By Kristine Lee Updated July 28, 2021

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.

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.

AVERAGE CAR INSURANCE RATES FOR 18-YEAR-OLDS: BY COMPANY
CarrierAvg. 6 Mo. PremiumAvg. 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

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.

 

 

To uncover more content, click the blue summary boxes below!

 

 

Car insurance rates for 18-year-old drivers — table of contents:

  1. By gender: male vs. female drivers
  2. By location
  3. How to save

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
18-year-old gender data visualization
GenderAvg. 6 Mo. PremiumAvg. Monthly Premium
Male$2,706$451
Female$2,387$398

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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. 

USAA and GEICO again came out on top, offering much lower rates than other insurance companies for 18-year-old male drivers.

AVERAGE PREMIUMS FOR 18-YEAR-OLD MALE DRIVERS
CarrierAvg. 6 Mo. PremiumAvg. Monthly Premium
Allstate$1,476$246
Farmers$1,133$189
GEICO$1,161$193
Liberty Mutual$1,537$256
Nationwide$1,120$187
Progressive$1,003$167
State Farm$901$150
USAA$783$130

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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.

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.

AVERAGE 6-MONTH PREMIUMS FOR 18-YEAR-OLD FEMALE DRIVERS
CarrierAvg. 6 Mo. PremiumAvg. 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

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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.

Learn more about car insurance rates in every U.S. state.

AVERAGE CAR INSURANCE PREMIUMS FOR 18-YEAR-OLDS: BY STATE
StateAvg. 6 Mo. PremiumAvg. Monthly Premium
Alabama$2,967$494
Alaska$2,325$387
Arizona$2,583$430
Arkansas$3,323$554
California$2,653$442
Colorado$3,228$538
Connecticut$3,246$541
Delaware$3,907$651
Florida$3,756$626
Georgia$3,111$518
Hawaii$930$155
Idaho$2,053$342
Illinois$2,389$398
Indiana$2,227$371
Iowa$1,958$326
Kansas$2,912$485
Kentucky$4,838$806
Louisiana$4,696$783
Maine$2,055$343
Maryland$3,327$555
Massachusetts$3,269$545
Michigan$4,502$750
Minnesota$2,817$470
Mississippi$2,466$411
Missouri$2,821$470
Montana$2,786$464
Nebraska$2,523$421
Nevada$3,157$526
New Hampshire$2,628$438
New Jersey$4,224$704
New Mexico$2,583$431
New York$3,915$653
North Carolina$1,408$235
North Dakota$3,018$503
Ohio$1,874$312
Oklahoma$2,827$471
Oregon$2,741$457
Pennsylvania$2,794$466
Rhode Island$4,341$723
South Carolina$2,764$461
South Dakota$2,253$376
Tennessee$2,656$443
Texas$3,237$540
Utah$2,873$479
Vermont$2,333$389
Virginia$2,399$400
Washington$2,848$475
Washington D.C.$3,266$544
West Virginia$3,046$508
Wisconsin$2,100$350
Wyoming$2,422$404

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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
AgeMaleFemale
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.

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Kristine Lee
Kristine Lee LinkedIn

Kristine is a licensed insurance agent and one of The Zebra’s in-house content strategists. With a background in copywriting, she covers the ins and outs of the home and car insurance industries. She has contributed to numerous publications focused on the nuances of insurance, including Automoblog, USInsuranceAgents.com, and BestCompany.com.