Car Insurance Rates by Age and Gender

How Age Affects Your Insurance Rates

Typically, car insurance premiums are highest during your teen years, start to drop once you hit your 20s and begin rising again after age 70. These changes are based on insurance companies' assessment of risk, with age groups that are deemed riskier usually paying more for car insurance.

• Teens: Less experience behind the wheel means teenage drivers are less able to recognize or react appropriately to dangerous situations. Teens are also statistically more likely to be involved in serious accidents, and the younger they are, the greater the risk. Drivers ages 16 to 19 are nearly three times as likely as drivers age 20 and up to be involved in fatal crashes, according to The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), with the highest risk at ages 16 and 17.
• Adults: As you get older and gain driving experience, you can typically expect your auto insurance costs to go down, especially if you maintain a clean driving record without accidents or moving violations. Common life changes such as getting married or buying a home could also earn you discounts on car insurance.
• Seniors: Drivers ages 55 and up are generally safer drivers, drive fewer miles than younger drivers and are less likely to speed, according to the Insurance Information Institute (III). This translates into lower risk for insurers, which often means lower premiums for older drivers. Eventually, though, physical limitations such as diminished eyesight, hearing and reaction speeds can begin to increase senior drivers' risk. Drivers ages 70 and older have a higher rate of fatal accidents, according to the IIHS. As a result, they typically pay higher auto insurance premiums.

Learn more: How to Get the Best Car Insurance for Teens and Drivers Under 25

Two states—Hawaii and Massachusetts—prohibit insurance companies from considering your age when setting insurance premiums. (However, Massachusetts does allow insurers to give discounts to drivers ages 65 and up.)

The table below shows the average annual cost of auto insurance by age.

Source: Experian data as of April 2025; based on latest 24 months of policies sold by Experian
Note: Costs above are a blended average of full and minimum coverage policies

Learn more: How to Buy Car Insurance as a Senior

How Gender Affects Your Insurance Rates

Men may pay more for auto insurance than women, but our analysis finds the overall average premiums each gender pays are only marginally different.

While there are many factors that go into determining one's auto insurance premium, male drivers are statistically more likely to indulge in risky driving behavior such as speeding, driving under the influence or not wearing seat belts, according to the IIHS. Accidents involving male drivers also tend to be more serious than those involving female drivers, with men nearly twice as likely as women to die in auto accidents.

Source: Experian, January 2025
Note: Costs above are a blended average of full and minimum coverage policies

There are seven states where your gender won't impact your car insurance rates. Insurers in California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, North Carolina and Pennsylvania are prohibited from considering gender as a factor when setting auto insurance premiums.

Average Car Insurance Cost by Age and Gender in the U.S.

Although men generally pay higher prices for auto insurance, that's not always the case. As the chart above shows, men pay higher auto insurance premiums on average than women before age 20 and after age 60. Between ages 20 and 60, however, car insurance premiums for women are similar to or higher than premiums for men, according to Experian data.

How to Lower Your Car Insurance Rate

You can't turn time ahead or back to adjust your car insurance premiums, but there are plenty of things you can do to save money on car insurance.

1. Increase your deductible. The deductible is the amount you're responsible for paying when you file a car insurance claim. Raising your deductible typically lowers your premiums. Check with your insurance company to see how adjusting your deductible might save you money. Aim to strike a balance between affordable premiums and a deductible you could reasonably pay in the event of a claim.
2. Eliminate unneeded coverage. Many auto insurance policies include extras such as roadside assistance or reimbursement for a rental car when your vehicle is in the shop for a claim. Compare how much money this coverage could save you to how much you could save by dropping it. For example, you might not need roadside assistance if you already have this coverage through an auto club. You may also want to consider dropping collision and comprehensive coverage if your car is paid off and worth so little that you could afford to replace it out of pocket.
3. Investigate student discounts. Maintaining good grades may qualify a high school or college student for lower rates on car insurance. Young drivers might also get a discount for attending school away from home without a car or completing an approved driver safety course.
4. Look into low-mileage savings. If you don't drive a lot, you may be eligible for low-mileage auto insurance discounts from your insurer. Other options include switching to pay-per-mile coverage, which charges a daily base rate plus additional fees for every mile you drive, or usage-based coverage, which uses a device in your vehicle to monitor driving habits as well as mileage.
5. Ask about vehicle- or payment-based discounts. Some insurance carriers offer discounts for electric or hybrid vehicles, newer cars or vehicles with anti-theft or safety equipment. You might also get a discount for setting up automatic payments, getting a quote online or paying your premium in full.
6. Look into bundling your coverage. Bundling, or buying multiple types of insurance from one insurance company, can be a good way to save. Bundling home and auto insurance is a popular option, but depending on the carrier, you might also save by bundling auto insurance with life insurance, renters or condo insurance, umbrella insurance or other coverage.
7. Shop around. Regularly comparing auto insurance quotes from a variety of providers can help you find the lowest rates. You can get auto insurance quotes at insurance company websites or by contacting insurance companies directly.

Getting individual quotes from multiple insurers can be time-consuming. For a more convenient way to explore your options, try Experian's free car insurance comparison tool. Simply input your information once to get quotes from top auto insurance companies all in one place.

Learn more: Best Car Insurance Discounts

The Bottom Line

Your location, driving record and the vehicle you drive are other factors in the cost of car insurance. Good credit could help you save money on car insurance too. Auto insurance companies in most states can consider your credit-based insurance score when evaluating your application and setting your premiums. This score differs from consumer credit scores such as your FICO^® Score^☉, but both are based on data in your credit report.

Before applying for auto insurance, check your FICO^® Score and credit report for free to see where you stand. Working to improve your consumer credit score could help raise your credit-based insurance score—and potentially lower your auto insurance premiums.