Teenagers pay the most for car insurance of any age group. But by age 19, many young drivers have had a few years of experience on the road, which translates into lower rates than younger drivers typically pay.
Even though a 19-year-old can buy their own auto insurance policy, most teens will find it far cheaper to be added to their parents’ or guardians’ coverage. A 19-year-old female will pay $2,992 per year for full coverage on their parents’ policy, while a 19-year-old male will pay $3,219 annually.
Teens who want or need a car insurance policy of their own will pay considerably more. A 19-year-old female will pay an average of $3,884 annually for full coverage insurance; a male the same age will pay $4,369.
Either way, on average, 19-year-olds pay considerably more per year for car insurance, $4,126, than adults. The national average for full coverage is just $1,895 per year.
Carole Walker, executive director of the Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association, says teen drivers pay much more for insurance than most other policyholders because their inexperience on the road makes them a bigger risk for insurers.
“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.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through how car insurance works for 19-year-olds, what impacts your rates, and how to find affordable coverage that fits your needs and budget.
CarInsurance.com Insights
- On average, a 19-year-old teen driver pays $4,126 annually or $344 monthly for full coverage car insurance.
- 19-year-olds pay less for insurance if their parents’ policy covers them. Females save an average of $892 per year, while males save $1,150, compared to if they have their own policies.
- Teenagers can save even more by maintaining a clean driving record and taking advantage of discounts such as for good grades.
Car insurance for teens: How much is car insurance for a 19-year-old?
The average car insurance rate for 19-year-olds on their own policy is $4,126 yearly for full coverage. That rate is more than $2,200 higher than the national average of $1,895 for 40-year-old drivers.
Your rate to insure a teen driver will vary, depending on many factors, including the insurance company you choose, where you live, and the coverage limits you want.
How much is insurance for an 19-year-old per month?
Car insurance costs $324 monthly for females and $364 monthly for males, on average, for full coverage policies with liability limits of 100/300/100 and $500 deductibles.
The hypothetical driver has a 12-mile commute and 10,000 annual mileage for a Honda Accord LX. The data comes from 170 companies, 34,588 ZIP codes and 53,409,632 auto insurance quotes across all U.S. states.
How much is car insurance for a 19-year-old female?
The nationwide average cost for insurance for a 19-year-old female is $3,884 per year on an individual policy. Teen female drivers on a parent’s policy will pay $2,992 per year – a savings of $892 annually.
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.
| State | Annual teen female policy | Annual parent policy | Annual parent policy with a 19-year-old female |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $3,504 | $1,236 | $2,078 |
| Alabama | $3,785 | $1,464 | $2,236 |
| Arkansas | $4,144 | $1,436 | $2,291 |
| Arizona | $4,074 | $1,532 | $2,570 |
| California | $4,701 | $2,041 | $3,510 |
| Colorado | $4,448 | $2,048 | $2,998 |
| Connecticut | $4,377 | $1,383 | $2,126 |
| Washington, D.C. | $4,233 | $1,877 | $2,817 |
| Delaware | $5,320 | $1,636 | $2,585 |
| Florida | $5,206 | $2,993 | $4,730 |
| Georgia | $4,320 | $1,516 | $2,545 |
| Hawaii | $1,545 | $1,282 | $1,338 |
| Iowa | $3,087 | $1,156 | $1,797 |
| Idaho | $3,028 | $957 | $1,509 |
| Illinois | $3,375 | $1,309 | $2,223 |
| Indiana | $3,133 | $1,214 | $1,894 |
| Kansas | $3,907 | $1,422 | $2,195 |
| Kentucky | $4,420 | $1,743 | $2,650 |
| Louisiana | $5,770 | $2,991 | $5,170 |
| Massachusetts | $3,751 | $1,721 | $2,799 |
| Maryland | $4,070 | $1,923 | $2,936 |
| Maine | $2,860 | $996 | $1,790 |
| Michigan | $5,220 | $4,054 | $6,459 |
| Minnesota | $3,839 | $1,610 | $2,458 |
| Missouri | $4,071 | $2,134 | $3,485 |
| Mississippi | $4,188 | $1,342 | $2,062 |
| Montana | $5,092 | $1,782 | $2,862 |
| North Carolina | $2,257 | $1,369 | $1,830 |
| North Dakota | $3,652 | $1,154 | $1,718 |
| Nebraska | $3,781 | $1,798 | $2,674 |
| New Hampshire | $2,748 | $923 | $1,625 |
| New Jersey | $4,095 | $2,208 | $3,491 |
| New Mexico | $4,058 | $1,695 | $2,668 |
| Nevada | $4,390 | $2,287 | $3,602 |
| New York | $3,612 | $1,832 | $2,754 |
| Ohio | $2,955 | $1,065 | $1,816 |
| Oklahoma | $4,282 | $1,855 | $2,951 |
| Oregon | $3,854 | $1,430 | $2,225 |
| Pennsylvania | $4,142 | $1,245 | $2,078 |
| Rhode Island | $4,871 | $1,681 | $2,907 |
| South Carolina | $4,142 | $1,671 | $3,009 |
| South Dakota | $4,235 | $1,523 | $2,162 |
| Tennessee | $3,632 | $1,209 | $2,017 |
| Texas | $3,793 | $1,852 | $3,275 |
| Utah | $3,930 | $1,819 | $3,016 |
| Virginia | $2,956 | $1,133 | $2,088 |
| Vermont | $3,316 | $996 | $1,649 |
| Washington | $3,615 | $1,309 | $1,903 |
| Wisconsin | $3,583 | $1,511 | $2,616 |
| West Virginia | $4,211 | $1,386 | $2,361 |
| Wyoming | $3,186 | $1,677 | $2,341 |
How much is car insurance for a 19-year-old male?
Nineteen-year-old males pay, on average, $4,369 for their own full coverage policy. That’s $1,150 more than they’d pay if they remained on a parent’s policy ($3,219). You can compare rates for a male 19-year-old with his own policy to that of being added to a parent’s policy in each state in the table below.
| State | Annual 19-year-old male policy | Annual parent policy | Annual parent policy with a teen male |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $4,158 | $1,236 | $2,288 |
| Alabama | $4,360 | $1,464 | $2,435 |
| Arkansas | $4,780 | $1,436 | $2,529 |
| Arizona | $4,810 | $1,532 | $2,867 |
| California | $4,710 | $2,041 | $3,510 |
| Colorado | $5,007 | $2,048 | $3,162 |
| Connecticut | $4,932 | $1,383 | $2,336 |
| Washington, D.C. | $5,565 | $1,877 | $3,278 |
| Delaware | $5,929 | $1,636 | $2,815 |
| Florida | $6,134 | $2,993 | $4,988 |
| Georgia | $5,005 | $1,516 | $2,918 |
| Hawaii | $1,545 | $1,282 | $1,338 |
| Iowa | $3,549 | $1,156 | $1,933 |
| Idaho | $3,684 | $957 | $1,661 |
| Illinois | $3,817 | $1,309 | $2,582 |
| Indiana | $3,687 | $1,214 | $2,006 |
| Kansas | $4,650 | $1,422 | $2,367 |
| Kentucky | $5,367 | $1,743 | $2,878 |
| Louisiana | $6,609 | $2,991 | $5,887 |
| Massachusetts | $3,780 | $1,721 | $2,799 |
| Maryland | $4,742 | $1,923 | $3,534 |
| Maine | $3,479 | $996 | $2,159 |
| Michigan | $5,220 | $4,054 | $6,459 |
| Minnesota | $4,672 | $1,610 | $2,531 |
| Missouri | $4,727 | $2,134 | $3,971 |
| Mississippi | $4,859 | $1,342 | $2,246 |
| Montana | $5,266 | $1,782 | $2,862 |
| North Carolina | $2,257 | $1,369 | $1,830 |
| North Dakota | $4,114 | $1,154 | $1,891 |
| Nebraska | $4,463 | $1,798 | $2,868 |
| New Hampshire | $3,096 | $923 | $1,755 |
| New Jersey | $4,677 | $2,208 | $3,919 |
| New Mexico | $4,622 | $1,695 | $2,899 |
| Nevada | $5,053 | $2,287 | $3,873 |
| New York | $4,082 | $1,832 | $3,237 |
| Ohio | $3,289 | $1,065 | $1,991 |
| Oklahoma | $5,075 | $1,855 | $3,496 |
| Oregon | $4,237 | $1,430 | $2,360 |
| Pennsylvania | $4,181 | $1,245 | $2,078 |
| Rhode Island | $5,473 | $1,681 | $3,190 |
| South Carolina | $4,802 | $1,671 | $3,161 |
| South Dakota | $5,031 | $1,523 | $2,415 |
| Tennessee | $4,353 | $1,209 | $2,247 |
| Texas | $4,388 | $1,852 | $3,648 |
| Utah | $4,552 | $1,819 | $3,267 |
| Virginia | $3,386 | $1,133 | $2,359 |
| Vermont | $3,940 | $996 | $1,819 |
| Washington | $4,061 | $1,309 | $1,976 |
| Wisconsin | $4,073 | $1,511 | $2,954 |
| West Virginia | $4,883 | $1,386 | $2,790 |
| Wyoming | $4,365 | $1,677 | $2,802 |
How much is car insurance for a 19-year-old for a parent vs. teen policy?
Keeping teens on your car insurance policy is significantly cheaper than getting them their own policy.
Our data show that a female teen on her own policy will cost $3,884 per year for full coverage, but if she stays on a parent’s policy, the cost drops to $2,992 – a savings of $892.
The savings are even more dramatic for teen males. On their own policies, males pay $4,369 a year, which drops to $3,219 if they stay on a parent’s policy, a $1,150 difference.
| Gender | Annual teen policy | Annual parent’s policy with a 19-year-old | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Female | $3,884 | $2,992 | $892 |
| Male | $4,369 | $3,219 | $1,150 |
Cheapest car insurance for 19-year-olds, by company
GEICO, Nationwide and Travelers offer the cheapest car insurance to 19-year-olds.
Parent’s car insurance policy with a 19-year-old female
GEICO and Nationwide were the cheapest among insurance companies we surveyed for adding a female to a parent’s policy. In the table below, see how auto carriers compare when you add a 19-year-old female teen driver to your policy.
| Company | Annual parent policy with a 19-year-old female |
|---|---|
| GEICO | $2,105 |
| Nationwide | $2,144 |
| State Farm | $2,588 |
| Travelers | $2,821 |
| Progressive | $3,273 |
| Allstate | $3,418 |
| Farmers | $4,577 |
| USAA | $1,835 |
Note: USAA is only available to military community members and their families.
Parent’s car insurance policy with a 19-year-old male
GEICO, Nationwide and State Farm were the cheapest for adding 19-year-old male drivers to a parent’s policy. See more rates in the table below.
| Company | Annual parent policy with a 19-year-old male |
|---|---|
| GEICO | $2,218 |
| Nationwide | $2,255 |
| State Farm | $2,895 |
| Travelers | $3,075 |
| Progressive | $3,556 |
| Allstate | $3,702 |
| Farmers | $4,644 |
| USAA | $1,950 |
Note: USAA is only available to military members and their families.
How much is car insurance for 19-year-olds on their own policies?
If your teen buys their own policy, Travelers and GEICO have the lowest rates for full coverage.
Average annual car insurance rates for a 19-year-old female, by company
Teens can save money by being added to a parent’s policy, but sometimes a 19-year-old might want their own policy. See the cost of car insurance for 19-year-old females on their own policies from major insurers below.
| Company | Annual teen policy |
|---|---|
| Travelers | $3,292 |
| GEICO | $3,597 |
| Nationwide | $3,876 |
| State Farm | $3,960 |
| Progressive | $4,335 |
| Allstate | $4,901 |
| Farmers | $4,907 |
| USAA | $2,946 |
Note: USAA is only available to military members and their families.
Average annual car insurance rates for a 19-year-old male, by company
For 19-year-old male drivers on their own policies, Travelers and GEICO offer the cheapest car insurance rates. See the table below for more rates for 19-year-old males by company.
| Company | Annual teen policy |
|---|---|
| Travelers | $3,660 |
| GEICO | $3,921 |
| Nationwide | $4,542 |
| State Farm | $4,747 |
| Progressive | $4,847 |
| Farmers | $5,398 |
| Allstate | $5,439 |
| USAA | $3,088 |
Note: USAA is only available to military members and their families.
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. Remember that you’ll have to pay for minor repairs following an accident.
Best car insurance companies for 19-year-olds
The best insurance company for you and your teen will depend on several personal and vehicle factors. But in general, you want a company that offers affordable rates, good claims service, few complaints and solid financial standing. The table below outlines the top insurers for teen drivers.
Best car insurance companies for 19-year-olds, based on ratings
| Company | Market Share | J.D. Power Rating | NAIC Rating | AM Best Rating | Customer Satisfaction Score | Claims Handling | Trustworthiness | Plan to Renew | Likely to Recommend | Ease of Service |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amica | 0.44% | 833 | 0.61 | A+ | 3.76 | 3.67 | 3.76 | 4.6 | 4.2 | 3.88 |
| Nationwide | 1.71% | 809 | 0.64 | A | 4.06 | 3.87 | 3.79 | 4.19 | 4.35 | 4.11 |
| Mercury | 0.89% | 794 | 0.84 | A | 3.95 | 3.7 | 3.89 | 4.74 | 4.21 | 4.11 |
| CSAA Insurance Group (AAA) | 1.21% | 822 | 0.75 | A | 4.05 | 4 | 3.9 | 4.25 | 4.25 | 3.9 |
| Auto Club Group (AAA) | 0.71% | 800 | 0.77 | A+ | 3.75 | 4.14 | 3.91 | 4.38 | 4.53 | 4 |
| Allstate | 10.37% | 811 | 0.65 | A+ | 4.04 | 4.33 | 3.92 | 4.34 | 4.41 | 4.21 |
| Travelers | 2.08% | 810 | 0.49 | A++ | 4 | 4.2 | 3.93 | 4.52 | 4.29 | 4.19 |
| GEICO | 12.31% | 821 | 0.91 | A++ | 4.07 | 4.12 | 3.95 | 4.54 | 4.37 | 4.14 |
| Progressive | 15.24% | 810 | 0.65 | A+ | 3.91 | 4.01 | 3.96 | 4.58 | 4.56 | 4.12 |
| Auto-Owners | 1.34% | 826 | 0.5 | A++ | 3.97 | 4.1 | 3.97 | 4.47 | 4.47 | 4.18 |
| Farmers | 4.18% | 814 | 0.8 | A | 4.12 | 4.19 | 3.99 | 4.49 | 4.49 | 3.94 |
| State Farm | 18.31% | 823 | 0.7 | A++ | 4.24 | 4.37 | 4.05 | 4.58 | 4.58 | 4.29 |
| American Family | 2.14% | 820 | 1.1 | A | 4.32 | 4.16 | 4.09 | 4.34 | 4.53 | 4.25 |
| Auto Club of Southern California (AAA) | 1.53% | 819 | 2.21 | A- | 4.15 | 4 | 4.1 | 4.75 | 4.5 | 4.3 |
It should be noted that USAA was the cheapest option in each category, but as USAA is only available to military families, we left it out of the rankings. If your teen qualifies for USAA coverage, they can get the cheapest rates from a well-reviewed insurance company.
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:
A 19-year-old lives with their parents and has a clean driving record
Add the teen to the parent’s policy – it’s less expensive than a teen policy.
A teen has a good record and lives on their own
A separate policy may be smart if you own a car and live independently. You should also have coverage through a non-owner car insurance policy when you don’t own a car but drive another vehicle regularly, such as your roommate’s.
A teen 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.
A 19-year-old has a poor driving 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.
Best ways 19-year-olds can lower car insurance costs
Even though 19-year-olds pay hundreds more for car insurance than older drivers, there are ways to reduce the cost.
- 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 to do so, 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 in value and is paid off, it may no longer be worth carrying comprehensive and collision insurance. Liability insurance is still a must.
- Look for car insurance discounts for teens. Two of the most common are:
- 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.
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.
Used cars that cost the least to insure for 19-year-olds
The cost of auto insurance depends on many factors, including age, gender, and place of residence. However, the type of vehicle you drive is also a factor, regardless of age. And used vehicles are 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:
| Make and model | Full coverage cost | State minimum liability cost |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 Toyota RAV4 | $6,535 | $2,486 |
| 2018 Mazda CX-5 | $6,495 | $2,486 |
| 2017 Honda CR-V | $6,120 | $2,448 |
| 2021 Toyota Corolla | $8,347 | $2,686 |
| 2019 Mazda3 | $7,969 | $2,741 |
| 2018 Honda Accord | $7,308 | $2,534 |
| 2017 Toyota Prius | $7,329 | $2,564 |
| 2020 Honda Civic | $7,775 | $2,604 |
| 2019 Chevrolet Equinox | $7,203 | $2,540 |
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 reduces risks by helping drivers control curves and slippery roads.
- Avoid high horsepower. Vehicles with more powerful engines can tempt young drivers to test a car’s limits.
- Look for cars with the best safety reviews from the IIHS and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
FAQs: How much is insurance for 19-year-olds?
Why is car insurance for 19-year-olds expensive?
Like all teen drivers, 19-year-olds are inexperienced out on the road and tend to take more risks than older drivers. This leads to accidents and claims, which will always result in higher insurance costs.
Teens are also more easily distracted. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) data, studies have shown that the presence of passengers increases crash risk among teenage drivers but decreases crash risk among drivers ages 30 and older. Distraction and inexperience lead to higher crash rates, the crash rate for 16–19-year-olds is nearly four times the rate for drivers 20 and older and this leads to higher rates.
Rates will start dropping as teens age, assuming they keep their driving record clean and will hit normal levels around 25.
Does a 19-year-old have to buy full coverage insurance?
No, there is no legal requirement to carry full coverage insurance, regardless of your age. While most states require drivers to carry a certain amount of liability coverage, no state requires full coverage insurance. The required amount of liability coverage will vary by state.
While the state may not require full coverage, your bank might. If you have a loan or lease on the vehicle, your lender will require that you carry full coverage to protect their investment.
Does a 19-year-old need car insurance to get a license?
It is not necessary to have car insurance to get a driver’s license. It is possible to have a driver’s license without a car.
What are the rules for 19-year-old drivers?
Like all other drivers, 19-year-olds must carry the required amount of insurance to be legal drivers. Almost all states require drivers to carry a specific amount of liability coverage to register or license a car and drive it on the road, and the amount of required liability varies by state.
Can a 19-year-old have their own policy?
Yes, in almost all situations, a 19-year-old can have their own insurance policy. An insurance policy is a contract, so the person entering into the contract must be the age of majority in their state – it’s 18 in most states.
Can a 19-year-old own a car?
Absolutely, a 19-year-old can own their own car. There is no minimum age to own a vehicle; however, you must be above the age of majority to legally enter into a contract which purchasing and financing a car will require.
Resources & Methodology
Sources
- Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. “Teen Drivers: Get the Facts.” Accessed July 2025.
- Governors Highway Safety Association. “Teen and Novice Drivers.” Accessed July 2025.
- Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Highway Loss Data Institute. “Teenagers.” Accessed July 2025.
Methodology
CarInsurance.com commissioned Quadrant Information Services to get car insurance rates for 19-year-old male and female drivers. The hypothetical drivers have a 12-mile commute and 10,000 annual mileage for a Honda Accord LX. The data come from 73 companies, 1,467 ZIP codes and 6,94,408 auto insurance quotes across all the states in the U.S.
The car insurance rate for the teen added to the parent’s policy includes coverage for one family car owned and insured by the parents. This data comprehensively compares car insurance costs for teenage drivers as independent policyholders and when added to a parent’s existing policy.
Still have a question? Ask our experts
Get advice from an experienced insurance professional. Our experts will help you navigate your insurance questions with clarity and confidence.
Browse all FAQs