120+ more)
)
Co-hosts the Money Talks News podcast
MBA from Utah State University
Featured in
){kind=logo}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
Licensed auto and home insurance agent
4+ years experience in insurance and personal finance editing
NPN: 20564519
Featured in
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
Licensed property and casualty insurance agent
10+ years editing experience
NPN: 20461358
Featured in
Updated
Pennsylvania 16-year-olds pay an average of $198 per month for liability-only insurance and $350 per month for full coverage.
State Farm is the cheapest insurer for 16-year-old Pennsylvania drivers, with average rates of $121 per month for liability coverage and $199 per month for full coverage.
Adding a 16-year-old to an auto policy with two parents in Pennsylvania increases average premiums by about 88% for liability coverage and 89% for full coverage, according to Insurify data.
Car insurance for a 16-year-old in Pennsylvania averages $198 per month for liability-only coverage and $350 for full coverage. A 16-year-old who obtains a separate policy typically needs written consent from a parent or guardian.
Pennsylvania teens pay much higher premiums than the state averages of $90 per month for liability coverage and $161 per month for full coverage.
Insurers charge teens more because of their limited driving experience and a greater statistical likelihood of filing a claim. That said, these high rates are temporary. Rates typically begin declining as drivers gain experience, maintain a clean driving record, and move through their late teens and early 20s.
Liability policies for teens average $198 per month
State Farm, Erie, and Auto-Owners offer the cheapest average full-coverage car insurance premiums for Pennsylvania 16-year-olds, according to Insurify data.
The table below shows average monthly liability-only and full-coverage quotes from top insurers in Pennsylvania.
Insurance Company | Average Monthly Quote: Full Coverage | Average Monthly Quote: Liability Only |
|---|---|---|
| State Farm | $157 | $93 |
| Erie | $172 | $102 |
| Auto-Owners | $204 | $121 |
| GEICO | $226 | $136 |
| Root | $238 | $149 |
| National General | $240 | $107 |
| Liberty Mutual | $245 | $212 |
| Progressive | $250 | $119 |
| Travelers | $254 | $150 |
| Safeco | $255 | $159 |
| First Acceptance | $258 | $103 |
| Allstate | $279 | $168 |
| Bristol West | $285 | $154 |
| USAA | $302 | $182 |
| Direct Auto | $307 | $156 |
| GAINSCO | $386 | $215 |
| Chubb | $390 | $235 |
| Dairyland | $451 | $182 |
| The General | $462 | $118 |
| State Auto | $535 | $322 |
| CSAA | $565 | $390 |
Rates vary based on more than age. Your ZIP code, vehicle, coverage limits, deductibles, driving history, and available discounts can all affect the quotes you receive.
It’s usually cheaper to add a 16-year-old to a parent’s policy, turning it into a family policy, than to buy the teen a separate policy. A shared policy lets the household benefit from the parents’ driving experience, established insurance history, and potential multi-car or bundling discounts.
A separate policy can help isolate the teen’s driving record and liability, but it generally costs more and can be difficult for a minor to obtain on their own. For most families, adding a teen to an existing policy provides the best balance of affordability and coverage.
Below, you can see how insurance costs compare for 16-year-old drivers in Pennsylvania, depending on whether they join their parents’ policy or purchase their own.
Drivers | Liability Only | Full Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Two parents + a 16-year-old driver | $322 | $604 |
| Two parents | $171 | $319 |
| 16-year-old driver on their own policy | $200 | $375 |
Pennsylvania’s minimum coverage requirements apply to drivers of every age. A vehicle registered in the state must generally carry at least the following amounts of coverage:[1]
Coverage | Minimum Limit |
|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability | $15,000 per person / $30,000 per accident |
| Property damage liability | $5,000 per accident |
| Medical benefits | $5,000 |
Pennsylvania also requires insurers to offer uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, although policyholders may reject it in writing.
The state minimums might not cover all the expenses from a serious crash. Higher liability insurance limits can be especially important for teen drivers because their inexperience increases the risk of accidents.
PennDOT electronically verifies insurance and may request proof after receiving notice that coverage has been canceled. A lapse can result in a three-month suspension of your vehicle registration. The driver could also face a license suspension if they operate the uninsured vehicle.[2]
See quotes from top insurers in minutes
A 16-year-old in Pennsylvania is generally at the learner’s permit stage or preparing to qualify for a junior driver’s license after completing the required supervised driving period.
Here’s how the process works:
Get a learner’s permit. A teen can apply at age 16 after passing vision and knowledge tests. A parent or guardian must generally sign the application.[3]
Complete supervised practice. The teen must hold the permit for at least six months and complete 65 hours of supervised driving, including 10 hours at night and five hours in poor weather.[4]
Earn a junior driver’s license. After meeting the permit requirements and passing the road test, a teen can drive without supervision but remains subject to restrictions.
Follow junior-license limits. Junior drivers generally can’t drive between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m., except for qualifying work, school, religious, charitable, or volunteer activities. During the first six months, teens can generally drive only one non-family passenger younger than 18.
Progress to an unrestricted license. A junior driver can apply for an unrestricted license before age 18, provided they meet the experience, education, and clean-driving requirements. Otherwise, the junior license generally becomes unrestricted at age 18.
Contact your insurer when your 16-year-old gets a learner’s permit, and add the teen as a rated driver no later than when they receive a junior driver’s license.[5] Some insurers automatically extend limited coverage to a permitted driver, while others want the teen disclosed as soon as they earn their permit.
Pennsylvania doesn’t establish one universal deadline for adding a teen to a parent’s policy, so the timing will depend on your insurance policy contract and the insurer’s underwriting rules. Ask your insurer in writing whether you must list all permitted drivers.
Failing to disclose a licensed household driver can lead to a recalculated premium, claim complications, policy non-renewal, or cancellation. Your insurer could also deny a claim if it determines that the household withheld material information about a regular driver.
Adding a 16-year-old to an existing policy is usually a straightforward process that you can complete online or by contacting your insurer or agent.
Gather the teen’s information. Have their name, date of birth, permit or license number, licensing date, and driver training information available.
Contact your insurer. Tell the company that your teen has received or is about to receive a Pennsylvania permit or junior license.
Assign the teen to a vehicle. Insurers may ask which household vehicle the teen will drive most often.
Review your coverage. Consider increasing liability limits and checking whether comprehensive and collision coverage make sense for the teen’s vehicle.
Request discounts. Ask about good student, driver training, multi-car, telematics, and bundling discounts.
Compare the updated price. Get quotes from other insurers using the same drivers, vehicles, limits, and deductibles before accepting the increase.
Insurers consider several factors when calculating the premium for a 16-year-old. Each company weighs those factors differently, which is why comparing quotes can produce significant savings.
Age and gender: Age is one of the biggest reasons teen insurance costs so much. Sixteen-year-olds have limited independent driving experience and higher accident rates than older drivers. Pennsylvania insurers may also consider gender when setting rates, with teen boys often paying more than teen girls.
Driving experience: A newly licensed driver presents more uncertainty to an insurer. Rates can improve as a teen accumulates years of safe driving and demonstrates that they can avoid accidents, citations, and claims.
Vehicle type: Expensive, high-performance, frequently stolen, or costly-to-repair vehicles generally produce higher premiums. A moderately priced car with strong crash-test results and modern safety equipment may cost less to insure.
Geographic location: Rates differ among Pennsylvania ZIP codes. Drivers in areas with higher rates of crashes, theft, vandalism, litigation, or expensive repair claims can pay more than drivers in lower-risk communities.
Driving record: A clean record helps keep premiums as low as possible. Speeding tickets, at-fault accidents, reckless driving, and other violations can increase rates. Pennsylvania junior drivers can also face a 90-day suspension after accumulating six points or receiving a conviction for driving at least 26 mph over the speed limit.
Coverage type: Liability-only insurance costs less because it doesn’t pay to repair the insured vehicle after a collision. A full-coverage policy adds collision and comprehensive insurance, increasing the premium but providing more protection. A lender will usually require both coverages on a financed or leased vehicle.
Discounts and bundles: Good grades, driver training, safe-driving programs, car safety features, a telematics program, multiple vehicles, and combining auto insurance with homeowners or renters coverage can reduce costs. Discount amounts and eligibility rules vary by insurer.
Insurers can also consider policy limits, deductibles, annual mileage, vehicle use, household driving history, prior coverage, and, in Pennsylvania, credit history.
Compare quotes from the state’s top insurers
Teen insurance is expensive, but families can use several strategies to reduce the cost without sacrificing necessary protection.
Ask about good student discounts. Many insurers offer good student discounts to full-time high school or college students who maintain qualifying grades, commonly a B average or better. You may need to provide a recent report card or transcript at each renewal.
Take a defensive driving course. An approved driver training or defensive driving course can improve a teen’s skills and may qualify the household for a discount. Confirm eligibility with the insurer before paying for a course, since not every program qualifies.
Choose a higher deductible. Increasing the collision or comprehensive deductible can lower the premium. Make sure your family can afford the higher out-of-pocket cost after a claim, and avoid setting a deductible that approaches the vehicle’s value.
Choose the right car. A safe, moderately priced vehicle is generally cheaper to insure than a sports car, luxury model, or high-powered SUV. Before buying a car for your teen, request insurance quotes using the exact vehicle identification number (VIN).
Bundle policies or join a parent’s insurance. Adding the teen to a parent’s policy is generally more affordable than purchasing a separate policy. Families may also qualify for multi-car, homeowners, renters, or umbrella policy bundling discounts.
Shopping around remains one of the most effective ways to save. Pennsylvania full-coverage rates range from $199 to $678 per month for a 16-year-old, based on Insurify data, showing how differently insurers can price the same age group.
Pennsylvania teen insurance rates depend on the driver, household, insurer, vehicle, and coverage selections. These answers can help families understand the most common costs and requirements.
A 16-year-old Pennsylvania driver pays an average of $198 per month for liability-only insurance and $350 for full coverage, according to Insurify data. Actual premiums depend on the insurer, vehicle, ZIP code, driving record, policy limits, deductibles, and discounts.
State Farm has the cheapest average full-coverage rate for 16-year-olds in Pennsylvania, according to Insurify data. Erie and Auto-Owners are two other affordable insurers.
Yes, a 16-year-old can have a separate Pennsylvania policy, but they’ll need written consent or assistance from a parent or guardian. This is because minors have a limited ability to enter binding contracts. A separate policy is also usually more expensive than coverage under a parent’s policy.
Tickets, at-fault accidents, and insurance claims can significantly increase a teen driver’s rates. Keeping a clean driving record can help rates decline as the teen gains experience. Junior drivers can also face enhanced Pennsylvania licensing consequences for serious speeding or accumulating six points.
A good student discount can produce meaningful savings, although the amount varies by insurer. Companies commonly require a B average or equivalent academic standing. Families should compare the discounted final premiums rather than assuming the company with the largest advertised discount offers the lowest rate.
Yes. It’s generally cheaper for a 16-year-old to join a parent’s policy because the household can benefit from the parents’ established insurance history and multi-car or bundling discounts. A teen’s separate policy lacks those advantages and may also require parental consent.
Insurify data scientists analyzed more than 250 million quotes served to car insurance applicants in Insurify’s proprietary database to calculate the premium averages displayed on this page. These premiums are real quotes that come directly from Insurify’s 500+ partner insurance companies in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Quote averages represent the median price for a quote across the given coverage level, driver subset, and geographic area.
Unless otherwise specified, quoted rates reflect the average cost for drivers between 20 and 70 years old with a clean driving record and average or better credit (a credit score of 600 or higher).
Liability-only premium averages correspond to policies with the following coverage limits:
Quotes for Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, State Farm, and USAA are estimates based on Quadrant Information Services’ database of auto insurance rates.
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
Co-hosts the Money Talks News podcast
MBA from Utah State University
Featured in
Licensed auto and home insurance agent
4+ years experience in insurance and personal finance editing
NPN: 20564519
Featured in
Licensed property and casualty insurance agent
10+ years editing experience
NPN: 20461358
Featured in
At Insurify, our goal is to help customers compare insurance products and find the best policy for them. We strive to provide open, honest, and unbiased information about the insurance products and services we review. Our hard-working team of data analysts, insurance experts, insurance agents, editors and writers, has put in thousands of hours of research to create the content found on our site.
We do receive compensation when a sale or referral occurs from many of the insurance providers and marketing partners on our site. That may impact which products we display and where they appear on our site. But it does not influence our meticulously researched editorial content, what we write about, or any reviews or recommendations we may make. We do not guarantee favorable reviews or any coverage at all in exchange for compensation.
