Cheapest New Driver Car Insurance Quotes
AAA has the cheapest insurance for parents who add a young new driver to a policy ($487 a month).
Cheap car insurance for new drivers
Cheap car insurance for new drivers over 30: State Farm
State Farm also has the cheapest full-coverage car insurance for new drivers over 30 at $172 a month. American Family has the next-cheapest full-coverage Full coverage includes collision and comprehensive, which cover your own car for damage and theft. Full coverage usually also has higher liability limits than minimum coverage. quotes at $223 a month.
Monthly rates for new drivers over 30
| Company | Liability only | Full coverage | LendingTree score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | State Farm | $86 | $172 |  |
 | American Family | $90 | $223 |  |
 | AAA | $109 | $248 |  |
 | Progressive | $140 | $412 | |
 | Geico | $145 | $359 |  |
 | Travelers | $161 | $299 | |
 | Nationwide | $184 | $340 |  |
 | Allstate | $228 | $427 | |
 | Farmers | $273 | $572 | |
 | USAA* | $116 | $258 | |
*USAA is only available to current and former military members and their families.
Your actual rate depends on factors like your age, location and car. In most states, your credit history also impacts your insurance rate. It’s good to compare car insurance quotes from a few different companies to make sure you’re getting the cheapest rate.
Who needs new driver car insurance?
New teen drivers are not the only ones who need new car insurance. You usually need it if you haven’t had a license from any U.S. state in the recent past. This can include:
- Americans returning to the U.S. after living abroad
- Immigrants to the U.S., even if licensed in your home country
- Newly licensed drivers of any age
Cheapest car insurance for new drivers under 21: State Farm
At $451 a month, State Farm also has the cheapest full coverage for young new drivers, or those under 21. This is 9% less than USAA’s rate of $494 a month.
Insurance rates for drivers under 21
| Company | Liability only | Full coverage |
|---|---|---|
| State Farm | $224 | $451 |
| Geico | $246 | $612 |
| American Family | $248 | $618 |
| AAA | $267 | $601 |
| Travelers | $349 | $705 |
| Progressive | $440 | $1,288 |
| Nationwide | $467 | $937 |
| Allstate | $541 | $988 |
| Farmers | $707 | $1,378 |
| USAA* | $210 | $494 |
*USAA is only available to current and former military members and their families.
Cheapest for parents with a young new driver: AAA
Removing a young driver’s full coverage does not reduce their liability coverage Liability covers injuries and damage you cause to other people or their property. It’s required by law in most states. . A parent’s policy usually gives a young driver more liability protection than they can afford on their own.
Monthly rates for a parent and new young driver
| Company | Full coverage both drivers | Full coverage parent only |
|---|---|---|
| AAA | $487 | $363 |
| State Farm | $509 | $384 |
| Progressive | $610 | $471 |
| Travelers | $598 | $474 |
| Geico | $633 | $482 |
| American Family | $659 | $492 |
| Nationwide | $978 | $796 |
| Allstate | $992 | $815 |
| Farmers | $1,101 | $911 |
| USAA* | $297 | $226 |
Best new driver car insurance companies
American Family has the best ratings among companies with cheap new driver car insurance. This includes an excellent complaint rating from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).
AAA is a good option for parents with a young new driver in their home.
Best companies for new drivers
| Company | Satisfaction score** | Complaint rating*** | LendingTree score |
|---|---|---|---|
| State Farm | 657 | 0.8 | |
| American Family | 660 | 0.4 | |
| AAA | 658 | 0.9 | |
Sources: **J.D. Power 2024 U.S. Auto Insurance Study (higher scores are better, 644 is average); ***NAIC complaint index (lower scores are better, 1.0 is average)
Best overall car insurance for new drivers: State Farm
State Farm’s widespread agent network makes it easy to get personalized service. This can be particularly helpful for a new driver with questions about car insurance.
The company’s Drive Safe & Save is a good discount program for new drivers. It uses an app to monitor how safely you drive State Farm’s app rates your driving on factors like acceleration, braking, cornering and phone distraction. .
Along with giving you a discount for safe driving, the app charts unsafe behaviors. This feedback can help you become a better driver. Unlike a few of its competitors, State Farm does not raise your rate if you get a bad driving score on the app.
Pros
Cheapest quotes for most new drivers
Good customer satisfaction rating from J.D. Power
App doesn’t raise rates for bad scores
Cons
American Family has a better complaint rating
Best complaint rating: American Family
American Family’s complaint score shows it has less than half as many complaints as average. This suggests it does a better job meeting customer expectations than many of its competitors.
American Family’s MilesMyWay discount is good for new drivers who don’t drive much. You can save up to 25% if you drive fewer than 8,000 miles a year. American Family also gives you a discount for joining its app-based safety program, DriveMyWay American Family’s app reduces your driving score if it detects things like excessive speeds, hard braking and phone use. . Unfortunately, your rate may go up if the app gives you a bad driving score.
Pros
Excellent complaint rating
Very good satisfaction rating from J.D. Power
Cheap rates for new drivers
Cons
Safety app may raise rate for bad driving
Only available in 19 states
Best for parents with a young new driver: AAA
AAA’s rates make it a good choice for parents with a young new driver on their car insurance. In many states, you have to be an AAA member to get its insurance. The membership fee adds to your insurance costs. But the roadside assistance AAA provides can come in handy, especially for a new driver.
Pros
Cheap rates for parents with new young drivers
Established company with good reputation
Roadside assistance with AAA membership
Cons
AAA membership costs extra
How much is car insurance for new drivers?
Full coverage costs an average of $615 a month for a new 18-year-old driver. At age 30, new drivers pay an average of $264 a month for full coverage.
New driver insurance costs by age
| New driver age | Liability only | Full coverage |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | $335 | $692 |
| 18 | $288 | $615 |
| 20 | $214 | $487 |
| 25 | $130 | $305 |
| 30 | $113 | $264 |
| 35 | $110 | $254 |
Does car insurance cost more for new drivers?
Car insurance generally costs more for new drivers than it does for experienced drivers. For example, a new driver over 30 pays an average of $259 a month for full coverage. This is 38% higher than the average cost for an experienced driver over 30, which is $188 a month.
New drivers lack driving experience, increasing the risk of getting into an accident. Higher risk usually means higher insurance rates. Avoiding tickets and accidents can help you get cheaper rates in the future as you gain driving experience.
How to keep new driver car insurance affordable
Staying on a parent’s policy
Young new drivers get much cheaper rates on a parent’s policy than they do on their own. It costs an average of $200 a month to add a young driver to a parent’s liability policy, for example. This is 40% less than the stand-alone liability rate for a young driver.
New young drivers pay 51% less for full coverage on a parent’s policy than they do on their own.
Monthly insurance costs for new young drivers
| Policy type | Young driver alone | On parent’s policy | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liability only | $279 | $200 | 40% |
| Full coverage | $598 | $397 | 51% |
Why shop around for car insurance
Each insurance company looks at factors that determine your car insurance rate a little differently. Some place less emphasis on driving experience than they do on other factors. Getting quotes from multiple companies helps you find the cheapest one for your unique situation.
Car insurance discounts for new drivers
Car insurance discounts vary by company, and they can add up to big savings. You can often get a discount for a driver training program or defensive driving class. Young new drivers with good grades in high school or college can often get a good-student discount.
An app-based safe driver program can also make new driver car insurance more affordable. You usually get a discount just for signing up. If you drive safely enough, you get another discount each time you renew.
Most large companies offer these, and several smaller ones do, too. The details vary by company.
More frequently asked questions
Drivers with a learner’s permit need to have car insurance before they get behind the wheel. Getting the child on a parent’s policy is a good solution in this case.
Drivers under the age of 18 cannot enter into a contractual agreement without cosigning from their parents (in some states, the age limit is 19). Check with your local department of motor vehicles to learn what your state’s age limit is.