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Car insurance for 22-year-olds
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Powered by Coverage.com (NPN: 19966249)
Coverage.com, LLC is a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249). Coverage.com services are only available in states where it is licensed. Coverage.com may not offer insurance coverage in all states or scenarios. All insurance products are governed by the terms in the applicable insurance policy, and all related decisions (such as approval for coverage, premiums, commissions and fees) and policy obligations are the sole responsibility of the underwriting insurer. The information on this site does not modify any insurance policy terms in any way.
How much is car insurance for a 22-year-old?
The average cost of car insurance for a 22-year-old driver on their own full coverage policy is $3,620 per year, according to premium data provided by Quadrant Information Services. If you have a policy with minimum coverage, the average annual rate for a 22-year-old is $995. As expected, these rates are higher than the national average annual cost of car insurance — based on a 40-year-old driver — which is $2,314 for full coverage and $644 for minimum coverage.
As you gain more experience behind the wheel, you may see your auto insurance rates gradually decrease as long as you avoid accidents and tickets. Bankrate’s sample profile for a 22-year-old driver represents a 22-year-old with their own policy, who rents rather than owns their own home.
Drivers under age 25 are generally considered to be relatively inexperienced by most insurance companies and are often charged a higher premium to compensate for the greater risks they present. Usually, the older you get — assuming you are able to maintain a clean driving record — the lower your premium will be.
Average car insurance cost for 22-year-olds by state
Insurance rates vary by state, so knowing both the national average premium for your age group as well as your state’s average premium can be helpful for the sake of comparison. Along with different risk factors and regulations surrounding insurance in every state, each individual ZIP code has varying rates of collisions, vehicle thefts and costs for repairs. All of these determine the average rates quoted in each state.
| State | Average annual full coverage premium for 22-year-old drivers |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $3,482 |
| Alaska | $3,786 |
| Arizona | $4,040 |
| Arkansas | $3,288 |
| California* | $4,029 |
| Colorado | $4,409 |
| Connecticut | $3,786 |
| Delaware | $3,864 |
| Florida | $5,479 |
| Georgia | $4,207 |
| Hawaii* | $1,762 |
| Idaho | $2,229 |
| Illinois | $3,488 |
| Indiana | $2,738 |
| Iowa | $2,713 |
| Kansas | $3,872 |
| Kentucky | $4,316 |
| Louisiana | $5,663 |
| Maine | $2,580 |
| Maryland | $4,232 |
| Massachusetts* | $2,238 |
| Michigan* | $4,617 |
| Minnesota | $3,399 |
| Mississippi | $3,282 |
| Missouri | $3,973 |
| Montana | $3,796 |
| Nebraska | $3,333 |
| Nevada | $4,778 |
| New Hampshire | $2,828 |
| New Jersey | $4,070 |
| New Mexico | $3,602 |
| New York | $5,385 |
| North Carolina | $1,948 |
| North Dakota | $2,630 |
| Ohio | $2,547 |
| Oklahoma | $4,043 |
| Oregon | $2,949 |
| Pennsylvania | $4,185 |
| Rhode Island | $4,782 |
| South Carolina | $2,959 |
| South Dakota | $3,083 |
| Tennessee | $3,225 |
| Texas | $4,230 |
| Utah | $3,380 |
| Vermont | $2,337 |
| Virginia | $3,213 |
| Washington | $2,709 |
| Washington, D.C. | $3,925 |
| West Virginia | $3,083 |
| Wisconsin | $2,784 |
| Wyoming | $2,759 |
Best cheap car insurance companies for 22-year-olds
Car insurance companies vary greatly, not only in the rates charged, but in the coverage types, discounts, policy features offered and corresponding third-party rankings. To help you find the best auto insurance carriers that offer the most affordable insurance options, Bankrate’s insurance editorial team reviewed the best car insurance companies by market share in the nation.
We’ve included each company’s Bankrate Score, which is calculated on a five-point scale based on our assessment of coverage availability, options, discounts, price, customer service and financial strength, among a few other factors. If you are in the market for the best car insurance for 22-year-old drivers, comparing auto insurance rates from these five major providers may be a good place to start.
| Car insurance company | Bankrate Score | Average annual full coverage premium for 22-year-old drivers | Average annual minimum coverage premium for 22-year-old drivers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Geico | 4.4 | $2,569 | $689 |
| Auto-Owners | 4.3 | $2,644 | $741 |
| USAA | 4.2 | $2,609 | $669 |
| American Family | 4.2 | $2,790 | $936 |
| Travelers | 4.2 | $2,750 | $783 |
Geico's average rates are usually on the low side, and it sweetens the pot with a robust list of discounts that can save you even more. These include a number of savings opportunities for young drivers, such as good student, military and federal employee and vehicle safety equipment discounts. The company also offers a few optional coverage types, although it does not have gap insurance, which may matter to you if your car is on the newer side or you have a car loan. Geico earns the highest possible rating for financial strength from AM Best, A++ (Superior), indicating that the company has historically been able to meet its financial obligations.
While Auto-Owners is only available in 26 states, it offers car insurance rates for 22-year-olds that average about $1,000 below the national average cost for full coverage car insurance. Along with various other discount opportunities, Auto-Owners offers a good student discount for drivers under the age of 25 who maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Young drivers may also be interested in the carrier's local agents for policy assistance. Auto-Owners offers a few endorsements, including gap coverage, diminished value coverage and roadside assistance. Auto-Owners tied with Geico for Bankrate’s 2024 Best Budget Auto Insurance Company award and consistently achieves a high J.D. Power customer satisfaction score.
USAA offers some of the most competitive premiums for drivers, especially for minimum coverage. It also has the reputation for scoring at the top of the J.D. Power list for customer service. USAA insurance is, however, only available to members of the military, veterans and qualifying family members. If you fit that demographic, USAA may be worth looking at. You'll find an extensive list of discounts for young drivers and optional coverages that allow you to tailor your policy to your own circumstances. The company has an A++ (Superior) rating for financial strength from AM Best.
American Family, or AmFam as it is frequently known, doesn't offer the most competitive premiums on our list, but its average rate is still below the national average for 22-year-olds. AmFam's discounts include a low mileage option as well as a loyalty discount if your parents are insured by the company. Policy add-ons include rental reimbursement coverage, emergency roadside insurance and gap coverage. AmFam scores well with AM Best, earning a rate of A (Excellent).
Travelers may be a good choice for young drivers who want to customize their policy to fit their specific situation. In addition to standard types of coverage such as liability, collision and comprehensive, Travelers offers a handful of add-ons, including gap insurance, new car replacement and accident forgiveness. You'll find a robust list of discounts at Travelers to help lower your rate, including a safe driver discount, new car discount and driver training discount, which saves you money if you take an approved driver education course. Travelers only sells policies in 42 states and Washington D.C. The company has the highest possible rating from AM Best for financial stability, A++ (Superior).
How to save on car insurance for 22-year-olds
While the average cost of car insurance for 22-year-olds tends to be higher than it is for older drivers, there are several ways you may be able to lower your auto insurance rate.
Maintain a good driving record
Keeping your driving record clean is the best way to keep your premium costs down. It's also a good way to stay safe when behind the wheel and avoid high potential costs from accidents and other moving violations. A single speeding ticket may be enough to cause your rate to increase, and a serious infraction — such as a DUI — typically results in a significant rise in your premium.
Get good grades
Many insurance companies offer discounts for teens and young adults if they have good grades in high school or as full-time college students. You will likely have to present a recent grade card to your insurance company to qualify for this discount. Every company has different requirements, so be sure to ask your insurance company if you qualify.
Leave your car at home when away at college
If you are a college student living away from home, you may qualify for a discount on your auto insurance policy if you choose to leave your car behind. Most companies dictate how many miles you must be away from home in order to qualify for this discount. For example, you may need to be going to a school that is at least 100 miles from your home address in order to qualify.
Frequently asked questions
Methodology
Bankrate utilizes Quadrant Information Services to analyze April 2024 rates for all ZIP codes and carriers in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Rates are weighted based on the population density in each geographic region. Quoted rates are based on a single, 40-year-old male and female driver with a clean driving record, good credit and the following full coverage limits:
- $100,000 bodily injury liability per person
- $300,000 bodily injury liability per accident
- $50,000 property damage liability per accident
- $100,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person
- $300,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident
- $500 collision deductible
- $500 comprehensive deductible
To determine minimum coverage limits, Bankrate used minimum coverage that meets each state’s requirements. Our base profile drivers own a 2022 Toyota Camry, commute five days a week and drive 12,000 miles annually.
These are sample rates and should only be used for comparative purposes.
Age: Rates were calculated by evaluating our base profile with the ages 22 (base: 40 years) applied. Depending on age, drivers may be a renter or homeowner. Age is not a contributing rating factor in Hawaii and Massachusetts due to state regulations.
