How much do teenagers pay for car insurance each month?

Car insurance for a teen driver costs $670 a month for full coverage, or $8,045 a year — more than triple the $215 a month the average driver pays. Insurers price teens that way because the fatal crash rate per mile driven for 16- to 19-year-olds is nearly three times the rate for drivers 20 and over, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Where you live changes that number more than anything else — adding a teen costs $11 a month in the cheapest state and $804 in the most expensive. Which company you use matters nearly as much, with annual costs for the same teen running from $5,684 to $13,020 depending on the insurer. Getting quotes from three or four companies before you add your teen is the single biggest thing you can do to lower how much you pay.

How to use our car insurance calculator

Enter your ZIP code, gender, and age, then select a coverage level. The calculator instantly estimates what teen drivers in your area typically pay for car insurance.

Car insurance calculator for teens

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Liability limits State Minimum – Liability coverage limits vary by state. 50/100/50 – $50,000 injury liability for one person, $100,000 for all injuries and $50,000 for property damage. 100/300/100 – $100,000 injury liability for one person, $300,000 for all injuries and $100,000 for property damage.

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How the calculator helps you compare teen rates

Adding a teen can take your policy from $2,578 a year to $10,387, so every quote you get is going to look high. That’s why it helps to know what teen coverage actually costs where you live. If a quote comes in near that number, it’s a fair price and you can take it. If it comes in well above, that company is charging more than your area’s going rate and it’s worth getting a few more quotes — switching to a cheaper company can save you thousands a year for the exact same teen on the exact same coverage.

• What teens your age pay in your ZIP code. Rates drop each year from 16 to 19, so what your neighbor paid last year isn’t what you’ll pay now.
• What each coverage level costs. Compare state minimum against full coverage and decide what’s worth paying for before an agent frames the choice for you.
• Whether you’re getting a good deal. If a quote comes in higher than your estimate, you can probably find a better one somewhere else.

How much does it cost to add a licensed teen to your car insurance policy?

Adding a teen driver costs $670 a month on average, or $8,045 a year, for full coverage. For example, your state decides most of what you’ll pay — in the cheapest state, your bill goes up $11 a month, while in the most expensive, it goes up $804.

Past that, your cost depends on your teen and the policy you choose.

• Their age. Rates drop every year from 16 to 19.
• Their driving record. One ticket raises your rate for years.
• The car they drive. Sports cars and SUVs cost more than sedans.
• The company you choose. The same teen can cost thousands more a year.

Here’s what a policy costs before and after adding a teen in every state.

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How much does your car insurance premium increase after adding a teen? 

Where you live affects how much adding a teen raises your bill. Insurers price each state around how often drivers there crash, what repairs cost locally, how much coverage the state requires and how often injury claims turn into lawsuits. States that run high on all four charge the most to add an inexperienced driver. 

Here’s how the cheapest and most expensive states compare. 

The cheapest states to add a teen driver

Hawaii is the cheapest state to add a teen to your policy, at $11 a month. Vermont comes in second at $241 a month, more than 20 times what Hawaii drivers pay.

What are the most expensive states to add a teen driver?

Louisiana and Washington, D.C. take the cake as the most expensive states to add a teen to your car insurance policy, both seeing annual increases of more than $9,000.

How much does it cost to add a 16-year-old to your car insurance policy?

Adding a 16-year-old takes the average parent’s policy from $2,578 a year to $10,387, an increase of 303%. How much more you’ll actually pay depends on where you live, your insurer and the car your teen drives.

Sixteen-year-olds cost the most to insure because their crash risk peaks in the first months after licensing. Their crash rate per mile runs more than 1.5 times that of 18- and 19-year-olds, and they make the errors inexperienced drivers make — misjudging hazards, taking curves too fast, getting distracted. Insurers also know a 16-year-old is more likely to be driving with other teens in the car, which raises crash risk further.

Here’s what a policy costs before and after adding a 16-year-old.

How much does it cost to add a 17-year-old to your car insurance policy?

Adding a 17-year-old takes the average parent’s policy from $2,578 a year to $8,614, an increase of 234%. That’s $1,773 less a year than adding a 16-year-old, and the number keeps dropping each year your teen drives without a claim.

Seventeen-year-olds cost less than 16-year-olds because they’ve had a year behind the wheel. Crash risk is highest in the first months after licensing and falls as a driver gains experience, so insurers price each year of a teen’s driving history differently.

Here’s what a policy costs before and after adding a 17-year-old.

Which insurance companies are cheapest for teen drivers?

GEICO and Travelers are the cheapest companies for a teen driver. GEICO charges $6,176 a year for a policy with a female teen and $6,841 with a male teen, and Travelers charges $6,089 and $7,108. Farmers costs the most at $11,984 and $13,020, nearly double what either of the cheapest two charge for the same teen.

USAA beats all of them at $5,373 and $5,684, but you can only buy it if you’re a veteran, an active-duty service member or a family member of one.

Here’s what each company charges to add a teen to a parent’s policy.

What coverage should you choose for your teen driver?

Experts recommend full coverage with limits of 100/300/100 for teen drivers — a higher standard than the minimum liability most states require. These numbers represent your liability limits:

• $100,000 for bodily injury per person
• $300,000 for bodily injury per accident
• $100,000 for property damage

A single at-fault crash with injuries can cost more than a state minimum policy covers, and you pay the rest yourself. That risk is higher with a teen on your policy — the fatal crash rate per mile driven for 16- to 19-year-olds runs nearly three times the rate for drivers 20 and over, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

What full coverage includes

Full coverage bundles three protections rather than one.

• Liability insurance. Covers injuries and property damage you cause to others.
• Comprehensive and collision. Comprehensive pays for non-collision damage like theft, vandalism, or weather. Collision covers your vehicle in an accident with another car or object.
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. Pays for repairs or medical bills if your teen is hit by a driver with little or no insurance.

Full coverage costs more than a minimum liability policy, though bundling home and auto, a good student discount, a multi-vehicle discount or a defensive driving course can each bring the price down.

How to save money when adding a teen driver to your car insurance policy

The right combination of discounts, vehicle choice, and safe driving habits can meaningfully offset the cost of adding a teen to your policy.

For parents

• Add your teen to your existing policy rather than buying a separate one
• Choose a safe, practical vehicle over a sports or luxury car
• Ask about good student, multi-policy, and usage-based discounts
• Raise your deductible to lower your monthly premium
• Bundle home and auto policies for additional savings

For teen drivers

• Maintain a clean record by avoiding speeding, texting, and risky driving
• Take a defensive driving course to qualify for a discount
• Enroll in a usage-based or telematics program to earn savings through safe driving
• Keep mileage low, since driving less can reduce your rate
• Avoid tickets and claims, which can raise rates for several years

Why is car insurance more expensive for teens?

Insurers charge more for teens because teens crash more. The fatal crash rate per mile driven for 16- to 19-year-olds runs nearly three times the rate for drivers 20 and over, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Inexperience accounts for most of that. IIHS research found three errors cause nearly half of serious teen crashes — failing to scan the road for hazards, driving too fast for conditions and getting distracted. Crash risk climbs further when a teen drives with other teens in the car.

Rates drop every year your teen drives without a claim, and most drivers see their price flatten out after 25.

Mistakes to avoid when adding a teen driver to your insurance

Avoiding these common missteps can help you protect your finances and your teen on the road.

• Not adding your teen to your policy. Some parents skip notifying their insurer to save money, but that’s a costly mistake. If your teen is involved in an accident and isn’t listed on the policy, the claim could be denied — or your coverage could even be canceled.
• Choosing only minimum coverage. Teens are more likely to get into accidents, and basic coverage often won’t cover all the damages. It’s worth choosing higher liability limits and adding comprehensive and collision coverage to better protect your family financially.
• Overlooking discounts. Ask your insurer about programs that reward safe habits and good grades. Discounts for driver education, strong academic performance, or safe driving technology can lower your premiums significantly.
• Not shopping around. Rates for teen drivers vary widely between companies. Comparing quotes from multiple insurers ensures you’re getting the best deal, especially since your current provider may not remain the cheapest once your teen is added.
• Skipping household driving rules. Insurance helps manage financial risk, but safety starts at home. Set clear expectations for when and how your teen drives, including phone use, curfews, and passenger limits. Consistent rules encourage safer driving and help prevent costly accidents.

Getting your teen behind the wheel is a big milestone, and it comes with new responsibilities for both of you. Staying proactive about coverage, safety, and savings helps ensure your teen is protected every mile of the way.

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Methodology

Insure.com editors collected car insurance rates from Quadrant Information Services based on a sample profile of an individual driving a Honda Accord LX with a good insurance score and no violations on record, and commuting 12 miles to work each day.

Rates reflect the liability limits and deductible options selected in the calculator, including state minimum limits, 50/100/50, and 100/300/100 liability tiers with optional collision and comprehensive deductibles of $1,000, $500, or $250. Liability-only comparisons use liability premium data without physical damage coverage.

We analyzed insurance records across ZIP codes and insurance companies nationwide.

Read more about our research standards and methodology.