As drivers turn 19, they are becoming better at navigating the rules of the road. Insurance companies reward those few years of driving experience with lower auto insurance rates.

Teen drivers pay much more for insurance than most other policyholders because their inexperience on the road makes them a bigger risk for insurers, says Carole Walker, executive director of the Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association.

“Teen drivers pose a higher risk of crashes than any other age group and often don’t have the maturity and experience to respond to real-world road conditions and situations,” Walker says.

Key Highlights
  • For full coverage, a 19-year-old teen driver pays about $344 monthly for their car insurance policy.
  • Female drivers who are 19 pay an average annual rate of $3,615 for their own policies, which is $517 per year less than males their age. 19-year-old male drivers pay $4,132 per year for car insurance.
  • Island, North Carolina Farm Bureau, New Jersey Manufacturers, USAA and Erie were among those with the cheapest car insurance for 19-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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Industry Expert
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 19-year-old?

The average car insurance rate for 19-year-olds on their own policy is $4,132 yearly for full coverage. That rate is about $2,500 higher than the national average of $1,682 for 40-year-old drivers.

However, the rate for 19-year-olds is significantly lower than the cost for 16-year-olds ($7,625), 17-year-olds ($6,272) and 18-year-olds ($5,565).

Tip iconAverage car insurance rates for teens: 19-year-olds

The average car insurance rate for a 19-year-old who has their own policy is as follows per year:

  • State minimum liability coverage: $1,295
  • Liability coverage with limits of 50/100/50: $1,550
  • 100/300/100 liability with a $500 comprehensive and collision deductible: $4,132

What you pay to insure a teen driver will vary, depending on many factors, ranging from the insurance company you choose to where you live and the coverage limits you want.

How much is car insurance for a 19-year-old each month?

For 19-year-olds with their own car insurance policies, the cost is higher for males than females, and full coverage costs more than liability-only coverage. The table below shows how much car insurance costs for a 19-year-old per month, on average.

Monthly cost for car insurance for 19-year-olds with their own policies
19-year-old teen policyNational average cost per month
Male with liability-only coverage$120
Male with full coverage$324
Female with liability-only coverage$109
Female with full coverage$283

Check out our detailed guide: What are the average car insurance rates by age?

How much is car insurance for a 19-year-old female?

The nationwide average cost for insurance for a 19-year-old female is $3,615 per year on their own policy. Teen female drivers aged 19 pay $517 less than males their age.

Below, you’ll see the average insurance costs for a 19-year-old female in each state and how that compares to the price of a parent policy with the child added on.

Car insurance cost per state for a 19-year-old female
State Teen Policy Parent Policy Parent’s Policy with a 19-year-old Female
Alaska$2,861$1,236$2,078
Alabama$3,330$1,522$2,390
Arkansas$3,456$1,587$2,601
Arizona$3,665$1,649$2,866
California$4,002$2,043$3,508
Colorado$3,963$2,166$3,253
Connecticut$4,366$1,436$2,221
Washington, D.C.$3,646$1,877$2,817
Delaware$4,951$1,707$2,657
Florida$5,621$3,015$4,884
Georgia$3,772$1,638$2,677
Hawaii$1,330$1,282$1,338
Iowa$2,627$1,156$1,797
Idaho$2,578$1,012$1,671
Illinois$3,673$1,474$2,521
Indiana$2,634$1,283$1,978
Kansas$3,175$1,477$2,289
Kentucky$4,606$1,944$3,114
Louisiana$5,538$2,969$5,210
Massachusetts$3,888$1,741$2,785
Maryland$3,908$2,076$3,330
Maine$2,586$988$1,772
Michigan$4,874$3,945$6,338
Minnesota$2,898$1,667$2,592
Missouri$4,594$2,374$3,789
Mississippi$3,544$1,448$2,322
Montana$3,978$1,670$2,701
North Carolina$1,743$1,417$1,831
North Dakota$2,839$1,258$1,919
Nebraska$3,828$1,845$2,839
New Hampshire$3,109$982$1,716
New Jersey$3,970$2,199$3,481
New Mexico$2,968$1,649$2,613
Nevada$4,407$2,327$3,728
New York$3,650$1,832$2,754
Ohio$2,335$1,082$1,804
Oklahoma$3,654$1,954$3,147
Oregon$2,831$1,440$2,306
Pennsylvania$3,904$1,418$2,499
Rhode Island$4,357$1,786$3,219
South Carolina$4,157$1,671$3,009
South Dakota$2,891$1,523$2,162
Tennessee$3,034$1,250$2,131
Texas$4,260$1,880$3,324
Utah$3,363$1,824$3,045
Virginia$2,933$1,210$2,264
Vermont$2,604$1,074$1,864
Washington$3,320$1,462$2,440
Wisconsin$3,189$1,712$3,056
West Virginia$3,791$1,417$2,420
Wyoming$3,177$1,730$2,504

How much is car insurance for a 19-year-old male?

Nineteen-year-old males pay, on average, $4,132 for their own full coverage policy. That’s about $516 more than their female counterparts. You can compare rates for a male 19-year-old with his own policy to that of being added to a parent’s policy.

Car insurance costs per state for a 19-year-old male
State Teen Policy Parent Policy Parent’s Policy with a 19-year-old Male
Alaska$3,413$1,236$2,288
Alabama$3,840$1,522$2,610
Arkansas$4,076$1,587$2,881
Arizona$4,248$1,649$3,191
California$4,002$2,043$3,508
Colorado$4,560$2,166$3,476
Connecticut$5,107$1,436$2,444
Washington, D.C.$4,868$1,877$3,278
Delaware$6,249$1,707$2,885
Florida$6,201$3,015$5,150
Georgia$4,667$1,638$2,986
Hawaii$1,330$1,282$1,338
Iowa$2,982$1,156$1,933
Idaho$3,054$1,012$1,849
Illinois$4,482$1,474$2,913
Indiana$2,960$1,283$2,113
Kansas$3,662$1,477$2,487
Kentucky$5,379$1,944$3,395
Louisiana$6,474$2,969$5,916
Massachusetts$3,888$1,741$2,785
Maryland$4,958$2,076$3,949
Maine$3,197$988$2,151
Michigan$4,874$3,945$6,338
Minnesota$3,506$1,667$2,691
Missouri$5,461$2,374$4,405
Mississippi$4,182$1,448$2,553
Montana$3,978$1,670$2,701
North Carolina$1,743$1,417$1,831
North Dakota$3,393$1,258$2,129
Nebraska$4,539$1,845$3,077
New Hampshire$3,679$982$1,875
New Jersey$4,626$2,199$3,943
New Mexico$3,369$1,649$2,850
Nevada$4,939$2,327$4,017
New York$4,513$1,832$3,237
Ohio$2,687$1,082$1,982
Oklahoma$4,412$1,954$3,695
Oregon$3,093$1,440$2,454
Pennsylvania$3,904$1,418$2,499
Rhode Island$5,246$1,786$3,551
South Carolina$4,635$1,671$3,161
South Dakota$3,518$1,523$2,415
Tennessee$3,577$1,250$2,379
Texas$5,108$1,880$3,761
Utah$3,912$1,824$3,309
Virginia$3,479$1,210$2,558
Vermont$3,121$1,074$2,069
Washington$3,723$1,462$2,557
Wisconsin$3,754$1,712$3,456
West Virginia$4,600$1,417$2,845
Wyoming$4,213$1,730$2,980

Cheapest car insurance for 19-year-olds

Below, you’ll see how significant carriers compare when you add a teen driver age 19-year-old driver to your policy. In this scenario, North Carolina Farm Bureau, Island, New Jersey Manufacturers and USAA were the cheapest among insurance companies we surveyed for adding a female.

Parent’s car insurance policy with a 19-year-old female

Insurance cost for a parent policy with a 19-year-old female
Company Parent’s Policy with a 19-year-old Female
Allstate$3,418
American Family$2,499
Auto Club$3,550
Auto-Owners$2,790
Automobile Club MI$4,410
Geico$2,105
Chubb Ltd$2,950
CSAA Insurance$5,074
Erie Insurance$2,224
Farmers Insurance$4,473
The Hartford$3,128
Iowa Farm Bureau$3,510
Island Insurance$1,713
Kemper Insurance$4,469
Kentucky Farm Bureau$4,385
Mapfre Insurance$2,496
Mercury Insurance$3,632
National General Insurance$5,142
Nationwide$2,144
New Jersey Manufacturers$1,786
North Carolina Farm Bureau$1,551
Oklahoma Farm Bureau$5,259
Palisades$3,065
Progressive$3,273
Shelter Insurance$3,253
State Farm$2,588
Travelers$2,821
USAA$1,835

Parent’s car insurance policy with a 19-year-old male

North Carolina Farm Bureau, Island, New Jersey Manufacturers and USAA were the cheapest for adding 19-year-old male drivers.

Insurance cost for a parent policy with a 19-year-old male
Company Parent’s Policy with a 19-year-old Male
Allstate$3,702
American Family$2,655
Auto Club$3,648
Auto-Owners$2,756
Automobile Club MI$4,747
Geico$2,218
Chubb Ltd$3,364
CSAA Insurance$5,160
Erie Insurance$2,647
Farmers Insurance$4,787
The Hartford$3,203
Iowa Farm Bureau$3,575
Island Insurance$1,713
Kemper Insurance$4,911
Kentucky Farm Bureau$4,252
Mapfre Insurance$2,744
Mercury Insurance$4,396
National General Insurance$5,303
Nationwide$2,255
New Jersey Manufacturers$1,941
North Carolina Farm Bureau$1,551
Oklahoma Farm Bureau$7,490
Palisades$3,232
Progressive$3,556
Shelter Insurance$3,965
State Farm$2,895
Travelers$3,075
USAA$1,950

How much is car insurance for 19-year-olds on their own policies?

If your teen buys their own policy, North Carolina Farm Bureau, Island, Erie and USAA have the lowest female rates for full coverage.

Average annual car insurance rates for a 19-year-old female

See the cost of car insurance for 19-year-old females on their own policies below.

Insurance cost for a teen policy for a 19-year-old female
Company 19-year-old Female Policy
Allstate$4,106
American Family$2,866
Auto Club$4,706
Auto-Owners$2,833
Automobile Club MI$5,041
Geico$2,589
Chubb Ltd$3,489
CSAA Insurance$5,058
Erie Insurance$2,430
Farmers Insurance$5,356
The Hartford$3,915
Iowa Farm Bureau$3,423
Island Insurance$1,668
Kemper Insurance$5,073
Kentucky Farm Bureau$4,978
Mapfre Insurance$3,407
Mercury Insurance$5,045
National General Insurance$4,006
Nationwide$3,056
New Jersey Manufacturers$2,651
North Carolina Farm Bureau$1,273
Oklahoma Farm Bureau$4,728
Palisades$2,946
Progressive$3,884
Shelter Insurance$3,881
State Farm$2,842
Travelers$2,874
USAA$2,455

Average annual car insurance rates for a 19-year-old male

For 19-year-old male drivers on their own policies, North Carolina Farm Bureau, Island, USAA and New Jersey Manufacturers are among the national carriers with the cheapest car insurance rates.

Insurance cost for a teen policy for a 19-year-old male
Company 19-year-old Male Policy
Allstate$4,685
American Family$3,068
Auto Club$5,730
Auto-Owners$3,274
Automobile Club MI$6,543
Geico$2,849
Chubb Ltd$6,624
CSAA Insurance$5,188
Erie Insurance$3,113
Farmers Insurance$5,949
The Hartford$4,038
Iowa Farm Bureau$3,597
Island Insurance$1,668
Kemper Insurance$5,851
Kentucky Farm Bureau$6,270
Mapfre Insurance$4,035
Mercury Insurance$6,223
National General Insurance$4,127
Nationwide$3,605
New Jersey Manufacturers$2,886
North Carolina Farm Bureau$1,273
Oklahoma Farm Bureau$6,706
Palisades$3,241
Progressive$4,366
Shelter Insurance$4,826
State Farm$3,403
Travelers$3,233
USAA$2,652

What’s the best car insurance for 19-year-old drivers?

Start with liability car insurance, which pays for others’ injuries and damage you cause to their property in an accident. Typically, the state minimum coverage isn’t enough – medical costs can quickly escalate if significant injuries follow an accident and property damages.

If you’re financing a vehicle, states usually require comprehensive and collision coverage. If you paid off your car, you decide if you want these coverages, which cover your car following a crash and for damage due to fire, hail, vandalism and animal strikes.

If you opt for comprehensive insurance and collision coverage, consider higher deductibles to lower your rate, and remember that you’ll have to pay for minor repairs following an accident.

When should a parent add a 19-year-old to their car insurance?

You may want to become independent from your parents and get your own insurance policy. Here are a few situations to help you decide how to handle auto insurance:

The 19-year-old lives with their parents and has a clean driving record

See if your parents add you to their policy if that’s an option, as it’s less expensive than getting your own.

The 19-year-old has a good record but doesn’t live with their parents

A separate policy may be smart if you own a car and live independently. You should also have coverage when you don’t own a car but drive another vehicle regularly, such as your roommate’s, through a non-owner car insurance policy.

That coverage provides protection, meets minimum state insurance requirements and offers continual coverage, resulting in lower premiums over time.

The 19-year-old lives with their parents but has a poor driving record

If you live at home and have multiple accidents and tickets, whether or not it makes more sense to get your own policy depends on the number and severity of the accidents and moving violations.

The 19-year-old has a poor record and doesn’t live with their parents

Parents should remove a teen with a poor driving record from the family policy if they no longer live at home. That means you’re on your own and should get a policy in your name.

Car insurance discounts for 19-year-olds

Some car insurance discounts may help 19-year-olds lower their rates, especially if they are still students. For example, if they remain good students, holding on to a 3.0 or “B” average might get a teen a discount of up to 16%.

“Many companies also offer teen driver safety courses that can qualify for discounts,” Walker says.

Other discounts also might be available, such as student-away discounts if a teen attends school away from their parents. Check with your insurer to see which discounts are offered and whether you are eligible.

Shopping around can lower the insurance cost for teens

As you gain more experience driving, your auto insurance rates should fall. Also, shop around and compare rates with several different insurers. This should help you get an excellent policy at the best price.

Average car insurance rates usually significantly decline when drivers hit age 26. But car insurance for 19-year-olds is still cheaper than that for 16-year-olds, 17-year-olds or 18-year-olds.

Other ways to save on car insurance for teens

If you maintain a clean driving record, your rates should fall. Other ways to lower car insurance costs include driving the speed limit and putting your phone away while driving.

If you are at fault in a minor accident, avoiding filing a claim and paying for the damage out of pocket can prevent your rates from rising.

What are the best cars for 19-year-olds?

Sedans and small to midsize SUVs are usually cheaper to insure and are the best cars for teens. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has some advice about choosing safe vehicles for teens:

  • Try to get Electronic Stability Control (ESC). This feature, which helps a driver control curves and slippery roads, is about as good at reducing risks as safety belts.
  • Avoid high horsepower: Vehicles with more powerful engines can tempt (young drivers) to test the limits.
  • Look for cars with the best safety reviews from the IIHS and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Another resource is CarInsurance.com, which provides guidance, including a rundown of the top teen-ready cars that cost less than $15,000 with high safety ratings.

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 19-year-old and 40-year-old drivers.

– Mark Chalon Smith contributed to this story.

Laura Longero

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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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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.