Average cost of car insurance for 18-year-olds in 2023
The average cost of car insurance for 18-year-olds is $411 per month, but some young drivers may pay less depending on the company and where they live.
By
Andrew HurstAndrew HurstSenior Editor & Licensed Auto Insurance ExpertAndrew Hurst is a senior editor and a licensed auto insurance expert at Policygenius. His work has also been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, USA Today, NPR, Mic, Insurance Business Magazine, ValuePenguin, and Property Casualty 360.
Expert reviewedExpert reviewedThis article has been reviewed by a licensed Policygenius expert to ensure that sources, statistics, and claims meet our standard for accurate and unbiased advice.Learn more about oureditorial review process.
By
Maria FilindrasMaria FilindrasFinancial AdvisorMaria Filindras is a financial advisor, a licensed Life & Health insurance agent in California, and a member of the Financial Review Council at Policygenius.
How we found the cost of car insurance for 18-year-olds
We found the cost of car insurance for 18-year-olds driving using rates provided by Quadrant Information Services. Our data experts analyzed rates from every ZIP code in all 50 states plus Washington, D.C. for a 2017 Toyota Camry LE driven 10,000 miles per year. These rates were for full coverage with the following coverage limits:
Bodily injury liability: $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident
Property damage liability: $50,000 per accident
Uninsured/underinsured motorist: $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident
Comprehensive: $500 deductible
Collision: $500 deductible
Some carriers may be represented by affiliates or subsidiaries. Rates provided are a sample of costs. Your actual quotes may differ.
How much is car insurance for an 18-year-old?
The average cost of car insurance for an 18-year-old is $411 per month. This comes out to $4,931 per year, which is $3,279 more expensive than the average cost of coverage for adults (drivers ages 30, 35, and 45).
Even though rates for 18-year-olds are high, young drivers can still find affordable car insurance coverage by comparing rates from different companies. For example, rates for an 18-year-old at COUNTRY Financial are 49% cheaper than average for drivers this age at $209 per month.
Compare rates and shop affordable car insurance today
Many companies with the lowest car insurance rates for 18-year-olds aren’t national carriers, including COUNTRY. But we found cheap coverage is also available with USAA, State Farm, and GEICO, which sell car insurance in almost every state.
Rank
Company
Monthly cost
Annual cost
1
COUNTRY Financial
$209
$2,512
2
Erie
$222
$2,663
3
USAA
$230
$2,759
4
State Farm
$252
$3,022
5
GEICO
$254
$3,046
6
Auto-Owners Insurance
$265
$3,185
7
American Family
$266
$3,190
8
MAPFRE
$267
$3,199
9
Farm Bureau
$269
$3,222
10
Kemper
$339
$4,066
11
Travelers
$341
$4,087
12
Shelter Insurance
$366
$4,394
13
Nationwide
$407
$4,878
14
The Hartford
$416
$4,996
15
Allstate
$455
$5,465
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Cost of full-coverage car insurance for 18-year-olds with their own policy.
Cheapest car insurance for 18-year-old drivers: COUNTRY
COUNTRY
3.8
Policygenius rating
How we score: Policygenius’ ratings are determined by our editorial team. Our methodology takes multiple factors into account, including pricing, financial ratings, quality of customer service, and other product-specific features.
Costs $2512 per year
In addition to low rates, COUNTRY has discounts that are catered to 18-year-old drivers.
The cheapest car insurance company for 18-year-old drivers is COUNTRY. On average, COUNTRY costs 18-year-olds $2,419 less per year than the average rate for their age range — nearly half the national average cost.
COUNTRY is also the best insurance company for 18-year-old drivers thanks to its discounts. Besides multi-policy and legacy discounts, COUNTRY offers a few other cost-saving opportunities that are designed for young drivers, including:
Good student discount: As long as you maintain at least a B grade point average, you’ll save on car insurance. You can also get another discount if you graduate from college, too.
Driver training discount: Like other companies, COUNTRY offers discounts to 18-year-olds who complete a defensive driving course.
COUNTRY also receives very few complaints, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. J.D. Power also recognized COUNTRY as one of the best companies for service in the Midwest in its 2021 Auto Insurance Study.
Best car insurance companies for 18-year-olds
Our experts rated the top insurance companies for 18-year-olds based price, customer service, convenience, and financial strength.
The best overall car insurance for 18-year-olds is GEICO, which has the highest Policygenius rating of any of the cheapest companies.
Company
Policygenius rating
J.D. Power score (out of 1,000)
Complaints index (lower is better)
Tech score (out of five)
GEICO
4.6
881
0.73
4.8
COUNTRY Financial
4.3
Not rated
0.14
4.1
Travelers
4.3
871
0.93
4.7
American Family
4.2
889
0.22
4.8
Farm Bureau
4.2
Not rated
0.08
3
USAA
4.0
909
1.24
4.8
Shelter
4.0
Not rated
0.39
3.7
Allstate
4.0
870
0.63
4.8
Erie
3.9
901
1.69
3
Auto-Owners
3.9
Not rated
0.7
3.1
MAPFRE
3.9
Not rated
0.29
1.7
State Farm
3.8
892
0.71
4.8
Nationwide
3.8
876
0.44
4.4
The Hartford
3.7
905
1.7
3.9
Kemper
3.4
798
3.11
1.9
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Ratings for the top 15 cheapest companies for 18-year-old car insurance.
Cheap car insurance for 18-year-olds in every state
GEICO has the cheapest average car insurance rates for 18-year-olds in 13 states. Behind GEICO, USAA is the cheapest company in 12 states. And COUNTRY is the absolute cheapest company for 18-year-olds in Illinois and Oregon.
Depending on where you live, the cheapest available rates for 18-year-olds range from $74 to $321 per month.
Compare rates and shop affordable car insurance today
Cost of full-coverage car insurance for 18-year-olds with their own policy.
Average cost of car insurance for 18-year-olds in every state
Hawaii has the cheapest car insurance for 18-year-olds of any state, because it doesn’t allow insurance companies to set rates by age.
Louisiana is the most expensive state for 18-year-old drivers, car insurance costs 18-year-olds an average of $748 per month in the Pelican State.
State
Monthly cost
Annual cost
Alabama
$497
$5,964
Alaska
$319
$3,825
Arizona
$411
$4,934
Arkansas
$438
$5,255
California
$384
$4,606
Colorado
$422
$5,059
Connecticut
$511
$6,137
Delaware
$577
$6,923
District of Columbia
$501
$6,011
Florida
$697
$8,368
Georgia
$460
$5,524
Hawaii
$110
$1,325
Idaho
$307
$3,686
Illinois
$352
$4,226
Indiana
$263
$3,160
Iowa
$238
$2,858
Kansas
$372
$4,461
Kentucky
$521
$6,254
Louisiana
$748
$8,981
Maine
$293
$3,517
Maryland
$470
$5,635
Massachusetts
$483
$5,794
Michigan
$567
$6,804
Minnesota
$285
$3,416
MIssissippi
$413
$4,961
Missouri
$364
$4,363
Montana
$486
$5,827
Nebraska
$360
$4,325
Nevada
$552
$6,619
New Hampshire
$330
$3,955
New Jersey
$629
$7,542
New Mexico
$354
$4,250
New York
$481
$5,777
North Carolina
$187
$2,246
North Dakota
$344
$4,126
Ohio
$271
$3,247
Oklahoma
$485
$5,825
Oregon
$367
$4,401
Pennsylvania
$417
$5,000
Rhode Island
$564
$6,773
South Carolina
$429
$5,151
South Dakota
$352
$4,228
Tennessee
$367
$4,401
Texas
$460
$5,518
Utah
$419
$5,030
Vermont
$286
$3,432
Virginia
$348
$4,175
Washington
$427
$5,123
West Virginia
$423
$5,076
Wisconsin
$296
$3,551
Wyoming
$336
$4,033
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Average car insurance cost for 18-year-old male and female drivers
In most states, your rates are determined in part by the gender that’s on your license. Car insurance for 18-year-old male drivers is, on average, more expensive than it is for female drivers with the exact same profile.
On average, the cost for male drivers is $439 per month — $56 more than for their female counterparts.
Gender
Monthly cost
Annual cost
Male driver
$439
$5,268
Female driver
$383
$4,594
Difference
$56
$674
Costs for full-coverage car insurance.
The difference between the cost of car insurance for 18-year-old male and female drivers at the cheapest companies is the least at Farm Bureau-affiliated insurance groups. With Farm Bureau, male drivers pay just $4 more each month for coverage.
Company
Difference
Male drivers
Female drivers
Farm Bureau
$4
$250
$246
COUNTRY Financial
$15
$217
$202
USAA
$17
$238
$222
GEICO
$23
$265
$243
American Family
$23
$313
$290
Kemper
$39
$426
$387
MAPFRE
$47
$290
$243
State Farm
$51
$277
$227
Erie
$51
$247
$196
Auto-Owners Insurance
$51
$276
$225
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Annual cost of full-coverage for 18-year-olds. Companies listed are the ten cheapest for 18-year-old drivers.
How much is car insurance for an 18 year old compared to other ages?
The cost of car insurance for 18-year-olds is cheaper than for 16-year-olds, but 18-year-olds pay an average of 198% more than 30, 35, and 45-year-olds.
Car insurance rates for 18-year-olds are much higher than for older drivers because they’re more likely to drive recklessly, get tickets, cause accidents, and file claims than more experienced drivers.
According to the Department of Transportation, 18-year-old drivers were behind the wheel for 9,500 fatal crashes from 2011 to 2020. This is why younger drivers pay more for coverage than older people. [1]
But as long as 18-year-olds keep their driving records clean, their rates will go down with age, and level out around 25, when they age out of the highest-risk age group.
Average insurance cost for 18-year-olds vs. other young drivers
The cost of insurance for 18-year-olds is higher than average, but it’s still cheaper than coverage for even younger drivers. Compared to 16-year-olds, insurance costs 18-year-olds $1,848 less per year. From 16 to 18 years old, car insurance costs drop by 37%.
But compared to drivers with slightly more experience behind the wheel, insurance for an 18-year-old is still significantly more expensive. Our analysis reveals that the average rates for a 21-year-old are $2,223 cheaper per year than for an 18-year-old — a difference of 45%.
Age
Monthly cost
Difference from 18-year-olds
16
$565
37%
18
$411
--
21
$226
-45%
25
$161
-61%
Cost of full-coverage car insurance for 18-year-olds with their own policy.
It’s legal for an 18-year-old to get their own car insurance policy. Unlike younger drivers who are legally minors, 18-year-olds can enter into an insurance agreement without a parent or guardian’s permission.
But if you have an 18-year-old driver in your household, it’s a better idea to add them to your existing policy than for them to get their own. Most companies require you to list all the licensed drivers on your policy anyways. Adding a young driver to your policy will raise your rates, but it will probably still be cheaper than if they got their own policy.
But 18-year-olds who no longer live at home and have their own car will need their own policy. One exception is if they are away at school — many companies offer discounts for families who have a college student who is away at school without a car.
What is the cost to add an 18-year-old to your car insurance?
It’s expensive to add an 18-year-old to your car insurance. But it’s still cheaper to add a teenage driver to your insurance than for them to get their own policy.
How to get the cheapest car insurance for 18 year olds
Car insurance for 18-year-olds is expensive, but it’s still possible to find affordable coverage. You can avoid paying too much for insurance for teens by:
Not getting a separate policy: It’s expensive to add an 18-year-old to an existing policy, but it costs much more to get them a separate car insurance policy. Plus, if your 18-year-old has their own car, most insurers offer a discount for insuring more than one vehicle on the same policy.
Looking for discounts for teen drivers: Companies sometimes offer discounts for young drivers. These include discounts for good students, completing a new driver course, and away-from-home discounts for students.
Considering usage-based programs: Usage-based or telematics programs that monitor driving habits could lower insurance costs for 18-year-olds — as long as they’re safe drivers.
Making sure you don’t have too much insurance: While it’s a good idea to carry comprehensive and collision coverage, they may not be necessary for older cars. If your teen drives an old clunker that isn’t worth much, you can drop those coverages
Switching to per-mile insurance: Per-mile insurance plans may be cheaper than a standard policy for 18-year-old drivers who don’t use their cars often. Liberty Mutual, Allstate, and Nationwide all have pay-per-mile car insurance plans, but 18-year-olds will have to get their own per-mile plans.
If you’re still having trouble finding affordable car insurance for an 18-year-old, the most dependable way to ensure you’re getting the lowest rates is to shop around and compare quotes from more than one insurance company in your area.
Compare rates and shop affordable car insurance today
How much is an insurance policy for an 18-year-old?
According to our analysis, insurance for an 18-year-old is $411 per month on average, or $4,931 per year. Eighteen-year-old male drivers pay $439 per month, while the average cost of car insurance for female drivers of the same age is $383 per month.
What is the best car insurance for 18-year-olds?
COUNTRY Financial is the best car insurance for 18-year-olds. Coverage from COUNTRY costs 18-year-olds an average of $209 per month — the cheapest of any company we considered. COUNTRY also has discounts that can help young drivers lower their rates.
Is first-time car insurance for 18-year-olds more expensive?
While car insurance 18-year-olds usually costs less than for 16-year-olds, it will be more expensive for first-time drivers regardless of their age. This is because insurance companies set rates according to driving history. Without a driving record, rates will be expensive until you get more experience.
Can you get car insurance at 18 years old?
Yes, you can get car insurance at 18 years old. It’s cheaper to join an existing policy if it’s possible, but 18-year-olds can buy their own car insurance without their parents’ permission since they are no longer minors.
References
Policygenius uses external sources, including government data, industry studies, and reputable news organizations to supplement proprietary marketplace data and internal expertise. Learn more about how we use and vet external sources as part of our
Andrew Hurst is a senior editor and a licensed auto insurance expert at Policygenius. His work has also been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, USA Today, NPR, Mic, Insurance Business Magazine, ValuePenguin, and Property Casualty 360.
Maria Filindras is a financial advisor, a licensed Life & Health insurance agent in California, and a member of the Financial Review Council at Policygenius.
