Auto insurance rates by age in 2024

Key takeaways

• 18-year-old drivers on their own policy pay the highest car insurance premiums out of the age groups Bankrate analyzed.
• The most significant difference in premiums by gender occurs at age 18. On average, 18-year-old males cost 5 percent less to insure than their female counterparts.
• As drivers age, the difference in premium between genders narrows. At age 50, for instance, males only pay 6 percent more more on average per year for full coverage than 50-year-old females.

Average auto insurance rates by age and gender

When you get a car insurance quote, your insurance company uses multiple criteria to assess your level of risk and calculate your rate. Age and gender are just two of those factors. In addition, the state you live in, your driving record, credit score, claim history and the types of coverage you choose may also impact your premium.

In general, young drivers can expect to pay higher rates than older drivers, and around 70, car insurance rates start to increase again. Due to accident trends and data, men are riskier to insure than women and often pay higher rates. 

Keep in mind that while the average cost of car insurance by age and state varies greatly in most places, not all states permit age as a rating factor. Hawaii and Massachusetts ban the use of age as a rating factor (although Michigan does factor years of driving experience, so younger drivers may still face higher premiums on average), and California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Michigan, North Carolina and Pennsylvania prohibit the use of gender as a rating factor. 

The table below shows car insurance rates by age as a chart, and shows the the average annual rates for male and female drivers across a range of ages:

*16 and 17-year-old rates reflect the added cost to their parents’ full coverage car insurance policy. Additionally, 25-year-old rates are based on the driver as a renter, while rates for ages 30+ reflect drivers as homeowners.

How age affects your car insurance rates

When you analyze average car insurance costs by age, you may notice a trend. Coverage starts out relatively expensive for teens and young adults. Over the years, premiums generally decrease as drivers gain more experience behind the wheel. But as drivers reach their senior years, premiums can creep back up. In general, this is due to risk factors associated with each age group.

• Teens: Teens are among the riskiest drivers to insure due to their inexperience on the road. Per miles driven, drivers aged 16 to 19 get into almost three times as many fatal car accidents as any other age group. Insurers frequently charge more to insure teen drivers to offset the higher costs associated with teen driving claims.
• Adults: The cost of auto insurance coverage generally begins to drop by the time a driver reaches their early 20s. By 25, drivers are no longer considered youthful operators by their insurance carriers and might notice a pretty significant reduction in their premiums. Throughout adulthood — provided that drivers have a history of safe driving and no insurance claims — rates related to age generally level out and remain fairly consistent.
• Seniors: Unfortunately, drivers approaching the age of 70 will see their insurance rates start to climb. Age-related factors such as slower response time and vision loss can increase the risk of having a car accident. Additionally, as we age, slower recovery and complications from injuries can increase the cost of medical care for older drivers, which also increases the cost of medical payments and personal injury protection (PIP) coverages. 

Most insurers understand that car insurance can be expensive for certain age groups and offer discounts to help reduce those premiums. Common discounts for young drivers include good student discounts and driver training discounts. Senior drivers may earn discounts through a senior defensive driving course or affiliation with organizations such as AARP.

How gender affects your car insurance rates

In most states, gender is used as a rating factor when determining car insurance premiums. In general, men are statistically more likely to engage in risky driving behavior, but this does not automatically mean that men pay more than women for coverage. While the general trend of premiums shows that men pay more than women, this depends on numerous factors.

• State: Your location can determine whether your gender will affect your car insurance premium. Currently, six states do not allow gender to be used as a rating factor: California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Michigan, North Carolina and Pennsylvania. In these states, rates for men and women should be roughly equal if all the other rating factors — like vehicle type, driving history, etc. — are the same.
• Credit score: In many states, your credit-based insurance score will impact your car insurance premium. So, for example, a male driver with poor credit will probably pay more for car insurance than a male with good credit. On the other hand, a female driver with poor credit could pay more for car insurance than a male driver with great credit. However, this also depends on location. Insurance companies in California, Hawaii, Massachusetts and Michigan limit or restrict the use of credit-based insurance scores as rating factors.
• Driving record: Driving record can be one of car insurance's most significant rating factors. Drivers with a history of accidents, speeding tickets or other traffic violations typically pay the highest rates. For example, a female driver with a DUI or other serious violation will likely pay a higher rate than a male with a clean driving record. Maintaining a good driving record is one of the best ways to get a low rate for both males and females.

Although your gender will impact your car insurance rate (in most states), it does not necessarily mean that your premium will be above the average cost of car insurance or extremely expensive. Gender is just one of the factors that contribute to your car insurance rate. If you practice safe driving habits, maintain good credit, take advantage of discounts and shop around for quotes annually, you can probably find a policy that easily fits within your budget.

Frequently asked questions

Methodology

Bankrate utilizes Quadrant Information Services to analyze November 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 18-60 (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.

Gender: The following states do not use gender as a determining factor in calculating premiums: California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania.

Teens: Rates were determined by adding a 16- or 17-year-old teen to their 40-year-old married parents' policy. The rates displayed reflect the total cost of a driver this age added to their parents’ policy.