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Ava Lynch

Insurance Analyst

Ava joined The Zebra as a writer and licensed insurance agent in 2016. She now works as a senior insurance contributor, providing insights and data a…

Credentials
  • 7+ years of Experience in the Insurance Industry
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Renata Balasco

Senior Content Strategist

Renata joined The Zebra in 2020 as a Customer Experience Agent. Since 2021, she has worked as licensed insurance professional and content strategist.…

Credentials
  • Licensed Insurance Agent — Property and Casualty

What is the best car insurance for families?

Car insurance modeled to fit you and your vehicle. Auto insurance for a family can be dynamic — and potentially expensive — so it's important to stay in the loop on the best ways to save. Whether you're getting married, buying a house, or adding teen drivers to your policy, every step on your family's path can have auto insurance rate ramifications.

Let's assess the best ways to find affordable auto insurance for your family. 


Auto insurance for young families

Marriage is a major milestone, both personally and for car insurance. Married couples sharing an auto insurance policy are considered stable insurance customers and are rewarded with lower premiums. Controlling for other pricing variables, married drivers save 6% on car insurance.

Auto insurance rates by marital status

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Marital Status Avg. Monthly Premium
Married $134
Widowed $139
Divorced $147
Single $147

Source: The Zebra

The Zebra’s Dynamic Insurance Rating Tool data methodology

The Zebra’s Dynamic Insurance Rating Tool for home and auto insurance rates utilizes the latest ZIP code-level rate filings from across the U.S., sourced from Quadrant Information Services and S&P Global. These filings, typically updated annually or biennially by insurers, are verified through Quadrant’s QA process and then integrated into The Zebra’s estimator.

The displayed rates are based on a dynamic home and auto profile designed to reflect the content of the page. This profile is tailored to match specific factors such as age, location, and coverage level, which are adjusted based on the page content to show how these variables can impact premiums.

For a comprehensive understanding, see our detailed methodology.

If you and your spouse are homeowners, you can expect to save an extra 2% on your auto insurance policy. Homeowners are seen as less likely to file a claim than renters — and when they do file claims, the payouts tend to be less costly. 

If you bundle your home and auto policies with the same insurance company, you can look forward to approximately 10% in savings.

Average auto insurance rates by homeowner status

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Homeowner Status Avg. Monthly Premium
Renter $147
Condo Owner $144
Home Owner $144
Renter With Multi-Policy $140
Condo Owner With Multi-Policy $133
Home Owner With Multi-Policy $130

Source: The Zebra

Married homeowners enjoy some impressive car insurance savings. But once the children hit driving age, insurance costs tend to rise. Learn more about auto insurance for married drivers.

Get auto insurance for your family today!

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Car insurance for parents with teen drivers

Insurance for teen drivers is very expensive. We pulled rates from five popular insurance companies to determine which company is the cheapest for a family with a teen driver.

Based on our most recent study, Nationwide was the cheapest company for a family insuring a teen driver.

Insurance company Average Monthly Rate
Allstate $647
Farmers $510
GEICO $329
Nationwide $285
Progressive $524
State Farm $298
USAA $374

Adding a teen driver to your insurance policy can increase your premium by nearly $4,000 per year. If you have multiple driving-aged children, you can expect the increase to be even greater. So, what comes next? Begin your search for auto insurance with GEICO, Nationwide and State Farm before searching elsewhere. 

Learn more about auto insurance rates for teen drivers:

Car insurance discounts for families

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Good student discount

This discount is straightforward. Insurance companies view students with a GPA of 3.0 or better as safer drivers, rewarding them with lower premiums. Most insurance companies require an up-to-date transcript every policy period as proof. Discount amounts vary by company.

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Defensive driver discount

Taking a safe driving course — approved by your insurance company — can earn you a discount. Regardless of whether your insurance company provides a defensive driving discount, it’s probably a good idea for a teen driver. The discount amount will vary by company.

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Good driver discount

This discount is automatically added to your policy if you have a claim-free history. Help your teen keep a clean driving record — no citations, tickets, or at-fault accidents — in order to receive this discount. The discount amount often varies by company.

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Choose the right vehicle

Don’t let your 16-year-old drive your brand new truck. Teens are historically bad drivers so it’s in your best interest to have them drive a less expensive vehicle such as a used sedan, rather than a car that will fetch a higher insurance premium. Learn more about auto insurance for teens.


Car insurance for families: FAQs

No, car insurance rates do not go down after a driver has a child. New parents seeking savings should look into other common auto insurance discounts.

Auto insurance companies do typically price policies more favorably for homeowners and condo owners than for renters. If you've recently purchased a home, it could be worth comparing auto insurance to find a new policy. Better yet, explore bundling your home and auto insurance policies.

Compare car insurance policies and make an informed decision.

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No junk mail. No spam calls. Free quotes.

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 editorial 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.