Why is insurance more expensive for new drivers?
Insurance companies often see young drivers as a greater risk because they are more prone to accidents and poor decision-making — both of which raise the potential cost of claims that need to be paid out by insurers. As a result, these added risks lead to higher premiums when insuring teen drivers.
New drivers can pay as much as $3,000 per year or more for car insurance depending on the company. New drivers are more expensive to insure due to their lack of a driving record. Younger drivers are more likely to be in an accident, which also raises car insurance rates.
Cheapest full-coverage car insurance for new drivers: State Farm. State Farm has the cheapest full-coverage car insurance for new drivers in the country, with an average annual rate of $4,078, or $340 a month. Geico is the second-cheapest option for teen drivers, with full coverage at $4,866 a year, or $406 a month.
When insuring a car, a major factor that affects cost is the vehicle's value. New cars generally have higher values so insurers consider this when determining premiums. Additionally, new cars can experience fast depreciation. Depreciation starts when a new car is driven off the lot, losing as much as 20% of its value.
Young adults are statistically more likely to get into accidents than older adults. Drivers see higher car insurance rates well into their 20s because of this, even if they have clean driving records.
Young drivers ages 16 to 24 tend to have the most expensive car insurance. Drivers in this age group are often inexperienced and are more likely to get into car accidents and file insurance claims. As a result, car insurance companies often charge higher premiums to young drivers.
The Zebra's experts consider State Farm, USAA, and Nationwide the best insurance companies for new drivers thanks to their cheap rates, wide availability, and relevant discounts and programs.
Number of years with a driving licence | Average annual premiums 1 |
---|---|
1 | £1404.50 |
2 | £1241.22 |
5 | £944.85 |
10 | £736.82 |
Group 1 insurance cars can be a great option for younger drivers as they're usually the cheapest to insure and are among the cheapest to buy and repair. They also tend to have less powerful engines.
Insuring all the drivers in a household on a single car insurance policy usually results in premium savings. One of the most common ways to do this is to add a spouse to your insurance.
Does credit score affect car insurance?
On average, drivers with poor credit pay 118 percent more for full coverage car insurance than those with excellent credit. California, Hawaii, Massachusetts and Michigan prohibit or limit the use of credit as a rating factor in determining auto insurance rates.
If your car insurance goes up for seemingly no reason when you renew your policy, it's likely due to an increase in risk that's outside of your control. This could include reasons like increased claims in your area (due to more extreme weather damage, more accidents, etc.) and higher car repair and replacement costs.
Your age – In general, mature drivers have fewer accidents than less experienced drivers, particularly teenagers. Insurers generally charge more if teenagers or young people below age 25 drive your car.
The cheapest car insurance for 21-year-olds is USAA, which offers average rates of $134 per month. However, USAA is only available to military members, veterans and their immediate families. Geico is the cheapest company available to any 21-year-old driver, with average rates of $154 per month.
If paid on a monthly basis, $200 is a lot to pay for car insurance.
Cheap car insurance for 20-year-olds on their own policy
USAA, Auto-Owners and Geico have the cheapest car insurance for 20-year-olds who buy their own policy. USAA comes in under $3,000 a year but has limited eligibility. Auto-Owners and Geico are the next best choices for price, both below $3,600 a year.
In general, car insurance companies charge male drivers more for coverage because they're more likely to get into accidents. But while most states allow insurers to consider gender when setting rates, your age, location, insurance provider and driving record usually make a bigger difference.
Car insurance typically drops as you grow older, when you drive safely for three to five years following an accident or citation, and when you switch to a cheaper company. Both men and women see the steepest drop in car insurance costs between ages 18 and 19.
Generally, it is cheaper for younger drivers, particularly those under 25, to stay on their parents' car insurance policy. The average cost of car insurance for teen drivers is significantly higher than the average for American drivers as a whole. By staying on a parents' plan, young drivers can enjoy lower rates.
The cheapest car insurance rate is $38 a month from Geico according to our research team's cost analysis of national average prices for minimum coverage. The top 10 cheapest car insurance companies are Nationwide, Geico, State Farm, Travelers, Progressive, AAA, Allstate, Chubb, Farmers and USAA.
Who normally has the cheapest car insurance?
State Farm, American Family, Geico and Progressive are the cheapest car insurance companies for most drivers. USAA has even cheaper rates, but only military members, veterans or their families can qualify. *USAA is only available to military members, veterans and some of their family members.
- Fiat Panda.
- Ford Fiesta.
- Hyundai i10.
- Kia Picanto.
- MG 3.
- SEAT Ibiza.
- Skoda Fabia.
- Toyota Aygo X.
In many cases, your insurance will go down by 5-20% in the first year of no claim, depending on your insurer. After the first year, this discount increases each year, usually by 5%, if you don't make a claim. But it only increases up to a maximum discount, usually 50-60%, and a number of years — usually 5-6 years.
If you're looking for the lowest rates, Nationwide offers the best car insurance for 25-year-olds, with rates of $1,663 per year or $139 per month on average. Travelers is another cheap option, with average rates of $1,694 year or $141 per month.
The $500 Uninsured Motor Vehicle (UMV) fee, which is paid to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), does not provide any insurance; it only allows you to drive an uninsured vehicle at your own risk. It expires with your registration and must be paid at renewal.
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