The car, truck, or SUV you are buying coverage for is one of the biggest factors when quoting the cheapest coverage for teenagers. Vehicles with average performance, excellent safety ratings, or a low likelihood of having liability claims will cost much less to insure than fast, unsafe models.
The list below outlines insurance prices for a handful of the most affordable vehicles to insure in Texas.
| Make and Model | Estimated Cost for Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Ford Escape XLT 2WD | $4,088 |
| Honda Accord LX-P 4-Dr Sedan | $4,096 |
| Honda CR-V EX-L 4WD | $4,131 |
| Toyota Prius | $4,442 |
| Honda Odyssey LX | $4,540 |
| Ford Explorer XLT 2WD | $4,583 |
| Dodge Grand Caravan CV | $4,593 |
| Volkswagen Jetta SE 2.5 Station Wagon | $4,710 |
| Chevrolet Impala LS | $4,808 |
| Chevrolet Equinox LS AWD | $4,851 |
| Toyota RAV4 Sport 4WD | $4,860 |
| Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid | $4,851 |
| Dodge Ram 3500 Crew Cab Laramie 2WD | $4,894 |
| Ford F-150 SVT Raptor Super Cab 4WD | $4,902 |
| Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sport Islander Package 4WD 4-Dr | $5,068 |
| Start a Quote Go | |
Above prices assume single male driver age 17, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and Texas minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, and safe-driver. Rate quotes do not factor in specific San Antonio, TX garaging location which can impact rates significantly.
Looking at the numbers, you can infer that makes and models like the Ford Escape, Honda Accord, and Honda CR-V are most likely to be the most affordable vehicles to insure for teen drivers. Rates will trend higher just because there is more exposure for teenagers, but generally speaking those makes and models will most likely have the cheapest rates compared to all other vehicles.
Deciphering which company offers the cheapest insurance rates for teenagers calls for more time in order to find the lowest price. Each insurer has their own formula to set policy rates, so let’s take a look at the insurance companies with the overall best prices in San Antonio.
Best Insurance Companies for Teens
| Rank | Company | Cost Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Travelers | $1,041 |
| 2 | USAA | $1,084 |
| 3 | Texas Farm Bureau | $1,235 |
| 4 | Germania Mutual | $1,294 |
| 5 | Esurance | $1,379 |
| 6 | California Casualty | $1,396 |
| 7 | Mercury | $1,476 |
| 8 | State Farm | $1,510 |
| 9 | Safe Auto | $1,549 |
| 10 | Nationwide | $1,585 |
| 11 | Progressive | $1,715 |
| 12 | Allstate | $1,718 |
| 13 | Amica | $1,723 |
| 14 | Home State | $2,134 |
| 15 | GEICO | $2,135 |
| 16 | MetLife | $2,183 |
| 17 | Unitrin | $2,310 |
| 18 | Encompass | $2,324 |
| 19 | 21st Century | $2,494 |
| 20 | Titan | $2,646 |
| Quote Your Rates Go | ||
Travelers has some of the most affordable car insurance rates in San Antonio at around $1,041 annually. This is $863 less than the average premium paid by Texas drivers of $1,904. USAA, Texas Farm Bureau, Germania Mutual, and Esurance are also some of the more affordable San Antonio, TX auto insurance companies.
In the above example, if you are insured with Germania Mutual and switched to Travelers, you could earn a yearly price reduction of in the vicinity of $253. Customers with Esurance could save as much as $338 a year, and California Casualty customers might reduce rates by $355 a year.
If you want to find out if you’re overpaying, click here to start a quote or quote prices from the following companies.
Understand that those prices are averaged for all drivers and vehicles and are not factoring in a vehicle location for teenagers. So the company that fits your needs best may not even be in the list above. That emphasizes why you need to compare rates from as many companies as possible using your own personal information and vehicle type.
The illustration below illustrates how choosing a deductible can affect insurance rates when researching cheap insurance for teenagers. The premiums assume a married female driver, comp and collision included, and no additional discounts are factored in.
A 30-year-old driver could save $408 a year by changing from a $100 deductible to a $500 deductible, or save $612 by using a $1,000 deductible. Even younger insureds, like the 20-year-old, could save up to $870 annually just by choosing larger deductibles.
When choosing a higher deductible, it will be required to have additional funds squirreled away to satisfy the extra out-of-pocket expense. This is the primary disadvantage of choosing high deductibles.
Bad driving habits will cost you more
The obvious way to find the best insurance premiums in Texas for teen drivers is to be a cautious driver and avoid accidents and traffic citations. The illustration below highlights how traffic violations and at-fault accidents can influence car insurance costs for different age categories. The rate quotes are based on a single male driver, comp and collision included, $500 deductibles, and no discounts are factored in.
The data in the chart shows the average cost of auto insurance in Texas per year with no accidents and a clean driving record is $1,963. Factor in two speeding tickets and the average cost jumps to $2,601, an increase of $638 each year. Next add one accident along with the two speeding tickets and the 12-month cost of insurance for teenagers increases to an average of $3,239. That’s an increase of $1,276, or $106 per month, just for not being more responsible behind the wheel!
Liability-only versus full coverage
Lowering the price of insurance is the goal of most drivers, and one easy way to lower the cost of insurance for teenagers is to buy liability only. The information below shows the difference between insurance costs with liability coverage only compared to full coverage. The costs are based on no claims or driving citations, $1,000 deductibles, single marital status, and no policy discounts are applied.
If all age groups are averaged, comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy costs an extra $1,598 per year over liability only. That touches on the question if physical damage coverage is worth the money. There is no specific rule that is best for determining when to drop physical damage insurance, but there is a guideline you can use. If the annual cost of your full coverage insurance is 10% or more of the replacement cost minus the deductible, the it may be a good time to stop paying for full coverage.
For example, let’s say your vehicle’s replacement cost is $10,000 and you have $1,000 deductibles. If your vehicle is severely damaged, the most your company will settle for is $9,000 after the policy deductible has been paid. If you are currently paying more than $900 a year for your policy with full coverage, then you may need to consider dropping full coverage.
There are some circumstances where eliminating full coverage is not in your best interest. If you haven’t paid off your loan, you must maintain physical damage coverage as part of the loan conditions. Also, if your finances do not allow you to purchase a different vehicle if your current one is in an accident, you should keep full coverage.
Tips to find cheaper insurance for teenagers
It is possible to find better rates, and here are some of the recommended money-saving suggestions that can help San Antonio drivers get cheaper car insurance.
- Remain accident-free and save
- Don’t waste money on full coverage for older vehicles
- Buy vehicles with five-star safety ratings
- Ensure your driving record is clean
- Avoid filing small claims
- Buying car and homeowners insurance together can save money
- Compare rate quotes frequently
The last idea is extremely significant, as was noted in the prior article. Prices vary considerably, so don’t be afraid to buy a different policy if a better deal can be had. Being loyal to a particular company is commendable, but it’s not a great idea if it’s costing you several hundred dollars every year. It only take a few minutes to shop around to find cheaper car insurance for teenagers in San Antonio.