Cost of Auto Insurance for 19-Year-Olds

Throughout the United States, the average annual auto insurance cost is around $2,758.33 for 19-year-old drivers. Many different factors affect car insurance rates, including gender, location, type of vehicle, and insurance company.

Average Cost of Car Insurance for 19-Year-Olds by Gender

Not all states allow providers to make pricing decisions about insurance premiums based on gender. Gender-ban states include Hawaii, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and California.¹ In the states that allow providers to consider gender when deciding on rates, men often pay more than women, especially if the driver is under the age of 25.

How Much Does ZIP Code Impact Insurance for 19-Year-Olds?

Location is often a major factor in the cost of auto insurance. Insurance cost differs by state as well as by region. For example, suburban drivers will have a different rate than urban drivers.

In 2018, the most expensive average liability premium in the United States was in Louisiana, at $1,015.36 across all ages. The cheapest liability average premium was in North Dakota, at $307.97. Remember that if you move states, that could affect your minimum liability requirements.

If you want to move to a location that lowers your auto insurance costs, look into the weather, theft rates, road conditions, traffic density, and population density. Urban drivers often pay more because there are higher rates of theft, collisions, and vandalism in cities.

Car insurance is more expensive for younger drivers because teens have crash rates close to four times those of drivers ages 20 and older, per mile driven. These crashes are often the result of age and inexperience. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety states that driver error, speeding, single-vehicle crashes, passengers, and night driving were among the most cited reasons for teen collisions. Thankfully, premiums often decrease after the driver turns 25.

1. Find the minimum insurance requirement for your state in our state-by-state insurance guide.
2. Raise your deductible to ensure lower monthly payments. Keep in mind that this means you will have a higher out-of-pocket payment in the event of a collision or non-collision event like thefts or vandalism.
3. Check out discounts for teen drivers from different car insurance companies. We have seen discounts for being a good student, taking safe driving courses, and having low mileage. You can significantly lower your car insurance rates through these discounts.

Company

When shopping for insurance for a 19-year-old, compare auto insurance rates from multiple companies. Every company offers different price and coverage options.

It is usually cheaper to add a teen to an adult policy than to have a teen buy their own policy. This is because teens often have lower credit scores and shorter driving histories, and may not qualify for typical discounts such as insuring multiple vehicles, bundling, or loyalty.

No, 19-year-old drivers do not need full coverage, although we recommend it. Drivers are only required to hold the minimum insurance requirements in their state. Although your state’s minimum coverage is the cheapest option, younger drivers are statistically more likely to get in an accident than other drivers, which is why full coverage is best.

Full coverage includes collision and comprehensive coverage. Collision covers the cost of your damaged or destroyed vehicle in the event of a collision, regardless of who is at fault. Comprehensive coverage covers the cost of damages that are not a result of a collision, such as theft, vandalism, or weather-related damage. Full coverage is the best option for paying the least amount out of pocket in the event of damage.

When buying a car for a teen driver, research the safety features, insurance rates, and reviews before making a purchase.

What to Look for When Shopping

When shopping for a teen driver, look into cars with the following features:

• A good or acceptable rating with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (https://www.iihs.org/ratings/top-safety-picks)
• Electronic stability control
• Four or five stars in the safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration⁵

Recommended Cars

To give you an idea of what cars fit these requirements, here are some cars that are a good fit for teen drivers:

• Mazda 3 Sedan or Hatchback 2014, or newer
• Hyundai Elantra GT 2018 or newer
• Subaru Crosstrek 2017 or newer
• Honda Insight 2019 or newer
• Toyota Corolla Hatchback 2019, or newer
• Kia Niro 2019
• Subaru Impreza 2019
• Subaru Legacy 2013 or newer
• Mazda 6 2014 or newer
• Lincoln MKZ 2013, 2016, 2018, or newer
• Ford Taurus 2014
• Hyundai Genesis 2016⁶

If you have further questions about getting your 19-year-old the best insurance coverage for their situation, check out some of our most commonly asked questions about auto insurance.