Car Insurance for Families

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. 

Family car insurance — table of contents:

• Young families
• Insuring a teen driver
• Money-saving tips and tricks
• Frequently asked questions

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.

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.

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.

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 (methodology).

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 for 16-year-olds
• Car Insurance for 17-year-olds
• Car Insurance for 18-year-olds
• Car Insurance for 19-year-olds

Family car insurance discounts 

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.

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.

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.

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

Do car insurance rates go down when you have a baby?

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.

Does car insurance get cheaper after you buy a home?

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.