How much is car insurance for 18-year-olds in 2026?

By age 18, your teen likely has around two years of driving experience and can legally get their own insurance policy in most states. However, it is usually still less expensive for them to stay on your policy, even though the savings are not as big as they were at 16 or 17.

On average, it costs $6,588 per year to add an 18-year-old female to your policy, and $7,143 for a male of the same age. If your teen gets their own policy, the average cost is $7,047 for females and $7,946 for males.

The cost difference between staying on a parent’s policy and having a separate policy is $459 for females and $803 for males, which is the smallest gap among teen drivers. Even so, adding an 18-year-old can make your full-coverage bill about two and a half times higher than an adult-only policy.

“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,” says Carole Walker, executive director at Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association.

Car insurance for teens: How much is car insurance for an 18-year-old?

An 18-year-old female pays an average of $7,047 per year for her own policy, and male teens pay $7,946 for the same coverage. Staying on a parent’s policy lowers the combined premium to $6,588 for a female teen and $7,143 for a male teen, saving families $459 to $803 a year.

At 18, your teen is considered an adult in most states and can get their own insurance policy. However, unless they are moving out, getting married or joining the military, it is usually cheaper for them to stay on a parent’s policy.

Your premium is based partly on your driving record and any discounts you’ve earned. But an 18-year-old usually has little driving history, so adding them to your policy means your insurer factors their higher risk into your existing rate.

In addition to your driving record, where you live can make a big difference in your premium. In Louisiana, a family policy with an 18-year-old female costs an average of $10,483 a year. In Vermont, the same coverage costs $4,585 for adding a female teen.

How much is insurance for an 18-year-old per month?

Car insurance costs an average of $662 per month for an 18-year-old male driver, and $587 per month for a female driver with the same coverage.

Average insurance rates for used cars for teen drivers

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Why is car insurance expensive for 18-year-olds?

Insurance companies charge higher rates for 18-year-olds because young drivers are more likely to be involved in serious crashes. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) reports that teen drivers are involved in crashes at nearly four times the rate of drivers age 20 and older, per mile driven. Premiums are higher for this reason and will only start to go down as your teen gains more experience behind the wheel and maintains a clean driving record.

Should your 18-year-old stay on your policy or get their own?

In most states, 18-year-olds can purchase their own car insurance because they’ve reached the age of majority. Alabama is the exception; the age of majority there is 19.

That said, staying on a parent’s policy is still the cheaper option for most 18-year-olds. The savings are smaller than they were at 16 or 17, but still meaningful: females save an average of $459 a year by staying on a parent’s policy, and male teens save an average of $803.

Some circumstances require an 18-year-old to carry their own policy regardless of cost. If they’ve moved out, joined the military, established a permanent address in another state, or purchased a vehicle in their own name, insurers will typically require a separate policy. The garaging address, where the car is primarily kept, is what insurers look at most closely in these situations.

Outside of these exceptions, most 18-year-olds can remain on a parent’s policy until age 25, and financially, that’s usually the better call.

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Car insurance rates for an 18-year-old female, by state

The nationwide average insurance cost for an 18-year-old female on her own policy is $7,047. Below, you’ll see average car insurance costs by state for an 18-year-old female compared to the price of a parent policy that adds an 18-year-old.

Car insurance rates for an 18-year-old male, by state

On average, males aged 18 pay $7,946 annually for their own full-coverage insurance policy, which is $899 more than females of the same age. The table below compares rates for an 18-year-old male with his own policy to those of being added to a parent’s policy.

State laws in California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Michigan, Pennsylvania  and North Carolina prohibit insurers from calculating premiums based on gender. That’s why the rates in these states are similar for male and female drivers.

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

Cheapest car insurance companies for 18-year-olds

Travelers and GEICO offer the cheapest car insurance for 18-year-olds among widely available carriers. USAA rates are lower, but only military families and members can qualify.

Car insurance for 18-year-old females on a parent’s policy, by company

Travelers, Nationwide and GEICO offer the cheapest car insurance for parents with an 18-year-old female driver on their policy. Remember to compare prices and key policy elements, such as coverage limits and deductibles.

See rates for 18-year-old females on a parent’s policy in the table below.

*USAA is only available to military community members and their families.

Car insurance for an 18-year-old male with parents, by company

Travelers, Nationwide and GEICO offer the cheapest car insurance for 18-year-old male drivers. The table below shows more rates for 18-year-olds.

*USAA is only available to military community members and their families.

Car insurance for 18-year-old females on their own policies

If your teen buys their own policy, Travelers, GEICO and State Farm offer the lowest female rates. See the rates in the table below.

*USAA is only available to military community members and their families.

Car insurance for 18-year-old males on their own policies

For male drivers aged 18, Travelers, GEICO and State Farm are among the national carriers with the cheapest car insurance rates.

*USAA is only available to military community members and their families.

How to choose the best car insurance company for your teen 

When picking an insurance company for your 18-year-old, focus on three things: claims-satisfaction scores (J.D. Power), complaint ratios (NAIC) and financial strength (AM Best). USAA scores highest in all three, but most families are not eligible. For companies that are open to everyone, Erie (743 J.D. Power) and Nationwide (729) have the best claims-satisfaction scores.

*USAA is only available to military community members and their families.

Best car insurance companies for 18-year-olds

The best insurer for your teen driver will vary depending on a wide range of factors, including their driving record and the vehicles you are insuring. Our analysts looked at the data, and these are the cheapest insurers for 18-year-old drivers:

Female drivers: Keeping teens on your policy is cheaper than getting them their own policy. Travelers had the cheapest insurance for an 18-year-old female on her parent’s policy at $4,601. Nationwide ($5,816) is No. 2, and GEICO ($5,849) rounded out the top three.

If a female teen moves to her own policy, the cost of coverage increases. Travelers is the cheapest at $5,168, GEICO is the second-cheapest at $5,688, and State Farm is the third-cheapest at $6,912. 

Male drivers: Teen males are typically more expensive to insure than female teens, and the data support this. Travelers is the cheapest insurer for a male teenager on their parents’ policy at $5,185 per year. Nationwide is second ($6,149), and GEICO is third ($6,429).

The cheapest option for a teen male on his own policy is Travelers, at $5,965. GEICO took second place at $6,259, and State Farm, with an average annual cost of $8,164, finished third. 

USAA was the cheapest option in every category, but it is only available to military families and members. If your teen qualifies for USAA coverage, they can get the most affordable rates from a well-reviewed insurance company. 

Used cars that cost the least to insure for 18-year-olds

The cost of auto insurance depends on many factors, including age, gender and location. However, the type of vehicle you drive is also a factor, regardless of age. Used vehicles are often cheaper than new models, both to purchase and to insure.

The following are some of the cheapest used cars that cost the least to insure for a teen driver:

What are the best cars for an 18-year-old?

The best vehicle for an 18-year-old will vary, but in general, it’s best to avoid luxury and sports cars to keep your premium affordable. Consider sedans, minivans and small to midsize SUVs, which tend to be cheaper to insure and often top best cars for teens lists.

A vehicle equipped with advanced safety features can lead to discounts that lower your premium while keeping your teen safe.

Another way to keep your insurance affordable is to put your teen in an older vehicle that you would replace if it were stolen or in an accident. Carrying liability only on a teen’s vehicle will help keep your coverage reasonable.

Special considerations for 18-year-old college students

If your 18-year-old is going to college and leaves their car at home, check with your insurance company about the student-away discount. It usually saves you on insurance rates if your teen lives more than 100 miles from home and is not the main driver of any household vehicle. Your teen will stay on your policy, but you save money because they are driving less. You might need to provide proof, such as yearly enrollment and addresses.

Associate Professor Ting Liu of Stony Brook University explains, “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 SAT scores.

Some companies offer multiple policy discounts. For example, if a student needs renters insurance and car insurance, buying both policies from the same company is a good idea and asking for a multiple policy discount.”

Before your 18-year-old leaves for school, call your insurance company to check two things. First, make sure the student-away discount is applied if your teen qualifies. Second, confirm that the garaging address matches where the car will be parked most of the year.

Ways to save on car insurance for an 18-year-old

A handful of discounts and policy choices can meaningfully lower what you pay for an 18-year-old driver.

Adding an 18-year-old on your policy, getting a good-student discount, picking a low-risk vehicle, raising your deductible and dropping comprehensive or collision coverage on an older car that’s already paid off are some of the most effective ways to save on car insurance.

Let’s learn about these in detail:

• Obtain coverage through a parent or guardian: Adding a child to the family car insurance policy can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars less than if a teen purchases their own coverage.

• Choose an affordable make and model: Popular models like the Toyota RAV-4, Kia Soul, and Mazda CX-5 are among the cheapest vehicles for teens to insure.

• Raise your deductible: If you can afford it, choosing a higher deductible for comprehensive and collision insurance can lead to a lower premium.

• Drop unnecessary coverage: If your teen drives an older vehicle that has depreciated significantly and is paid off, it may no longer be worth carrying comprehensive and collision coverage. Liability insurance is still a must.
• Look for car insurance discounts for teens. Two of the most common are:
  1. Good student discount: A savings of up to 12% may be available for drivers who maintain a 3.0 or “B” average in the classroom.
  2. Student-away discount: College students living away from home may qualify.

Your next step

Adding an 18-year-old to a parent’s insurance policy or getting their own car insurance policy 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 to calculate your premium, so prices for the same policy can vary.

There is some good news. Car insurance premiums tend to decrease as you age. Average rates by age show that premiums decrease significantly when drivers turn 26. CarInsurance.com has guides on car insurance for 16, 17, and 19-year-olds that break down teen rates.

Frequently Asked Questions: Car insurance for 18-year-olds

Why is car insurance for 18-year-olds expensive?

Teens have less experience behind the wheel and are statistically more likely to be involved in crashes, which is why their rates run higher.

According to IIHS, teenagers are disproportionately involved in car accidents, even though they drive less than most other age groups. The crash rate for 16- to 19-year-olds is nearly four times the rate for drivers 20 and older. 

Young drivers lack the experience older drivers have, leading to accidents and claims that will always raise your premium. Rates will drop if a teen driver keeps it safe out on the road and will hit the normal range around age 25.

Do 18-year-olds have to buy full coverage insurance?

No state requires drivers to carry full coverage car insurance. Almost all of them require that you carry a certain amount of liability coverage; the required amount varies by state. If your teen drives an older vehicle that you would replace if it were in an accident, there is probably no need to carry full coverage car insurance.

However, if you have a loan or lease on the vehicle your teen is driving, your lender will require that you carry full coverage to protect their investment.

Does an 18-year-old need car insurance to get a license?

No, you do not need car insurance to get a driver’s license. Many people with a driver’s license don’t own a car or have insurance coverage. However, in most states, you must have car insurance to legally drive or register a vehicle.

Most states require you to carry a certain amount of liability insurance to register a car and drive it legally on the street. 

What are the rules for 18-year-old drivers?

The rules of the road are the same for everyone, regardless of age. Teen drivers need to keep their driving records clean to get the best coverage rates. If a teen gets a speeding ticket or an accident on their record, their insurance cost will skyrocket. 

Can an 18-year-old have their own policy?

In most states, the answer is yes, but it depends on your state’s “age of majority.” In almost all states, the age is 18, but it may be higher in some states; for example, in Alabama, it is 19. 

The age of majority is when a person can legally enter into a contract on their own. Since an insurance policy is a contract, most 18-year-olds can purchase their own insurance coverage. 

Can an 18-year-old own a car?

Yes, in most states, but again, it depends on your state. If you are paying cash for a vehicle and will own it outright, then owning a car as an 18-year-old is possible in most states. 

However, if you need to finance the vehicle, the answer may vary. Purchasing a vehicle typically involves some type of contract if you are financing or leasing a vehicle, and you must be the age of majority in your state to enter into a contract. In most states, the age of majority is 18, but it can vary.

Resources & Methodology

Sources

1. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. “Teen Drivers: Get the Facts.” Accessed June 2026.
2. Governors Highway Safety Association. “Teen and Novice Drivers.” Accessed June 2026.
3. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Highway Loss Data Institute. “Teenagers.” Accessed June 2026.

Methodology

CarInsurance.com commissioned Quadrant Information Services to get car insurance rates. The rates are based on the sample profiles of 18-year-old male and female drivers carrying full coverage policies with limits of 100/300/100 and $500 collision and comprehensive deductibles. 

The car insurance rate for the teen added to a parent’s policy includes coverage for one family car owned and insured by the parents. This data provides a comprehensive comparison of car insurance costs for teenage drivers as independent policyholders and when added to a parent’s existing policy. Read the detailed methodology for more information.