Teens driving and having funThe cost of insuring teens gets a little cheaper after they have a year of driving under their belts. But car insurance for 17-year-olds is still expensive compared to older drivers.

Carole Walker, Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association executive director, says that auto insurance companies charge 17-year-olds higher because teens pose a higher risk to insurers than more experienced drivers.

“It’s not just that teen drivers are inexperienced behind the wheel, but they’re also more likely to engage in high-risk behaviors, such as distracted and impaired driving, speeding and not wearing seatbelts,” Walker says.

But there are some things you can do to reduce the cost of car insurance for your 17-year-old.

Key Highlights
  • For a full coverage policy in 2022, a 17-year-old teen driver pays about $523 monthly for car insurance.
  • Female drivers who are 17 on their own policy pay $5,576 on average, or $696 less than males their age. By contrast, 17-year-old male drivers pay about $6,272 on average for their own car insurance policy.
  • Island, North Carolina Farm Bureau, New Jersey Manufacturers, Mapfre, USAA, Nationwide and Erie had the cheapest car insurance for 17-year-olds among carriers surveyed by CarInsurance.com.
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Written by:
Chris Kissell
Contributing Researcher
Chris Kissell is a Denver-based writer and editor with work featured on U.S. News & World Report, MSN Money, Fox Business, Forbes, Yahoo Finance, Money Talks News and more.
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Edited by:
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.
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Dr. James C. Brau
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Dr. Brau teaches finance principles, entrepreneurial finance, financial planning, and corporate finance at Brigham Young University’s School of Business. His research includes issues related to initial public offerings, financial education, real estate, and entrepreneurial finance.

Car insurance for teens: What’s the average cost for a 17-year-old?

The average cost of car insurance for a 17-year-old on their policy is $6,272 a year for full coverage — about $523 per month. That rate is $4,500 higher than the national average of $1,682 for 40-year-old drivers.

Tip iconAverage car insurance rates for teens: 17-year-olds

The average cost of car insurance for 17-year-olds on their own policies is as follows per year, according to a 2022 CarInsurance.com data analysis:

  • State minimum coverage: $2,064
  • Liability limits of 50/100/50: $2,474
  • Liability limits of 100/300/100, with a $500 comprehensive and collision deductible: $6,272

What you pay to insure your teen driver will vary, of course. The insurer you choose can make a big difference in what you pay. Other factors – ranging from the state where you live to the car you drive – play a big role in what you will pay.

To give you an idea of what to expect to pay for car insurance for young drivers, we provide average annual rates by state in the charts below. You will notice that adding a teen to your own policy is much less expensive than having your teen purchase their own policy, which teens can only do if they’re emancipated adults or have reached the age of majority in your state.

Check out our detailed guide on what are the average car insurance rates by age

Cost of car insurance for a 17-year-old female

The nationwide average cost of car insurance for a 17-year-old female is $5,576. Teen female drivers aged 17 pay $696 less than males their age.

Below, you’ll see average insurance costs in each state for a 17-year-old female and see how that compares to the price of a parent policy with the child added.

Car insurance cost per state for a 17-year-old female
State Teen Policy Parent Policy Teen Added to a Parent’s Policy
Alaska$4,110$1,236$2,480
Alabama$5,674$1,522$2,949
Arkansas$5,782$1,587$3,280
Arizona$6,145$1,649$3,689
California$5,747$2,043$4,587
Colorado$6,626$2,166$3,998
Connecticut$6,853$1,436$2,777
Washington D.C.$5,932$1,877$3,319
Delaware$7,994$1,707$2,962
Florida$9,427$3,015$5,919
Georgia$5,803$1,638$3,321
Hawaii$1,421$1,282$1,338
Iowa$3,676$1,156$2,093
Idaho$4,289$1,012$2,065
Illinois$5,417$1,474$3,213
Indiana$4,059$1,283$2,472
Kansas$4,938$1,477$2,749
Kentucky$7,193$1,944$4,196
Louisiana$8,862$2,969$6,575
Massachusetts$6,115$1,741$3,498
Maryland$5,105$2,076$4,081
Maine$3,710$988$2,323
Michigan$7,189$3,945$7,405
Minnesota$3,805$1,667$3,111
Missouri$6,667$2,374$4,638
Mississippi$5,769$1,448$3,116
Montana$5,890$1,670$3,177
North Carolina$3,144$1,417$2,689
North Dakota$4,746$1,258$2,339
Nebraska$5,661$1,845$3,269
New Hampshire$4,767$982$2,114
New Jersey$7,303$2,199$4,357
New Mexico$4,705$1,649$3,240
Nevada$7,228$2,327$4,481
New York$5,691$1,832$3,697
Ohio$3,738$1,082$2,172
Oklahoma$6,208$1,954$3,766
Oregon$4,713$1,440$2,862
Pennsylvania$6,113$1,418$3,139
Rhode Island$7,175$1,786$4,040
South Carolina$5,729$1,671$3,600
South Dakota$4,589$1,523$2,421
Tennessee$5,321$1,250$2,613
Texas$6,342$1,880$4,039
Utah$5,749$1,824$3,806
Virginia$4,393$1,210$2,887
Vermont$3,411$1,074$2,222
Washington$4,807$1,462$3,231
Wisconsin$5,206$1,712$3,897
West Virginia$5,329$1,417$3,228
Wyoming$4,683$1,730$3,161

Car insurance costs for a 17-year-old male

Males aged 17 pay, on average, $6,272 for their own full coverage policy. That’s about $696 more than their female counterparts. You can compare rates for a 17-year-old male with his own policy to that of being added to a parent’s policy.

Car insurance cost per state for a 17-year-old male
State Teen Policy Parent Policy Teen Added to a Parent’s Policy
Alaska$4,797$1,236$2,716
Alabama$6,446$1,522$3,204
Arkansas$6,624$1,587$3,596
Arizona$7,074$1,649$4,126
California$5,747$2,043$4,587
Colorado$7,581$2,166$4,281
Connecticut$7,873$1,436$3,038
Washington D.C.$7,568$1,877$3,795
Delaware$9,772$1,707$3,289
Florida$10,469$3,015$6,346
Georgia$7,025$1,638$3,664
Hawaii$1,421$1,282$1,338
Iowa$4,135$1,156$2,237
Idaho$4,937$1,012$2,271
Illinois$6,440$1,474$3,693
Indiana$4,541$1,283$2,628
Kansas$5,632$1,477$2,975
Kentucky$8,310$1,944$4,528
Louisiana$10,105$2,969$7,335
Massachusetts$6,115$1,741$3,498
Maryland$6,301$2,076$4,726
Maine$4,338$988$2,642
Michigan$7,189$3,945$7,405
Minnesota$4,533$1,667$3,274
Missouri$7,700$2,374$5,231
Mississippi$6,659$1,448$3,388
Montana$5,890$1,670$3,177
North Carolina$3,144$1,417$2,689
North Dakota$5,544$1,258$2,588
Nebraska$6,666$1,845$3,554
New Hampshire$5,484$982$2,308
New Jersey$8,288$2,199$4,860
New Mexico$5,232$1,649$3,524
Nevada$8,143$2,327$4,950
New York$6,888$1,832$4,211
Ohio$4,233$1,082$2,353
Oklahoma$7,295$1,954$4,502
Oregon$5,059$1,440$3,036
Pennsylvania$6,113$1,418$3,139
Rhode Island$8,682$1,786$4,589
South Carolina$6,343$1,671$3,739
South Dakota$5,403$1,523$2,692
Tennessee$6,162$1,250$2,872
Texas$7,278$1,880$4,429
Utah$6,567$1,824$4,151
Virginia$5,191$1,210$3,268
Vermont$4,040$1,074$2,463
Washington$5,355$1,462$3,408
Wisconsin$6,032$1,712$4,381
West Virginia$6,192$1,417$3,673
Wyoming$6,065$1,730$3,766

Read methodology

How much is car insurance for a 17-year-old vs. a parent policy?

You can see in the chart below how much it costs to add a teen driver to a parent policy and how much you can save by adding the 17-year-old to your policy rather than having the teen on their own policy.

Costs to add a teen driver to a parent policy
GenderTeen PolicyTeen Added to a Parent’s PolicySavings
Female$5,576$3,861$1,715
Male$6,272$4,156$2,116

Cheapest car insurance for 17-year-olds

Below, you’ll see how major carriers compare when it comes to car insurance for 17-year-olds. For this scenario, Island, North Carolina Farm Bureau, New Jersey Manufacturers, Nationwide and Erie were the cheapest among insurance companies we surveyed for adding a female.

Parent’s car insurance policy with a 17-year-old female

Insurance cost for a parent policy with a female, age 17
Company Parent’s Policy with a 17-year-old Female
Allstate$3,981
American Family$2,997
Auto Club$4,404
Auto-Owners$3,447
Automobile Club MI$4,569
Geico$2,571
Chubb Ltd$3,569
CSAA Insurance$6,927
Erie Insurance$2,447
Farmers Insurance$5,840
The Hartford$3,511
Iowa Farm Bureau$3,545
Island Insurance$1,713
Kemper Insurance$5,862
Kentucky Farm Bureau$5,218
Mapfre Insurance$2,496
Mercury Insurance$5,049
National General Insurance$6,230
Nationwide$2,431
New Jersey Manufacturers$2,198
North Carolina Farm Bureau$2,140
Oklahoma Farm Bureau$6,141
Palisades$3,554
Progressive$4,012
Shelter Insurance$3,457
State Farm$2,964
Travelers$3,622
USAA$2,455

Parent’s car insurance policy with a 17-year-old male

Island, North Carolina Farm Bureau, New Jersey Manufacturers, Nationwide and USAA were the cheapest for adding drivers who are 17.

Insurance cost for a parent policy with a male, age 17
Company Parent’s Policy with a 17-year-old Male
Allstate$4,299
American Family$3,199
Auto Club$4,388
Auto-Owners$3,440
Automobile Club MI$4,940
Geico$2,739
Chubb Ltd$4,087
CSAA Insurance$7,031
Erie Insurance$2,852
Farmers Insurance$6,178
The Hartford$3,615
Iowa Farm Bureau$3,594
Island Insurance$1,713
Kemper Insurance$6,409
Kentucky Farm Bureau$4,925
Mapfre Insurance$2,744
Mercury Insurance$5,931
National General Insurance$6,549
Nationwide$2,578
New Jersey Manufacturers$2,406
North Carolina Farm Bureau$2,140
Oklahoma Farm Bureau$9,356
Palisades$3,763
Progressive$4,274
Shelter Insurance$4,922
State Farm$3,273
Travelers$4,043
USAA$2,604

What’s the average annual car insurance rate for a 17-year-old driver with their own policy?

If your teen is buying her or his own policy, Island, North Carolina Farm Bureau, Erie Insurance and Mapfre came in with the lowest female rates for full coverage.

You can also sort the columns for state minimum and mid-level liability policies in the table below.

Average annual car insurance rates for a 17-year-old female

Insurance cost for a teen policy for a female, age 17
Company Teen Policy
Allstate$6,778
American Family$3,956
Auto Club$6,412
Auto-Owners$3,636
Automobile Club MI$5,623
Geico$3,642
Chubb Ltd$4,299
CSAA Insurance$7,345
Erie Insurance$2,950
Farmers Insurance$9,226
The Hartford$6,221
Iowa Farm Bureau$4,011
Island Insurance$1,668
Kemper Insurance$7,335
Kentucky Farm Bureau$6,157
Mapfre Insurance$3,407
Mercury Insurance$8,847
National General Insurance$5,191
Nationwide$4,143
New Jersey Manufacturers$3,847
North Carolina Farm Bureau$2,693
Oklahoma Farm Bureau$5,490
Palisades$7,007
Progressive$7,517
Shelter Insurance$4,472
State Farm$3,676
Travelers$4,221
USAA$3,708

Average annual car insurance rates for a 17-year-old male

For 17-year-old male drivers on their own policies, Island, North Carolina Farm Bureau, Erie Insurance, USAA and Mapfre are among the national carriers with the cheapest car insurance rates.

Insurance cost for a teen policy for a male, age 17
Company Teen Policy
Allstate$7,482
American Family$4,262
Auto Club$7,647
Auto-Owners$4,322
Automobile Club MI$6,933
Geico$4,113
Chubb Ltd$8,242
CSAA Insurance$7,512
Erie Insurance$3,872
Farmers Insurance$9,983
The Hartford$6,420
Iowa Farm Bureau$4,187
Island Insurance$1,668
Kemper Insurance$8,291
Kentucky Farm Bureau$7,967
Mapfre Insurance$4,035
Mercury Insurance$10,418
National General Insurance$5,425
Nationwide$4,829
New Jersey Manufacturers$4,223
North Carolina Farm Bureau$2,693
Oklahoma Farm Bureau$8,351
Palisades$7,720
Progressive$8,194
Shelter Insurance$5,817
State Farm$4,393
Travelers$4,905
USAA$4,006

What are the rules for a 17-year-old driver?

Most states have laws restricting where and when 17-year-olds can drive. These stipulations are usually called Graduated Driver License (GDL) laws and apply to drivers younger than 18.

GDL laws vary by state with some states having stringent laws and others having lenient ones. Over time, you “graduate” from a provisional or restricted license to a standard license with no restrictions.

GDL laws typically include provisions for the following:

  • Limiting drive time to daytime hours.
  • Requiring a passenger older than a certain age to be in the car.
  • Not allowing passengers under a certain age to be in the car.
  • Banning the use of cellphones for both calls and texting.
  • Limiting destinations to work and school.

For more details on GDL laws and why they are essential, check out the most and least dangerous states for teen drivers.

Teen driver safety

Car insurance for a 17-year-old is expensive because newer drivers are more likely to get into accidents. Accidents lead to claims, which increases costs for insurance companies.

States have varying levels of Graduated Driving License (GDL) laws. These include a learner’s permit, minimum hours of supervised driving and restrictions on passengers and hours a teen can drive. There are also bans on texting and using a cell phone.

When a driver turns 17, he or she will age out of some GDL laws. However, many states still restrict drivers until they’re 18 or 21. For 17-year-olds, restrictions include passenger and nighttime limits for unsupervised driving. GDL laws vary by state, so it’s best to check your state’s GDL laws.

Car insurance for 17-year-olds is cheapest with a parent

Parents frequently take the less costly approach of putting a teen on their existing policy. It’s usually cheaper than getting a separate policy because the cost of a policy takes into account the experience and driving record of the policyholder.

A 17-year-old doesn’t have a proven track record on the highway, which means higher rates when an insurer crunches the numbers.

Beyond that, a 17-year-old won’t get the same car insurance discounts as a parent, including multi-vehicle, multi-policy and loyalty discounts. But even with those discounts, adding a 17-year-old driver to a policy still means a significant rate hike.

Another benefit of sharing a policy is that the teen is covered if he borrows your car occasionally, and the parents are covered if they drive the teen’s car.

Check out our detailed parents’ guide on the best and cheapest way to insure teenage drivers

Car insurance discounts for 17-year-olds

Discounts can help you cut the high cost of insuring a young driver. Several discounts are available that young drivers can use to reduce their car insurance bills. They vary by state and insurer but may include:

  • Good student: Holding at least a 3.0 or “B” average might nab you a discount of up to 16.
  • Parent-teen driving contract: Some insurers will give teens a 5% discount if the young drivers are willing to sign a contract with their parents that states the driving rules they pledge to follow.

Shopping around can lower the cost of car insurance for 17-year-olds

While adding a teen to your auto insurance policy is expensive, you can cut costs by shopping around and comparing quotes to find the best auto insurance rates.

Car insurance rates should drop once a teen gains a few years of driving experience and keeps a clean driving record. By age 26, costs should decline significantly.

CarInsurance.com has guides for car insurance for 16-year-olds, 18-year-olds and 19-year-olds that break down rates for car insurance for teens.

Other ways to save on car insurance for your teen

To lower car insurance costs, keep a clean driving record. Insurance companies tend to reward drivers of all ages who avoid speeding, accidents, reckless driving and distracted driving. 

And, if your teen is in a minor at-fault accident, filing a claim might not make sense. Before you call your insurance company, clearly understand how much your insurance rates might increase if you file a claim for an at-fault accident. Sometimes, paying out of pocket makes more financial sense over the long haul.

FAQ: How much is car insurance for a 17-year-old?

Can a 17-year-old have a car in their own name and insure it?

In most states, a 17-year-old can own and insure a car, but only if a parent or legal guardian co-signs for the vehicle’s title and insurance coverages.

Are the state minimum requirements enough for my teen driver?

Liability protection is the first step when you insure a 17-year-old but minimums are insufficient. Medical bills and costs tied to property damage can start high and quickly increase, depending on the injuries to those involved. If you’re financing your vehicle, comprehensive and collision coverage are required.

Is a 17-year-old required to have full coverage car insurance?

There is no law requiring teen drivers to have full coverage. However, if the car being driven is leased or financed, the lender will mandate that you have full coverage, including comprehensive and collision insurance.

You only need state-minimum liability insurance to drive legally, which pays for damage and injuries to others in accidents you cause. Since teens are inexperienced, it’s wise to have full coverage for the car your teen drives.

Do you need car insurance to drive with a learner’s permit?

Most states require that you have at least minimum liability insurance to drive. Liability insurance covers damages a driver may cause to people or property in an accident. This also applies to a 17-year-old, who must show that their owner’s policy covers the vehicle.

What are the best cars for 17-year-olds?

Besides protecting your teen, your insurance company may show its appreciation for buying a top car for teens by trimming your rate.

 The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) offers some basics when looking for a vehicle:

  • Vehicles with more powerful engines can tempt (young drivers) to test the limits, according to the IIHS.
  • Get Electronic Stability Control (ESC), which helps maintain control on curves and slippery roads.
  • Consider cars with top IIHS and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reviews.

Final thoughts: Car insurance for 17-year-olds

Being the parent of a teen driver is stressful and expensive. Getting their own policy to teach them independence may be tempting, but adding your teen to your auto insurance policy is a great way to save money.

Make sure you are leading by example. In other words, please don’t text and drive and then tell them it’s unsafe for them to do the same thing. Provide exemplary driving behavior, assure that your children are following GDL laws and shop for car insurance at each renewal to ensure you’re getting the best deal.

These things will ensure your teen understands how to drive safely and result in you paying the least amount possible for their car insurance.

Resources & Methodology

Sources

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. “Teen Drivers: Get the Facts.” Accessed June 2022.

Governors Highway Safety Association. “Teen and Novice Drivers.” Accessed June 2022.

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Highway Loss Data Institute. “Teenagers.” Accessed June 2022.

Methodology

CarInsurance.com commissioned Quadrant Information Services in 2022 to field rates for full coverage auto coverage data by ZIP code for 17-year-old and 40-year-old drivers.

– Michelle Megna contributed to this story.

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

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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

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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

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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.

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Contributing Researcher

Chris Kissell is a Denver-based writer and editor with work featured on U.S. News & World Report, MSN Money, Fox Business, Forbes, Yahoo Finance, Money Talks News and more.