Most drivers who are 18 have had two years of driving under their belts, and that experience begins to pay off in lower car insurance rates. The average car insurance rate for an 18-year-old on their own policy is $5,565 yearly for full coverage.
That rate is $3,883 higher than the national average of $1,682 for 40-year-old drivers. However, the car insurance rate for 18-year-olds is significantly lower than that for 16-year-olds ($7,625 per year and $635 a month) and for 17-year-old drivers ($6,272 per year and $523 per month).
As drivers gain more experience and improve their behind-the-wheel performance, car insurance rates are likely to drop, says Carole Walker, the Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association executive director.
“While teen drivers will pay more for car insurance even with a clean driving record, steering clear of at-fault crashes and citations will help them keep their insurance premiums lower,” she says.
Read more to learn more about car insurance for 18-year-olds.
- For a full coverage policy, an 18-year-old teen driver pays an average of $5,565 per year or $464 monthly for car insurance.
- Female drivers who are 18 pay $4,918 on average, or $647 less than males their age. By contrast, on average, 18-year-old male drivers pay about $5,565 per year for their own car insurance policies.
- Island, North Carolina Farm Bureau, New Jersey Manufacturers, USAA and Erie were among those with the cheapest car insurance for 18-year-olds among carriers surveyed by CarInsurance.com.
- Car insurance for teens: How much is car insurance for 18-year-olds?
- Car insurance for an 18-year-old female, by state
- Car insurance for an 18-year-old male, by state
- Car insurance for 18-year-olds is expensive on their own policies
- Cheapest car insurance companies for 18-year-olds
- How do you get cheaper car insurance for 18-year-olds?
- Car insurance discounts for 18-year-olds
- Shop around for car insurance for 18-year-olds
- Resources & Methodology
Car insurance for teens: How much is car insurance for 18-year-olds?
Average car insurance rates for teens: 18-year-oldsAnnual cost for car insurance for an 18-year-old with their own policy:
- State minimum coverage: $1,786
- Liability limits of 50/100/50: $2,149
- Liability limits of 100/300/100, with comprehensive and collision coverage and a $500 deductible: $5,565
How much you pay to insure your teen driver will vary depending on factors like:
- Your insurance company
- Whether the teen has their own policy or is added to yours
- State of residence
- Type of car driven
- Coverage limits
To show you what to expect to pay for coverage, check out the average annual rates by state in the charts below.
How much is car insurance for an 18-year-old per month?
Car insurance costs an average of $454 per month for an 18-year-old male driver, based on a 2022 CarInsurance.com rate analysis. Female drivers aged 18 pay $410 per month for the same coverage.
Car insurance for an 18-year-old female, by state
The nationwide average cost for insurance for an 18-year-old female on her own policy is $4,918. Teen female drivers aged 18 pay $647 less than males their age. Below, you’ll see average insurance costs by state for an 18-year-old female compared to the price of a parent policy that adds an 18-year-old.
| State | 18-year-old Female Policy | Parent Policy | Parent’s Policy with Teen Added |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $3,567 | $1,236 | $2,254 |
| Alabama | $4,897 | $1,522 | $2,702 |
| Arkansas | $5,007 | $1,587 | $3,007 |
| Arizona | $5,293 | $1,649 | $3,333 |
| California | $5,438 | $2,043 | $4,337 |
| Colorado | $5,603 | $2,166 | $3,723 |
| Connecticut | $5,898 | $1,436 | $2,508 |
| Washington, D.C. | $5,003 | $1,877 | $3,060 |
| Delaware | $6,749 | $1,707 | $2,834 |
| Florida | $8,403 | $3,015 | $5,562 |
| Georgia | $5,003 | $1,638 | $3,019 |
| Hawaii | $1,414 | $1,282 | $1,338 |
| Iowa | $3,208 | $1,156 | $1,918 |
| Idaho | $3,724 | $1,012 | $1,924 |
| Illinois | $4,801 | $1,474 | $2,952 |
| Indiana | $3,445 | $1,283 | $2,244 |
| Kansas | $4,366 | $1,477 | $2,539 |
| Kentucky | $6,147 | $1,944 | $3,823 |
| Louisiana | $7,993 | $2,969 | $5,943 |
| Massachusetts | $5,854 | $1,741 | $3,343 |
| Maryland | $4,713 | $2,076 | $3,904 |
| Maine | $3,319 | $988 | $2,145 |
| Michigan | $6,481 | $3,945 | $6,890 |
| Minnesota | $3,452 | $1,667 | $2,904 |
| Missouri | $5,563 | $2,374 | $4,140 |
| Mississippi | $4,907 | $1,448 | $2,731 |
| Montana | $5,185 | $1,670 | $2,956 |
| North Carolina | $2,854 | $1,417 | $2,514 |
| North Dakota | $4,162 | $1,258 | $2,155 |
| Nebraska | $4,935 | $1,845 | $3,051 |
| New Hampshire | $4,127 | $982 | $1,946 |
| New Jersey | $6,285 | $2,199 | $4,057 |
| New Mexico | $4,155 | $1,649 | $3,068 |
| Nevada | $6,305 | $2,327 | $4,161 |
| New York | $5,038 | $1,832 | $3,408 |
| Ohio | $3,248 | $1,082 | $1,980 |
| Oklahoma | $5,426 | $1,954 | $3,480 |
| Oregon | $3,984 | $1,440 | $2,588 |
| Pennsylvania | $5,169 | $1,418 | $2,901 |
| Rhode Island | $6,351 | $1,786 | $3,734 |
| South Carolina | $5,063 | $1,671 | $3,243 |
| South Dakota | $4,062 | $1,523 | $2,280 |
| Tennessee | $4,612 | $1,250 | $2,409 |
| Texas | $5,732 | $1,880 | $3,732 |
| Utah | $4,940 | $1,824 | $3,466 |
| Virginia | $3,826 | $1,210 | $2,633 |
| Vermont | $3,120 | $1,074 | $2,084 |
| Washington | $4,239 | $1,462 | $3,028 |
| Wisconsin | $4,550 | $1,712 | $3,557 |
| West Virginia | $4,758 | $1,417 | $3,003 |
| Wyoming | $4,163 | $1,730 | $2,953 |
Car insurance for an 18-year-old male, by state
Males aged 18 pay, on average, $5,565 annually for their own full-coverage insurance policy, which is $647 more than their female counterparts. Compare rates for a male 18-year-old with his own policy to that of being added to a parent’s policy.
| State | 18-year-old Male Policy | Parent Policy | Parent’s Policy with Teen Added |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $4,192 | $1,236 | $2,474 |
| Alabama | $5,594 | $1,522 | $2,939 |
| Arkansas | $5,890 | $1,587 | $3,335 |
| Arizona | $6,132 | $1,649 | $3,727 |
| California | $5,438 | $2,043 | $4,337 |
| Colorado | $6,383 | $2,166 | $3,984 |
| Connecticut | $6,860 | $1,436 | $2,746 |
| Washington, D.C. | $6,601 | $1,877 | $3,548 |
| Delaware | $8,572 | $1,707 | $3,108 |
| Florida | $9,433 | $3,015 | $5,979 |
| Georgia | $6,162 | $1,638 | $3,350 |
| Hawaii | $1,414 | $1,282 | $1,338 |
| Iowa | $3,612 | $1,156 | $2,055 |
| Idaho | $4,355 | $1,012 | $2,118 |
| Illinois | $5,748 | $1,474 | $3,393 |
| Indiana | $3,856 | $1,283 | $2,390 |
| Kansas | $5,044 | $1,477 | $2,748 |
| Kentucky | $7,094 | $1,944 | $4,130 |
| Louisiana | $9,149 | $2,969 | $6,794 |
| Massachusetts | $5,854 | $1,741 | $3,343 |
| Maryland | $5,848 | $2,076 | $4,526 |
| Maine | $3,913 | $988 | $2,455 |
| Michigan | $6,481 | $3,945 | $6,890 |
| Minnesota | $4,071 | $1,667 | $3,027 |
| Missouri | $6,497 | $2,374 | $4,725 |
| Mississippi | $5,725 | $1,448 | $2,989 |
| Montana | $5,185 | $1,670 | $2,956 |
| North Carolina | $2,854 | $1,417 | $2,514 |
| North Dakota | $4,929 | $1,258 | $2,383 |
| Nebraska | $5,770 | $1,845 | $3,301 |
| New Hampshire | $4,814 | $982 | $2,125 |
| New Jersey | $7,183 | $2,199 | $4,535 |
| New Mexico | $4,686 | $1,649 | $3,348 |
| Nevada | $7,119 | $2,327 | $4,547 |
| New York | $6,156 | $1,832 | $3,915 |
| Ohio | $3,670 | $1,082 | $2,152 |
| Oklahoma | $6,475 | $1,954 | $4,133 |
| Oregon | $4,323 | $1,440 | $2,756 |
| Pennsylvania | $5,169 | $1,418 | $2,901 |
| Rhode Island | $7,594 | $1,786 | $4,166 |
| South Carolina | $5,629 | $1,671 | $3,368 |
| South Dakota | $4,895 | $1,523 | $2,531 |
| Tennessee | $5,366 | $1,250 | $2,670 |
| Texas | $6,703 | $1,880 | $4,164 |
| Utah | $5,711 | $1,824 | $3,788 |
| Virginia | $4,530 | $1,210 | $2,978 |
| Vermont | $3,692 | $1,074 | $2,305 |
| Washington | $4,755 | $1,462 | $3,186 |
| Wisconsin | $5,283 | $1,712 | $4,002 |
| West Virginia | $5,630 | $1,417 | $3,446 |
| Wyoming | $5,498 | $1,730 | $3,489 |
Car insurance for 18-year-olds is expensive on their own policies
Car insurance for young drivers is much cheaper when parents add the teen to their existing policy. As young drivers gain more experience, their rates should drop. You’ll see in the chart below how much it costs to add a teen driver to a parent policy and how much you save.
| Gender | 18-year-old Policy | Parent’s Policy with Teen Added | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Female | $ 4,918 | $ 3,584 | $ 1,334 |
| Male | $ 5,565 | $ 3,865 | $ 1,700 |
Check out our detailed parents’ guide on the best and cheapest way to insure teenage drivers
Cheapest car insurance companies for 18-year-olds
Below you’ll see how major carriers compare rates when you add a teen driver age 18 to your coverage.
How much is car insurance for 18-year-old females with parents?
In this scenario, Island, North Carolina Farm Bureau, New Jersey Manufacturers, USAA and Nationwide were the cheapest among insurance companies we surveyed for adding a female.
| Company | Parent’s Policy with 18-year-old Female Added |
|---|---|
| Allstate | $3,776 |
| American Family | $2,720 |
| Auto Club | $3,956 |
| Auto-Owners | $3,209 |
| Automobile Club MI | $4,486 |
| Geico | $2,429 |
| Chubb Ltd | $3,261 |
| CSAA Insurance | $6,228 |
| Erie Insurance | $2,374 |
| Farmers Insurance | $5,477 |
| The Hartford | $3,260 |
| Iowa Farm Bureau | $3,534 |
| Island Insurance | $1,713 |
| Kemper Insurance | $5,348 |
| Kentucky Farm Bureau | $4,385 |
| Mapfre Insurance | $2,496 |
| Mercury Insurance | $4,597 |
| National General Insurance | $6,233 |
| Nationwide | $2,360 |
| New Jersey Manufacturers | $1,966 |
| North Carolina Farm Bureau | $1,939 |
| Oklahoma Farm Bureau | $5,684 |
| Palisades | $3,554 |
| Progressive | $3,592 |
| Shelter Insurance | $3,457 |
| State Farm | $2,775 |
| Travelers | $3,280 |
| USAA | $2,151 |
How much is car insurance for an 18-year-old male with parents?
Island, North Carolina Farm Bureau, New Jersey Manufacturers, USAA and Nationwide have the cheapest car insurance for 18-year-olds.
| Company | Parent’s Policy with 18-year-old Male Added |
|---|---|
| Allstate | $4,111 |
| American Family | $2,894 |
| Auto Club | $4,028 |
| Auto-Owners | $3,165 |
| Automobile Club MI | $4,826 |
| Geico | $2,566 |
| Chubb Ltd | $3,673 |
| CSAA Insurance | $6,321 |
| Erie Insurance | $2,756 |
| Farmers Insurance | $5,809 |
| The Hartford | $3,345 |
| Iowa Farm Bureau | $3,580 |
| Island Insurance | $1,713 |
| Kemper Insurance | $5,851 |
| Kentucky Farm Bureau | $4,252 |
| Mapfre Insurance | $2,744 |
| Mercury Insurance | $5,570 |
| National General Insurance | $6,543 |
| Nationwide | $2,506 |
| New Jersey Manufacturers | $2,142 |
| North Carolina Farm Bureau | $1,939 |
| Oklahoma Farm Bureau | $8,384 |
| Palisades | $3,763 |
| Progressive | $3,874 |
| Shelter Insurance | $4,454 |
| State Farm | $3,072 |
| Travelers | $3,603 |
| USAA | $2,270 |
How much is car insurance for 18-year-old females?
If your teen buys her own policy, Island, North Carolina Farm Bureau, Erie Insurance, USAA and New Jersey Manufacturers came in with the lowest female rates for full coverage.
| Company | 18-year-old Female Policy |
|---|---|
| Allstate | $5,565 |
| American Family | $3,434 |
| Auto Club | $5,619 |
| Auto-Owners | $3,354 |
| Automobile Club MI | $5,326 |
| Geico | $3,190 |
| Chubb Ltd | $3,894 |
| CSAA Insurance | $6,934 |
| Erie Insurance | $2,788 |
| Farmers Insurance | $8,358 |
| The Hartford | $5,704 |
| Iowa Farm Bureau | $3,685 |
| Island Insurance | $1,668 |
| Kemper Insurance | $6,114 |
| Kentucky Farm Bureau | $4,978 |
| Mapfre Insurance | $3,407 |
| Mercury Insurance | $8,079 |
| National General Insurance | $5,208 |
| Nationwide | $3,792 |
| New Jersey Manufacturers | $3,140 |
| North Carolina Farm Bureau | $2,479 |
| Oklahoma Farm Bureau | $5,094 |
| Palisades | $7,007 |
| Progressive | $6,506 |
| Shelter Insurance | $4,177 |
| State Farm | $3,303 |
| Travelers | $3,549 |
| USAA | $3,124 |
How much is car insurance for 18-year-old males?
For male drivers aged 18 on their own insurance policies, Island, North Carolina Farm Bureau, USAA, New Jersey Manufacturers and Erie are among the national carriers with the cheapest car insurance rates.
| Company | 18-year-old Male Policy |
|---|---|
| Allstate | $6,371 |
| American Family | $3,681 |
| Auto Club | $6,811 |
| Auto-Owners | $3,935 |
| Automobile Club MI | $6,531 |
| Geico | $3,547 |
| Chubb Ltd | $7,433 |
| CSAA Insurance | $7,084 |
| Erie Insurance | $3,514 |
| Farmers Insurance | $9,083 |
| The Hartford | $5,858 |
| Iowa Farm Bureau | $3,835 |
| Island Insurance | $1,668 |
| Kemper Insurance | $6,997 |
| Kentucky Farm Bureau | $6,270 |
| Mapfre Insurance | $4,035 |
| Mercury Insurance | $9,768 |
| National General Insurance | $5,437 |
| Nationwide | $4,429 |
| New Jersey Manufacturers | $3,429 |
| North Carolina Farm Bureau | $2,479 |
| Oklahoma Farm Bureau | $7,493 |
| Palisades | $7,720 |
| Progressive | $7,215 |
| Shelter Insurance | $5,321 |
| State Farm | $3,954 |
| Travelers | $4,047 |
| USAA | $3,362 |
How do you get cheaper car insurance for 18-year-olds?
Rather than skimping on coverage, a better idea is to maximize discounts and shop around regularly for the best insurance coverage. Accident- and ticket-free driving, comparison shopping and maximizing discounts will help you find the cheapest car insurance rates for teens.
“Many big car insurance companies offer discounts to good students. Students are eligible for discounts if they have excellent academic performance, such as a high GPA or high test scores on SAT or ACT,” says associate professor Ting Liu of the College of Arts and Sciences at Stony Brook University.
“Some companies offer multiple policy discounts. For example, if a student needs renters insurance and car insurance, it is a good idea to buy the two policies from the same company and ask for a multiple policy discount.”
Car insurance discounts for 18-year-olds
Here are some typical car insurance discounts for teens:
- Good student discount: A savings of up to 16% may be available for drivers who maintain a 3.0 or “B” average in the classroom, but the average is 7%.
- Student-away discount: College students who live away from home could qualify for this discount.
Shop around for car insurance for 18-year-olds
Adding a teen to an insurance policy or getting their own car insurance is costly. The best way to minimize the pain is to shop around. Compare car insurance quotes from multiple insurance companies. Each insurer uses its own method for calculating what you pay, so prices for the same policy vary.
There is some good news. Car insurance gets cheaper as you age. Average car insurance rates by age show that premiums begin to decrease significantly when drivers turn 26. CarInsurance.com has guides for car insurance for 16-year-olds, 17-year-olds and 19-year-olds that break down rates for car insurance for teens.
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 auto coverage data by ZIP code for 16-year-old and 40-year-old drivers.
– Michelle Megna contributed to this story.
