Rate Retriever Logo

Car insurance for 17-year-olds

Every teen driver needs car insurance to protect them while on the road. But the national average cost of an insurance policy for a 17-year-old driver is around $4,060, so it can get expensive. 

Whether you’re looking for yourself or someone you know, discover how to get the best car insurance deals for 17-year-olds. 

Trophy

Why you can trust Rate Retriever

Everything we do, we do with your best experience in mind. This means delivering the information you want and need to make confident insurance decisions. While we may partner with some of the carriers you see on our site, we maintain editorial independence and commit to a rigorous editorial policy.

Written by Alyssa DiCrasto

Last updated: January 25, 2023

Best car insurance for 17-year-olds

17-year-old drivers have many options for purchasing an auto insurance policy to protect them and other drivers while on the road. 

Car insurance is necessary for all drivers, but teen drivers are among the most expensive to insure. Fortunately, you can do a few things to get the best car insurance for 17-year-old drivers.  

The first is to shop around and compare rates from different auto insurance providers. Ask about discounts and consider the type and amount of insurance you need. You can also choose a higher deductible to lower your monthly premium. Lastly, by practicing safe driving and keeping a clean record, you’ll be able to get lower rates in the future. 

Here is a sample of the average rates for a 17-year-old male policyholder at some of the top insurance companies that cover a large portion of the US. 

Company Average Annual Premium
State Farm 4,973
Auto-Owners Insurance 4,976
Nationwide 5,218
Geico 5,442
Travelers 6,051
Allstate 7,654
Progressive 8,915
Farmers 11,609
Safeco Insurance 12,650

Cheap car insurance for 17-year-olds

"*" indicates required fields

Zip Code*
Hidden
Hidden

Average cost of car insurance for 17-year-olds

17-year-olds are part of the most expensive age group to insure: young drivers. Along with age, where you live and the car you drive impact the cost of car insurance, so we recommend researching the cheapest cars to insure for 17-year-olds before purchasing a vehicle.  

Here are the average rates in each state for a 17-year-old policyholder driving a 2022 RAV4. 

Unique factors that contribute to cost for 17-year-olds

Car insurance costs vary for people of all ages, depending on where they live, their gender, and their car make, model, and age. However, 17-year-old drivers encounter additional factors that contribute to the price they pay for car insurance.  

Edit Content

Auto insurance companies consider 17-year-olds high-risk drivers. Whether it’s speeding, distracted driving, or simply underestimating the danger of the road, risky behaviors can lead to severe accidents. As a result, insurers charge teenage drivers higher rates to offset the increased risk. 

Edit Content

While 17-year-olds can purchase their own car insurance policy, it is typically more expensive for 17-year-olds to own their own policy vs. their parent adding the teen to an existing policy. If possible, we recommend parents add their teens to their existing auto insurance policy to save some money. 

Edit Content

Some auto insurance companies offer teen driver discounts that can lower insurance premiums and reduce the overall cost of auto insurance. Common discounts include good student discounts and driver’s education discounts.

How to get affordable car insurance for 17-year-olds

Finding the best car insurance deals for 17-year-olds doesn’t have to be difficult. While teenager drivers pay more for auto insurance, there are ways to find affordable policies from top providers. 

1. Shop around and compare car insurance rates

Regardless of if the teen wants to purchase their own policy or if their parents want to add them to a family policy, shopping around and comparing rates from top insurance companies is the best way to find affordable car insurance for 17-year-olds.  

First, compare policies with the same coverage levels for the most accurate price. Secondly, consider the deductible. A higher deductible will result in a lower premium, meaning you’ll pay less monthly but more out of pocket in the event of an accident.  

Find the best companies for you and start comparing today with Rate Retriever 

2. Ask about teen driver discounts

Some auto insurance providers may offer 17-year-old drivers discounts to lower the cost of insurance, including: 

Edit Content

Teenagers in high school, college, or a vocational program can typically qualify for discounts if they have at least a B average in their classes.

Edit Content

Teenagers attending college at least 100 miles away from their home may be able to receive a discount on auto insurance.

Edit Content

Insurance companies sometimes offer a discount if a teenager successfully completes a Driver’s Education course.

3. Make sure you have the coverage you need

Every state has auto insurance laws that determine the minimum type and amount of car insurance required to operate a motor vehicle legally in the state. The best car insurance for 17-year-old drivers may include additional policies for added protection. 

Car insurance FAQs for 17-year-olds

Can a 17-year-old get their own car insurance?

Yes, a 17-year-old can get their own car insurance. However, teenage drivers will usually pay more for their own insurance policy than they would if they were added to a parent’s existing policy.

What are the best car insurance deals for 17-year-olds?

The best car insurance for 17-year-old drivers depends on the teenager’s driving record, geographical area, car type, and budget. Ultimately, the best car insurance company for a 17-year-old will be the one that provides the coverage they need at a price they can afford.

Compare personalized rate estimates from the top insurance companies in your state 

Quick  |  Private  |  Reliable  

"*" indicates required fields

Zip Code*
Hidden
Hidden

Methodology

The rates on this page are estimated based on the rating plans insurance carriers have submitted to each state’s department of insurance. An insurance carrier’s rating plan details how the company uses certain characteristics to assign different rates to different people. We use the same data sources to power our comparison tools.

For the data on this page, we made the following assumptions: a single male with a clean driving record and Good credit score, driving a 2022 RAV4. We adjusted this profile by age to determine the rates you see on this page. 

These rates should only be used for comparative purposes. Your rates can vary significantly based on your unique driver profile. 

About Rate Retriever

At Rate Retriever, our mission is to make the way you shop for insurance transparent and fair through user-friendly tools that respect your privacy and deliver reliable, comprehensive results 

So we took everything we hated about comparing insurance quotes online – the spam, the long questionnaires, the limited choices, the inaccuracy of quote prices – and threw it out the window, favoring a short form that more accurately estimates what you’ll pay at each of the top insurance providers near you. 

Rate Retriever is an independent company that is not owned by an insurance provider, nor do we provide insurance ourselves. This independence allows us to be your free and impartial insurance research tool, helping you make the best decisions for your insurance needs.  

We may earn a commission when you click one of the links or call one of the providers listed on our site; however, we do not allow our partnerships to influence which information we provide.