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Age, driving record, location and credit score are the main factors affecting car insurance premiums. Gender, although also a factor, has a more considerable effect on young drivers under 25. A 16-year-old male pays almost $500 more per year because of higher accident frequency than a 16-year-old female. However, the difference decreases to only $33 per year when they're 25.

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Key Takeaways

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While age is an important factor that affects car insurance costs, it is just one of many used to determine rates. Other factors include location, driving history and vehicle type.

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Gender affects car insurance rates much more in young drivers than those over 25, where the average difference in car insurance costs is only $33 per year.

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Car insurance companies base their prices on risk and the likelihood that a claim will be filed. Young drivers, in general, carry the highest risk — but particularly young male drivers.

Average Car Insurance Rates by Age

Young drivers experience a decrease in car insurance rates annually, eventually leveling off as they age. Our chart shows full coverage car insurance costs for drivers between 16 and 18 and how these differ if they purchased a separate policy compared to being included in a family plan.

Car insurance rates change based on age. For example, premiums increase after 70 because older drivers are typically more accident-prone, making them riskier to insure.

Age
Annual Premium
Monthly Premium

16

$5,486

$457

17

$4,578

$381

18

$3,956

$330

19

$2,761

$230

20

$2,481

$207

21

$1,958

$163

22

$1,810

$151

23

$1,674

$139

24

$1,582

$132

25

$1,426

$119

26

$1,367

$114

27

$1,343

$112

28

$1,326

$110

29

$1,311

$109

30

$1,268

$106

35

$1,240

$103

40

$1,220

$102

45

$1,204

$100

50

$1,165

$97

55

$1,131

$94

60

$1,125

$94

65

$1,175

$98

70

$1,252

$104

75

$1,380

$115

80

$1,525

$127

85

$1,637

$136

90

$1,718

$143

You have two options when looking for coverage for a teen driver. You can purchase a separate policy or add them as a driver to a family policy. If the teen is under 18, they must have a parent or guardian co-sign an individual policy because, as a minor, they cannot legally purchase one themselves. Although both ensure that your teen driver has coverage, the latter is a more cost-effective move — it could save you thousands of dollars a year. Adding a teen driver to your insurance plan allows you to purchase coverage for a more affordable rate.

How Much Is Car Insurance by Age and Gender?

Auto insurance providers factor in driving experience when they calculate premiums. They consider young drivers riskier to insure since they have less experience, leading to higher rates. Sixty-year-old drivers with a clean driving record typically have the cheapest car insurance rates.

Sixteen-year-olds with an individual policy spend an average of $5,486 annually. The average cost of car insurance becomes $2,761 when the driver turns 19 and decreases by a hundred dollars or more each year until age 25. Rates for younger drivers are significantly higher, but you can find cheap car insurance for teens by including them in a family policy.

Gender
Annual Premium
Monthly Premium

Female

$5,238

$436

Male

$5,733

$478

Female

$4,345

$362

Male

$4,811

$401

Female

$3,768

$314

Male

$4,144

$345

Female

$2,630

$219

Male

$2,891

$241

Female

$2,372

$198

Male

$2,591

$216

Female

$1,882

$157

Male

$2,035

$170

Female

$1,754

$146

Male

$1,867

$156

Female

$1,629

$136

Male

$1,719

$143

Female

$1,549

$129

Male

$1,616

$135

Female

$1,410

$118

Male

$1,443

$120

Female

$1,354

$113

Male

$1,379

$115

Female

$1,332

$111

Male

$1,355

$113

Female

$1,317

$110

Male

$1,334

$111

Female

$1,307

$109

Male

$1,314

$110

Female

$1,276

$106

Male

$1,260

$105

Female

$1,253

$104

Male

$1,228

$102

Female

$1,232

$103

Male

$1,207

$101

Female

$1,215

$101

Male

$1,193

$99

Female

$1,170

$98

Male

$1,160

$97

Female

$1,133

$94

Male

$1,128

$94

Female

$1,126

$94

Male

$1,124

$94

Female

$1,169

$97

Male

$1,182

$98

Female

$1,237

$103

Male

$1,266

$106

Female

$1,347

$112

Male

$1,413

$118

Female

$1,468

$122

Male

$1,582

$132

Female

$1,573

$131

Male

$1,702

$142

Female

$1,646

$137

Male

$1,790

$149

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HOW DOES GENDER AFFECT RATES

Gender also plays a role when determining car insurance rates, though not as significantly as age. Car insurance for younger females is cheaper — a 16-year-old female pays $495 less per year than a 16-year-old male. However, when they turn 25, the difference between their annual rates is only $33.

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Average Car Insurance Rates by Age and State

A driver's age and gender affect car insurance rates — a policy for a 16-year-old is, on average, four times more expensive than a 30-year-old since they have less driving experience and higher accident rates, and males usually pay higher premiums than females. However, other factors still come into play, such as location.

A provider may charge a higher premium in areas with higher theft rates and incidents of accidents and vandalism. Car insurance rates vary across states, and knowing the average rate where you live can help you find a better deal when shopping for car insurance.

Age
Annual Premium
Monthly Premium

25

$759

$63

25

$803

$67

25

$515

$43

25

$1,480

$123

25

$1,002

$84

25

$381

$32

25

$711

$59

25

$1,100

$92

25

$580

$48

25

$876

$73

25

$569

$47

25

$463

$39

25

$552

$46

25

$1,407

$117

25

$460

$38

25

$565

$47

25

$1,281

$107

25

$2,067

$172

25

$471

$39

25

$503

$42

25

$1,174

$98

25

$1,307

$109

25

$1,204

$100

25

$499

$42

25

$366

$30

25

$468

$39

25

$1,207

$101

25

$662

$55

25

$1,273

$106

25

$1,003

$84

25

$1,670

$139

25

$1,312

$109

25

$915

$76

25

$941

$78

25

$874

$73

25

$363

$30

25

$654

$54

25

$1,261

$105

25

$816

$68

25

$1,677

$140

25

$288

$24

25

$1,140

$95

25

$2,043

$170

25

$839

$70

25

$492

$41

25

$1,730

$144

25

$1,249

$104

25

$1,267

$106

25

$1,730

$144

25

$738

$61

25

$484

$40

25

$1,559

$130

25

$944

$79

25

$1,198

$100

25

$1,221

$102

25

$1,136

$95

25

$2,006

$167

25

$504

$42

25

$1,649

$137

25

$356

$30

25

$366

$31

25

$1,190

$99

25

$460

$38

25

$372

$31

25

$956

$80

25

$737

$61

25

$1,338

$111

25

$589

$49

25

$1,215

$101

25

$761

$63

25

$436

$36

25

$931

$78

25

$642

$53

25

$1,926

$160

25

$1,138

$95

25

$1,011

$84

25

$1,295

$108

25

$545

$45

25

$501

$42

25

$1,413

$118

25

$2,431

$203

25

$777

$65

25

$827

$69

25

$726

$60

25

$1,196

$100

25

$1,018

$85

25

$1,180

$98

25

$1,086

$90

25

$1,377

$115

25

$1,270

$106

25

$892

$74

25

$696

$58

25

$1,572

$131

25

$478

$40

25

$1,943

$162

25

$486

$40

25

$1,164

$97

25

$416

$35

25

$997

$83

25

$1,080

$90

25

$454

$38

25

$321

$27

40

$1,198

$100

40

$426

$36

40

$965

$80

40

$443

$37

40

$382

$32

40

$411

$34

40

$794

$66

40

$2,078

$173

40

$931

$78

40

$1,378

$115

40

$486

$40

40

$677

$56

40

$1,557

$130

40

$1,491

$124

40

$785

$65

40

$1,786

$149

40

$1,096

$91

40

$1,208

$101

40

$944

$79

40

$1,170

$97

40

$303

$25

40

$474

$39

40

$957

$80

40

$1,051

$88

40

$1,627

$136

40

$1,345

$112

40

$1,017

$85

40

$318

$26

40

$924

$77

40

$345

$29

40

$906

$75

40

$1,121

$93

40

$961

$80

40

$253

$21

40

$363

$30

40

$486

$41

40

$661

$55

40

$1,477

$123

40

$390

$32

40

$942

$79

40

$294

$24

40

$1,049

$87

40

$703

$59

40

$365

$30

40

$378

$32

40

$642

$54

40

$609

$51

40

$354

$30

40

$1,286

$107

40

$998

$83

40

$379

$32

40

$459

$38

40

$522

$44

40

$459

$38

40

$871

$73

40

$328

$27

40

$919

$77

40

$377

$31

40

$410

$34

40

$456

$38

40

$838

$70

40

$803

$67

40

$1,708

$142

40

$1,128

$94

40

$385

$32

40

$974

$81

40

$723

$60

40

$1,009

$84

40

$737

$61

40

$933

$78

40

$733

$61

40

$360

$30

40

$816

$68

40

$1,334

$111

40

$1,048

$87

40

$859

$72

40

$876

$73

40

$664

$55

40

$584

$49

40

$955

$80

40

$277

$23

40

$674

$56

40

$419

$35

40

$1,059

$88

40

$1,070

$89

40

$1,023

$85

40

$588

$49

40

$980

$82

40

$594

$50

40

$939

$78

40

$530

$44

40

$1,159

$97

40

$892

$74

40

$562

$47

40

$599

$50

40

$852

$71

40

$828

$69

40

$552

$46

40

$455

$38

40

$354

$29

40

$428

$36

40

$264

$22

65

$361

$30

65

$678

$56

65

$616

$51

65

$963

$80

65

$560

$47

65

$1,677

$140

65

$807

$67

65

$1,591

$133

65

$863

$72

65

$1,601

$133

65

$711

$59

65

$493

$41

65

$471

$39

65

$816

$68

65

$2,151

$179

65

$909

$76

65

$847

$71

65

$820

$68

65

$857

$71

65

$891

$74

65

$653

$54

65

$467

$39

65

$1,182

$99

65

$319

$27

65

$640

$53

65

$549

$46

65

$1,071

$89

65

$1,227

$102

65

$925

$77

65

$534

$45

65

$367

$31

65

$393

$33

65

$770

$64

65

$783

$65

65

$256

$21

65

$1,600

$133

65

$906

$75

65

$308

$26

65

$467

$39

65

$868

$72

65

$984

$82

65

$888

$74

65

$1,248

$104

65

$911

$76

65

$965

$80

65

$1,390

$116

65

$718

$60

65

$459

$38

65

$1,232

$103

65

$899

$75

65

$266

$22

65

$965

$80

65

$425

$35

65

$1,067

$89

65

$711

$59

65

$807

$67

65

$966

$81

65

$1,152

$96

65

$762

$63

65

$310

$26

65

$572

$48

65

$417

$35

65

$366

$30

65

$371

$31

65

$1,679

$140

65

$971

$81

65

$473

$39

65

$592

$49

65

$389

$32

65

$751

$63

65

$391

$33

65

$366

$30

65

$530

$44

65

$1,339

$112

65

$397

$33

65

$449

$37

65

$646

$54

65

$1,200

$100

65

$965

$80

65

$371

$31

65

$1,281

$107

65

$1,452

$121

65

$1,075

$90

65

$358

$30

65

$1,011

$84

65

$712

$59

65

$959

$80

65

$848

$71

65

$893

$74

65

$401

$33

65

$649

$54

65

$1,098

$92

65

$697

$58

65

$864

$72

65

$431

$36

65

$360

$30

65

$582

$48

65

$869

$72

65

$935

$78

65

$363

$30

65

$272

$23

65

$289

$24

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FACTORS THAT IMPACT THE COST OF INSURANCE

Your age, gender and location can affect how much you pay for insurance. But there are other factors that may determine the average cost of insurance. Familiarizing yourself with these can help you reduce your premiums.

  • Deductible
  • Vehicle type
  • Annual mileage
  • Driving record
  • Credit score
  • Insurance history
  • Claims history
  • Number of drivers in your household

Why Age Affects Car Insurance Rates

Regardless of age, first-time drivers typically pay more for car insurance due to their inexperience. However, most of them are also teenagers who just got their licenses. A study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety showed that from 2014 to 2015, drivers aged 16 and 17 had the highest number of crashes per 100 million miles driven at 1,432. Given those numbers, insurers charge teen drivers higher premiums.

The number of crashes went down to 730 for ages 18–19 and 572 for drivers between 20 and 24. And as drivers enter their 30s and 40s, numbers decreased even more — to 328 and 314, respectively.

Why Gender Affects Car Insurance Rates

Young drivers are riskier to insure than older, more experienced drivers, and the same is true for young males compared to young females. According to the CDC, males aged 16–19 are almost twice as likely to be killed in a car accident as females of the same age. As drivers gain more experience, the gap between car insurance costs narrows until only a few dollars separate the genders. At this point, other factors overshadow the importance of age and gender in car insurance pricing, including driving history and location.

Frequently Asked Questions

Numbers show that several factors affect auto insurance rates. MoneyGeek included some commonly asked questions regarding how age and gender can affect the cost of car insurance.

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About Mandy Sleight, Licensed Insurance Agent


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Mandy Sleight is a licensed insurance agent and has worked in the industry since 2005. She has her property, casualty, life and health licenses. Mandy has worked for well-known insurance companies like State Farm and Nationwide Insurance, and most recently as the Operations Coordinator for a startup employee benefits company.

Mandy earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and Management from the University of Baltimore and her Master of Business Administration from Southern New Hampshire University. She uses her vast knowledge of the insurance industry and personal finance combined with her writing background to create easy-to-understand and engaging content to help readers make smarter choices with their budgets and finances.


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