UPDATED: APRIL 27, 2023 | 3 MIN READ
Car insurance rates for teen drivers can be pretty expensive. Many factors affect car insurance for 17-year-olds’ cost. Should teen drivers be added to a parent’s policy, or should they have their own policy? Do car insurance companies offer 17-year-old drivers their own policy? Where can I find cheap car insurance for my teen driver?
Why Teen Drivers Are Considered High-Risk
In the age group of 16 to 19 years old, the risk of being involved in a fatal crash is three times the amount of drivers aged 20 and older. The risk increases with additional teen passengers in the vehicle.
Young drivers are inexperienced, easily distracted, and more likely to speed, according to the CDC report on teen drivers.
The study also showed that 40% of fatal car accidents among teens aged 13 to 19 happened between 9 PM and 6 a.m., and 52% occurred on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.
Teen male vs. teen female drivers
Most risk factors apply to all teen drivers, such as minimal driving experience, night driving, distracted driving, and not wearing a seat belt. However, a 17-year-old male driver is more likely to tailgate other vehicles, speed, and drive while impaired by alcohol or drugs than a 17-year-old female driver.
Driving behaviors
Of the teen drivers aged 15 to 20, 31% of male drivers and 17% of female drivers involved in fatal crashes were speeding. Twenty-four percent had been drinking, and 15% had a blood alcohol content of 0.08% or higher.
Adding a Teen Driver To Your Policy
The least expensive way to insure a teen driver is to add them to the parent’s policy rather than purchasing a separate policy. When your young driver receives their driver’s license, usually a 16-year-old, you can add them to your existing car insurance policy for a few hundred dollars per month, depending on the coverages and vehicles you have insured.
It’s best to talk to an auto insurance agent to get quotes and information on the best insurance limits, deductibles, and discounts when you add your new driver.
Parent’s policy
In most cases, a parent has had an existing auto insurance policy for an extended time with one insurance provider. Parent’s usually have established longevity, driver discounts, and lower auto insurance premiums. The parent’s experience can help offset the cost of adding your teen driver. You should expect to pay around $3000 a year more in auto insurance premiums to add your new motorist.
Student discounts can help
Some discounts available to teenage drivers are the good student discount if they have good grades in school, a clean driving record, a driver education discount, or a defensive driving course discount. These can all apply to the new driver to help reduce the increase in the policyholder’s premiums.
Review your coverage
You may be able to lower your car insurance coverage to help with the higher premiums for adding your teenage driver. If your vehicle is older and doesn’t have a lienholder, you can drop your collision coverage and comprehensive coverage and only have the minimum coverage required by law. If you have full auto insurance covering you in case of an at-fault accident, you can raise the deductibles to offset the higher rates.
Can a 17-year-old purchase car insurance?
While in most states, there is no age restriction to owning a vehicle, there are age restrictions to purchasing auto insurance. A 17-year-old can buy their own car and a teen car insurance policy if a parent co-signs. Since your child is a minor, the parent is legally and financially responsible for them. These policies cost around $4500 per year for a new motorist.
Get several quotes
If you’re undecided whether to add your teenage driver to your policy or get them their auto insurance policy, get car insurance quotes to find the best car insurance for your needs. All auto insurance companies will tell you they have the lowest car insurance premiums, but until you get quotes, you can’t be sure you’re getting the lowest rate.
What Is the Average Cost Of Car Insurance For 17-Year-Olds?
Unfortunately, just surfing the web will not answer the question of average rates. So many factors play into the methodology of auto insurance rates. It’s impossible to find out the amount you will pay on average without comparing the same insurance coverage limits with auto insurance providers through quotes.
One of the auto insurance providers with the best rate is Erie Insurance company. It has been in business since 1925 and writes policies in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Washington, D.C.
At a peek
When just surfing the web looking for the national average auto insurance premium you will pay, you will find many conflicting results. Such as, one site claims GEICO is the lowest price at $2823. However, another site says GEICO is $3053. You will find the same conflicting statements with USAA, State Farm, Progressive, and other insurance providers. It would be best to get quotes to ensure you get the best rate.
FAQs
Who is the cheapest car insurance for 17-year-olds?
There are too many factors to answer this question factually. Get quotes from several nationwide insurance providers.
How much is car insurance in NY for a 17-year-old?
It’s roughly $4000 to $5500 a year for car insurance in New York for a 17-year-old.
Can 17-year-olds get car insurance in Georgia?
Georgia requires its teenage drivers to be 18 years old before they receive a non-restrictive driver’s license. Therefore, a teenager must have a fully licensed and insured adult in the vehicle when driving, and their insurance will cover them.
Do I have to add my 17-year-old teenager to my car insurance in NJ?
If your 17-year-old lives with you and drives your car, you need to add them to your car insurance policy.,
Are 17-year-olds allowed to have car insurance in Texas?
Texas has no laws saying that a 17-year-old can’t purchase car insurance. It’s up to the individual auto insurance providers to decide if they will allow someone under 18 to buy personal auto insurance coverage.
Finding Car Insurance For 17-Year-Olds
As children prepare to become adults, the first years of driving are often frustrating. From ages 16 to 19, insurance rates for drivers are the highest that you will ever pay due to the higher risks involved. Preparation is the key to ensuring you have the right insurance coverage. Use our online services to help you make the right choice for your teen driver.
