How Much Is Insurance for an 18-Year-Old in Texas?

The average cost of car insurance for an 18-year-old in Texas is $335 per month. But the actual amount you pay for car insurance depends on various personal factors, including your location, driving record, and vehicle type. You might pay more or less than the statewide average based on your unique profile and insurance coverage needs.

Keep reading to explore the biggest factors that affect car insurance costs for 18-year-olds and some tips for saving money on car insurance in Texas.

What’s the average cost of insurance for 18-year-olds in Texas?

In Texas, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of $335 per month for auto insurance, but some insurance companies have lower rates. State Farm is the cheapest car insurance company in Texas for teen drivers, with an average monthly liability premium of $115.

The following table shows the cheapest companies for minimum-coverage car insurance for teen drivers in Texas.

Cost of adding a teen to a parents’ policy vs. their own policy

Teen drivers have two options for getting car insurance — purchasing their own policy or getting insurance through a parents’ policy. It’s typically cheaper for 18-year-olds to stay insured on a parent’s existing insurance policy.1

Parents who add a teenager to their existing car insurance might be eligible for additional discounts, like a good student discount, a student away at school discount, and a multi-vehicle discount.

Here’s a snapshot of the average car insurance rates for teens on their own policy, two parents on a single policy, and two parents plus a teen driver on a single policy.

Factors affecting insurance rates for 18-year-olds in Texas

A number of factors determine the cost of car insurance for 18-year-old Texas drivers: 2 3

• Age and gender: Young drivers pay much higher rates for car insurance than adults. For most people, premiums go down steadily over time. Gender can also affect car insurance premiums. Female drivers often pay slightly less for car insurance than male drivers because data shows that women get into fewer accidents than men. An 18-year-old male driver will have some of the highest premiums.

• Driving experience: Driving experience is a rating factor for car insurance in Texas. The main reason 18-year-olds pay high car insurance rates is because they lack driving experience and are more likely to cause accidents. Because inexperienced drivers are high-risk, insurers assign them higher premiums. As drivers gain experience, insurance rates typically come down.

• Vehicle type: Insuring a brand-new vehicle is almost always more expensive than insuring a used car. Additionally, insuring a car with a high value and high repair costs often leads to more expensive insurance premiums.

• Geographic location: Your city and ZIP code can also affect the cost of your auto insurance premium in Texas. Some location-specific factors affecting premiums include the number of uninsured drivers, crime rates, weather risks, and car repair costs in the area.

• Driving record: When 18-year-olds have a clean driving record, they usually pay lower rates for car insurance, and they may qualify for safe driver discounts. People with a history of speeding tickets, accidents, and other traffic violations pay more expensive rates.

• Coverage type: The type and amount of coverage you purchase have a big effect on the cost of auto insurance in Texas. A state minimum-coverage policy is the cheapest car insurance you can have. A full-coverage car insurance policy is more expensive, and adding endorsements will also cause your premium to go up.

• Discounts and bundles: Most car insurance companies offer discounts that can help reduce your premium. If you qualify for any car insurance discounts, or if you bundle two or more policies together, you might be able to lower your insurance.

How Texas teen car insurance rates compare to nearby states

Teen drivers in the Lone Star State pay higher car insurance rates than young adults in some neighboring states. Louisiana is one of the only nearby states that have a higher premium than Texas. For reference, the U.S. national average rate for 18-year-olds is $275 per month.

The following table shows the average cost of liability-only insurance for teen drivers in several states close to Texas.

Comparing teen driver rates in Texas with other age groups

Age is one of the biggest factors that affect car insurance premiums. Insurers consider teenage drivers to be high-risk drivers, so they charge them higher rates than older drivers.

Car insurance rates are the highest for 16-year-olds, starting to decrease at 25 and continuing to decline as drivers age and gain more experience. This assumes they maintain a clean driving record. Around age 70, Texas car insurance rates start to increase again.

Below, you can see the average liability insurance rate in Texas for drivers in various age groups.

How to reduce insurance costs for 18-year-olds

Although 18-year-olds pay high car insurance premiums, they have ways to reduce the cost. Here are some strategies for getting cheap car insurance for 18-year-olds:

Cost of insurance for an 18-year-old in Texas FAQs