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By Ava Lynch
Updated September 30, 2022

Table of contents:

  1. Rates by company
  2. How to save
  3. Life events and car insurance

How much does it cost to get car insurance in your 30s?

The average 30-year-old pays $770 for a six-month car insurance policy. This is slightly less than the average auto insurance rate for all drivers ($777, or about $126 per month).

Let's highlight some cheap car insurance companies for drivers in their 30s and evaluate the important policy decisions you should make as you age.

Company Avg. Annual Premium
USAA $1,330
Nationwide $1,475
GEICO $1,559
State Farm $1,595
Farmers $1,785
Progressive $1,901
Allstate $2,471
Updated: 09/29/22.

Dynamic auto insurance data methodology

Methodology: The auto insurance rates displayed above and throughout this page are dynamic, meaning the data will refresh when the most recent information is made available. Rates are based on a sample driver profile — a 30-year-old single male driver with a Honda Accord and full coverage. This profile was adjusted based on common pricing factors used by major car insurance companies, like age, coverage level, driving record and others.

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How to save on car insurance as a 30-year-old driver

One question you'll need to answer when purchasing a car insurance policy is how many years of driving experience you have. Because your driving experience is a major insurance rating factor, most companies charge inexperienced drivers more to offset the additional risk of insuring them. In the estimation of an insurance company, the less experience a driver has, the more likely they are to get into an accident and require a claim payout. As you gain more experience behind the wheel and keep a clean driving record, your rates will become more affordable.

Below are some tips for first-time drivers seeking affordable car insurance.


Compare car insurance quotes every six months

Auto insurance premiums may vary significantly by insurance company. Although no company will see your lack of driving experience positively, not all will charge you equally. The only way to ensure you're getting the best rate with your driving record is to shop around every time your policy renews (typically every six months).

 

Pay for claims out-of-pocket

The general rule of thumb in the insurance world is if you can pay for damages yourself, do it. Your insurance company will add a surcharge to your premium for three to five years after an at-fault accident. While it varies by state and company, the average three-year surcharge for an at-fault is $1,700. You can determine if you should file a claim using our guide to car insurance claims.

 

Understand your coverage needs

If your vehicle is worth less than $4,000, you may not need to add collision and comprehensive coverages to your insurance policy. These coverages are designed to protect the value of your vehicle but are expensive coverage options. If your vehicle isn't worth much, you are paying for coverage you do not need. Use online resources such as Kelley Blue Book and NADA online to determine the value of your vehicle.

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How does car insurance change during your 30s?

As you grow older celebrate life's milestones, your car insurance rates change. Adding new vehicles, drivers, or new lines of insurance comes with policy implications. 

 

Marriage and car insurance

While no one takes the same path in life, many people in their 30s get married, and this can impact your insurance premiums for the better.
 
When a single person marries, his or her annual premium drops statistically by about 5.6% or around $74 per year. That’s because insurance companies have found that married people file fewer claims than do single people. Moreover, they see that married people are sharing the responsibility of driving, which could cut the mileage of each car in half.
Marital Status Avg. Annual Premium
Single $1,760
Divorced $1,759
Widowed $1,665
Married $1,611
Updated: 09/29/22.
 

Homeownership and car insurance

Upgrading from renting a place to buying your own home can save you around $138/year, for a couple of reasons. We’re assuming that you bundled your home and auto insurance with the same company. This not only makes things a little easier: your business goes through one agent or company, but bundling can also earn you a profitable multi-policy discount. Insurance companies look at those who own a home to be more financially stable and thus statistically less likely to file a claim.
Average annual savings: insurance bundling
Homeownership status Average annual car insurance discount
Renter w/ multi-policy $77
Condo owner w/ multi-policy discount $120
Homeowner w/ multi-policy discount $138

Parenthood and car insurance

Unless your child is of driving age, simply having a kid won’t impact your premium. However, if you upgrade your two-door sedan to a minivan with additional coverage, your insurance premium might change. If you were to trade in your Honda Civic (car) for a Honda Odyssey (minivan) in order to accommodate kids, your average annual premium would drop by $210. If minivans aren’t your thing, you can still expect your premium to decrease by an average of $139 when you swap out your car for a family-friendly SUV.

Average annual cost of car insurance by vehicle type
Minivans SUVs Sedans
$1,297 $1,302 $1,441

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Related Content

Ava Lynch photo
Ava LynchSenior Analyst

Ava joined The Zebra as a writer and licensed insurance agent in 2016. She now works as a senior analyst, providing insights and data analysis as one of The Zebra's property and casualty insurance experts.

Ava’s insurance career began as an agent with Farmers Insurance. Over the years, she has become an authority in all things property and casualty insurance, helping her to write informative guides for shoppers.

Ava’s work has been cited in publications such as Investopedia, The Balance, Money.com, Liberty Mutual, U.S. News & World Report, GasBuddy, Car and Driver and Yahoo! Finance.

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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.

  • The Zebra’s insurance content is written and reviewed for accuracy by licensed insurance agents.
  • The Zebra’s insurance content is not subject to review or alteration by insurance companies or partners.
  • The Zebra’s editorial team operates independently of the company’s partnerships and commercialization interests, publishing unbiased information for consumer benefit.
  • 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.