Nineteen-year-old drivers pay an average of $3,571 a year for car insurance, or $298 a month. While rates for 19-year-olds are usually not as expensive as those for younger drivers, they still see much higher rates in comparison to the national average. Key factors that affect your final rate include whether or not you're on a parent's auto insurance policy, your gender and your driving history.
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How much do 19-year-olds pay for car insurance?
The average car insurance rate for 19-year-old drivers is $3,571 a year, or $298 a month, for a full coverage policy. This average premium is considerably higher than the average national auto insurance rate of $1,255 a year for full coverage.
Teenagers in general pay much higher auto insurance rates than older drivers. While 19- year-old drivers pay less for coverage than younger drivers, their rates can still be thousands of dollars more than what older drivers pay. The reason for these higher car insurance costs mostly comes down to the fact that insurers consider young drivers to be one of the highest-risk groups to cover.
Teen drivers as a whole are considered inexperienced behind the wheel and more prone to getting into accidents. According to the CDC, car crashes in 2018 involving young people between the ages of 13 and 19 resulted in around $11.8 billion in medical and work loss costs. In order to offset their own costs for covering a high-risk group, car insurance providers typically charge higher premiums.
Average car insurance rates also vary between young men and women. Our research shows that 19-year-old male drivers may pay an average of 31% more than female drivers of the same age. The table below shows the rates of 10 major car insurance companies for 19-year-old men and women.
| Company | 19-year-old female | 19-year-old male | % difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allstate | $335 | $420 | 25% |
| American Family | $236 | $334 | 42% |
| Auto-Owners | $215 | $266 | 24% |
| Erie | $159 | $184 | 16% |
| GEICO | $264 | $342 | 30% |
| Nationwide | $360 | $430 | 19% |
| Progressive | $313 | $361 | 15% |
| Travelers | $265 | $315 | 19% |
| State Farm | $169 | $214 | 27% |
| USAA | $200 | $212 | 6% |
| Average | $252 | $329 | 31% |
| Average rates are based on non-binding estimates provided by Quadrant Information Services. Your rates may vary. | |||
The key reason for this cost difference? Studies show that young men tend to be riskier drivers than young women. We found that car insurance costs usually decrease at age 25, then even out until you hit 60 years old.
How to get cheap car insurance for 19-year-olds
The most impactful way for a 19-year-old driver to lower their car insurance costs is to join a parent's policy. Teenagers, in general, save a considerable amount of money by getting on their parent's auto insurance, as the following graph shows.
Combining your car insurance with your parents' policy has pros and cons. The biggest benefit is the reduction of the overall cost of your annual premium. The potential downside is that if either you or your parents file a claim, all of your premiums will increase. Also, you can expect higher rates if you have accidents on your driving history when you buy your own policy.
When looking for your cheapest auto insurance rate, make sure to compare quotes from multiple companies for both individual and combined rates. Being able to look at both types of quotes side by side will give you an excellent overview of coverage offerings and price, and help you get your best car insurance.
Car insurance is expensive for a 19-year-old. But we can help make it cheaper!
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There are many discounts available to 19-year-old drivers that can help reduce your auto insurance costs. These include:
- Good student discount: If you keep an average 3.0 GPA, many car insurance providers offer a good student discount that may save you up to 25% off your annual rate.
- Defensive driving discount: Completing a defensive driving program certified by your auto insurance company can save you money on your annual premium. For example, State Farm offers a discount of 10% to 15% for completing such a course.
- Bundle your policies: If you have a renters insurance policy, you may be able to bundle it with an auto insurance policy and save money on both.
Another good way to reduce your auto insurance costs is to raise your deductible. Raising your deductible lowers your annual premium. As long as you maintain a safe driving history, you may save a great deal of cash in the long run.
Best car insurance companies for 19-year-olds
When looking at your best option for auto insurance, you'll want to weigh cost, coverage and customer satisfaction. J.D. Power compiles an annual customer satisfaction survey that indicates how well an auto insurer meets customer expectations, based on a scale of zero to 1,000. The table below shows the average cost of auto insurance from 11 major providers, along with their J.D. Power ratings.
| Company | Average rate for 19-year-old driver | J.D. Power 2020 customer satisfaction rating |
|---|---|---|
| Allstate | $378 | 876 |
| American Family | $285 | 862 |
| Auto-Owners | $241 | 890 |
| Erie | $171 | 880 |
| GEICO | $303 | 871 |
| Mercury | $584 | 849 |
| Nationwide | $395 | 876 |
| Progressive | $337 | 856 |
| Travelers | $290 | 861 |
| State Farm | $192 | 881 |
| USAA | $206 | 890 |
| Average rates are based on non-binding estimates provided by Quadrant Information Services. Your rates may vary. | ||
It should be noted that while USAA has one of the better combinations of low premium cost and customer satisfaction, it only provides auto insurance to active military members, veterans and their families. If you've enlisted in a branch of the Armed Forces, consider getting a quote from USAA.
Methodology
The average rates used in this article are based on thousands of quotes for full-coverage auto insurance in random national ZIP codes for 19-year-old male and female drivers with excellent credit scores and no accidents. The vehicle used for data is a 2012 Honda Accord LX with 16,000 annual miles.
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