Many younger drivers wonder, how much is car insurance for a 22-year-old? Your age factors into your premiums, so find out what you can expect to pay when you're 22 years old.
Car Insurance Costs for 22-Year-Old
According to The Zebra and carinsurance.com, as you get older, the cost difference for car insurance between men and women starts to decline. On a national scale, the average difference in premiums for men and women is less than 1%. In many cases, the rates are no different. However, at age 22, the gap between men and women is quite a bit larger, coming in at an average of $300 per year. The reason for the larger gap for younger drivers is that men are considered to be higher-risk drivers at this age due to their increased likelihood of receiving citations and being in accidents.
Carinsurancecompanies.com reports that age is only one of the factors that car insurance providers use when setting rates. Additional factors that impact rates include:
- How much you drive each year.
- Where you live.
- Your driving history and record.
- Your marital status.
- Your credit history (not legal to use in some states).
When you're under the age of 25, your car insurance rates tend to be much higher. As a younger driver, you're riskier to insure, according to the insurance company. Teenagers and young drivers have less experience, so they are more likely to be involved in accidents. When you bring more risk, you're more expensive to insure.
If you want to get the best possible auto insurance rates, make sure to compare quotes from different companies. Each company uses its own variables to set auto rates and may place more weight on one versus another. Therefore, your age might be a determining factor with one company but have a lower impact on your rates with another. Since these factors vary so drastically, the insurance provider that offers you the lowest rate may not offer the lowest rate for another customer.
Average Rates By Age
For a 22-year-old driver, Value Penguin reports that the national average cost is $4,128 per year. This equates to a cost of $350 per month. In 2018, 22-year-old drivers paid an average of $1,108 for their own personal six-month policy. This is substantially higher than the national average cost across all age groups, which is $871.
A 21-year-old driver pays an average of $300 more in car insurance premiums than a 22-year-old driver. The average for 21-year-olds is $4,453 per year, while the average for 23-year-olds is $3,840 per year. The rates do change with each year you age, but younger drivers always pay more than older drivers. This is especially true for teenagers and those under age 25.
Even just a few extra years of driving experience can qualify you for lower premiums. An 18-year-old driver will pay an average of $3,000 more per year than a 22-year-old driver. The cost for a 25-year-old driver will decrease by an average of $1,000 from what a 22-year-old pays for insurance.
Take a look at the average rates by age:
- 18 years old: $7,179 per year.
- 19 years old: $6,021 per year.
- 20 years old: $5,333 per year.
- 21 years old: $4,453 per year.
- 22 years old: $4,128 per year.
- 23 years old: $3,840 per year.
- 24 years old: $3,597 per year.
- 25 years old: $3,207 per year.
Premiums Based on Gender
For a 22-year-old male driver, the average cost of auto insurance is $4,274 per year. On the other hand, a 22-year-old female pays an average of $3,983 per year. Men usually pay more for auto insurance, although the rate differences are more substantial among younger drivers and teens. A male in his early 20s will pay between 7-9% more in car insurance premiums than a female in the same age range.
However, several local municipalities and states have enacted laws restricting auto insurance companies from basing the cost of premiums on gender. The states in which drivers cannot be charged more based on their gender include:
- California.
- Montana.
- Hawaii.
- Pennsylvania.
- North Carolina.
- Massachusetts.
- Michigan (in certain areas).
Lowest-Rate Companies for 22-Year-Olds
State Farm is the auto insurance company offering the lowest average rates for 22-year-old drivers. The second-lowest priced company is Progressive. As you compare quotes, use the data below as a starting point. According to studies performed by The Zebra, the average rates for 22-year-old drivers are:
- State Farm: $1,121.
- Progressive: $1,240.
- GEICO: $1,331.
- Allstate: $1,674.
- Liberty Mutual: $1,865.
If you are a current or former member of the military, or someone in your family is, you may be able to qualify for insurance through USAA. This company offers the lowest rates for 22-year-old drivers. If you live in one of the 13 states where Erie offers auto insurance policies, you could also obtain a quote for a policy through this company. Erie's rates are close behind USAA's rates, while GEICO is one of the largest national companies offering affordable rates for drivers in this age category.
Location and Average Rates
Per Value Penguin, the state where you live also impacts your auto insurance rates. In the U.S., the lowest rates for 22-year-olds are available to drivers in North Carolina. The average cost is $1,728, which is about one-third of the average cost on a national scale. In Michigan, young drivers pay the highest rates by far. The annual price is $12,013, which is almost three times the average cost in the U.S. In other states, the national averages come in at:
- Ohio: $2,603.
- Pennsylvania: $2,706.
- California: $2,781.
- Illinois: $3,259.
- Texas: $3,430.
- New York: $3,707.
- Georgia: $4,040.
- Florida: $5,017.
As you compare rates among the different providers, take a look at the companies that offer the lowest average rates in each state:
- California: GEICO, $2,381.
- Florida: GEICO, $3,485.
- Georgia: Georgia Farm Bureau, $2,133.
- Illinois: State Farm, $2,022.
- Michigan: Progressive, $4,655.
- New York: GEICO, $2,779.
- North Carolina: GEICO, $600.
- Ohio: GEICO, $1,734.
- Pennsylvania: Erie, $2,016.
- Texas: State Farm, $2,333.
A 22-year-old who has followed the traditional path in life may have graduated from college. After completing school, you may be able to score lower auto insurance rates. When calculating rates, auto insurance companies often correlate between higher education levels and lower risk. However, the price difference is usually fairly minimal.
As you compare insurance options, use the information to determine how much you might have to pay for auto coverage as a 22-year-old driver.
Information and research in this article verified by ASE-certified Master Technician Duane Sayaloune of YourMechanic.com. For any feedback or correction requests please contact us at research@caranddriver.com.
Resources:
https://www.thezebra.com/car-insurance-22-year-olds/
https://www.valuepenguin.com/22-year-old-car-insurance
https://www.carsdirect.com/car-insurance/tips-for-getting-car-insurance-for-22-year-olds
https://www.carinsurance.com/average-rates-by-age.aspx
https://www.carinsurancecompanies.com/how-much-does-car-insurance-cost-22-year-old/
Hearst Autos Research
Hearst Autos Research, produced independently of the Car and Driver Editorial staff, provides articles about cars and the automotive industry to help readers make informed purchasing choices.
