Do I have to add my teenager to my car insurance?

Car insurance for an 18-year-old costs an average of $2,325 per year for minimum coverage. Eighteen-year-old drivers pay more for car insurance than older, more experienced drivers because insurers consider them to be high-risk, meaning they’re more likely to file a claim.

The exact cost of car insurance for an 18-year-old depends on a ... read full answerfew factors, including their driving record, gender, location, vehicle, and car insurance company. Some of the best insurance companies for 18-year-old drivers are USAA, Travelers, and Geico.

Cost of Car Insurance for a 18-Year-Old by Company

Note: Rates are an approximation based on a driver in California with minimum coverage. Actual rates will vary.

To learn more, check out WalletHub’s guide to the best car insurance for teens and young drivers.

The average cost of car insurance for a teenager is $215 per month, for an individual policy. Younger teens typically pay the most for car insurance coverage, with 16-year-olds paying an average of 85% more than 19-year-olds.

Average Cost of Car Insurance for Teenagers by Age

Teenagers are more expensive to insure than older, more mature drivers because they’re more likely to be involved in an accident, which makes them high-risk. In fact, teen drivers are nearly three times as likely to be involved in a fatal car accident as drivers over the age of 20, according to the CDC. Teenage boys are even more expensive to insure than teenage girls, paying an average of 10% more for coverage.

How to Lower the Cost of Teenage Car Insurance

Even though car insurance is typically expensive for teenagers, there are still ways to lower the cost of covering a young driver. One of the best ways to reduce the cost of teen car insurance is to add them to an existing policy rather than have them purchase their own policy. Adding a teen to a policy raises rates by an average of $1,461 per year, but it’s still cheaper than the cost of a separate policy. Also, look for discounts that are specifically for young drivers, like good-student and student-away-at-school discounts.

If your teen does need to purchase their own policy, they should compare quotes from at least three different insurers in order to find the best deal. The cheapest car insurance companies for teens are Travelers, USAA, and Progressive, according to WalletHub’s analysis.

Car insurance is likely to cost more than $5,500 annually for a new driver who is 17 years old to get a stand-alone policy. On the other hand, auto insurance will cost about $2,750 extra per year when adding a 17-year-old new driver to a parent’s policy. But insurance costs for new drivers vary widely.... read full answer

Age is a major factor in how much insurance costs for a new driver. Not everyone gets their first license at 16 or 17 years old. A new driver could be 25 or 40 or even 60 years old. Insurance companies set different prices for insuring a newly licensed teenager and someone getting their driver’s license later in life. They also factor in gender, state of residence and coverage amounts. Insuring any new driver, however, is more expensive than covering an experienced driver with good driving and insurance records.

Statistics show that new drivers tend to be high-risk drivers who are more likely to get into accidents and file claims. That’s why insurance companies charge more to insure them. You can’t fight statistics, but sometimes, you can make them work for you in order to get the best possible price. A look at car insurance statistics yields the following findings.

• Adding a teen to a parent’s policy is cheaper. If you are a teen driver living at home or in a dorm, ask your parents to add you to their policy. It will be about half as costly as having your own policy.

• Luxury cars are expensive to repair, and sports cars are likely to be driven too fast. Driving a cheaper, practical car with good safety and anti-theft features will lower your rates.

• Students with good grades are better drivers. Insurance companies give discounts to students with a B average or better.

• Driving courses improve drivers’ skills. Many insurance companies offer discounts for attending driver’s ed or online defensive driving schools.

• Teachers, physicians, police officers, and other well-educated professionals file fewer claims. Some insurance companies offer discounts based on occupation.

If you are a new driver of any age, it’s worthwhile to comparison shop rates and discounts carefully. The cheapest way to do this is by getting free online quotes from multiple auto insurance companies.