How much is car insurance for a 19-year-old? Currently, the national average is $4,133 a year. This is a lot more than the national average, which is $1,738 a year. Because most 19-year-olds don’t make as much as 35-year-olds, it’s imperative that young drivers know every strategy available to them to reduce their monthly insurance costs.
How Much Is Car Insurance for a 19-Year-Old?
The average cost of car insurance for a 19-year-old is $4,133 a year. Car insurance companies see younger drivers as inexperienced and therefore more risky.
Furthermore, the average car insurance for 19-year-old men is slightly higher than the average car insurance for 19-year-old women. Auto insurance companies raise the prices based on the level of risk determined from the policyholder.
Average Cost of Car Insurance for Men and Women
Why would the average car insurance for 19-year old men be higher than the average car insurance for 19-year-old women? Each car insurance company has underwriters who determine the cost of car insurance based on several factors set by the insurance firm, including gender. Insurance companies determine by statistics that men are likely to be riskier drivers than women.
The table below compares the average costs of minimum and full coverage car insurance for a 19-year-old man and woman.
| Full coverage | Minimum coverage | |
|---|---|---|
| Man | $4,434 | $1,538 |
| Woman | $3,831 | $1,371 |
Cheapest Car Insurance Companies for 19-Year-Olds
| Full coverage | Minimum coverage | |
|---|---|---|
| Erie | $2,718 | $898 |
| USAA | $2,939 | $932 |
| Geico | $3,163 | $1,062 |
| Auto-Owners | $3,203 | $1,061 |
| Travelers | $3,224 | $1,077 |
Erie
Erie beats its first closest competitor by over $200 and its second closest competitor by $400. By far, it provides the cheapest full and minimum coverage insurance for 19-year-old drivers. It doesn’t offer as many discounts as other insurance providers, but it doesn’t have to. The few discounts it does offer are tailored to younger drivers – such as a youthful driver discount and college credit option. Any 19-year-old looking to lower their premium needs to check out Erie.
USAA
USAA is a unique insurance provider because it only provides coverage to current and retired military as well as their immediate family members. However, even though it has strict membership guidelines, it consistently ranks as one of the best providers by third party reviewers, such as AM Best and J.D. Power & Associates. If you’re 19 and you qualify, get a quote from USAA.
Geico
Geico is not as cheap as Erie, but it offers so many discounts that many drivers should be able to lower the average annual premium by a good margin. Like many national insurance companies, Geico offers a cutting edge mobile app for its members. View your ID cards, make a payment, file a claim, request roadside assistance and check the status of your claim all via the app.
Auto-Owners
To get access to this auto insurance, you must first join AAA. After you join, you will then have the option to add insurance. AAA is primarily used for its roadside assistance, but membership gets you access to a lot of other services, too, such as travel services, discounts and vacation planning.:
General membership rates currently range from $40 to $165, depending on which type of membership you choose. Most 19-year-olds may not be able to make use of the full suite of services AAA offers, but it’s roadside assistance program is top notch.
Travelers
Travelers insurance may be last on this list cost wise, but it isn’t when it comes to discounts, many of which favor younger drivers. Utilize every discount that applies to you, and it’s possible that you’d have a premium that competes or even surpasses the likes of Erie auto insurance. FYI, Travelers also ranks extremely well with the likes of J.D. Power, which in 2020 awarded it a score of 828 out of 1,000.
How to Save on Car Insurance for 19-Year-Olds
There are a variety of ways a 19-year-old can save money on their policy. Many ways involve taking advantage of discounts, but there are a few other strategies.
Drive an Older Car
Simply put, new cars cost more to replace. Drive an older car and your insurance company won’t charge you as much to insure it. Even if you can afford a new car, it may be to your benefit, financially speaking, to wait a few years until your insurance comes down naturally to buy something factory fresh.
Drive a Safer Car
Drive a car with a solid crash rating and your insurance provider won’t charge you as much to insure it. Should you get into an accident, you and your passengers will be less likely to have suffered severe injuries.
Opt for a High Deductible
If you opt for a high deductible, you’ll pay less each month for insurance. The downside, however, is that if you get into an accident you’ll have to have to pay more out of pocket. If you go this route, just make sure you contribute to your savings each month in case you’ll have to dip into it.
Take Advantage of Discounts
There are a variety of discounts 19 year old drivers can take advantage of. Some of which include:
- Good Student
- Defensive Driving Course
- Accident free
- Auto pay
- Paperless
- Paid in full
Each company offers different discounts, and has different requirements for each. Before you sign up with any provider, understand which discounts you’d be able to apply for and how much doing so would affect your monthly rate.
Apply the Good Student Discount
Most insurance companies have a good student discount. A good student discount is available to young drivers who earn and maintain a minimum of 3.0 GPA in school. The average rate of car insurance for a 19-year-old without the discount is $4,133, while the rate with a good student discount comes down to about $3,761.
Applying the Distant Student Discount
Most insurance companies also offer a distant student discount. A distant student discount is available to young drivers who went away for college. Most insurance companies will allow you to apply the distant student discount if your student is attending college more than 100 miles away from home. The average rate of car insurance for a 19 year old without the discount is $4,133, while the rate with a distant student discount comes down to about $3,877.
How to Get the Best Insurance for a 19-Year-Old
To get the best car insurance for a 19-year-old, do your research and shop around. Each insurance company has different requirements and checklists to determine the average cost of car insurance.
With all of the insurance companies out there, the best way to find the best insurance is to start with basics in understanding your state requirements, research the best insurance companies in your ZIP code, make sure the insurance companies offer discounts like good student and distant driver to help save costs and understand your needs.
Usage-Based Car Insurance
If you’re a full-time student, a usage-based car insurance policy may be for you. With this type of policy, the amount of money you pay each month depends on:
- How far you drive
- How long you drive
- The type of car you drive
- How fast you drive
- How well you drive
Not every provider offers usage based car insurance, so you’ll need to do a little research before you choose. Look at costs, but also look at online reviews, such as those by AM Best and J.D. Power.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest car insurance for 19-year-olds?
Erie currently offers the cheapest average premiums for 19-year-olds. The average annual is $2,718.
Do men pay more for car insurance than women when they are 19?
Yes. This is because, statistically, men are more likely to speed and get into accidents. As men age, what they pay month to month falls more in line with their female counterparts.
Methodology
Bankrate utilizes Quadrant Information Services to analyze rates for all ZIP codes and carriers in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Quoted rates are based on a 19-year-old male and female driver with a cleaning driving record, good credit and the following full coverage limits:
- $100,000 bodily injury liability per person
- $300,000 bodily injury liability per accident
- $50,000 property damage liability per accident
- $100,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person
- $300,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident
- $500 collision deductible
- $500 comprehensive deductible
To determine minimum coverage limits, Bankrate used minimum coverages that meet each state’s requirements. Our sample drivers own a 2018 Honda Accord, commute five days a week and drive 12,000 miles annually.
These are sample rates and should be used for comparative purposes only. Your quotes may be different.
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