Even a no-frills car insurance policy — just what’s needed to drive legally and the cheapest car insurance an 18-year-old can buy — is a considerable expense. Due to their inexperience, insurance companies deem young motorists as high-risk drivers.

Though average car insurance rates by age data show that around age 24 rates begin to drop, drivers in their teens and early 20s typically pay much more than others. Here we’ll outline what drivers age 18 can expect to pay for car insurance, showing average rates by state, coverage level and company. And, perhaps most important, we’ll explain how you can still get cheap car insurance, regardless of your age.

author-img
Written by:
Michelle Megna
Contributing Researcher
Michelle is a writer, editor and expert on car insurance and personal finance. She's a former CarInsurance.com editorial director. Prior to joining CarInsurance.com, she reported and edited articles on technology, lifestyle, education and government for magazines, websites and major newspapers, including the New York Daily News.

What’s the cheapest car insurance for 18-year-olds?

The average price of a year of bare-bones coverage for an 18-year-old woman is $1,769; for men that age it’s $2,030, according to a rate analysis by CarInsurance.com. Here is how much it costs for seven different coverage levels for drivers age 18, broken down by state.

To see how much you can expect to pay and to compare costs by coverage level, enter your state in the search field. You can also sort by cheapest car insurance for an 18-year-old to most expensive by clicking on the arrows next to each column header.

State State Minimum Liability Only – 50/100/50 BI/PD Liability Only – 100/300/100 BI/PD State Minimum BI/PD – 500 Comp/Coll Full Coverage – 50/100/50 BI/PD – 500 Comp/Coll Full Coverage – 100/300/100 BI/PD – 500 Comp/Coll Full Coverage -100/300/100 BI/PD – 1000 Comp/Coll
Alaska$1,322$1,335$1,514$4,332$4,345$4,604$4,066
Alabama$1,955$2,182$2,430$5,011$5,289$5,6495, 153
Arkansas$2,069$2,281$2,659$5,668$5,815$6,247$5,687
Arizona$1,915$2,371$2,690$4,509$5,046$5,449$4,959
California$1,780$2,205$2,396$5,609$6,134$6,415$5,651
Colorado$2,090$2,423$2,793$5,204$5,671$6,217$5,652
Connecticut$3,408$3,786$4,366$6,416$6,770$7,358$6,913
DC$2,535$2,833$3,095$5,490$5,751$6,025$5,324
Delaware$2,728$3,199$3,559$5,298$5,772$6,182$5,625
Florida$2,652$3,767$4,376$5,012$6,372$7,130$6,730
Georgia$2,041$2,798$3,187$5,109$5,432$5,877$5,425
Hawaii$467$525$577$1,247$1,333$1,411$1,227
Iowa$1,128$1,272$1,369$3,208$3,348$3,425$3,006
Idaho$1,646$1,831$2,098$4,073$4,291$4,601$4,185
Illinois$1,849$2,093$2,388$3,986$4,240$4,518$4,129
Indiana$1,594$1,753$1,948$3,993$4,164$4,366$3,839
Kansas$1,601$1,740$1,926$4,470$4,588$4,742$4,160
Kentucky$2,177$2,476$2,906$5,968$6,229$6,631$6,051
Louisiana$2,749$3,636$4,494$6,551$7,657$8,766$8,246
Massachusetts$1,816$2,348$2,543$4,041$4,681$4,876$4,137
Maryland$2,332$2,520$2,707$4,671$4,850$5,035$4,509
Maine$1,386$1,400$1,579$3,520$3,533$3,717$3,342
Michigan$4,243$4,518$4,763$8,881$9,200$9,488$8,577
Minnesota$2,049$2,221$2,311$4,154$4,324$4,375$3,928
Missouri$1,814$2,015$4,006$4,275$4,495$4,069
Mississippi$1,670$1,971$2,203$4,202$4,550$4,857$4,492
Montana$1,358$1,570$1,781$4,082$4,416$4,723$4,213
North Carolina$1,050$1,138$1,269$2,173$2,265$2,399$2,261
North Dakota$1,275$1,386$1,519$4,085$4,197$4,330$3,762
Nebraska$1,465$1,607$1,799$3,751$3,874$4,045$3,569
New Hampshire$2,242$2,450$2,733$4,777$4,940$5,222$4,785
New Jersey$2,199$2,690$2,973$4,214$4,709$4,994$4,601
Wisconsin$1,574$1,822$2,080$4,301$4,553$4,802$4,299
West Virginia$1,768$1,993$2,288$4,291$4,466$4,761$4,170
Wyoming$832$917$1,003$3,520$3,614$3,717$3,079
New Mexico$1,979$2,220$2,488$5,076$5,382$5,784$5,289
Nevada$2,168$2,731$3,419$4,963$5,670$6,559$6,157
New York$2,061$2,297$2,610$4,362$4,598$4,911$4,424
Ohio$1,631$1,717$1,899$3,942$4,009$4,232$3,731
Oklahoma$1,889$2,089$2,519$5,342$5,647$6,261$5,626
Oregon$2,790$3,112$3,487$4,915$5,229$5,596$5,186
Pennsylvania$1,426$1,730$1,999$3,815$4,116$4,358$3,899
Rhode Island$3,197$3,713$4,216$6,866$7,350$7,857$7,223
South Carolina$1,714$1,937$2,213$4,509$4,753$5,086$4,526
South Dakota$1,172$1,311$1,512$4,534$4,674$4,838$4,058
Tennessee$1,946$2,150$2,372$4,810$5,019$5,289$4,801
Texas$2,020$2,201$2,438$5,136$5,361$5,685$5,175
Utah$2,051$2,237$2,601$4,281$4,471$4,912$4,514
Virginia$1,295$1,426$1,638$3,126$3,226$3,438$3,094
Vermont$1,235$1,369$1,567$3,598$3,717$3,910$3,504
Washington$1,772$1,959$2,164$3,980$4,189$4,476$4,121
Wisconsin$1,574$1,822$2,080$4,301$4,553$4,802$4,299
West Virginia$1,768$1,993$2,288$4,291$4,466$4,761$4,170
Wyoming$832$917$1,003$3,520$3,614$3,717$3,079

How 18-year-olds can save money on car insurance

The cost of liability insurance, your state minimum car insurance required to drive, has more to do with the driver than the car. (The insurance company isn’t going to fix your car, just the person you hit.) In your search for the best cheap car insurance, these are the factors you have some control over:

  • Your driving record: More than one violation or accident will hurt.
  • Your credit: If it’s dismal, you’re seen as a more significant risk of a claim so you’ll pay more in many states.
  • Your mileage: The less you drive, the less chance of your hitting someone.
  • Your insurance history: If you’ve let your policy lapse, even for a few days, you’ll pay more for coverage.
  • Your insurance company: No two insurers offer identical rates, and even on state-minimum policies, premiums can differ by hundreds, sometimes thousands, of dollars a year.
  • Your car: If your vehicle has a significantly higher rate of claims than most (because, say, it’s driven mainly by young drivers), your liability rates will reflect that risk. Make sure to research any new car purchase on Kelley Blue Book to see if it’s a good car for a teen.
  • Discounts: You may earn a good student discount, or other car insurance discount, for instance, for paying online or living far from home, so be sure to research which ones you can get and ask for them.

Cheapest car insurance companies for an 18-year-old 

Comparison shopping is one of the easiest ways to save on car insurance. Each insurance company uses different calculations to decide what you pay for coverage. That means the price for the same policy can differ significantly among insurers.

Below, you’ll see the average rate for drivers age 18 buying a full coverage policy with a $500 deductible on comprehensive and collision. The difference between insurers with the cheapest rates and those with the highest is thousands of dollars.

Company Average Rate for Full Coverage
Concord General Mutual$1,443
Bear River$1,526
Nodak Mutual$1,533
Erie$1,736
Country$1,892
Erie Property & Casualty$2,131
Geico$2,135
Erie Insurance Exchange$2,143
North Carolina Farm Bureau$2,219
Farmers Insurance of HI$2,323
Plymouth Rock$2,371
Farmers Mutual$2,387
USAA$2,403
GEICO Advantage$2,431
Pemco Mutual$2,450
USAA Casualty$2,455
Southern Farm Bureau$2,545
Vermont Mutual$2,586
Geico County Mutual$2,621
Integon National$2,633
General Insurance$2,646
Mississippi Farm Bureau$2,650
Progressive Southeastern$2,671
Tennessee Farmers$2,854
Owners Insurance$2,855
Geico General$2,903
Farm Bureau Property & Casualty$2,926
Geico Casualty$2,971
NJM$3,163
Commerce/MAPFRE$3,306
American Family Mutual$3,345
Georgia Farm Bureau$3,424
21st Century Centennial$3,510
State Farm Mutual Auto$3,628
Farm Bureau Mutual Of ID$3,665
Nationwide Agribusiness$3,947
Kentucky Farm Bureau$3,990
Shelter Insurance$4,053
Nationwide Property & Casualty$4,232
Nationwide Affinity$4,392
Automobile Club$4,402
Nationwide Mutual Fire$4,437
National Farmers Union Prop & Cas$4,476
Home Owners Insurance$4,604
Arbella$4,634
Geico Indemnity$4,730
Depositors Insurance$4,901
Oklahoma Farm Bureau$5,131
Memberselect$5,265
First National$5,325
Allied$5,395
Allstate Indemnity$5,480
Amco$5,485
United Financial$5,529
Farmers Insurance of WA$5,570
Allstate Fire & Casualty$5,642
Allstate$5,649
Nationwide Mutual$5,741
Progressive Advanced$5,789
United Farm Family Mutual$5,796
Progressive Universal$5,797
Safety Insurance$5,885
Allstate$6,089
Amica$6,176
Farmers Insurance Columbus$6,277
Western United$6,294
Farmers Insurance of ID$6,409
Allstate Northbrook$6,443
Artisan & Truckers$6,501
Alfa$6,504
Colonial County Mutual$6,559
Progressive Paloverde$6,861
Louisiana Farm Bureau$6,934
Mountain Laurel$6,967
Auto Club of Southern CA$7,033
Progressive Premier$7,112
Mid Century$7,150
Farmers$7,214
CSAA$7,476
Victoria$7,502
Illinois Farmers$7,680
Progressive Select$7,969
Progressive Direct$8,101
State Farm Ind$8,104
Progressive Gulf$8,288
Acuity$8,308
Farmers Insurance of OR$8,322
Progressive Specialty$8,770
Progressive Northwestern$8,807
Progressive Max$8,851
Progressive HI$8,872
Progressive Garden State$8,887
Foremost$9,047
Progressive Northern$9,272
Progressive Preferred$9,483
Progressive Mountain$9,566
Farmers Insurance of  AZ$9,671
Progressive$9,884

Final thoughts: Cheapest car insurance for 18-year-olds

Whether you’re a parent or a teen, read our guide to car insurance for young drivers and our guide to car insurance for an 18-year-old for plenty more information that can help you make the car insurance choices that are best for you. 

 

Laura Longero

Ask the Insurance Expert

Laura Longero

Executive Editor

Laura is an award-winning editor with experience in content and communications covering auto insurance and personal finance. She has written for several media outlets, including the USA Today Network. She most recently worked in the public sector for the Nevada Department of Transportation.

John McCormick

Ask the Insurance Expert

John McCormick

Editorial Director

John is the editorial director for CarInsurance.com, Insurance.com and Insure.com. Before joining QuinStreet, John was a deputy editor at The Wall Street Journal and had been an editor and reporter at a number of other media outlets where he covered insurance, personal finance, and technology.

Leslie Kasperowicz

Ask the Insurance Expert

Leslie Kasperowicz

Managing Editor

Leslie Kasperowicz is an insurance educator and content creation professional with nearly two decades of experience first directly in the insurance industry at Farmers Insurance and then as a writer, researcher, and educator for insurance shoppers writing for sites like ExpertInsuranceReviews.com and InsuranceHotline.com and managing content, now at CarInsurance.com.

Nupur Gambhir

Ask the Insurance Expert

Nupur Gambhir

Managing Editor

Nupur Gambhir is a content editor and licensed life, health, and disability insurance expert. She has extensive experience bringing brands to life and has built award-nominated campaigns for travel and tech. Her insurance expertise has been featured in Bloomberg News, Forbes Advisor, CNET, Fortune, Slate, Real Simple, Lifehacker, The Financial Gym, and the end-of-life planning service.

Please Enter Valid Question. Min 50 to max 250 characters are allowed. Only (& ? , .) charcters are allowed.
Please Enter Valid Email.
Error: Security check failed
Thank You, Your message has been received. Our team of auto insurance experts typically answers questions within five working days. Note that due to the volume of questions we receive, not all may be answered. Due to technical error, please try again later.
Get quotes near you!
Please enter valid zip
author image
Michelle Megna
Contributing Researcher

Michelle is a writer, editor and expert on car insurance and personal finance. She's a former CarInsurance.com editorial director. Prior to joining CarInsurance.com, she reported and edited articles on technology, lifestyle, education and government for magazines, websites and major newspapers, including the New York Daily News.