How much is car insurance for an 18-year-old?
The typical 18-year-old driver's insurance rate for car insurance is $356 per month — equating to $2,136 per six-month policy.
Affordable 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.
The cheapest car insurance companies for an 18-year-old driver
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.
| Company | Avg. 6 Mo. Premium | Avg. Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Allstate | $3,243 | $541 |
| American Family | $2,262 | $377 |
| Farmers | $3,514 | $586 |
| GEICO | $1,934 | $322 |
| Liberty Mutual | $3,750 | $625 |
| Nationwide | $2,485 | $414 |
| Progressive | $3,265 | $544 |
| State Farm | $1,980 | $330 |
| USAA | $1,493 | $249 |
Auto insurance data methodology
The auto insurance rates published in this guide are based on the results of The Zebra's State of Insurance car insurance pricing analysis. This analysis of more than 83 million insurance rates spans every U.S. ZIP code, using a sample user profile: a 30-year-old single male driver with a Honda Accord, good credit and full coverage at these levels:
- $50,000 per person/$100,000 per incident for bodily injury liability
- $50,000 per incident for property damage liability
- $500 deductibles for collision and comprehensive coverage
To generate pricing for particular rating factors, we adjusted the driving profile based on common pricing factors used by major car insurance companies. These factors include credit score, coverage level, driving record and others.
In some instances, average rates from Liberty Mutual were derived from internally sourced sales data.
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.
Car insurance rates for 18-year-olds: by gender
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. 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.
AVERAGE PREMIUMS FOR 18-YEAR-OLD DRIVERS: MALES AND FEMALES
| Gender | Avg. 6 Mo. Premium | Avg. Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Male | $2,706 | $451 |
| Female | $2,387 | $398 |
What's the cheapest car insurance company for an 18-year-old male?
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.
| Company | Avg. 6 Mo. Premium | Avg. Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Allstate | $3,473 | $579 |
| American Family | $2,478 | $413 |
| Farmers | $3,669 | $611 |
| GEICO | $2,065 | $344 |
| Liberty Mutual | $4,478 | $746 |
| Nationwide | $2,692 | $449 |
| Progressive | $3,442 | $574 |
| State Farm | $2,150 | $358 |
| USAA | $1,553 | $259 |
USAA and GEICO again came out on top, offering much lower rates than other insurance companies for 18-year-old male drivers.
What's the cheapest car insurance company for an 18-year-old female?
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.
| Company | Avg. 6 Mo. Premium | Avg. Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Allstate | $3,014 | $502 |
| American Family | $2,047 | $341 |
| Farmers | $3,359 | $560 |
| GEICO | $1,804 | $301 |
| Liberty Mutual | $3,021 | $503 |
| Nationwide | $2,277 | $379 |
| Progressive | $3,088 | $515 |
| State Farm | $1,809 | $302 |
| USAA | $1,433 | $239 |
18-year-old car insurance rates by location
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 | Avg. 6 Mo. Premium | Avg. Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | $5,423 | $904 |
| Kentucky | $5,043 | $840 |
| Michigan | $4,623 | $771 |
| Rhode Island | $4,480 | $747 |
| New Jersey | $4,401 | $733 |
How to find cheap car insurance as an 18-year-old
Look into the following options if you're looking for ways to save money on your auto insurance rate.
Good student discount
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.
GOOD STUDENT + GOOD DRIVER DISCOUNTS — AVERAGE ANNUAL SAVINGS
| Age | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 18 | $338 | $197 |
Learn more about student discounts for car insurance.
Defensive driver discount
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.
Student away from home discount
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."
Compare insurance rates
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.
Drive a cheaper or older vehicle
One way to lower rates for teen drivers is to put them behind the wheel of a less expensive vehicle. Cars that are a few years old still feature many of the same safety benefits featured by newer cars, but their overall cost to insure tends to be much cheaper. In general, to keep rates down for teens, it's always a good idea to avoid sports cars of any kind.
Find the right policy in only a few minutes.
Related content
- Cheap Car Insurance for 17-Year-Olds
- Cheap Car Insurance for 19-Year-Olds
- Cheap Car Insurance for 21-Year-Olds
- Cheap Car Insurance for 22-Year-Olds
- Cheap Car Insurance for 23-Year-Olds
- Cheap Car Insurance for 25-Year-Olds
- Cheap Car Insurance for 30-Year-Olds
- Cheap Car Insurance for 40-Year-Olds
- Cheap Car Insurance for 50-Year-Olds
- Cheap Car Insurance for 60-Year-Olds
About The Zebra
The Zebra is not an insurance company. We publish data-backed, expert-reviewed resources to help consumers make more informed insurance decisions.
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The Zebra’s insurance content is written and reviewed for accuracy by licensed insurance agents.
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The Zebra’s insurance content is not subject to review or alteration by insurance companies or partners.
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The Zebra’s editorial team operates independently of the company’s partnerships and commercialization interests, publishing unbiased information for consumer benefit.
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The auto insurance rates published on The Zebra’s pages are based on a comprehensive analysis of car insurance pricing data, evaluating more than 83 million insurance rates from across the United States.