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How do I afford car insurance at 18?

I've heard car insurance for teenagers is really expensive. I need to get a car for school. How much does the average 18-year-old spend on insurance?

avatar
Emily Maracle · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
“It can be difficult to afford
car insurance
at 18—you’re right, it’s expensive. But there are ways to lower the
cost
.
Figure out how much you can afford to spend on insurance. Then, with a budget in mind, start shopping around.
Request
car insurance quotes
from several companies to get a feel for what’s available. It’s the best way to find the policy you want at a price you can afford.
Ask about discounts. Many car insurance companies offer discounts for young drivers—for example, discounts for completing driver training courses or discounts for maintaining good grades.
Behavior-based car insurance: You may also want to ask about a driving behavior discount. Some insurance companies offer discounts when you prove you are a good driver. You normally are required to download an app or plug a device into your car. Then, your insurance company tracks how you drive and gives you a discount if you’re a good driver.
Since young drivers are considered high risk by insurance companies, it can be difficult to find affordable rates. But if you aren’t finding any deals now, try again in six months. Insurance companies change their rates often. Plus, as you gain more experience, your premium should decrease.
If you’d rather leave the hard work of gathering quotes to someone else, use
Jerry
. The Jerry app can collect quotes from up to 50 top insurance companies in seconds! They even help cancel your old policy once you’ve made your pick.”
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Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.

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