Compare Car Insurance Rates by Age and Gender [2023]

In addition to your driving record, one of the biggest factors that insurance companies use to calculate your auto insurance rates is your age. Generally, younger drivers are charged the most for car insurance coverage due to driving inexperience. Still, senior drivers may also face increased rates due to age-related health issues like vision loss. 

The best way to counteract the increased rates for certain age groups is to shop around at the best auto insurance companies to see which offers the cheapest rates. 

Continue reading to learn about which companies typically offer the cheapest rates for different age groups, why age affects your car insurance rates, and other important information about car insurance rates by age. 

Companies’ Average Car Insurance Rates by Age

Car insurance companies vary greatly in what rates they charge different drivers. Just as one company may be cheaper than another for car insurance after a DUI, some companies are much better than others for certain age demographics. 

To see which companies are the best for different age groups and which age group pays the most for car insurance, take a look at the car insurance rates by age charts in the following sections. 

Cheapest Car Insurance Companies for 18-Year-Old Drivers 

Teenage drivers have some of the highest auto insurance rates. Why is car insurance for young drivers higher? Most insurance companies charge teenage drivers thousands of dollars annually for auto insurance coverage because they are more inexperienced and more likely to crash. 

Below, you can see the average full coverage auto insurance rates at different companies for 18-year-old drivers. 

A few of the cheaper auto insurance companies for younger drivers are State Farm car insurance and Geico car insurance. Nationwide is also generally one of the cheaper choices for 18-year-old drivers. 

Companies that young drivers should avoid include companies like Progressive, Liberty Mutual, Allstate, and more, where rates are significantly more per year than the cheaper companies. 

We also want to note that the 18-year-old car insurance rates we’ve shown are for 18-year-old drivers purchasing their own auto insurance policies. It is much more economical for young drivers to join their parent’s policy rather than purchasing their own policy. 

A number of auto insurance companies allow teenage drivers to stay on their parent’s auto insurance policy even when away at college or university, as long as the student isn’t bringing a car with them. 

Cheapest Car Insurance Companies for 30-Year-Old Drivers 

Once drivers are near 30 years of age, they will start to see their auto insurance rates dropping, as long as they have kept a clean driving record. Car insurance with a bad driving record will be more. With years of driving experience, 30-year-old drivers are less likely to crash than 18-year-olds. 

Below, you can see which auto insurance companies have the best full coverage auto insurance rates on average for 30-year-old drivers. 

For 30-year-old drivers, some of the insurance companies that tend to be cheaper are Geico, State Farm, and Travelers. More expensive companies will be companies like Allstate or Liberty Mutual. 

Cheapest Car Insurance Companies for 45-Year-Old Drivers 

Drivers in their 40s will have rates similar to 30-year-old drivers, although they may drop if drivers have maintained a clean driving and claim record for years. Below, you can see the average rates for full coverage for 45-year-old drivers. 

As with the 30-year-old drivers, some of the cheaper insurance companies for 45-year-olds are the companies Geico, State Farm, and Travelers. On the other hand, more expensive companies tend to be Allstate, Progressive, Liberty Mutual, and others. 

We recommend starting with getting quotes from the companies with the cheapest car insurance average rates in order to see if one offers a cheaper rate than what you currently have. 

Cheapest Car Insurance Companies for 55-Year-Old Drivers

Drivers in their 50s will start to see a reduction in their auto insurance rates, especially if they retire early. Car insurance for retirees is often less. Because older drivers have years of driving experience under their belts, insurance companies will charge them less as long as drivers have relatively clean driving records. Below, we’ve listed the average rates for 55-year-old drivers. 

Drivers in their 50s should look into State Farm, Geico, and Travelers first, as these companies tend to offer some of the cheaper average rates. Companies that drivers should look at as a last resort are Liberty Mutual and Allstate, as they have some of the most expensive rates for 55-year-old drivers with clean driving records.

Cheapest Car Insurance Companies for 65-Year-Old Drivers 

Once drivers retire, they will see a drop in their auto insurance rates. This is because retired drivers tend to drive less than when they worked, and some insurance companies offer discounts on auto insurance for seniors. 

Senior drivers also won’t often be driving during typical rush hour traffic, which is when more accidents can happen. Therefore, insurance companies often give retirees cheaper rates as long as they have clean records. 

The table below shows the average auto insurance rates for 65-year-old drivers. 

Geico and State Farm have some of the cheapest car insurance for seniors. Their average monthly rates for full coverage are less than one hundred dollars per month. However, companies like Allstate and Liberty Mutual have average rates of well over a hundred dollars, making them more expensive options for car insurance. 

Average Car Insurance Rates by Age and State 

One factor that can impact how much you pay for auto insurance is your location. Some states have significantly more expensive rates on average than others, so we want to give you an idea of how car insurance rates by age can vary depending on where you live.

Take a look at the table below to see average rates by state below. 

If you live in one of the more expensive states for car insurance, it is important to shop around for auto insurance quotes. While even the cheapest companies may charge more than they would in other states, comparing car insurance rates will allow you to afford better coverage for a lower price. 

How Age Affects Car Insurance Rates 

Why does age affect how much you pay for auto insurance? The three main factors related to a driver’s age are health problems, driving experience, and driving habits.

Below, we’ve outlined how these factors affect auto insurance premiums by age:

• Teenage drivers. Teen drivers are inexperienced and more likely to participate in risky driving behaviors, such as not wearing seat belts or speeding. This makes them more likely to crash and file an insurance claim, so teen car insurance is more.
• Adult drivers. Drivers will see a reduction in rates once they hit their late twenties. As long as drivers keep a clean driving record, their rates will continue to decrease and significantly drop once they hit retirement age. 
• Senior drivers. Recently retired drivers will see a drop in insurance rates as they are driving less. However, senior drivers will start to see their rates increase again as they hit their 70s and 80s. 

One reason insurance companies increase rates for senior drivers a decade or two after retirement age is the increased risk of health issues affecting their ability to drive. For example, senior drivers may have decreased reaction time, worsening vision problems, medications that affect their driving performance, and more. 

However, no matter your age, you can usually find cheap auto insurance rates by shopping around and comparing free quotes. You should also take advantage of age-related car insurance discounts offered at your insurance company, such as defensive driver discounts or good student discounts. 

Other Factors That Affect Your Car Insurance Rates 

Age isn’t the only thing that will affect how much you pay for car insurance.

Some of the other major factors that will affect your car insurance rates are as follows:

• Credit score. In some states, insurance companies are allowed to use drivers’ credit scores as a rate factor. Drivers with poor credit scores will pay more.
• Driving record. At-fault accidents, DUIs, and traffic tickets will always raise your auto insurance rates as you’re now riskier to insure due to your driving record. 
• Location. Multiple risk factors are associated with where you live, such as local traffic, crashes, weather, wildlife, and crime. Areas that are deemed high-risk will have more expensive auto insurance rates on average. 
• Vehicle. Your choice of vehicle will affect your auto insurance rates. For example, a sports car will cost more to insure than a minivan with good safety and crash ratings. 

Keeping a clean driving record, improving your credit score, and choosing a safe car with affordable replacement parts will go a long way to keeping your auto insurance rates low. 

The Final Word on Car Insurance Rates by Age 

A driver’s age has a huge impact on how much they pay for auto insurance, especially if they are a teenager. The good news is that if you are a safe driver with a clean driving record, this will go a long way to reducing your auto insurance rates, no matter your age. 

Shopping around for car insurance quotes will also help most drivers find savings. Use our free quote comparison tool to see if you can find better auto insurance rates in your area.