Learn more about cheap car insurance options for 18-year-old drivers, or enter your ZIP below to compare quotes.
The typical 18-year-old driver's insurance rate for car insurance is $356 per month — equating to $2,136 per six-month policy.
Cheap car insurance can be difficult to find as an 18-year-old young driver. Even though many 18-year-olds are leaving high school and entering the real world, car insurance companies still see them as "high-risk," due to their relative lack of experience behind the wheel — they are more prone to getting in a car accident or receiving citations on their driving record. Therefore, their average car insurance rate will be much higher than that of an older driver.
We've outlined the best cheap car insurance companies for 18-year-old drivers — as well as some easy ways to save — in our comprehensive guide.
In The Zebra's survey of hundreds of top insurance companies, USAA and GEICO had the cheapest auto insurance rates for 18-year-old drivers.
| Insurance Company | Average 6-Month Premium | Monthly Premium |
| Allstate | $2,700 | $450 |
| American Family | $1,485 | $247 |
| Farmers | $2,492 | $415 |
| GEICO | $1,414 | $236 |
| Liberty Mutual | $2,660 | $443 |
| Nationwide | $1,731 | $288 |
| Progressive | $2,537 | $423 |
| State Farm | $1,591 | $265 |
| Travelers | $1,521 | $253 |
| USAA | $1,419 | $237 |
The above table illustrates just how much variance exists from company to company. One of the best ways to find a cheap car insurance rate as an 18-year-old is to compare car insurance quotes often.
Consider this data as a starting point and continue to research your specific profile across multiple companies. Learn more about our methodology.
Your gender can affect your premium just like your age. When evaluating risk, insurance companies see young males as statistically more likely to take unsafe driving risks than young female drivers — and therefore, are higher-risk clients. Because of this, they are more expensive to insure. On average, 18-year-old males are $257 more expensive per six-month car insurance policy period to insure. Still, it's worth considering that as you age, the difference between men and women becomes less significant. In fact, some states don't use gender as a metric for determining car insurance rates at all.
| Age | Male | Female | $ Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 | $2,264 | $2,007 | $257 |
We gathered rates from some of the top car insurance companies in the U.S. to help young drivers start their search for auto insurance in the right place.
| Insurance Company | 6-Month Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Allstate | $2,877 | $480 |
| American Family | $1,565 | $261 |
| Farmers | $2,570 | $428 |
| GEICO | $1,494 | $249 |
| Liberty Mutual | $2,790 | $465 |
| Nationwide | $1,901 | $317 |
| Progressive | $2,673 | $445 |
| State Farm | $1,752 | $292 |
| Travelers | $1,646 | $274 |
| USAA | $1,488 | $248 |
USAA and GEICO again came out on top, offering much lower rates — less than $300 a month — than other insurance companies for 18-year-old male drivers.
Auto insurance for young female drivers is pricey but less expensive than the rates paid by their male counterparts. See below for average costs by insurance company in our survey of rates for 18-year-old female drivers.
| Insurance Company | 6-Month Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Allstate | $2,524 | $421 |
| American Family | $1,404 | $234 |
| Farmers | $2,414 | $402 |
| GEICO | $1,333 | $222 |
| Liberty Mutual | $2,532 | $422 |
| Nationwide | $1,560 | $260 |
| Progressive | $2,401 | $400 |
| State Farm | $1,429 | $238 |
| Travelers | $1,395 | $233 |
| USAA | $1,351 | $225 |
Start your search with GEICO if you don't qualify for USAA. These auto insurance providers offer relatively affordable rates for an 18-year-old female driver, offering savings of about $70 per month compared to the group average.
Your car insurance premium depends on state laws and regulations, so the amount you pay varies based on where you live. By law, most states require mandatory minimum insurance coverage for your bodily injury and property liability coverages, but the amount of required coverage differs by state. If you live in Michigan, where the minimum required coverage is well above the national average, you'll probably pay more for auto insurance than you would in another state.
| State | Average 6-Month Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $4,277 | $713 |
| Louisiana | $3,829 | $638 |
| Michigan | $3,498 | $583 |
| Nevada | $3,057 | $510 |
| Connecticut | $2,985 | $498 |
Learn more about car insurance rates in every U.S. state.
Look into the following options if you're looking for ways to save money on your auto insurance rate.
If you excel at school by maintaining a grade point average of 3.0 ("B") or better, insurance companies will return some savings to you. When combined with the Defensive Driver Discount mentioned below, a Good Student insurance discount can help you save some serious money on auto insurance.
| Age | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 18 | $338 | $197 |
Learn more about student discounts for car insurance.
Younger drivers who have taken a defensive driving course are less likely to receive a citation or get into an accident. Like the Good Student Discount, your insurance company will usually require proof of this such as a receipt. Not every insurance provider offers this discount, so ask your insurer about this option.
If you attend school more than 100 miles from the residence listed on your car insurance policy, you can receive a Student Away From Home Discount. This discount lists the 18-year-old driver as an "infrequent driver."
Although it is exceedingly expensive to insure a teen driver, it isn't impossible. By shopping around with as many insurance companies as possible, you are able to see all of your options and make the best and cheapest choice for you.
