At 19, you’re gaining independence, which often includes buying or renewing your own car insurance policy. But as a young driver, you’re still seen as risky by insurers, which means you’re likely paying more than older, more experienced drivers.
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.
The good news? There are smart ways to manage those costs. 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 life and budget.
- For full coverage, a 19-year-old teen driver pays about $344 monthly for their car insurance policy.
- Female 19-year-old drivers pay an average annual rate of $3,884 for their own policies, whereas 19-year-old male drivers pay $4,369 per year for car insurance.
- Geico, Nationwide and Travelers offer the cheapest car insurance for 19-year-olds.
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 $4,126 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 car insurance for a 19-year-old each 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, Travelers and USAA offer the cheapest car insurance to 19-year-olds. Keep in mind that USAA is only available to military community members and their families.
Parent’s car insurance policy with a 19-year-old female
Geico, Nationwide and USAA 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 |
Read full bio >>
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, State Farm and USAA 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 |
Read full bio >>
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, Geico and USAA 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 |
Read full bio >>
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, Geico and USAA 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 |
Read full bio >>
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.
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 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 September 2024.
- Governors Highway Safety Association. “Teen and Novice Drivers.” Accessed September 2024.
- Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Highway Loss Data Institute. “Teenagers.” Accessed September 2024.
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.
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