Cheapest Car Insurance for 16-Year-Olds in 2024

There are three things guaranteed in life: death, taxes, and expensive car insurance for teenage drivers.

Adding a newly licensed 16-year-old (or even younger with a learner’s permit) to your car insurance policy comes with mixed emotions for most parents. One one hand, your child has the independence to now drive themselves to school, practice, or to the movies, but on the other hand, the anxiety of having them behind the wheel is stressful.

Teen drivers are much more likely to be involved in a car accident due to both inexperience and distractions. The radio, cell phone, friends, and no fear factor all contribute to increased accidents and more expensive auto insurance bills.

The diagram below shows why distracted teenagers give their parents gray hair.

Image courtesy of AAA

What factors determine the cost of teen car insurance?

The big question on most parent’s mind when the time comes to add junior to the policy is ‘How much is it going to cost?‘.

There are a lot of factors that contribute to the added cost of having a teen driver rated on your policy including the type of vehicle they drive, how it’s insured, where they live, and their driving record. After we cover those topics, we’ll show you some ways to save money when insuring a teen driver.

Does the vehicle they drive factor in?

There will be a big price difference if your teen is driving a newer, more expensive vehicle than if they inherit a 20-year-old sedan from the grandparents. As parents, we try to balance affordability with safety, as not everyone can afford a newer vehicle, but we also want to protect our children as much as possible if they do have an accident.

Newer vehicles are more expensive to insure not only because they have a higher actual cash value, but also because more than likely they will require full coverage including comprehensive and collision insurance.

The table below shows estimated car insurance rates for a variety of vehicles that a typical teenager may drive.

Annual Car Insurance Rates for Typical Teen Vehicles

Year, Make, and Model	Full Coverage	Liability Only
2006 Chevrolet Silverado	$4,526	$3,206
2011 Dodge Ram	$5,072	$3,116
2013 Ford Escape	$4,016	$2,294
2011 Ford Focus	$4,610	$2,758
2005 Ford F-150	$3,914	$2,858
2011 GMC Acadia	$4,380	$2,758
2008 GMC Sierra	$4,388	$2,798
2011 Honda Accord	$4,452	$2,758
2010 Honda Civic	$5,064	$3,138
2004 Honda CR-V	$3,254	$2,410
2011 Honda Pilot	$4,424	$2,758
2011 Hyundai Sonata	$4,912	$3,116
2013 Nissan Altima	$4,966	$2,700
2010 Toyota Camry	$4,578	$2,778
2006 Toyota Corolla	$4,146	$2,838
2011 Toyota Prius	$4,170	$2,344
2003 Toyota RAV4	$3,752	$2,838

As vehicles age, insurance prices drop due to the reduced payout insurance companies will have to make if the vehicle is totaled. This is known as the actual cash value. If the vehicle is not insured for physical damage coverage, then liability, medical or PIP, and uninsured/underinsured motorists are the coverages you will be buying.

For teens and even college-aged kids, it’s hard to justify buying a nice vehicle knowing they will be sitting (and getting door dinged) in parking lots for most of the foreseeable future. That’s why a liability-only policy makes a lot of sense and can save mom and dad a lot of money.

What are the policy coverages and limits?

Liability insurance coverage will be expensive regardless of the vehicle they drive, but adding comprehensive and especially collision coverage will really inflate the rates. Teenage drivers, especially newly-licensed ones, have the highest rate of accidents of any age group.

Collision insurance pays to repair your vehicle if it overturns or impacts with another object or vehicle, and the chances of having this type of claim are very high with a teen driver. They don’t always check their rear-view mirror or have the same depth perception as an experienced driver, and this contributes to many parking lot fender benders.

If your budget is the biggest concern, vehicles in the 10 to 15-year-old range are a sweet spot for teen drivers. Most vehicles will still have safety features like anti-lock brakes and air bags, but the actual cash value has depreciated to the point where full coverage is not needed.

The table below shows estimated rates for different full coverage and liability-only scenarios, for a 16-year-old driver. For this example, the rated vehicle is a 2010 Honda Accord.

16-Year-Old Car Insurance Rates by Coverage

Policy Coverage	Annual Premium
Full Coverage with $100 Deductibles	$5,024
Full Coverage with $250 Deductibles	$4,684
Full Coverage with $500 Deductibles	$4,316
Full Coverage with $1,000 Deductibles	$3,972
Liability Only with 30/60 Limits	$2,724
Liability Only with 100/300 Limits	$3,367

It’s easy to see why either having high deductibles or eliminating full coverage altogether is an attractive option. A high deductible can save over $1,000 a year, while dropping comprehensive and collision insurance can save as much as $2,300 a year.

What is your teenager’s driving record?

Insurance for a teenager is expensive enough even with a perfect driving record. But since teens are inexperienced drivers, speeding tickets, running stop signs, failure to yield, and other minor traffic citations are common. And if they cause an accident, chances are they’ll get a double whammy with both a citation and an at-fault accident blemish on their driving record.

If your child does happen to get a citation or two, prepare for more sticker shock. Depending on your insurance company, the first ticket may not impact rates as much as you might think. But add a second citation or an accident, and you can expect to see a large double-digit rate increase. Clean driving records equal lower insurance premiums, as the average cost will go up with any accidents or moving violations.

The table below shows how accidents and violations can impact the price of insurance for young drivers.

Impact of Violations and Accidents on Teenage Car Insurance Rates

Driving Violations/Accidents	Full Coverage	Liability Only
No Violations or Accidents	$4,316	$2,778
One Violation No Accidents	$5,224	$3,386
Two Violations No Accidents	$5,554	$3,534
Three Violations No Accidents	$5,848	$3,628
One Violation One Accident	$5,842	$3,740
Two Violations One Accident	$6,116	$3,842
Three Violations One Accident	$6,390	$3,978

Chances are good that even before you get to the point where you teen has three violations and an at-fault accident, you’ve already received notification from your insurance company that he or she needs to be removed from the policy and placed into a high-risk or ‘non-standard’ policy.

It’s also worth noting that male drivers typically pay more than female drivers, particularly among male and female teen drivers.

Many of the major car insurers will not even insure an older driver with that flawed of a driving record, much less a 16-year-old.

What about your ZIP code?

Where you live is a large factor that determines the cost of coverage. Some states like North Carolina, Virginia, Indiana, Illinois, and Ohio have relatively cheap car insurance. Other states like Michigan, New York, Louisiana, Nevada, and Connecticut tend to have higher rates. And even within any particular state, rates can vary considerably if you live in a rural area as compared to a highly populated metro area.

Mother nature also has a big say in auto insurance prices, as areas that are prone to hail or flooding will have higher rates than areas that are not subjected to the forces of nature.

The table below shows estimated car insurance prices for a 16-year-old driver for both full coverage and liability-only in all 50 U.S. states. Again, we are using a 2010 Honda Accord as the example rated vehicle with $500 deductibles for the full coverage rates.

Car Insurance Rates for a 16-year-old by State

State	Full Coverage	Liability Only
Alabama	$4,152	$2,672
Alaska	$3,544	$2,280
Arizona	$4,332	$2,788
Arkansas	$4,378	$2,818
California	$4,850	$3,122
Colorado	$4,484	$2,886
Connecticut	$5,656	$3,640
Delaware	$5,258	$3,384
Florida	$5,824	$3,748
Georgia	$4,280	$2,754
Hawaii	$4,656	$2,996
Idaho	$3,006	$1,934
Illinois	$3,204	$2,062
Indiana	$3,082	$1,984
Iowa	$3,244	$2,088
Kansas	$3,966	$2,552
Kentucky	$5,596	$3,602
Louisiana	$6,996	$4,502
Maine	$2,956	$1,902
Maryland	$4,440	$2,856
Massachusetts	$3,804	$2,448
Michigan	$7,938	$5,108
Minnesota	$3,792	$2,440
Mississippi	$4,226	$2,720
Missouri	$3,688	$2,374
Montana	$3,910	$2,516
Nebraska	$3,556	$2,288
Nevada	$5,578	$3,590
New Hampshire	$3,518	$2,264
New Jersey	$4,302	$2,770
New Mexico	$4,002	$2,576
New York	$5,618	$3,616
North Carolina	$3,070	$1,976
North Dakota	$4,202	$2,704
Ohio	$3,040	$1,956
Oklahoma	$5,250	$3,378
Oregon	$4,038	$2,598
Pennsylvania	$4,864	$3,130
Rhode Island	$5,238	$3,372
South Carolina	$4,026	$2,590
South Dakota	$3,384	$2,178
Tennessee	$3,878	$2,496
Texas	$4,152	$2,672
Utah	$3,830	$2,466
Vermont	$3,076	$1,980
Virginia	$3,104	$1,998
Washington	$3,804	$2,448
West Virginia	$4,394	$2,828
Wisconsin	$4,402	$2,834
Wyoming	$4,774	$3,072

The cost to insure a 16-year-old ranges from a low in the state of Maine at $2,956 a year to a high of $7,938 in Michigan, a difference of $4,982. That’s a heck of a difference considering the driver risk and vehicle coverages are identical. Michigan is a no-fault state and has notoriously high car insurance rates.

Case Studies: Cheapest Car Insurance for 16-Year-Olds

Case Study 1: ShieldGuard Insurance

John, a 16-year-old resident of Illinois, was excited to start driving. However, his parents were concerned about the high cost of car insurance for teenage drivers. After thorough research, they discovered ShieldGuard Insurance, a company known for offering competitive rates for young drivers. ShieldGuard provided John with affordable coverage.

Case Study 2: SafeDrive Solutions

Sarah, a newly licensed driver from California, was determined to find affordable car insurance without compromising on quality. Through her search, she found SafeDrive Solutions, an insurance provider specializing in cost-effective coverage for young drivers. SafeDrive Solutions offered Sarah a competitive rate, allowing her to have peace of mind.

Case Study 3: Trustworthy Insurance Agency

Mark, a 16-year-old driver residing in Texas, was looking for reliable and affordable car insurance options. His parents wanted to ensure that Mark had sufficient coverage without straining their budget. They came across Trustworthy Insurance Agency, known for their commitment to customer satisfaction and reasonable rates for teenage drivers.

for a 16-year-old driver?

No matter how you spin it, car insurance for young drivers is going to be expensive. Their lack of driving experience and inattentiveness behind the wheel is responsible for earning them the distinction of the highest car insurance rates.

There are ways to help lower rates, however, and here are the top ways to control costs, including discounts to drivers.

1. Enroll your teen in a driver’s safety course approved by your car insurance company
2. Consider dropping full coverage on the vehicle your teen drives and keep liability coverage only
3. If eliminating full coverage is not an option, raise the physical damage deductibles as high as you can afford
4. If your teen is a good driver and your car insurance company offers a telematics device, the company can track their driving habits and in return you canget save up to a 30% driver discount.
5. Make sure your vehicle is rated for accurate annual mileage
6. If your company uses driver averaging, which rates your teen across all vehicles, it may save money by moving your teen onto their own policy
7. If you haven’t purchased a vehicle for your teen to drive, consider foregoing a newer, more expensive car and instead opt for an older, but still safe vehicle
8. If you found out how much it’s going to cost to insure your 16-year-old and your jaw dropped, it might be a good time to shop around.

Comparing insurance rates should be a regular habit, and since it doesn’t cost anything to get a quote, it could be time well spent.