Cheapest Car Insurance for Teenagers in 2026

Adding a teenager to your car insurance policy can cause one of the highest premium increases your family faces. In fact, adding a teen driver can increase costs by 90% on average, according to Insurify data.

But getting teens a separate policy usually isn’t any cheaper. On average, it costs $347 per month to insure a teen on their own full-coverage policy. Fortunately, you can still lock in an affordable policy as long as you compare car insurance quotes from multiple companies.

This guide covers the cheapest car insurance companies for teen drivers, average costs by age, top discounts for teen drivers, the cheapest vehicles to insure for teenagers, and how to decide whether to add your teen to your policy or get them their own.

Average car insurance cost for teenagers

The average car insurance cost for a teen driver is $182 per month for liability-only coverage and $347 for full coverage. Sixteen-year-olds have the highest crash risks of any age group, so insurers charge more to cover them.^[1]

Car insurance for teenage boys typically costs more than coverage for teen girls. Inexperience and a tendency for riskier driving behaviors like speeding make young male drivers more likely to get into accidents. In fact, male drivers ages 16–19 are three times as likely to get into a fatal crash.

Insurify data shows it costs 24% less to add a young driver to their parents’ policy than to insure them on a separate policy. Adding your teen to your existing policy could save you about $1,079 annually.

Here are average car insurance costs for teen drivers on their own policies by age and gender, compared to the average cost on their parents’ policies.

Best cheap car insurance for teenagers

As you explore cheap car insurance for your teen, you’ll find that premiums can vary significantly among insurance companies. That’s why it’s a good idea to shop around and compare your options, no matter your teen’s situation.

To help steer you in the right direction, we compared coverage options, available discounts, and other programs to find the best car insurance for different types of teenage drivers.

Below, you’ll find brief overviews on three of our top picks: GEICO, State Farm, and USAA.

Insurance Company	Average Cost to Insure a Teen Driver
GEICO	$266
State Farm	$224
USAA	$194

Disclaimer: Table data is based on real-time quotes from Insurify’s network of 500+ insurance partners. Actual rates may vary depending on the policyholder’s individual profile and coverage needs.

GEICO: Best for teen discounts

teen discounts

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User Reviews	4.0 18,238 reviews
IQ Score The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores.	9.2 /10
Liability Only Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages.	$80/mo
Full Coverage Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible.	$148/mo

Details

Driver Reviews

4.0

Best choiceBased on 18,238 verified driver reviews and ratings

	GEICO's score	Industry average
Coverage options	4.0	3.2
Customer service	4.1	3.6
Discounts	3.9	2.9
Policy transparency	3.9	3.1
Value	3.8	2.9

How drivers feel about GEICO

Customers appreciate the reliability and customer service but find the rates to be high and increase frequently, even without claims or accidents. The app has improved, but some find the claims process lacking.

Based on analysis of verified reviews collected by Insurify

---

Best For

Teen drivers

Cheap rates

Accident forgiveness

Showing recent national reviewsSee all 7,744 GEICO reviews

Robert

Verified Review

Bob's Review

Reviewed in Florida on May 20, 2026

Geico in Florida offers 6-month premiums, unlike my birthplace of Boston, MA, where everyone's policies are for 1 full year each. I loved 1-year policies! It took me forever to get used to 6-month policies. Now, I've had no accidents in over 30, or is it the last 35 years? As well as no tickets in over 20, or is it the last 25 years? And for my last renewal, Geico decided to raise my renewal bill by over $200. It's bad enough my insane love I've had my entire life for my Jaguars, my Corvettes, and/or my Lincoln Town Cars has cost me over an arm and a leg, especially for the repairs part of those equations. Anyways, this is why I'm leaving Geico. Besides, I haven't even been with them that long. I am sure I will find cheaper insurance in no time at all! Thank you very much!

Mark

Verified Review

Auto

Reviewed in Florida on May 20, 2026

So far, better price.

Susan

Verified Review

Excellent, wish GEICO would pay for AC and panel repairs on my 2014 Honda Civic

Reviewed in Florida on May 19, 2026

Adequate, doesn’t include regular maintenance but roadside assistance was excellent. Joe gave me a jump and escorted me to the nearest garage for a new battery and warranty. I did not wait long for battery installation.

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JD Power

J.D. Power data measures overall customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction based on a 1,000-point scale.

637

NAIC Index

Average amount of customer complaints relative to competitors on a 0-5 scale. A lower score represents fewer complaints.

0.59

A.M. Best

A.M. Best analyzes an insurer’s financials, operating performance, business profile, and other factors to generate an opinion-based rating of a company’s financial and credit strength. Ratings range from A++ (exceptional) to D (poor).

A++

Why we picked this company

GEICO can allow teens to take full advantage of a variety of discount opportunities. You may participate in DriveEasy, GEICO’s telematics program, and score a discount of 15%. Other noteworthy discounts include the good student discount, student away at school discount, driver training discount, and defensive driver discount.

Pros

• Convenient online quotes

• Add teens online, by mobile app, or local agent

• Roadside assistance and mechanical breakdown coverage available

Cons

• DriveEasy telematics not available in every state

• Trustpilot rating of 1.3 stars (out of 5)

• Below-average J.D. Power claims satisfaction score

State Farm: Best for teen-friendly prices

teen-friendly prices

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User Reviews	4.0 18,138 reviews
IQ Score The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores.	9.3 /10
Liability Only Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages.	$53/mo
Full Coverage Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible.	$108/mo

Details

Driver Reviews

4.0

Best choiceBased on 18,138 verified driver reviews and ratings

	State Farm's score	Industry average
Coverage options	4.1	3.2
Customer service	4.3	3.6
Discounts	3.9	2.9
Policy transparency	3.9	3.1
Value	3.7	2.9

How drivers feel about State Farm

Customers appreciate the insurer’s excellent customer service and personal attention but dislike the high prices and frequent rate increases. They also express frustration with the claims process.

Based on analysis of verified reviews collected by Insurify

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Best For

Customer service

Competitive rates

Discounts for safe drivers

Showing recent national reviewsSee all 7,560 State Farm reviews

Elaine

Verified Review

Good option for car/home/health insurance

Reviewed in Virginia on May 21, 2026

At the time of acquiring car insurance when I first moved to VA 2 years ago, they had the best price. They are very prompt in replying to any inquiries.

Yvonne

Verified Review

Good

Reviewed in Washington on May 21, 2026

It took way too long for my car to come back to me, 5 weeks for a door scrape by a cement post.

Christine

Verified Review

Shopping Around

Reviewed in Illinois on May 19, 2026

Too expensive and only good service.

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Our Advice

JD Power

J.D. Power data measures overall customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction based on a 1,000-point scale.

657

NAIC Index

Average amount of customer complaints relative to competitors on a 0-5 scale. A lower score represents fewer complaints.

0.84

A.M. Best

A.M. Best analyzes an insurer’s financials, operating performance, business profile, and other factors to generate an opinion-based rating of a company’s financial and credit strength. Ratings range from A++ (exceptional) to D (poor).

A++

Why we picked this company

State Farm is the largest auto insurer in the U.S., and it often has the lowest rates available, Insurify data shows. It also rewards families for their teens’ good driving with discounts for young drivers who take driver training courses. It also offers the Drive Safe & Save program, which uses a mobile app to track driving habits. Safe drivers can see a discount.

Pros

• Highly rated, teen-friendly mobile app

• Multi-vehicle and telematics discounts available

• Consistently competitive rates for all age groups

Cons

• Higher rates for teens with tickets or accidents

• Doesn’t offer accident forgiveness coverage

• Gap insurance not available

USAA: Best for teens in a military family

teens in a military family

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User Reviews	4.9 3,643 reviews
IQ Score The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores.	9.1 /10
Liability Only Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages.	$51/mo
Full Coverage Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible.	$103/mo

Details

Driver Reviews

4.9

Best choiceBased on 3,643 verified driver reviews and ratings

	USAA's score	Industry average
Coverage options	4.9	3.2
Customer service	4.9	3.6
Discounts	4.9	2.9
Policy transparency	4.9	3.1
Value	4.9	2.9

How drivers feel about USAA

Customers appreciate the insurer’s reliable customer service and claim handling but express concerns about high rates and frequent price increases. Some also find the insurer’s security protocols and communication methods frustrating.

Based on analysis of verified reviews collected by Insurify

---

Best For

Members of the military community

Outstanding customer service

Competitive rates

Showing recent national reviewsSee all 1,577 USAA reviews

Alex

Verified Review

Meh insurance company

Reviewed in Alaska on May 21, 2026

Overpriced, frequently increasing rates with an emphasis on finding exemptions from paying for losses.

Thor

Verified Review

Definitely the best rates if you're eligible.

Reviewed in Washington on May 20, 2026

It was very easy to set up. The very best coverage for the price.

Joseph

Verified Review

Avoid USAA at all costs even if you think you will save, you will not.

Reviewed in Texas on May 19, 2026

USAA is too costly, changes policy without consent, and is a nightmare to deal with on claims. Our last claim, they offered us a final offer of exactly half what our vehicle was worth. We had to hire an independent appraiser, they wouldn’t honor his appraisal, then we had to pay for a mediator to get even near what the vehicle was worth. Our own insurance company fought us at every turn for what our vehicle was obviously worth. The policy has gone up more than 4 times our initial quote. I don’t know why we stuck with them for so long. Quotes from other companies put our 6-month price less than 1 month of USAA’s prices. We are dumping them as soon as possible. It isn’t the same USAA it was 20 years ago. We have good credit and clean driving records. The last thing we want after being in an accident is to have to fight with our own provider that we were paying top dollar for. Our payout finally came after 1 year of dealing with them, hiring our own appraisal, and paying for mediation. My only advice is if you use USAA and get into an accident, immediately hire an attorney to deal with it all for you; otherwise, stay away from this company at all costs. They are not worth the high premiums they charge.

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Our Advice

JD Power

J.D. Power data measures overall customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction based on a 1,000-point scale.

739

NAIC Index

Average amount of customer complaints relative to competitors on a 0-5 scale. A lower score represents fewer complaints.

1.31

A.M. Best

A.M. Best analyzes an insurer’s financials, operating performance, business profile, and other factors to generate an opinion-based rating of a company’s financial and credit strength. Ratings range from A++ (exceptional) to D (poor).

A++

Why we picked this company

If you’re a teen who is part of the military community, USAA auto insurance might be a good fit. You can enroll in SafePilot to save up to 30% for practicing safe driving and in SafePilot Miles, which is specifically for low-mileage drivers. Plus, you may take advantage of a good student discount and further your savings.

Pros

• 10% discount for teens whose parents have a USAA policy

• Highly rated USAA mobile app

• 24/7 roadside assistance

Cons

• Only an option for teens in a military family

• Doesn’t offer a diminishing deductible

• Fewer discounts than some competitors

Should you add your teen to your policy or get them their own?

It’s usually a good idea to add your teen to your car insurance policy instead of getting them their own stand-alone plan. Adding a young driver to your coverage can raise your rates significantly. But it’s still 24% cheaper, on average — an annual savings of about $1,079 — than getting teens their own policy, according to Insurify data.

Plus, keeping your teen and their vehicle on your policy means all your discounts, like a multi-vehicle discount or homeowner discount, can apply to their costs.

In most states, teens younger than 18 won’t be able to buy their own policy anyway. So keeping them on a parent’s policy can make sense logistically and financially.

Generally, teens will need their own policy when they move out of your home. The exception is teens away at college, since their permanent residence is still your home.

Editor Insights

Evelyn Pimplaskar

Editor-in-Chief, Director of Content, Insurify

Adding my 17-year-old son to my car insurance more than doubled my annual premium. After he had an at-fault accident that totaled the car, our premium quadrupled. 

I shopped around for a better rate and found it with an insurance company that specializes in covering high-risk drivers. My husband’s and my excellent credit, clean driving records, and great payment history offset the negative effect of having a teenage driver on our policy.

View answersView less

Pros and cons of adding a teen driver to your policy

As with any financial strategy, insuring a teen on a family auto insurance policy comes with benefits and drawbacks, including:

How to save on teen car insurance

Car insurance for teens isn’t cheap. But parents and young drivers can take steps to get lower premiums. Here are some tips to consider.

Compare rates from multiple insurance companies

Teen car insurance rates can vary drastically by insurer, so it makes sense to shop around and compare quotes from at least three different companies. For example, State Farm’s full-coverage average is $224 per month for a teen driver on their own policy, while USAA’s average premium is $194 monthly for the same coverage.

Take advantage of good student discounts

Many companies offer a number of car insurance discounts, including a good student discount that can help make teen auto coverage a bit more affordable. USAA, for example, offers up to 10% off for students who rank in the top 20% of their class, maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0, or have made the dean’s list or honor roll.^[2] Progressive and State Farm also advertise good student discounts of up to 5% and 25%, respectively.

Enroll in a telematics or usage-based program

If teens sign up for a telematics or usage-based program through a car insurer and demonstrate safe driving, they can score a substantial discount on their coverage. But the downside is that some insurance companies may raise rates if a teen engages in dangerous behaviors, such as speeding and abrupt braking.

Complete a driver education course

Some insurers offer discounts to teens who complete an approved driver education course, either online or in person. Keep in mind that requirements vary by state and car insurance company, so it’s important for a teen to confirm which courses qualify.

Teen car insurance discounts

Many different auto insurance discounts are available for teenagers and their families. The following table shows some examples of discounts popular auto insurers offer.

Discount Name	Eligibility Criteria	Potential Savings
Good student	Earn a certain GPA or meet other academic standards	5%–25%
Multi-vehicle	Insure multiple vehicles on one policy	7%–25%
New car	Drive a vehicle no more than 3 years old	10%–15%
Defensive driving course	Complete an approved driver education course	5%
Student away at school	Attend college 100 miles or more away from home without a car	Varies
Young volunteer	Complete at least 40 hours of volunteer work	Varies
Generational	Use the same auto insurance company as a parent	Varies

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Cheapest cars to insure for teenagers

The vehicle a teen drives can also play a role in car insurance premiums.^[3] Some cars are safer than others and, in turn, are more affordable to insure. In general, newer, higher-value, and high-performing vehicles come with higher rates.

Below, you’ll find the cheapest vehicles to insure for teens and young drivers.

Vehicle	Average Annual Cost for Teen Driver Insurance	IIHS Safety Rating
Dodge Caravan	$236	Good for most crashworthiness metrics, poor for crash avoidance
Subaru Outback	$273	Good to moderate for crashworthiness, good for crash avoidance
Subaru Forester	$279	Good for crashworthiness and crash avoidance
Honda Odyssey	$298	Good for most crashworthiness metrics, acceptable for crash avoidance
Ford Escape	$299	Good for most crashworthiness metrics, acceptable to marginal for crash avoidance
Toyota 4Runner	$301	Marginal to good for crashworthiness, good for crash avoidance (though some trims score poorly)
Ford Edge	$301	Good for crashworthiness, acceptable to poor for crash avoidance
Subaru Crosstrek	$305	Good to marginal for crashworthiness, good for crash avoidance
Ford Ranger	$311	Good to poor for crashworthiness, marginal for crash avoidance
Toyota Sienna	$316	Good to marginal for crashworthiness, good to acceptable for crash avoidance

Disclaimer: Table data is based on real-time quotes from Insurify’s network of 500+ insurance partners. Actual rates may vary depending on the policyholder’s individual profile and coverage needs.

Cheap car insurance for teenager FAQs