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It’s no secret that finding cheap car insurance for teen drivers is a challenging task. Teenagers are statistically more likely to be involved in accidents than older, more experienced drivers, which makes them a greater liability to auto insurance companies.
To help you find low cost auto insurance for young drivers, our Geeks compared quotes from nine leading providers in each state. You can find the results of our study in the table below:
| State | Cheapest Insurer |
|---|---|
| Alabama | Allstate |
| Alaska | State Farm |
| Arizona | Allstate |
| Arkansas | State Farm |
| California | Esurance |
| Colorado | State Farm |
| Connecticut | Amica |
| Delaware | State Farm |
| Florida | State Farm |
| Georgia | Allstate |
| Hawaii | Allstate |
| Idaho | State Farm |
| Illinois | Allstate |
| Indiana | Allstate |
| Iowa | State Farm |
| Kansas | State Farm |
| Kentucky | Allstate |
| Louisiana | Allstate |
| Maine | State Farm |
| Maryland | State Farm |
| Massachusetts | Plymouth Rock Assurance |
| Michigan | Esurance |
| Minnesota | State Farm |
| Mississippi | Allstate |
| Missouri | State Farm |
| Montana | Allstate |
| Nebraska | Allstate |
| Nevada | Allstate |
| New Hampshire | Allstate |
| New Jersey | Allstate |
| New Mexico | State Farm |
| New York | State Farm |
| North Carolina | State Farm |
| North Dakota | Allstate |
| Ohio | Allstate |
| Oklahoma | State Farm |
| Oregon | Allstate |
| Pennsylvania | State Farm |
| Rhode Island | Allstate |
| South Carolina | Allstate |
| South Dakota | State Farm |
| Tennessee | Allstate |
| Texas | Allstate |
| Utah | Allstate |
| Vermont | State Farm |
| Virginia | State Farm |
| Washington | State Farm |
| Washington DC | State Farm |
| West Virginia | State Farm |
| Wisconsin | Allstate |
| Wyoming | State Farm |
FAQs About Cheap Car Insurance for Teens & Young Drivers
How Can Young Drivers Get Their Car Insurance Premiums Reduced?
New drivers can get their auto insurance premiums reduced by maintaining a clean driving record and avoiding major traffic citations. Some car insurance companies also offer student discounts and discounts for good grades. Other providers offer car insurance discounts to teens who complete approved driver safety courses. Teens can also pay less for auto insurance if they purchase a vehicle that is cheaper to insure.
Ask your car insurance company about discounts for students, good grades, and safe driving.
What Steps Can Parents Take to Help Their Teens Avoid Accidents?
If your teen is a newly licensed driver, there are several steps you can take to reduce your child’s likelihood of being involved in a collision. Here are a few of the most effective strategies:
1. Lead by Example
If you’re driving with your teen in the car, be sure to fasten your seatbelt before starting the ignition, and make sure your passengers do the same. Never use your cell phone behind the wheel, speed, or break other traffic laws.
2. Establish a Curfew
A disproportionate number of accidents happen at night. Be sure to establish a driving curfew for your teen to limit his or her risk of being involved in a collision.
3. Download a Safe Driving App
There are dozens of apps available that encourage safe driving for teens. Some of these apps deactivate certain functions of your teen’s phone when they sense that the vehicle is in motion. They may also give you access to data about your teen’s location, speed, and other behaviors behind the wheel.
4. Buy a Safe Vehicle
The type of vehicle you purchase for your teen not only could affect the amount you pay for car insurance, but it could also influence his or her risk of being involved in a collision. Look for a vehicle with low horsepower and the latest safety features.
5. Limit the Number of Passengers Your Teen Can Carry
It’s no secret that teens are susceptible to peer pressure. Young drivers are more likely to break a traffic law when transporting a peer passenger, so be sure to limit the number of passengers your child can carry until he or she has proven to be a responsible driver.
Common Reasons Why Teenagers’ Car Insurance Claims Are Denied
1. Driving Under the Influence
The power of peer pressure or plain curiosity can lead a teen to make some questionable decisions. Hitting the road while under the influence of alcohol or drugs not only will increase the risk of your child ending up in an accident but also will cause his or her insurance claim to be rejected. Additionally, it’s important to note that all 50 states have a no-tolerance policy for underage drinking and driving. Teens cannot have a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .02 or greater, which is the equivalent of about one drink. Getting caught drinking and driving while underage is a double-whammy, as it breaks multiple laws at once. Educate your child on both the life-threatening and financially-devastating consequences of driving while intoxicated.
2. Lying About the Crash
Telling a small fib to avoid being grounded might seem minor, but telling a lie to the insurance company could lead to the rejection of the claim. Read through the accident report and quiz your teenager before filing a claim with the insurer.
3. Driving Without a License or Permit
Your insurance company will only cover licensed drivers in your household. If your child does not have a learner’s permit or driver’s license and causes an accident, the insurer will reject the claim.
What Steps Should Teens Take If They Get into An Accident?
Getting into an accident can be scary and overwhelming, especially for a new driver. There are a lot of factors to consider, and it’s important to keep a level head. The actions you take will be a key factor in how the incident turns out in terms of safety, liability, insurance claims, and cost. Here are some key steps:
- Ensure Safety
Your first concern after getting into a crash should be ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all involved parties. Assess injuries, call an ambulance if necessary, and pull off to the side of the road. This precaution will help you avoid getting hit by another driver if they don’t see you in time. If there are any injuries, help in any way you can. Apply pressure to wounds and keep the victim warm, but don’t attempt to move anyone unless there’s an immediate threat or you have the proper training.
- Contact Law Enforcement
The next step is contacting the police. Most states have laws dictating that any accident resulting in injury, death, or serious property damage be reported immediately. Having a police report may also help your case in terms of your insurance claim.
- Assess Damages
While you’re waiting for law enforcement to arrive, evaluate damages to the vehicles and property involved. Take photos and document facts that may be important to your case. You should also gather information from the other parties involved. Relevant details include names, addresses, phone numbers, witness information, and insurance policies.
- Call Your Insurance Company
Once everything else is taken care of, report the accident to your insurance company immediately so they can begin to process it. If you live in a fault state, insurers will have to determine how at fault everyone involved was so the necessary percentages can be paid. If you live in a no-fault state, insurers will work behind the scenes to cover damages.
You should report all accidents to your insurance company, even if it doesn’t seem serious initially. While you may experience a premium increase, there could be more severe consequences for not being upfront. The other driver could still sue you and/or submit a claim, and your insurer will find out once the police report is filed. The farther away the incident was, the harder it will be for them to investigate and prove you weren’t at fault. If they can’t prove it, you may be on the hook for everything.
Additionally, insurance companies have the right to refuse to cover anything if you discover crash-related damages later on and didn’t report anything. They can also choose to not renew your policy or to cancel it altogether. Depending on the state you live in, you could face legal penalties for not reporting an accident, too.
What Should Teens Know About Distracted Driving?
Teens are involved in more fatal distracted-driving accidents than any other age group. The most common form of distracted driving is texting, although anything that draws your attention from the road counts. This could include eating, drinking, playing with the radio, talking to passengers, applying makeup, or anything of the sort. It’s important for young drivers to realize that their only focus while behind the wheel is the road around them. They are responsible for protecting their lives and the lives of every other driver by maintaining safe driving practices. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), you can travel the length of a full football field if you look away from the road for five seconds while traveling the standard 55 mph.
Each state has their own way they like to handle distracted driving incidents, but the most common penalties are fines, suspensions, and points on the license. If you cause severe injuries, damages, or death, however, the consequences could be much greater. Know that infractions will also likely lead to an increased insurance premium.
Fortunately, it’s easy to avoid temptations on the road. Most phones and tablets contain features like Apple’s “Do Not Disturb While Driving” setting, which senses when you’re driving and sends an automatic reply to any texts received during that time. It also prevents notifications from popping up on your phone. Parents of younger drivers can assume control of these features by adding parental restrictions.
Other ways to avoid distracted driving include planning a route in advance, putting your phone on silent, presetting your radio so you don’t have to fiddle with it, and making sure there’s nothing you have to do on your drive other than drive. If you find you absolutely need to refocus elsewhere, pull over to a safe spot and stop the car first.
Useful Teen Driver Statistics and Facts
- In 2013, drivers between the ages 15 and 19 accounted for only 7% of the U.S. population, but that age group caused $10 billion in motor vehicle injuries, or about 11% of the national total.
- Per mile traveled, teenage drivers between the ages 16 and 19 are about three times more likely than drivers age 20 and older to be involved in a fatal crash.
- Per mile driven, the accident rate for teenagers ages 16 and 17 years old is three times higher than for teens ages 18 and 19 years old.
- Teens are more likely to be involved in accidents and to execute an illegal maneuver when transporting a peer passenger.
- About half of all teenage deaths involving motor vehicles in 2014 occurred between 3 p.m. and midnight. More than half of these deaths occurred on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
- About 36% of male drivers between the ages 16 and 20 who were involved in fatal accidents in 2014 were speeding. About 24% had been drinking alcohol.
- About 17% of drivers between the ages 16 and 20 who were involved in fatal motor vehicle collisions in 2014 had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% or higher.
- According to a national survey in 2015, about 1 in 5 teens had ridden in the previous month with a driver who had consumed alcohol.
- About 53% of teens between the ages 16 and 19 who died in passenger vehicle accidents in 2014 were not wearing a seat belt.
- Teens are involved in more fatal distracted-driving accidents than any other age group.