How much does car insurance for my 16-year-old cost?
Car insurance rates for a 16-year-old average at $583 per month. Teen drivers pay some of the highest car insurance rates in the country due to their high level of risk. Car insurance for 16-year-olds can qualify for discounts if the driver maintains good grades or takes a defensive driving course. You can also find cheap car insurance rates when you comparison shop online. Enter your ZIP code below to find affordable car insurance for a 16-year-old.
Compare Car Insurance Companies
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
UPDATED: Sep 29, 2020
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right car insurance coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident car insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one car insurance company and cannot guarantee quotes from any single company.
Our car insurance industry partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different car insurance companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.
- All states require some type of graduated licensing program for drivers under the age of 18
- Insurance companies recognize the value of responsible supervision when it comes to newly licensed drivers
- Not all insurance companies will insure minors
Sensible parents and guardians prepare their 16-year-olds for both the financial burden and safety responsibilities of the driving privileges enjoyed by most adults.
Actually, there are some very good reasons if it is within the parents or guardians capabilities to stretch the family budget enough to insure the 16-year-old driver.
Start comparing car insurance rates now! Enter your zip code above to get started!
Arguments Favoring Drivers Licenses for 16-year-olds
People 16 years old are considered minors. Parents and guardians have both the power and responsibility to insist upon conscientious behavior and follow through with good training before any driving privileges are extended.
All states require some type of graduated licensing program for drivers under the age of 18, including driver’s education.
Licensing underage people is an opportunity to teach safe driving techniques that will last a lifetime.
Waiting until the age of 18 removes the learner’s permit requirement.
Because the learner’s permit requires the presence of an experienced driver, teaching opportunities exist for underage learners that are not as available with newly licensed drivers who are also legal adults.
Compare Car Insurance Companies
Compare quotes from the top car insurance companies and save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Compare quotes from the top car insurance companies and save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Insurance price incentives for adults responsible for minor age drivers
Insurance companies recognize the value of responsible supervision when it comes to newly licensed drivers.
Although car accident insurance for minors is very expensive, insurance companies have policies promoting the teaching of safe driving.
Minors cannot legally own cars or purchase automobile insurance without a parent or guardian accepting legal liability.
Many parents and guardians who fear the financial burden of insuring their youthful driver will find that it is manageable and all agree that it is for a relatively short time.
In general, rates are not increased while minor is learning to drive in conformance with regulations as defined by learner’s permit licenses.
Discounts are given for minors who are good students.
Insurance companies do not require straight A’s. Children with “B” averages will qualify newly licensed drivers for the “good student” discount. Insurance companies give newly licensed drivers “accident-free” discounts.
Real 16-year-olds with driver’s licenses and insurance
Sean is 15 ½ years old. He will begin a driver’s education class within the next few weeks. Sean has envisioned himself behind the wheel of a car or truck most of his life.
Sean’s mother, Anne is anxious about him becoming a licensed driver. Anne is a single mom and has one other child, a girl age 10.
Currently, there is one car for the household, a 2005 Subaru Forester. Anne has not done any research about insurance prices, but Sean has.
Anne pays USAA $70.00 per month for full coverage as the only driver of the Forester. Sean has been warned about the increased cost of insurance if he becomes licensed to drive.
It may be a lot of money especially taking into account that he would only be able to drive Anne’s car when she doesn’t need it. Sean is determined that there will be a way for him to legally drive.
Here are the following monthly prices when Sean was added as a driver to Anne’s auto insurance in Sacramento, California:
- Geico – $149.00
- AAA – $151.00
- USAA – $155.00
- Mercury – $207.00
- State Farm – $242.00
- Liberty Mutual – $284.00
- Allstate – $286.00
- Mid-Century – $666
The car insurance prices including Sean as a newly licensed driver are not nearly as high as what Anne has been afraid of. She thinks she can afford the additional $75.00 per month to USAA.
Another licensed driver in their little household could be a big help, and while Sean is still a minor, she can continue to set limits.
The Smith Family lives in North Carolina. Although they live in the Raleigh Durham Triangle which is very developed, public transportation has not kept pace with the population growth.
Parents Meg and Chuck are very concerned about their daughter Kate’s sixteenth birthday and believe they have no other option than to let her drive.
Before Kate becomes licensed, their monthly insurance bill for premium level coverage with State Farm is $328.00
These are the choices and monthly payments for this family when their teen begins to drive at the age of 16:
- State Farm – $537.00
- Nationwide – $626.00
- Geico – $641.00
- Farm Bureau – $710
- Allstate – $717
If Kate is able to complete her first year as a licensed driver accident and violation free, rates will decrease approximately $100.00 per month the first renewal following her 17th birthday.
Helping a youth learn to drive safely and giving them two years of driving while under the guidance of a parent or guardian is a good investment.
Start comparing car insurance rates now! Enter your zip code below to get started!