- How much is car insurance a month for a 19 year old?
- Car insurance cost for a 19 year old female
- Car insurance price for an 19 year old male
- What’s the cheapest car insurance for 19 year olds?
- How much does it cost to add a 19-year-old to car insurance?
- How much you save by adding a 19-year-old to your insurance vs. teen’s own policy
- Car insurance for 19-year old: State minimum coverage
- Does a 19-year-old have to have full coverage?
- Adding a 19 year old driver to parents' policy can save money
- When parents should add a teen to a policy (and when they shouldn't)?
- What's the best insurance for teenage drivers?
- car insurance discounts for 19-year-old
- What are the best cars for a 19 year old?
- Compare car insurance rates to get the best deal
Car insurance for a 19-year-old driver is nearly $3,560, on average, for a year of full coverage on their own policy. That’s more than $1,800 over the national average ($1,758) for drivers age 30.
Newly licensed drivers are expensive to insure. They are inexperienced, naturally, and have a high rate of accidents. Auto insurance companies view that as risky. So, they charge new, teen drivers much higher rates.
Here we will provide average car insurance rates for 19-year-old males and females by state, as well as by coverage level, and show how a parent's rates are affected when teens are added to their policy. You'll also get expert advice on how much coverage to buy and discounts for young drivers.
- For a full coverage policy, a 19 year old teen driver pays about $300 a month for car insurance.
- 19 years old female drivers pay about $600 less than males their age and the average cost of car insurance for 19 year old female is $3,250.
- Concord, Progressive, USAA, Geico, Liberty Mutual, Erie and Travelers are the companies that provide cheapest car insurance policies for 19 years old teens.
- According to Carinsurance.com's analysis, if you add a 19 year old teen to your car insurance policy, your rates are likely to increase by about 70%.
How much is car insurance a month for a 19 year old?
On average, teen drivers age 19 will pay about $300 a month for car insurance for a full coverage policy. If you buy just enough insurance to drive legally in your state, it’s about $100 a month. Below are car insurance costs per month for common coverage levels:
- State minimum policy: $107
- Full coverage, 100/300/100 liability with comprehensive and collision: $295
| Age 19 | State minimum monthly rate | Full coverage monthly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Female | $100 | $270 |
| Male | $114 | $322 |
| Average | $107 | $295 |
Car insurance cost for a 19 year old female
The average cost for insurance for a 19-year-old female is $3,250. That’s for a policy of her own that includes comprehensive and collision coverage, with liability limits of 100/300/100. Teen female drivers age 19 pay about $600 less than males their age.
Below you’ll see average insurance costs by the state for a 19-year-old woman, and how that compares to the price of a parent policy with the teen driver added. You'll see that adding a teen is much less expensive. That's because when teens get their own policy, they qualify for few discounts compared to their parents. Also, teens are commonly listed as a secondary driver on parents' policies.
Car insurance for a 19-year-old woman
| State | Teen Policy | Parent Policy | Parents' Policy with Teen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $3,088 | $1,318 | $2,427 |
| Alabama | $3,918 | $1,479 | $2,373 |
| Arkansas | $3,656 | $1,550 | $2,609 |
| Arizona | $3,221 | $1,533 | $2,551 |
| California | $4,284 | $2,018 | $2,899 |
| Colorado | $3,627 | $1,733 | $2,772 |
| Connecticut | $4,562 | $1,914 | $3,571 |
| DC | $3,383 | $1,690 | $2,651 |
| Delaware | $3,829 | $1,736 | $2,696 |
| Florida | $4,931 | $2,502 | $3,844 |
| Georgia | $3,834 | $1,638 | $2,683 |
| Hawaii | $1,309 | $1,287 | $1,364 |
| Iowa | $2,295 | $1,054 | $1,762 |
| Idaho | $2,518 | $1,105 | $1,781 |
| Illinois | $2,760 | $1,208 | $2,104 |
| Indiana | $2,600 | $1,237 | $1,945 |
| Kansas | $2,910 | $1,408 | $2,098 |
| Kentucky | $3,927 | $1,682 | $2,778 |
| Louisiana | $5,122 | $2,547 | $4,026 |
| Massachusetts | $3,613 | $1,469 | $2,505 |
| Maryland | $3,570 | $1,615 | $2,477 |
| Maine | $2,095 | $879 | $1,433 |
| Michigan | $6,515 | $2,900 | $4,871 |
| Minnesota | $2,557 | $1,233 | $2,039 |
| Missouri | $2,915 | $1,350 | $1,938 |
| Mississippi | $3,117 | $1,400 | $2,093 |
| Montana | $3,470 | $1,530 | $1,991 |
| North Carolina | $1,336 | $1,150 | $1,346 |
| North Dakota | $2,478 | $1,155 | $1,758 |
| Nebraska | $2,544 | $1,230 | $1,783 |
| New Hampshire | $2,751 | $1,159 | $2,083 |
| New Jersey | $3,364 | $1,595 | $2,613 |
| New Mexico | $3,217 | $1,387 | $2,315 |
| Nevada | $4,055 | $1,905 | $3,264 |
| New York | $3,172 | $1,777 | $2,869 |
| Ohio | $2,348 | $997 | $1,549 |
| Oklahoma | $3,509 | $1,812 | $3,014 |
| Oregon | $3,446 | $1,504 | $2,430 |
| Pennsylvania | $3,446 | $1,503 | $2,608 |
| Rhode Island | $4,374 | $1,939 | $3,600 |
| South Carolina | $3,337 | $1,653 | $2,417 |
| South Dakota | $2,552 | $1,226 | $1,761 |
| Tennessee | $2,961 | $1,214 | $2,171 |
| Texas | $4,420 | $1,618 | $2,802 |
| Utah | $2,863 | $1,267 | $2,090 |
| Virginia | $2,353 | $929 | $1,504 |
| Vermont | $2,307 | $1,004 | $1,803 |
| Washington | $2,825 | $1,269 | $2,111 |
| Wisconsin | $2,496 | $1,148 | $1,761 |
| West Virginia | $3,319 | $1,351 | $2,094 |
| Wyoming | $2,596 | $1,384 | $1,951 |
Car insurance price for an 19 year old male
Men age 19 pay, on average, $3,870 for their own full coverage policy. That’s $620 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 his parents’ coverage.
Car insurance for a 19-year-old man
| State | Teen Policy | Parent Policy | Parents' Policy with Teen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $3,800 | $1,318 | $2,723 |
| Alabama | $4,549 | $1,479 | $2,548 |
| Arkansas | $4,400 | $1,550 | $2,815 |
| Arizona | $3,814 | $1,533 | $2,817 |
| California | $5,156 | $2,018 | $3,415 |
| Colorado | $4,283 | $1,733 | $2,981 |
| Connecticut | $5,590 | $1,914 | $4,205 |
| DC | $4,309 | $1,690 | $3,074 |
| Delaware | $4,666 | $1,736 | $2,981 |
| Florida | $5,605 | $2,502 | $4,112 |
| Georgia | $4,822 | $1,638 | $3,149 |
| Hawaii | $1,309 | $1,287 | $1,364 |
| Iowa | $2,773 | $1,054 | $1,999 |
| Idaho | $3,136 | $1,105 | $2,052 |
| Illinois | $3,347 | $1,208 | $2,317 |
| Indiana | $3,230 | $1,237 | $2,163 |
| Kansas | $3,519 | $1,408 | $2,317 |
| Kentucky | $4,686 | $1,682 | $3,083 |
| Louisiana | $6,236 | $2,547 | $4,497 |
| Massachusetts | $3,613 | $1,469 | $2,505 |
| Maryland | $4,467 | $1,615 | $2,856 |
| Maine | $2,597 | $879 | $1,859 |
| Michigan | $6,598 | $2,900 | $4,941 |
| Minnesota | $3,260 | $1,233 | $2,249 |
| Missouri | $3,524 | $1,350 | $2,197 |
| Mississippi | $3,593 | $1,400 | $2,291 |
| Montana | $3,470 | $1,530 | $1,991 |
| North Carolina | $1,336 | $1,150 | $1,369 |
| North Dakota | $3,078 | $1,155 | $1,977 |
| Nebraska | $3,070 | $1,230 | $2,008 |
| New Hampshire | $3,320 | $1,159 | $2,377 |
| New Jersey | $3,785 | $1,595 | $2,908 |
| New Mexico | $3,911 | $1,387 | $2,621 |
| Nevada | $4,816 | $1,905 | $3,746 |
| New York | $4,221 | $1,777 | $3,591 |
| Ohio | $2,826 | $997 | $1,761 |
| Oklahoma | $4,269 | $1,812 | $3,490 |
| Oregon | $3,925 | $1,504 | $2,638 |
| Pennsylvania | $3,417 | $1,503 | $2,608 |
| Rhode Island | $5,333 | $1,939 | $4,227 |
| South Carolina | $4,157 | $1,653 | $2,760 |
| South Dakota | $3,291 | $1,226 | $2,036 |
| Tennessee | $3,609 | $1,214 | $2,496 |
| Texas | $5,259 | $1,618 | $3,150 |
| Utah | $3,473 | $1,267 | $2,381 |
| Virginia | $2,922 | $929 | $1,704 |
| Vermont | $2,931 | $1,004 | $2,121 |
| Washington | $3,281 | $1,269 | $2,274 |
| Wisconsin | $3,143 | $1,148 | $2,069 |
| West Virginia | $4,069 | $1,351 | $2,419 |
| Wyoming | $3,584 | $1,384 | $2,308 |
What’s the cheapest car insurance for 19 year olds?
Below you’ll see how auto insurance companies rank in price for a 19-year-old driver buying his or her own full coverage policy. Concord, Progressive, USAA, Geico, Liberty Mutual, Erie and Travelers are the national carriers that have the cheapest car insurance for 19-year-olds, among companies surveyed by CarInsurance.com. Those insurers, along with State Farm, Farmers, Arbella and other regional companies, all came in well below the national average rate for drivers age 19.
| Company | Average rate full coverage |
|---|---|
| North Carolina Farm Bureau | $1,148 |
| Concord | $1,518 |
| Progressive | $1,606 |
| USAA | $1,757 |
| Geico | $1,842 |
| Liberty Mutual | $2,082 |
| Erie | $2,546 |
| New Jersey Manufacturers | $2,556 |
| Mississippi Farm Bureau | $2,637 |
| Travelers | $2,777 |
| New York Central | $2,814 |
| Owners Insurance | $2,855 |
| Texas Farm Bureau | $3,003 |
| State Farm | $3,105 |
| Farmers | $3,300 |
| Arbella | $3,522 |
| Depositors | $3,585 |
| MMG | $3,622 |
| AAA Texas County | $3,896 |
| Nationwide | $3,950 |
| Safety Insurance | $4,017 |
| Mid Century | $4,167 |
| United Financial | $4,401 |
| Allstate | $4,471 |
| Louisiana Farm Bureau | $4,510 |
| Metropolitan | $4,546 |
| Safeco | $4,786 |
| Colonial County | $4,818 |
| Allied | $5,155 |
| Oklahoma Farm Bureau | $5,171 |
| Kentucky Farm Bureau | $5,404 |
| Safeway | $5,653 |
| Foremost | $6,033 |
| Victoria | $6,563 |
| Amica | $6,587 |
How much does it cost to add a 19-year-old to car insurance?
Though adding a teen to a parent policy is cheaper than the teen having his or her own separate policy, the cost of adding a teen driver can still be pricey. Below are the average annual costs to add a 19-year-old man or woman to your coverage.
| Driver age 19 | Cost to add to state minimum parent policy | Cost to add to full coverage parent policy |
|---|---|---|
| Female | $350 | $900 |
| Male | $435 | $1,180 |
Every situation is different, but to get an idea of what you can expect to pay, CarInsurance.com compared rates in each state and added a 19-year old teen to the policy. Here's what happened:
- The average household's car insurance bill rose by about 70% to add a teen age 19.
- A 19-year-old male son was more expensive. The average bill rose 60%, compared with 80% for women age 19.
How much you save by adding a 19-year-old to your insurance vs. teen’s own policy
You’ll see in the chart below how much it costs to add a teen driver to a parent’s full coverage policy, and how much you save doing so:
| Driver age 19 | Teen policy | Parent policy with teen | Savings between teen policy and adding to parent policy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Female | $3,250 | $2,392 | $858 |
| Male | $3,870 | $2,677 | $1,193 |
When it comes to car insurance for young drivers, most parents take the easier, and far more common, approach of adding a teen to their policy. For one thing, it's likely to be cheaper.
Insurers base premiums on several factors, including the experience and driving record of the policyholder. A 19-year-old won't have that, which means higher rates.
Also, as CarInsurance.com Senior Consumer Analyst Penny Gusner points out, the teen won't be eligible for rate reductions the parent may qualify for, including multi-vehicle, multi-policy and loyalty discounts. Still, adding a 19-year-old driver to your policy means a significant hike in your rates
Car insurance for 19-year old: State minimum coverage
If you are looking to pay the least amount you can to drive legally, you should buy a policy that satisfies just your state’s minimum car insurance requirements. You will pay less for minimum liability limits, but you will also have less protection. If you go this route, your insurance will pay for others’ injuries and car damage, but not for your own injuries or car repairs. You’ll see in the charts below how much minimum coverage costs, on average, per year in each state, for a teen buying his or her own policy. Included is also how much it costs to add a driver age 19 to a parents' policy.
Car insurance for a 19-year-old woman: State minimum coverage
| State | Teen Policy | Parent Policy | Parents' Policy with Teen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $841 | $353 | $710 |
| Alabama | $1,360 | $465 | $798 |
| Arkansas | $1,269 | $483 | $883 |
| Arizona | $1,139 | $489 | $875 |
| California | $1,174 | $557 | $788 |
| Colorado | $1,245 | $529 | $845 |
| Connecticut | $2,123 | $866 | $1,609 |
| DC | $1,370 | $676 | $1,071 |
| Delaware | $1,806 | $830 | $1,320 |
| Florida | $2,003 | $1,030 | $1,580 |
| Georgia | $1,306 | $578 | $1,008 |
| Hawaii | $426 | $420 | $440 |
| Iowa | $733 | $329 | $588 |
| Idaho | $952 | $389 | $669 |
| Illinois | $1,102 | $460 | $840 |
| Indiana | $942 | $442 | $715 |
| Kansas | $1,006 | $441 | $717 |
| Kentucky | $1,289 | $489 | $894 |
| Louisiana | $1,617 | $729 | $1,261 |
| Massachusetts | $1,295 | $556 | $918 |
| Maryland | $1,692 | $772 | $1,184 |
| Maine | $815 | $351 | $587 |
| Michigan | $2,833 | $1,557 | $2,334 |
| Minnesota | $1,144 | $555 | $930 |
| Missouri | $995 | $428 | $664 |
| Mississippi | $1,086 | $417 | $694 |
| Montana | $932 | $367 | $525 |
| North Carolina | $598 | $491 | $597 |
| North Dakota | $757 | $342 | $542 |
| Nebraska | $913 | $390 | $604 |
| New Hampshire | $1,164 | $497 | $889 |
| New Jersey | $1,501 | $791 | $1,225 |
| New Mexico | $1,129 | $443 | $778 |
| Nevada | $1,234 | $544 | $1,026 |
| New York | $1,328 | $764 | $1,232 |
| Ohio | $943 | $382 | $593 |
| Oklahoma | $1,065 | $462 | $845 |
| Oregon | $1,766 | $785 | $1,290 |
| Pennsylvania | $1,103 | $479 | $831 |
| Rhode Island | $1,789 | $745 | $1,461 |
| South Carolina | $1,132 | $491 | $796 |
| South Dakota | $649 | $279 | $442 |
| Tennessee | $1,074 | $436 | $810 |
| Texas | $1,526 | $563 | $1,023 |
| Utah | $1,226 | $518 | $879 |
| Virginia | $901 | $355 | $575 |
| Vermont | $732 | $325 | $574 |
| Washington | $1,092 | $448 | $819 |
| Wisconsin | $826 | $378 | $605 |
| West Virginia | $1,262 | $538 | $822 |
| Wyoming | $583 | $320 | $451 |
Car insurance for a 19-year-old man: State minimum coverage
| State | Teen Policy | Parent Policy | Parents' Policy with Teen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $978 | $353 | $780 |
| Alabama | $1,583 | $465 | $860 |
| Arkansas | $1,493 | $483 | $937 |
| Arizona | $1,348 | $489 | $961 |
| California | $1,371 | $557 | $906 |
| Colorado | $1,478 | $529 | $928 |
| Connecticut | $2,523 | $866 | $1,840 |
| DC | $1,674 | $676 | $1,230 |
| Delaware | $2,137 | $830 | $1,449 |
| Florida | $2,138 | $1,030 | $1,600 |
| Georgia | $1,588 | $578 | $1,170 |
| Hawaii | $426 | $420 | $440 |
| Iowa | $849 | $329 | $652 |
| Idaho | $1,142 | $389 | $746 |
| Illinois | $1,280 | $460 | $907 |
| Indiana | $1,124 | $442 | $777 |
| Kansas | $1,130 | $441 | $765 |
| Kentucky | $1,498 | $489 | $980 |
| Louisiana | $1,966 | $729 | $1,431 |
| Massachusetts | $1,295 | $556 | $918 |
| Maryland | $2,032 | $772 | $1,325 |
| Maine | $935 | $351 | $717 |
| Michigan | $2,832 | $1,557 | $2,333 |
| Minnesota | $1,315 | $555 | $963 |
| Missouri | $1,171 | $428 | $739 |
| Mississippi | $1,218 | $417 | $749 |
| Montana | $932 | $367 | $525 |
| North Carolina | $598 | $491 | $604 |
| North Dakota | $859 | $342 | $578 |
| Nebraska | $1,073 | $390 | $672 |
| New Hampshire | $1,363 | $497 | $988 |
| New Jersey | $1,577 | $791 | $1,333 |
| New Mexico | $1,323 | $443 | $866 |
| Nevada | $1,455 | $544 | $1,195 |
| New York | $1,665 | $764 | $1,455 |
| Ohio | $1,099 | $382 | $662 |
| Oklahoma | $1,288 | $462 | $1,011 |
| Oregon | $1,941 | $785 | $1,363 |
| Pennsylvania | $1,095 | $479 | $831 |
| Rhode Island | $2,126 | $745 | $1,687 |
| South Carolina | $1,348 | $491 | $864 |
| South Dakota | $795 | $279 | $500 |
| Tennessee | $1,274 | $436 | $922 |
| Texas | $1,791 | $563 | $1,119 |
| Utah | $1,461 | $518 | $993 |
| Virginia | $1,101 | $355 | $642 |
| Vermont | $893 | $325 | $656 |
| Washington | $1,263 | $448 | $892 |
| Wisconsin | $962 | $378 | $663 |
| West Virginia | $1,491 | $538 | $918 |
| Wyoming | $748 | $320 | $513 |
*CarInsurance.com commissioned Quadrant Information Services to run auto insurance rates for a 2017 Honda Accord LX for 10 ZIP codes in each state using six large carriers -- Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, Nationwide, Progressive and State Farm. (In cases where one of the insurers doesn't return a rate, another major carrier in that state is substituted.)
Does a 19-year-old have to have full coverage?
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, which includes comprehensive and collision insurance.
To drive legally, you only need state required liability insurance, which pays for damage and injuries of others in accidents you cause. It doesn’t cover your own car. However, because teens are inexperienced, and as a demographic have more accidents than experienced drivers, it’s wise to have full coverage on the car your teen drives.
Insurance applies to the car, not the driver. That means the coverage on the car that the teen is driving will apply to accidents and damage caused by the teen.
Gusner recommends a full coverage policy of the following:
- $100,000 for injury liability for one person, to pay for medical bills for those injured in an accident you cause
- $300,000 for all injuries in one accident that’s your fault
- $100,000 for property damage you cause, for instance to repair a car you hit
- Collision insurance, to pay for damage to your car regardless of fault in an accident
- Comprehensive, to pay for damage to your car from hail, flooding, fire, vandalism, animal strikes, and to replace it if stolen
It really is worth the extra money to be fully protected during the time your teen is driving your car. Otherwise, you can be on the hook to pay out of your own pocket for even minor accidents that can exceed a bare-bones policy. The cost to jump from state minimum to full coverage with a 19-year-old daughter on your policy is about $1,507, but that’s just $125 a month for peace of mind. For a 19-year-old son, the extra cost to buy full coverage with him on your policy instead of state minimum is $1,705, or $142 a month.
Adding a 19 year old driver to parents' policy can save money
Most states consider a 19-year-old to be an adult, so drivers at this age can buy their own car insurance. However, mom and dad frequently take the easier -- and cheaper -- approach of putting the teenager on their policy, especially if he or she lives at home.
It's usually cheaper because insurance companies set premiums after they look at various factors, including the policy holder's experience and driving record.
Penny Gusner, the consumer analyst for CarInsurance.com, says that a 19-year-old probably won't get the same coverage savings as parents. Those discounts include multi-vehicle, multi-policy and loyalty. These price breaks will help, but adding a 19-year-old will still increase rates regardless.
When parents should add a teen to a policy (and when they shouldn't)?
You may want to break away from your parents and get your own insurance policy. That may or may not be a good idea.
Here are a few situations to help you decide how to handle auto insurance:
The 19-year-old lives with parents and has a clean driving record
It's usually a good idea to have your parents add you to their policy.
"It's typically less expensive to stay on the parents' policy for as long as possible," Gusner says.
You may even help lower your parents' premiums by qualifying for a good driver's discount if you have been a licensed driver for at least three years and have a clean driving record.
The 19-year-old has a good record but doesn't live with parents
A separate policy may be smart if you own a car and live on your own. You should also have coverage when you don't own a car, but drive another vehicle regularly, such as your roommate's.
Gusner says these situations could call for 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.
"Or, if the 19-year-old has a roommate and uses that person's vehicle regularly, he could be added to the owner's car insurance policy," Gusner adds.
The 19-year-old lives with 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 or not depends on the number and severity of the accidents and moving violations.
Gusner says parents should compare car insurance and shop around to determine how much it would cost to keep you on the family policy versus a separate policy in your name.
"Normally, it's still cheaper for the 19-year-old to be on the parent's policy and take advantage of discounts the parents have that trickle down to the kid, such as multi-car, multi-policy and others," she says. "But again, it's all about the driving history."
The 19-year-old has a poor record and doesn't live with parents
Parents should take a teen with a poor driving record off the family policy if he or she no longer lives at home. That means you're on your own and you should get a policy in your name.
"The parents' rates should go down if (the teen) is taken off," she says. "Usually to take the teen off, parents must show that the teen driver has a new auto policy of his or her own and/or a driver's license with a different address on it."
What's the best insurance for teenage drivers?
Start with liability car insurance, which pays for others' injuries and damage you cause to their property in an accident. Gusner says thinking the state-minimum coverage is enough is a mistake. Medical costs can quickly escalate if there are major physical injuries. Bills can also skyrocket with property damages.
Just imagine the costs if the accident involves an expensive vehicle or other significant property. You'd have to pay out-of-pocket once those costs exceeded your liability limits.
Besides hiking your liability amount, Gusner suggests purchasing an umbrella policy, which raises liability protection after you reach those basic limits. An umbrella with $1 million or more of protection may be a reasonable option.
If you're financing your vehicle, states usually require comprehensive and collision coverage. If you paid off your car, you decide if you want these optional protections, which pay to fix your car if wrecked 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. Keep in mind that you'd then have to pay for minor repairs following an accident.
The average yearly rate for comprehensive is $139, and collision costs $297, for an annual total of $436, according to the Insurance Information Institute.
car insurance discounts for 19-year-old
Discounts can help offset the added costs of having a teen on a policy. They vary from state and company, but here are common car insurance discounts:
- Good driver: An insurer may offer a discount of 10 to 25 percent if a 19-year-old keeps a clean record for at least three years.
- Good student: A company could provide a discount of up to 15 percent for drivers who maintain a 3.0 or "B" average. Gusner says this applies to students in either high school or college.
- Driver's ed: You may be able to get a 5 percent discount if you completed a driver education course.
What are the best cars for a 19 year old?
Sedans and small to midsize SUVs are usually cheaper to insure.
"Sports cars and expensive vehicles with lots of bells and whistles typically are more expensive as the insurer would need to pay out more if the car was damaged or totaled out," Gusner said.
It's important to think about safety. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has some valuable advice:
- Try to get Electronic Stability Control (ESC). This feature, which helps a driver maintain control on curves and slippery roads, is about as good at reducing risks as safety belts, says the IIHS.
- Avoid high horsepower. "Vehicles with more powerful engines can tempt (young drivers) to test the limits," says the IIHS.
- 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 under $15,000 with high safety ratings.
Compare car insurance rates to get the best deal
Whether you get your own policy or your parents add you to theirs, it's important to shop around for car insurance. Each insurer bases rates differently. You can save hundreds by shopping around and finding the lowest prices for the coverage you want.
Compare car insurance quotes from multiple insurance companies.
No matter what insurance company you choose, you'll likely pay much higher rates as a 19-year-old as older drivers. Car insurance gets cheaper as you age. Average car insurance rates by age show that premiums begin to decrease significantly when drivers turn 26.
Check out the other teen driver pages on CarInsurance.com:
Being 19 years old means you're a step closer to full adulthood. There are many benefits to being an adult. One is that you'll pay less for car insurance.
However, if you make sure you practice safe driving, compare car insurance rates and maximize discounts, you will find cheaper car insurance rates for a 19-year-old.
