Quick answer
The best car insurance for an 18-year-old is almost always to stay on a parent policy as a listed driver, not to sign a stand-alone policy. A stand-alone teen policy averages $3,600 to $5,200 a year, while adding an 18-year-old to a parent policy raises the family premium by about $1,800 to $2,400. Good-student, defensive-driving, and telematics (usage-based) discounts can cut either premium 15 to 25 percent.
Find out more about the best auto insurance for 18-year-olds and the average costs of coverage below.
What is the Best Auto Insurance for 18-Year-Olds?
The best auto insurance policy is the one you can afford that also provides the right amount of coverage. In cases where it’s possible, the best option may be adding an 18-year-old to a parent’s policy. It’s usually cheaper to add a teen driver to a parent’s policy than it is to buy an individual plan.
In most states, 18-year-olds are considered legal adults who can own a car and get an insurance policy in their own name. The exceptions are Mississippi, where the age of majority is 21, and Nebraska and Alabama, where the age of majority is 19. If an 18-year-old owns their own car, they will need to insure it separately from their parent’s policy.
How Much is Car Insurance for 18-Year-Olds?
The average cost for full coverage car insurance for 18-year-old drivers ranges from around $300 to $600. Costs for minimum liability-only coverage range from around $120 to $270 on average for 18-year-old drivers.
What is the Cheapest Insurance for 18-Year-Olds?
Both male and female drivers aged 18 may find the cheapest car insurance premiums at USAA, GEICO, Erie Insurance, and State Farm. Note that you can only get insurance from USAA if you are a qualifying current or former military member, a spouse of a qualifying current or former military member, or a child of a USAA member. See below for other insurance rates for 18-year-old drivers.
Average cost of auto insurance for 18-year-old males
| Company | Average monthly premium, full coverage |
| GEICO | $350 |
| State Farm | $360 |
| Nationwide | $450 |
| Progressive | $575 |
| Allstate | $580 |
| Farmers | $610 |
| Liberty Mutual | $750 |
Average cost of auto insurance for 18-year-old females
| Company | Average monthly premium, full coverage |
| State Farm | $300 |
| GEICO | $300 |
| Nationwide | $380 |
| Allstate | $500 |
| Liberty Mutual | $500 |
| Progressive | $515 |
| Farmers | $560 |
If an 18-year-old owns their car outright and doesn’t need comp and collision coverage, they may be able to save money with liability-only insurance.
| Company | Average monthly premium, minimum liability-only coverage |
| State Farm | $180 |
| GEICO | $250 |
| Allstate | $260 |
Why Do Insurance Companies Charge More for Teen Drivers?
Drivers aged 16 to 19 cost more to insure because they’re considered a higher risk by insurance companies. Insurance companies base this on a range of facts, including statistics about who is involved in the most accidents. The Insurance Information Institute reports that the fatal crash rate per mile driven for drivers between the ages of 16 and 19 is nearly three times the rate for older drivers, making teens the riskiest group to insure.
What Factors Other Than Age Impact the Cost of Auto Insurance for 18-Year-Olds?
The type of car you’re insuring and the amount of coverage and deductible you pick impact the price of auto insurance. So do the state you live in, your own driving record, and, potentially, your credit score.
Access to discounts might also impact the price of car insurance for 18-year-olds. Teen drivers that have completed a defensive driving course may be eligible for a discount. If an 18-year-old has moved out and has renter’s insurance, they may be able to save money by bundling renter’s insurance with car insurance through the same provider.
Many insurance companies also offer discounts for students who maintain a 3.0 GPA or higher. The savings can range from 8% to 20%.
| Insurance company | Average savings for drivers with good student discounts |
| Allstate | 20% |
| State Farm | 16% |
| Nationwide | 15% |
| Farmers | 12% |
| Progressive | 8% |
| GEICO | 8% |
