- How much does adding a teenager to your car insurance policy cost?
- Does adding a male teen driver cost more than a female?
- How can you get a good deal on car insurance for teens?
- Do I have to add my teenager to my car insurance?
- What discounts are available to teen drivers?
- How do you decide which vehicles to attach to your teen?
- Frequently asked questions: Cost to add a teenager to your car insurance
- Final thoughts: Car insurance cost for a teenager
EXPERT REVIEWED
by
Laura Longero
Executive Editor
If you have a child who just got their driver’s license and is eager to get behind the wheel, ask yourself a crucial question: How much does adding a teenager to car insurance cost?
The average cost for adding a teen between the ages of 16 and 19 to your policy is $3,798, according to a 2022 CarInsurance.com rate analysis. The cost to add a teenager to your car insurance policy can increase your rate from 50% to 100%, according to the Insurance Information Institute.
The good news is that once they establish a good driving record, you can expect to see premiums decrease as they reach in their 20s.
Here’s what you need to know about the cost of adding a teenager to your car insurance and use our calculator below to get teen auto insurance quotes.
How much does adding a teenager to your car insurance policy cost?
If you add a teenager to your car insurance policy, you can expect to pay an average annual rate of $4,144 for a 16-year-old, $3,985 for a 17-year-old, $3,718 for an 18-year-old and $3,343 for a 19-year-old, according to 2022 CarInsurance.com data.
“Teenage drivers are inexperienced drivers who are less aware of their surroundings and have a tendency to drive too fast and less responsibly, which makes it more likely that they will have a claim,” says Ben Galbreath, producer and independent insurance agent with Wallace & Turner Insurance in Springfield, Ohio.
The table below shows the average cost of adding a teen driver cost for full coverage in each state:
| State | Avg Premium | Avg Premium with Teens | % Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $1,236 | $2,532 | 105% |
| Alabama | $1,485 | $2,827 | 90% |
| Arkansas | $1,485 | $3,138 | 111% |
| Arizona | $1,453 | $3,381 | 133% |
| California | $2,001 | $4,238 | 112% |
| Colorado | $1,941 | $3,571 | 84% |
| Connecticut | $1,436 | $2,747 | 91% |
| District of Columbia | $1,679 | $3,236 | 93% |
| Delaware | $1,560 | $2,836 | 82% |
| Florida | $2,192 | $4,328 | 97% |
| Georgia | $1,638 | $3,270 | 100% |
| Hawaii | $1,067 | $1,122 | 5% |
| Iowa | $1,127 | $2,059 | 83% |
| Idaho | $980 | $2,047 | 109% |
| Illinois | $1,542 | $3,440 | 123% |
| Indiana | $1,262 | $2,433 | 93% |
| Kansas | $1,426 | $2,679 | 88% |
| Kentucky | $1,318 | $2,826 | 114% |
| Louisiana | $2,969 | $6,608 | 123% |
| Massachusetts | $1,382 | $2,714 | 96% |
| Maryland | $1,371 | $2,859 | 109% |
| Maryland | $964 | $2,305 | 139% |
| Michigan | $1,563 | $3,304 | 111% |
| Minnesota | $1,185 | $2,163 | 83% |
| Missouri | $1,644 | $3,275 | 99% |
| Mississippi | $1,448 | $2,993 | 107% |
| Montana | $1,588 | $2,947 | 86% |
| North Carolina | $1,319 | $2,463 | 87% |
| North Dakota | $1,166 | $2,214 | 90% |
| Nebraska | $1,761 | $2,990 | 70% |
| New Hampshire | $965 | $2,073 | 115% |
| New Jersey | $1,579 | $3,487 | 121% |
| New Mexico | $1,447 | $2,870 | 98% |
| Nevada | $1,625 | $3,080 | 90% |
| New York | $1,540 | $3,223 | 109% |
| Ohio | $960 | $1,881 | 96% |
| Oklahoma | $1,674 | $3,074 | 84% |
| Oregon | $1,153 | $2,265 | 96% |
| Pennsylvania | $1,277 | $2,807 | 120% |
| Rhode Island | $1,786 | $4,055 | 127% |
| South Carolina | $1,473 | $3,251 | 121% |
| South Dakota | $1,501 | $2,490 | 66% |
| Tennessee | $1,236 | $2,595 | 110% |
| Texas | $1,747 | $3,733 | 114% |
| Utah | $1,529 | $3,279 | 114% |
| Virginia | $1,139 | $2,711 | 138% |
| Vermont | $1,065 | $2,252 | 111% |
| Washington | $1,157 | $2,718 | 135% |
| Wisconsin | $1,211 | $2,611 | 116% |
| West Virginia | $1,311 | $3,118 | 138% |
| Wyoming | $1,722 | $3,269 | 90% |
| National Average | $1,457 | $2,949 | 102% |
Parents can save money by adding teenagers to their own policies. CarInsurance.com’s guides cover everything you need to know about insuring a teen and see the rates in your state:
Does adding a male teen driver cost more than a female?
Male teen drivers usually cost more to insure than females. Why? The average cost to add a teenager to your car insurance policy comes down to risk.
Katie Sopko, an insurance agent/agency manager with A Plus Insurance in Greenville, South Carolina, says statistics show male motorists cause approximately 6.1 million accidents per year versus 4.4 million per year caused by females.
“Women are, simply put, more careful drivers than men, on average,” Sopko says.
How can you get a good deal on car insurance for teens?
CarInsurance.com’s guide for parents on how to best insure a teen provides more detail, but here are the top tips for getting the lowest teen driver rates.
Shop around when you get insurance for a teen
The more you pay for insurance, the more likely you can save money. Insurance carriers price their insurance coverage differently, and what might be cheaper for your neighbor might not be cheaper for you. It’s a good idea to check quotes for other car insurance companies when you add a teen driver to your policy.
Buy the right car for your teenager
The best cars for teens are those with safety features with low horsepower. If the vehicle your teen is driving is old enough to get by with only liability insurance, that will also cut your insurance costs.
“Consider purchasing an older model vehicle for your team to drive. A sedan is usually best to lower your costs versus a sports car or SUV,” Galbreath says. “I recommend covering the teen for liability only until they are about 20 years old, which is the age when coverage rates tend to come down.”
Do I have to add my teenager to my car insurance?
State laws vary, so make sure to notify your car insurance company that you have a young driver, but there are a few general guidelines:
- All licensed drivers in a household need to be added to a policy. If not, your insurer may not cover an accident or other claim.
- Some states allow car insurance companies to require you to list teens with driving permits – even those who are not yet licensed – on your insurance policy: Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia.
- Most states will not allow teens younger than the age of majority – when states grant young people the rights and responsibilities of an adult – to title a car in their names.
- Even if your state has no age restrictions on titling a car, teen drivers younger than 18 are unlikely to find insurance independently. It’s a contract, and teens are not old enough to sign one. You must also sign the teen liability insurance policy if your child is younger than 18.
Learn more about How long are you considered a new driver?
What discounts are available to teen drivers?
You can save a lot on your car insurance premiums if you qualify for specific discounts. Fortunately, most carriers provide a range of discounts to policyholders with teenage drivers, including the following.
Good student discount
Statistics show that student drivers who maintain better grades are less likely to make mistakes behind the wheel. If your child maintains a good grade point average, many insurance companies offer a good student discount, which averages around 10% to 15%.
“If your child is currently in college or taking college classes, most carriers will offer a student discount. And if your child took a defensive course before getting their license, most companies will offer a discount for this as well,” Sopko says.
Low mileage discount
The more time a teen spends driving a vehicle, the greater their chances of being involved in an auto accident or moving violation. Adolescents who drive low miles per year may be entitled to a discount.
Telematics discount
Insurance providers often offer telematics programs, which reward safe driving practices with a discount based on a driving score determined by a smartphone app if your insurer offers one.
Student-away discount
Young adult drivers who live on campus for college or attend school in another state and leave their car parked at the family home may be eligible for a distant student discount, says Justin Yoshizawa, director of product management at Mercury Insurance in Brea, California.
“Many insurers provide discounts for students who live 100 miles away or more. Combined with a good student discount, this could provide substantial savings for families when it comes to car insurance,” he says.
How do you decide which vehicles to attach to your teen?
Take the time to carefully consider which vehicle your teen should be assigned to drive and which vehicles are off-limits. But remember that most auto insurance policies will allow the teen to drive any car in the household.
“Newer cars come with the most recent and sophisticated safety technology to keep your teen safe behind the wheel,” Yoshizawa says. “But used cars that are well maintained and function properly will still offer standard safety equipment and be a cost-effective way for many families to get their teens on the road.”
Frequently asked questions: Cost to add a teenager to your car insurance
Does it increase car insurance premiums to add a second teen to a policy?
Yoshizawa says adding another teenage driver will most likely increase car insurance costs.
How do you decide which parent covers a teen after a divorce?
If your teenager is split relatively evenly between two houses regarding living and driving, both parents’ vehicle insurance policies should include their child. But at the very least, a teenager should be covered by the car insurance policy of the parent with whom they spend the most time driving.
Can you add a stepchild to your auto insurance?
Stepchildren can be added to your auto insurance policy: Most insurers allow you to add anyone who lives in your household as a driver to your auto policy, Yoshizawa says.
Can a grandparent add a grandchild to their car insurance?
If your grandchildren live with you and regularly drive your vehicle, they can be added to your policy. If your grandchild only uses your car occasionally, they may be covered under a permissive use policy, which allows grandchildren to borrow the vehicle and be added as a driver.
If your grandchild uses your car but has his or her own auto insurance policy, their auto insurance coverage will be secondary and you will be the first one held liable for claims.
Final thoughts: Car insurance cost for a teenager
Adding a teenager to your car insurance will increase your cost, but there are some things you can do to make it less painful: Shop around, ask about discounts and teach your teen about good driving habits.
Resources & Methodology
Source:
Insurance Information Institute. “Students.” Accessed August 2022.
Methodology:
CarInsurance.com commissioned Quadrant Information Services to run auto insurance rates for a 2022 Honda Accord LX at several coverage levels for a driver with a clean driving record in all ZIP codes in each state.