Affordable car insurance for your teen driver
The thought of adding a young driver to your policy — and finding affordable car insurance — doesn’t have to make you sweat. Yes, inexperienced teen drivers can be riskier drivers. As a group, they tend to speed, are easily distracted and get in more crashes. But a Farmers® agent can help you, your teenager and your wallet navigate this big moment. Lean on Farmers 90-plus years of experience while your teen gets some experience of their own on the road.
Car insurance discounts and savings for teenage drivers
Adding a teen to your car insurance will raise your premium, but deploying a strategic mix of cost-saving measures (think: raising your deductibles) and these Farmers discounts designed for young drivers can help.
Youthful
driver
Good
student
Distant
student
Multi-car
Safety for young drivers
Data on young drivers, from research conducted by Bruce Simons-Morton, Ed.D., M.P.H., emeritus senior investigator, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD):
1,000 hours or 6 months
This time is “hugely dangerous” for newly licensed drivers.
10,000 hours or 5 – 6 years
How long it takes new drivers to achieve mastery
— and see crash levels drop.
3 – 4 X
How much higher crash rates are for teens driving with passengers (NICHD study).
8 danger zones
(and how you can help your teen avoid them)
Teens whose parents stay involved drive more safely and have fewer crashes, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Read the CDC’s list of eight high-risk driving danger zones and what parents can do to work with their teens to reduce the risks.
Download Farmers teen driver safety quiz and a parent-teen driving agreement.
Teen driver insurance checklist
Talk to an agent. Find out when you need to add your teen to your policy and ask about coverage options.
Get a quote. Brace yourself. Adding a teen driver will bump up your rates. A Farmers agent can help you explore ways to reduce the impact on your premium.
Look for discounts. Is your teen a good student? Did they take a driver safety course? You may save on your premium.
Talk about safe driving. Work with your teen to set safe-driving rules.
Update your policy. Check in with your agent each year to make sure you’re optimized for coverage and savings.
What to know about car insurance coverage for teen drivers
When you add a teen to your policy, they’ll have the same coverages and limits as all other drivers in the family. So you may want to consider adding other types of coverage, like roadside assistance, or changing coverage amounts to take any increased risk into account — for their safety and your peace of mind.
More coverage options to consider:
- Liability. You may want to raise your liability limits while your teen driver gains experience on the road. Find your state’s liability coverage requirements.
- Collision coverage. This helps cover damage to your car if you — or your young driver — is at fault in a crash.
- Comprehensive coverage. This helps cover damage to your car from non-collision causes including vandalism, extreme weather, animals and theft.
Frequently asked questions
How much can it cost to add a teenager to my car insurance?
According to a review of data from across the insurance industry, adding a teen driver aged 16 to 19 can cost around $300 per month. Teens are more expensive to insure because they get into crashes four times as often as drivers 20 and over, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Rates tend to go down as teen drivers age and gain experience and build a good driving record.
What factors can impact a teenager’s car insurance rate?
Insurers consider these variables when setting rates for young drivers:
The kind of car your teen drives. The age of the car your teen is driving, whether it has extra safety devices like side airbags or even features like horsepower can affect rates.
Gender. Teenage boys cause crashes at higher rates than any other group, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. (Seven states prohibit use of gender in rate-setting.)
Age and where they live. The same things that affect adults’ rates will impact teens.
Driving record. Teens don’t have one, so insurers don’t know how risky they really are at first. As they gain experience, their record will be reflected in your rate.
Will my rate decrease as my teen gets older?
Generally, yes. As your teen gains driving experience, the added costs of insuring them typically goes down steadily until they’re 25 — as long as they’re good drivers, according to the Insurance Information Institute. Tickets and accidents can mean higher rates. With some insurers, you may see a drop of 10% or more each year.
Do I have to add my teenager to my auto policy?
Your young driver needs insurance. It’s the law in almost every state — and it can help protect you financially if they’re involved in a crash.
Typically, you’ll find it more affordable to add your teen to your own policy than to buy them a policy of their own. If your teen is a minor (under 18), you’ll have to add them to your policy because most states don’t allow minors to enter legal contracts like insurance policies. However, if your driving record has multiple tickets and accidents on it, and your young driver is 18 or over (in most states), you might get a better rate with a new policy for your teenager.
Start a quote today to help you figure out your best move.
How to add a teen driver to your car insurance policy
Adding your young driver to your Farmers car insurance policy is easy.
Existing Farmers customers
- Call your Farmers agent.
- Log in to your Farmers account to manage your policy. If you haven’t already, set up an online account to handle payments, add new vehicles, update your policy and quickly find contact info for your agent.
New Farmers customers
- Find a Farmers agent in your area to learn about available coverages and discounts.
- Get a car insurance quote online.
Find an auto insurance agent near you
Learn about all the options and potential discounts so you can choose the coverage you want.
Related articles
What Impacts the Price of My Auto Insurance?
What you pay for auto insurance depends on several factors, including your driving record and where you garage your car.
Does My Credit Score Affect My Auto Insurance Premiums?
Your credit history matters, but it is only one of many factors used in calculating your premium.
What Is Gap Insurance and How Does It Work?
Gap insurance covers this difference in case your car is declared a total loss in an accident or other covered event like vandalism or a flood.
