3,000 usually doesn’t need either of these coverages.
Best discounts for young drivers
Car insurance discounts also help make car insurance more affordable for young drivers. Most companies apply their discounts to your quotes, based on information you provide. It’s still good to ask about these young driver discounts to make sure they don’t get overlooked.
Good student
Most auto insurance companies give young drivers a discount for getting good grades in school. You usually need a B average or better to qualify, but Allstate accepts a B- average.
You don’t need school transcripts for quotes. However, you usually need to send a copy of them to your insurance company after you buy your policy.
Driver’s education and training
Several car insurance companies give teens a discount for completing a driver training program. The courses you can take vary by company.
Some accept any state-accredited program. Others have their own programs. For example, teens get a 10% discount from Country Financial for completing its Simply Drive program.
Away-at-school discounts
Parents can often get a discount when a teen on their policy goes off to college without a car. This helps a family save money while keeping a teen insured while driving borrowed cars.
The details of these discounts vary by company. Some, like Progressive, require the school to be at least 100 miles away from home.
Usage-based insurance
Drivers of any age can sign up for usage-based insurance (UBI), but teens may benefit the most. These programs typically use a smartphone app to monitor your driving. You usually get a discount just for signing up. If you drive safely enough, you get discounts when you renew.
Most large companies have UBI programs, and several smaller ones do, too. The apps also provide feedback you can use to improve your driving skills. This can be particularly helpful for a young driver gaining experience behind the wheel.
States with the costliest teen drivers
It’s exciting to be a teenage driver. The experience isn’t always so positive for parents.
Parents who add teen children to their car insurance policies usually see their premiums skyrocket. Parents who buy separate policies for their teens pay even more. Even worse, traffic accidents are a leading cause of death for teenagers in the U.S.
- Montana is the deadliest state for teen drivers. Of the 1,283 drivers involved in fatal crashes in Montana from 2019 to 2023, 112 (9.5%) of them were teens. Utah is next, with 8.4% of drivers involved in fatal crashes being teens.
- Between May and October is the deadliest period for teen drivers.
- Delaware is the most expensive state to insure a teen driver. The average annual auto insurance rate for a teen driver in Delaware is $5,461, nearly $3,000 more than the national average of $2,673. The next most expensive state is Nevada, with an average annual rate of $5,218.
Deadliest states for teen drivers
Between 2019 and 2023, teen drivers accounted for just over 6% of all drivers involved in fatal crashes. Those crashes resulted in 17,887 teen driver fatalities across the U.S.
Montana, Utah and Alaska had the highest percentages of teen drivers in fatal accidents, which suggests there are regional differences in teen driving safety. Washington, D.C., Hawaii and New Hampshire have the lowest percentages of teen drivers involved in fatal accidents.
Teen drivers involved in fatal crashes by state (2019 to 2023)
| Rank | State | Total number of teen drivers involved in fatal crashes | Total number of drivers involved in fatal crashes | % of drivers in fatal crashes that are teens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| – | Overall U.S. | 17,887 | 285,093 | 6.3% |
| 1 | Montana | 122 | 1,283 | 9.5% |
| 2 | Utah | 177 | 2,100 | 8.4% |
| 3 | Alaska | 39 | 470 | 8.3% |
| 4 | Nebraska | 139 | 1,676 | 8.3% |
| 5 | South Dakota | 72 | 879 | 8.2% |
| 6 | North Dakota | 54 | 695 | 7.8% |
| 7 | Delaware | 76 | 984 | 7.7% |
| 7 | Kansas | 214 | 2,795 | 7.7% |
| 7 | Iowa | 183 | 2,391 | 7.7% |
| 10 | Idaho | 127 | 1,685 | 7.5% |
| 10 | Wisconsin | 311 | 4,136 | 7.5% |
| 10 | Colorado | 363 | 4,842 | 7.5% |
| 13 | Mississippi | 352 | 4,761 | 7.4% |
| 13 | Missouri | 506 | 6,880 | 7.4% |
| 15 | Oklahoma | 353 | 4,905 | 7.2% |
| 15 | Minnesota | 212 | 2,964 | 7.2% |
| 17 | New Mexico | 214 | 3,005 | 7.1% |
| 17 | Wyoming | 59 | 833 | 7.1% |
| 19 | Indiana | 462 | 6,577 | 7.0% |
| 20 | Illinois | 595 | 8,675 | 6.9% |
| 21 | Tennessee | 616 | 9,061 | 6.8% |
| 21 | Texas | 1,990 | 29,400 | 6.8% |
| 21 | Alabama | 455 | 6,731 | 6.8% |
| 24 | Massachusetts | 165 | 2,583 | 6.4% |
| 25 | Arizona | 525 | 8,318 | 6.3% |
| 25 | Washington | 296 | 4,712 | 6.3% |
| 25 | North Carolina | 693 | 11,065 | 6.3% |
| 28 | South Carolina | 471 | 7,550 | 6.2% |
| 28 | Michigan | 486 | 7,841 | 6.2% |
| 28 | Arkansas | 264 | 4,274 | 6.2% |
| 31 | Ohio | 543 | 9,000 | 6.0% |
| 31 | Connecticut | 128 | 2,147 | 6.0% |
| 33 | Georgia | 710 | 11,938 | 5.9% |
| 33 | Louisiana | 353 | 5,963 | 5.9% |
| 33 | Florida | 1,489 | 25,208 | 5.9% |
| 33 | Virginia | 373 | 6,331 | 5.9% |
| 37 | Vermont | 26 | 446 | 5.8% |
| 37 | Kentucky | 319 | 5,494 | 5.8% |
| 39 | Pennsylvania | 463 | 8,321 | 5.6% |
| 40 | Rhode Island | 23 | 417 | 5.5% |
| 40 | Maine | 56 | 1,021 | 5.5% |
| 42 | Oregon | 204 | 3,785 | 5.4% |
| 42 | New York | 395 | 7,364 | 5.4% |
| 42 | New Jersey | 238 | 4,442 | 5.4% |
| 45 | California | 1,501 | 28,808 | 5.2% |
| 46 | Nevada | 134 | 2,635 | 5.1% |
| 47 | West Virginia | 87 | 1,832 | 4.7% |
| 48 | Maryland | 183 | 4,124 | 4.4% |
| 49 | New Hampshire | 35 | 833 | 4.2% |
| 49 | Hawaii | 28 | 669 | 4.2% |
| 51 | Washington, D.C. | 8 | 244 | 3.3% |
Deadliest months for teen drivers
The deadliest months for teen drivers lie between May and October. Over 1,600 teen drivers were involved in fatal crashes in each of those months from 2019 to 2023. February is the safest month for teen drivers.
Most expensive states for insuring a teen driver
Adding a teen driver to your car insurance may be as daunting as teaching one to drive. Insuring a teen driver can nearly double parents’ insurance premiums, depending on where you live and other factors. Here’s what it costs per year to insure a teen driver in each state.
Most expensive states for teen drivers
| Rank | State | Annual rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Delaware | $5,461 |
| 2 | Nevada | $5,218 |
| 3 | Rhode Island | $5,077 |
| 4 | Michigan | $4,983 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $4,357 |
| 6 | Utah | $4,254 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $4,251 |
| 8 | Washington, D.C. | $3,946 |
| 9 | Georgia | $3,649 |
| 10 | Arizona | $3,589 |
| 11 | Maryland | $3,553 |
| 12 | Oregon | $3,533 |
| 13 | Colorado | $3,442 |
| 14 | Louisiana | $3,363 |
| 15 | New York | $3,324 |
| 16 | Kentucky | $3,249 |
| 17 | Florida | $3,088 |
| 18 | Alabama | $2,910 |
| 19 | Illinois | $2,883 |
| 20 | Texas | $2,667 |
| 21 | South Carolina | $2,644 |
| 22 | Oklahoma | $2,641 |
| 23 | Virginia | $2,566 |
| 24 | Arkansas | $2,522 |
| 25 | Minnesota | $2,496 |
| 26 | Mississippi | $2,362 |
| 27 | Washington | $2,312 |
| 28 | Missouri | $2,248 |
| 29 | Tennessee | $2,194 |
| 30 | New Mexico | $2,152 |
| 31 | Kansas | $2,123 |
| 32 | West Virginia | $2,072 |
| 33 | North Dakota | $1,883 |
| 34 | Wisconsin | $1,856 |
| 35 | California | $1,845 |
| 36 | Nebraska | $1,835 |
| 37 | Idaho | $1,797 |
| 38 | North Carolina | $1,770 |
| 39 | Maine | $1,749 |
| 40 | Massachusetts | $1,745 |
| 41 | Alaska | $1,721 |
| 42 | Montana | $1,717 |
| 43 | Ohio | $1,696 |
| 44 | Indiana | $1,671 |
| 45 | New Hampshire | $1,575 |
| 46 | South Dakota | $1,563 |
| 47 | Pennsylvania | $1,556 |
| 48 | Iowa | $1,478 |
| 49 | Vermont | $1,167 |
| 50 | Wyoming | $1,113 |
| 51 | Hawaii | $569 |
High crash rates are the main reason why car insurance is so expensive for teens. Drivers ages 16 to 20 have higher crash rates than other age groups. This is blamed largely on their lack of driving experience.
If you’re a teen, your insurance rates will get lower as you age if you avoid tickets and accidents. Establishing good credit can also help you get cheaper car insurance in most states, eventually.
When to get car insurance quotes for a teen driver
It’s good to start shopping for car insurance a few months before a teen gets his or her driver’s license. Their coverage needs to take effect on the day they get their license.
If you’re a parent, you should let your insurance company know when your teen gets their learner’s permit. Most insurance companies cover a permitted teen driving under your supervision at no extra cost. However, you should check to see if your company has any restrictions.
Frequently asked questions
Parents can add a newly licensed driver to their car insurance at age 16. You usually have to be at least 18 to get your own policy, unless a parent or guardian cosigns.
Yes, but usually only when the teen is driving with parental supervision.
It depends. A teen who lives with a parent usually doesn’t need separate insurance for their own car. A teen who moves out on their own usually does, unless a parent owns or co-owns their vehicle. The rules for this vary by insurance company and state.
How we selected the cheapest car insurance companies
LendingTree uses insurance rate data from Quadrant Information Services using publicly sourced insurance company filings. Rates are based on an analysis of hundreds of thousands of car insurance quotes for typical adult and teen drivers. Prices are shown for comparative purposes only. Your own rates may be different.
Unless noted otherwise, quotes are for a full coverage policy for an 18-year-old man with a clean driving record who drives a 2018 Honda CR-V EX. Family policies are for a two-car household with a 50-year-old parent and teenage driver in Washington state.
Coverage limits
Minimum liability policies provide liability coverage with the state’s required minimum limits.
Full coverage policies include collision, comprehensive and liability coverage:
- Bodily injury liability: $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident
- Property damage liability: $50,000
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury: $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident
- Personal injury protection: where required by law
- Collision: $500 deductible
- Comprehensive: $500 deductible
How we evaluated car insurance companies
Our team of insurance experts rated insurance companies based on several categories. These categories include average rates, discounts, coverage options, third-party customer service ratings and app/website experience. We weighted these categories based on what customers value in an insurance company.
For third-party customer service ratings, we included Complaint Index scores from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) and financial strength ratings from AM Best. NAIC Complaint Index scores are used to determine how satisfied customers are with their claims, while financial strength ratings from AM Best reflect the ability to pay out claims.
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*USAA is only available to current and former members of the military as well as certain family members.