Even a no-frills car insurance policy — just what’s needed to drive legally and the cheapest car insurance an 18-year-old can buy — is a considerable expense. Due to their inexperience, insurance companies deem young motorists as high-risk drivers.
Though average car insurance rates by age data show that around age 24 rates begin to drop, drivers in their teens and early 20s typically pay much more than others. Here we’ll outline what drivers age 18 can expect to pay for car insurance, showing average rates by state, coverage level and company. And, perhaps most important, we’ll explain how you can still get cheap car insurance, regardless of your age.
What’s the cheapest car insurance for 18-year-olds?
The average price of a year of bare-bones coverage for an 18-year-old woman is $1,769; for men that age it’s $2,030, according to a rate analysis by CarInsurance.com. Here is how much it costs for seven different coverage levels for drivers age 18, broken down by state.
To see how much you can expect to pay and to compare costs by coverage level, enter your state in the search field. You can also sort by cheapest car insurance for an 18-year-old to most expensive by clicking on the arrows next to each column header.
| State | State Minimum | Liability Only – 50/100/50 BI/PD | Liability Only – 100/300/100 BI/PD | State Minimum BI/PD – 500 Comp/Coll | Full Coverage – 50/100/50 BI/PD – 500 Comp/Coll | Full Coverage – 100/300/100 BI/PD – 500 Comp/Coll | Full Coverage -100/300/100 BI/PD – 1000 Comp/Coll |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $1,322 | $1,335 | $1,514 | $4,332 | $4,345 | $4,604 | $4,066 |
| Alabama | $1,955 | $2,182 | $2,430 | $5,011 | $5,289 | $5,649 | 5, 153 |
| Arkansas | $2,069 | $2,281 | $2,659 | $5,668 | $5,815 | $6,247 | $5,687 |
| Arizona | $1,915 | $2,371 | $2,690 | $4,509 | $5,046 | $5,449 | $4,959 |
| California | $1,780 | $2,205 | $2,396 | $5,609 | $6,134 | $6,415 | $5,651 |
| Colorado | $2,090 | $2,423 | $2,793 | $5,204 | $5,671 | $6,217 | $5,652 |
| Connecticut | $3,408 | $3,786 | $4,366 | $6,416 | $6,770 | $7,358 | $6,913 |
| DC | $2,535 | $2,833 | $3,095 | $5,490 | $5,751 | $6,025 | $5,324 |
| Delaware | $2,728 | $3,199 | $3,559 | $5,298 | $5,772 | $6,182 | $5,625 |
| Florida | $2,652 | $3,767 | $4,376 | $5,012 | $6,372 | $7,130 | $6,730 |
| Georgia | $2,041 | $2,798 | $3,187 | $5,109 | $5,432 | $5,877 | $5,425 |
| Hawaii | $467 | $525 | $577 | $1,247 | $1,333 | $1,411 | $1,227 |
| Iowa | $1,128 | $1,272 | $1,369 | $3,208 | $3,348 | $3,425 | $3,006 |
| Idaho | $1,646 | $1,831 | $2,098 | $4,073 | $4,291 | $4,601 | $4,185 |
| Illinois | $1,849 | $2,093 | $2,388 | $3,986 | $4,240 | $4,518 | $4,129 |
| Indiana | $1,594 | $1,753 | $1,948 | $3,993 | $4,164 | $4,366 | $3,839 |
| Kansas | $1,601 | $1,740 | $1,926 | $4,470 | $4,588 | $4,742 | $4,160 |
| Kentucky | $2,177 | $2,476 | $2,906 | $5,968 | $6,229 | $6,631 | $6,051 |
| Louisiana | $2,749 | $3,636 | $4,494 | $6,551 | $7,657 | $8,766 | $8,246 |
| Massachusetts | $1,816 | $2,348 | $2,543 | $4,041 | $4,681 | $4,876 | $4,137 |
| Maryland | $2,332 | $2,520 | $2,707 | $4,671 | $4,850 | $5,035 | $4,509 |
| Maine | $1,386 | $1,400 | $1,579 | $3,520 | $3,533 | $3,717 | $3,342 |
| Michigan | $4,243 | $4,518 | $4,763 | $8,881 | $9,200 | $9,488 | $8,577 |
| Minnesota | $2,049 | $2,221 | $2,311 | $4,154 | $4,324 | $4,375 | $3,928 |
| Missouri | $1,814 | $2,015 | $4,006 | $4,275 | $4,495 | $4,069 | |
| Mississippi | $1,670 | $1,971 | $2,203 | $4,202 | $4,550 | $4,857 | $4,492 |
| Montana | $1,358 | $1,570 | $1,781 | $4,082 | $4,416 | $4,723 | $4,213 |
| North Carolina | $1,050 | $1,138 | $1,269 | $2,173 | $2,265 | $2,399 | $2,261 |
| North Dakota | $1,275 | $1,386 | $1,519 | $4,085 | $4,197 | $4,330 | $3,762 |
| Nebraska | $1,465 | $1,607 | $1,799 | $3,751 | $3,874 | $4,045 | $3,569 |
| New Hampshire | $2,242 | $2,450 | $2,733 | $4,777 | $4,940 | $5,222 | $4,785 |
| New Jersey | $2,199 | $2,690 | $2,973 | $4,214 | $4,709 | $4,994 | $4,601 |
| Wisconsin | $1,574 | $1,822 | $2,080 | $4,301 | $4,553 | $4,802 | $4,299 |
| West Virginia | $1,768 | $1,993 | $2,288 | $4,291 | $4,466 | $4,761 | $4,170 |
| Wyoming | $832 | $917 | $1,003 | $3,520 | $3,614 | $3,717 | $3,079 |
| New Mexico | $1,979 | $2,220 | $2,488 | $5,076 | $5,382 | $5,784 | $5,289 |
| Nevada | $2,168 | $2,731 | $3,419 | $4,963 | $5,670 | $6,559 | $6,157 |
| New York | $2,061 | $2,297 | $2,610 | $4,362 | $4,598 | $4,911 | $4,424 |
| Ohio | $1,631 | $1,717 | $1,899 | $3,942 | $4,009 | $4,232 | $3,731 |
| Oklahoma | $1,889 | $2,089 | $2,519 | $5,342 | $5,647 | $6,261 | $5,626 |
| Oregon | $2,790 | $3,112 | $3,487 | $4,915 | $5,229 | $5,596 | $5,186 |
| Pennsylvania | $1,426 | $1,730 | $1,999 | $3,815 | $4,116 | $4,358 | $3,899 |
| Rhode Island | $3,197 | $3,713 | $4,216 | $6,866 | $7,350 | $7,857 | $7,223 |
| South Carolina | $1,714 | $1,937 | $2,213 | $4,509 | $4,753 | $5,086 | $4,526 |
| South Dakota | $1,172 | $1,311 | $1,512 | $4,534 | $4,674 | $4,838 | $4,058 |
| Tennessee | $1,946 | $2,150 | $2,372 | $4,810 | $5,019 | $5,289 | $4,801 |
| Texas | $2,020 | $2,201 | $2,438 | $5,136 | $5,361 | $5,685 | $5,175 |
| Utah | $2,051 | $2,237 | $2,601 | $4,281 | $4,471 | $4,912 | $4,514 |
| Virginia | $1,295 | $1,426 | $1,638 | $3,126 | $3,226 | $3,438 | $3,094 |
| Vermont | $1,235 | $1,369 | $1,567 | $3,598 | $3,717 | $3,910 | $3,504 |
| Washington | $1,772 | $1,959 | $2,164 | $3,980 | $4,189 | $4,476 | $4,121 |
| Wisconsin | $1,574 | $1,822 | $2,080 | $4,301 | $4,553 | $4,802 | $4,299 |
| West Virginia | $1,768 | $1,993 | $2,288 | $4,291 | $4,466 | $4,761 | $4,170 |
| Wyoming | $832 | $917 | $1,003 | $3,520 | $3,614 | $3,717 | $3,079 |
How 18-year-olds can save money on car insurance
The cost of liability insurance, your state minimum car insurance required to drive, has more to do with the driver than the car. (The insurance company isn’t going to fix your car, just the person you hit.) In your search for the best cheap car insurance, these are the factors you have some control over:
- Your driving record: More than one violation or accident will hurt.
- Your credit: If it’s dismal, you’re seen as a more significant risk of a claim so you’ll pay more in many states.
- Your mileage: The less you drive, the less chance of your hitting someone.
- Your insurance history: If you’ve let your policy lapse, even for a few days, you’ll pay more for coverage.
- Your insurance company: No two insurers offer identical rates, and even on state-minimum policies, premiums can differ by hundreds, sometimes thousands, of dollars a year.
- Your car: If your vehicle has a significantly higher rate of claims than most (because, say, it’s driven mainly by young drivers), your liability rates will reflect that risk. Make sure to research any new car purchase on Kelley Blue Book to see if it’s a good car for a teen.
- Discounts: You may earn a good student discount, or other car insurance discount, for instance, for paying online or living far from home, so be sure to research which ones you can get and ask for them.
Cheapest car insurance companies for an 18-year-old
Comparison shopping is one of the easiest ways to save on car insurance. Each insurance company uses different calculations to decide what you pay for coverage. That means the price for the same policy can differ significantly among insurers.
Below, you’ll see the average rate for drivers age 18 buying a full coverage policy with a $500 deductible on comprehensive and collision. The difference between insurers with the cheapest rates and those with the highest is thousands of dollars.
| Company | Average Rate for Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Concord General Mutual | $1,443 |
| Bear River | $1,526 |
| Nodak Mutual | $1,533 |
| Erie | $1,736 |
| Country | $1,892 |
| Erie Property & Casualty | $2,131 |
| Geico | $2,135 |
| Erie Insurance Exchange | $2,143 |
| North Carolina Farm Bureau | $2,219 |
| Farmers Insurance of HI | $2,323 |
| Plymouth Rock | $2,371 |
| Farmers Mutual | $2,387 |
| USAA | $2,403 |
| GEICO Advantage | $2,431 |
| Pemco Mutual | $2,450 |
| USAA Casualty | $2,455 |
| Southern Farm Bureau | $2,545 |
| Vermont Mutual | $2,586 |
| Geico County Mutual | $2,621 |
| Integon National | $2,633 |
| General Insurance | $2,646 |
| Mississippi Farm Bureau | $2,650 |
| Progressive Southeastern | $2,671 |
| Tennessee Farmers | $2,854 |
| Owners Insurance | $2,855 |
| Geico General | $2,903 |
| Farm Bureau Property & Casualty | $2,926 |
| Geico Casualty | $2,971 |
| NJM | $3,163 |
| Commerce/MAPFRE | $3,306 |
| American Family Mutual | $3,345 |
| Georgia Farm Bureau | $3,424 |
| 21st Century Centennial | $3,510 |
| State Farm Mutual Auto | $3,628 |
| Farm Bureau Mutual Of ID | $3,665 |
| Nationwide Agribusiness | $3,947 |
| Kentucky Farm Bureau | $3,990 |
| Shelter Insurance | $4,053 |
| Nationwide Property & Casualty | $4,232 |
| Nationwide Affinity | $4,392 |
| Automobile Club | $4,402 |
| Nationwide Mutual Fire | $4,437 |
| National Farmers Union Prop & Cas | $4,476 |
| Home Owners Insurance | $4,604 |
| Arbella | $4,634 |
| Geico Indemnity | $4,730 |
| Depositors Insurance | $4,901 |
| Oklahoma Farm Bureau | $5,131 |
| Memberselect | $5,265 |
| First National | $5,325 |
| Allied | $5,395 |
| Allstate Indemnity | $5,480 |
| Amco | $5,485 |
| United Financial | $5,529 |
| Farmers Insurance of WA | $5,570 |
| Allstate Fire & Casualty | $5,642 |
| Allstate | $5,649 |
| Nationwide Mutual | $5,741 |
| Progressive Advanced | $5,789 |
| United Farm Family Mutual | $5,796 |
| Progressive Universal | $5,797 |
| Safety Insurance | $5,885 |
| Allstate | $6,089 |
| Amica | $6,176 |
| Farmers Insurance Columbus | $6,277 |
| Western United | $6,294 |
| Farmers Insurance of ID | $6,409 |
| Allstate Northbrook | $6,443 |
| Artisan & Truckers | $6,501 |
| Alfa | $6,504 |
| Colonial County Mutual | $6,559 |
| Progressive Paloverde | $6,861 |
| Louisiana Farm Bureau | $6,934 |
| Mountain Laurel | $6,967 |
| Auto Club of Southern CA | $7,033 |
| Progressive Premier | $7,112 |
| Mid Century | $7,150 |
| Farmers | $7,214 |
| CSAA | $7,476 |
| Victoria | $7,502 |
| Illinois Farmers | $7,680 |
| Progressive Select | $7,969 |
| Progressive Direct | $8,101 |
| State Farm Ind | $8,104 |
| Progressive Gulf | $8,288 |
| Acuity | $8,308 |
| Farmers Insurance of OR | $8,322 |
| Progressive Specialty | $8,770 |
| Progressive Northwestern | $8,807 |
| Progressive Max | $8,851 |
| Progressive HI | $8,872 |
| Progressive Garden State | $8,887 |
| Foremost | $9,047 |
| Progressive Northern | $9,272 |
| Progressive Preferred | $9,483 |
| Progressive Mountain | $9,566 |
| Farmers Insurance of AZ | $9,671 |
| Progressive | $9,884 |
Final thoughts: Cheapest car insurance for 18-year-olds
Whether you’re a parent or a teen, read our guide to car insurance for young drivers and our guide to car insurance for an 18-year-old for plenty more information that can help you make the car insurance choices that are best for you.
Ask the Insurance Expert
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.
Ask the Insurance Expert
John McCormick
Editorial Director
John is the editorial director for CarInsurance.com, Insurance.com and Insure.com. Before joining QuinStreet, John was a deputy editor at The Wall Street Journal and had been an editor and reporter at a number of other media outlets where he covered insurance, personal finance, and technology.
Ask the Insurance Expert
Leslie Kasperowicz
Managing Editor
Leslie Kasperowicz is an insurance educator and content creation professional with nearly two decades of experience first directly in the insurance industry at Farmers Insurance and then as a writer, researcher, and educator for insurance shoppers writing for sites like ExpertInsuranceReviews.com and InsuranceHotline.com and managing content, now at CarInsurance.com.
Ask the Insurance Expert
Nupur Gambhir
Managing Editor
Nupur Gambhir is a content editor and licensed life, health, and disability insurance expert. She has extensive experience bringing brands to life and has built award-nominated campaigns for travel and tech. Her insurance expertise has been featured in Bloomberg News, Forbes Advisor, CNET, Fortune, Slate, Real Simple, Lifehacker, The Financial Gym, and the end-of-life planning service.
