While it’s possible to find cheap car insurance for 17-year-olds, you’ll need to shop around and compare quotes if your driver is getting insurance for the first time. Or, you may need to switch their insurer if they already have a policy. There are many things that impact rates for 17-year-olds, including the fact that younger drivers have an increased risk of accidents.1 Learn how to get cheap car insurance for 17-year-olds and which companies have the lowest premiums. 

Factors Influencing Cost

The cost of car insurance for teens depends on a variety of factors. Here are some of the things that insurance companies often look at when calculating teen driver rates.

Location

Your state, city, and ZIP code will impact your car insurance premium. Location-specific factors like accident rates, the number of uninsured drivers, population density, weather risks, and vehicle theft rates can all contribute to your teen’s personalized premium. 

Gender

In most states, auto insurance companies use gender as a car insurance rating factor. Males tend to pay higher rates for car insurance than females.23 If you’re shopping for car insurance for your 17-year-old son, it’s possible that the rates will be slightly higher than a female with the same profile and car.  

Age

Age is used as a rating factor for car insurance for teens and adults. But because young drivers are newly licensed and have little driving experience, insurers usually charge 17-year-olds higher premiums.2 However, a driver’s rates tend to decrease with age. 

Driving Record

As part of the car insurance application process, the insurance company will review your teen’s driving record. If your 17-year-old has been in any accidents or gotten a speeding ticket, it could increase their car insurance premium.

Vehicle Type

If your teen has their own vehicle, the make and model will likely affect the cost of their policy. Factors that can impact premiums include how much it costs to make repairs to the car, how safe the car is, and the likelihood of theft.

Claim History

Young drivers who’ve made claims in the past, like an at-fault accident, could pay higher car insurance premiums in the future.

Coverage Types

All teen drivers are required to carry a minimum amount of car insurance, per state laws. If you want your child to have coverages beyond what’s required (collision insurance, comprehensive insurance, roadside assistance, or accident forgiveness, for example), their premium will go up.

Coverage Limits

Similar to coverage types, your teen’s coverage limits will also affect their rate. For example, if you purchase higher liability coverage limits than what’s legally required, the premium will increase. You can typically adjust coverage limits, which means you might be able to reduce them to lower a teen driver’s premium.

Discounts

Most car insurance companies have discounts that can help your teen get a lower rate. Some insurers offer savings for teens who get good grades in school. You can also find discounts for insuring multiple vehicles (like your car and your teen’s car) on the same policy. 

How to Find Cheap Car Insurance for a 17-Year-Old

Car insurance for teenagers tends to be pretty expensive. But if you’re wondering how to get insurance cheap for 17-year-olds, there are a few steps you should follow. 

Research Insurance Companies

Before you start getting rate quotes for your teen, spend some time researching insurance companies. Look at the coverage options, discounts, third-party ratings, and customer reviews. Check to see if any insurers in your area offer special savings or programs for teen drivers or additional benefits that your current insurer doesn’t offer.

Apply for Quotes

Once you’ve found a few insurance companies that meet your teen’s needs, apply for rate quotes. You will need to provide some information about your teen and their vehicle (if they have their own car). Be sure to get quotes for the same types and amounts of coverage for consistency. You should also get a quote from your current insurance company. 

Compare Rates

Take the rate quotes you received and compare them side by side. See which company can offer your teen the lowest rate for the coverage they want. 

Consider Switching Insurers

If your current insurance company didn’t provide the lowest rate quote, it could be beneficial to switch insurers. However, you should check with your insurance company to see if they charge any fees for canceling in the middle of the policy period.

Add Your Teen to Your Policy

If your current insurer can provide the lowest rate, add your teen as another driver on your existing policy. If you want to switch insurers, notify your current insurance company of your intent to switch, then purchase your new policy. It’s a good idea to set the end date of your old policy a day or two after the new policy starts to avoid a lapse in coverage.

Cheap Car Insurance Quotes for 17-Year-Olds

Getting affordable car insurance for teenagers often involves shopping around and comparing rates from a few different companies. Here are some quotes from well-known car insurance companies:

To collect these rate quotes, we used the sample profile of a 17-year-old female driver living in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with a 2016 Toyota Camry LE driven 12,000 miles per year. The sample driver is a full-time high school student with no recent accidents or violations. The rates include the following coverage types and limits:

• $25,000 for bodily injury liability insurance per person
• $50,000 for bodily injury liability insurance per accident
• $25,000 for property damage liability insurance per accident
• $25,000 for uninsured motorist bodily injury liability insurance per person
• $50,000 for uninsured motorist bodily injury liability insurance per accident
• Collision insurance with a $500 deductible
• Comprehensive insurance with a $500 deductible

Comparing car insurance quotes for 17-year-olds is important because premiums differ between insurers, even for the same coverage types and coverage limits. You may need rate quotes from several insurers to find the cheapest policy for your situation. 

Don’t focus only on cost, though. Choose an insurance company that offers an affordable premium but also has the types of coverage you want, good discounts, and strong third-party ratings. 

How to Save Money on Car Insurance for 17-year-olds

Comparing rate quotes is an effective way to find cheap car insurance for 17-year-olds. However, there are other ways to save money. Here are some suggestions for getting the lowest car insurance rate for 17-year-old drivers.

Look for Student Discounts

Many car insurance companies offer discounts for high school students who get good grades in school. These discounts may also apply to college students. You might also be able to save money if your teen attends school far away from home and doesn’t have a car with them. 

Enroll in a Safe Driver Rewards Program

Some of the biggest car insurance companies, like State Farm and Progressive, offer safe driver rewards programs.45 These programs use a mobile app or plug-in device to track your teen’s driving habits, such as acceleration and brake force. If they consistently drive safely, they might qualify for a discount. 

Get a Mileage-Based Policy

If your teen doesn’t drive often, a mileage-based insurance policy might be a cheaper option. With a pay-per-mile policy, you only pay for the distance you drive each month. Most policies charge a flat rate plus a small fee for every mile driven.