Wouldn’t it be awesome if we could just give you the name of that one special company that has the cheapest insurance for 18 year olds? Unfortunately, it’s just not that easy, as there are many unknown elements like your annual mileage driven, the level of liability coverage you want, and whether you want full coverage. We will try to cover the best ways to compare rates and will hopefully give you a good start in finding the cheapest car insurance in Pennsylvania.
One of the many things that determine the cost of insurance is your zip code in Pittsburgh. Areas with increased crime or more people tend to have higher auto insurance costs, whereas areas with less crime or weather claims profit from lower rates.
The following table shows the most expensive places in Pennsylvania for 18 year olds to buy auto insurance in. Pittsburgh makes the list at #12 costing $1,063 for the average insurance policy, which is about $89 per month.
| Rank | City | Premium Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philadelphia | $1,997 |
| 2 | Drexel Hill | $1,504 |
| 3 | Chester | $1,435 |
| 4 | Levittown | $1,407 |
| 5 | Norristown | $1,320 |
| 6 | Allentown | $1,141 |
| 7 | Wilkes-Barre | $1,089 |
| 8 | Erie | $1,082 |
| 9 | Plum | $1,079 |
| 10 | Bethlehem | $1,077 |
| 11 | Reading | $1,066 |
| 12 | Pittsburgh | $1,063 |
| 13 | Municipality of Monr | $1,059 |
| 14 | Easton | $1,058 |
| 15 | Scranton | $1,049 |
| 16 | Hazleton | $1,046 |
| 17 | New Castle | $1,046 |
| 18 | Altoona | $1,032 |
| 19 | Harrisburg | $1,015 |
| 20 | Williamsport | $996 |
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Annual rates are comparative as vehicle location can increase or decrease coverage prices noticeably.
The make and model of vehicle requiring coverage is one of the main factors when shopping for the lowest-priced car insurance for 18 year olds. Vehicles with limited speed and performance, good safety features, or a low likelihood of having liability claims will cost quite a bit less to insure than high performance models.
The list below ranks auto insurance costs for a handful of the more affordable automobiles to insure in Pennsylvania.
| Make and Model | Estimated Cost for Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Honda Accord LX 4-Dr Sedan | $4,047 |
| Honda CR-V LX 2WD | $4,052 |
| Ford Escape XLS 4WD | $4,047 |
| Hyundai Elantra SE Touring Station Wagon | $4,365 |
| Toyota Prius | $4,412 |
| Toyota Tacoma 4WD | $4,536 |
| Dodge Grand Caravan CV | $4,543 |
| Chevrolet Impala LS | $4,760 |
| Ford Edge SE AWD | $4,767 |
| Toyota RAV4 Limited 4WD | $4,807 |
| Toyota Camry LE | $4,815 |
| Nissan Altima 2.5 4-Dr Sedan | $4,807 |
| Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid | $4,815 |
| Ford Fusion S 4-Dr Sedan | $4,807 |
| Ford Explorer Limited 4WD | $4,854 |
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Data variables include single male driver age 18, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and Pennsylvania minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, and claim-free. Premium costs do not factor in specific Pittsburgh, PA garaging location which can change insurance rates considerably.
Based on these rates, we can tell that vehicles like the Honda Accord, Honda CR-V, and Ford Escape will definitely be some of the less-costly vehicles to insure for teen drivers. Car insurance rates will be more costly because of the fact that there is more claim risk for 18 year olds, but in general those particular models will most likely have the cheapest car insurance rates compared to other types of vehicles.
Comparing rates for low-priced car insurance is difficult, and deciding which companies offer the cheapest car insurance rates for 18 year olds will involve additional perseverance.
Each company has a unique approach to set their prices, so let’s begin by examining the most competitive car insurance companies in Pennsylvania. It’s a good idea to be aware that Pittsburgh car insurance rates are based on many factors that may substantially change the cost of a policy. This price variation is why drivers need to perform a complete rate comparison when trying to find the lowest auto insurance quotes for 18 year olds. Insurance rates are impacted by many factors and can change without notice, so the cheapest company the last time you shopped around may now be quite expensive.
Lowest Insurance Price Quotes for Teens
| Rank | Company | Cost Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | General Casualty | $726 |
| 2 | Travelers | $787 |
| 3 | USAA | $793 |
| 4 | Erie | $800 |
| 5 | Penn National | $840 |
| 6 | Auto-Owners | $993 |
| 7 | Atlantic States | $1,005 |
| 8 | Amica | $1,012 |
| 9 | Donegal Mutual | $1,069 |
| 10 | GEICO | $1,123 |
| 11 | State Farm | $1,162 |
| 12 | Allied | $1,179 |
| 13 | State Auto | $1,229 |
| 14 | California Casualty | $1,234 |
| 15 | Encompass | $1,357 |
| 16 | Mutual Benefit Group | $1,411 |
| 17 | Progressive | $1,414 |
| 18 | Harleysville | $1,438 |
| 19 | Nationwide | $1,491 |
| 20 | Chubb | $1,598 |
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General Casualty generally has some of the cheapest car insurance rates in Pittsburgh at around $726 each year. This is $931 less than the average policy premium paid by Pennsylvania drivers of $1,657. Travelers, USAA, Erie, and Penn National are also some of the lowest-priced Pittsburgh, PA insurance companies.
As the example above demonstrates, if you are a policyholder with Penn National and switched to Travelers, you may realize annual savings of upwards of $53. Drivers with Auto-Owners may save as much as $206 a year, and Atlantic States insureds might lower prices by up to $218 a year.
Bear in mind that those rates are averaged across all types of insureds and vehicles and and are not figured with a specific zip code for 18 year olds. So the insurer that can offer you the best price may not even be in the top 30 companies shown above. That underscores the importance of why you need to get car insurance quotes using your own personalized driver profile and vehicle information.
The chart below demonstrates how deductibles can raise or lower insurance rates when quoting cheap insurance for 18 year olds. The premiums are based on a single male driver, full coverage, and no discounts are taken into consideration.
The data above shows that a 30-year-old driver could lower their policy premium by $304 a year by switching from a $100 deductible up to a $500 deductible, or save $460 by switching to a $1,000 deductible. Even younger insureds, like the Age 20 category, could roll back prices $888 each year by selecting a higher deductible.
When using a larger deductible, it will be important to have additional funds in a savings account to be able to pay the extra out-of-pocket expense that is associated with using high deductibles.
Cost difference between full coverage and liability
Saving money on car insurance is probably important to most drivers, and one of the quickest ways to save on the cost of insurance for 18 year olds is to only pay for liability coverage. The information below shows the comparison of auto insurance costs with full physical damage coverage and with liability coverage only. The data assumes no driving violations, no at-fault accidents, $100 deductibles, drivers are not married, and no additional discounts are factored in.
As an average for all age groups, full coverage costs $2,528 per year over having just liability coverage. Many of you may wonder if you should buy full coverage at all. There is no exact rule of when to phase out full coverage on your policy, but there is a general guideline. If the annual cost of comprehensive and collision coverage is more than 10% of the replacement cost minus the deductible, then you may want to consider only buying liability coverage.
There are some scenarios where removing full coverage is not financially feasible. If you haven’t paid off your loan, you have to carry full coverage to protect the lienholder’s interest in the vehicle. Also, if your emergency fund is not enough to purchase a different vehicle if your current one is totaled, you should not drop full coverage.
Why are you paying too much for Pittsburgh car insurance?
Pennsylvania car insurance rates are calculated based on many things that may substantially change the price of coverage. Turning one year older, moving to a new city, or getting a DUI can trigger price changes that can make some companies more affordable than competitors.
Also, auto insurance companies amend premium rates as often as every quarter in order to remain profitable. Higher than usual claims can result in increased policy costs, while profitable underwriting may produce cheaper Pittsburgh car insurance rates.
For example, the graph below shows which company has the cheapest car insurance in Pittsburgh, PA for a 45-year-old female driver with a clear driving record, no claims, and a good credit rating. If we estimate prices based on her current risk factors, General Casualty may offer the cheapest car insurance rates in Pittsburgh at $879 per year. This is $778 less than the average rate paid by Pennsylvania drivers of $1,657. Erie, Travelers, USAA, and Penn National are also included in the most affordable Pittsburgh, PA auto insurance companies.
The next chart shows rates after we give the driver from the first example a couple of claims, a lower credit score, and a few blemishes on her driving record. Due to the fact that every insurance company has a different formula to establish rates, getting updated rate quotes could now result in a different list of affordable Pittsburgh car insurance companies as shown below.
Amica now has the cheapest insurance rate in Pittsburgh, PA with Atlantic States, Travelers, Donegal Mutual, and USAA now being in the top five. This illustrates why Pennsylvania drivers need to take the time to shop around to get the most budget-friendly auto insurance quotes for 18 year olds.
Rates are determined by many risk factors and change substantially, so the most affordable company two years ago may now be quite expensive.
How to find more affordable insurance for 18 year olds
The list below details some money-saving suggestions that can help Pennsylvania drivers quote lower-cost coverage.
- Frequent claims will increase rates
- Lower rates by purchasing a safer vehicle
- Buying your home and auto policies from the same company can earn a discount
- Ensure your driving record is clean
- Being accident-free can lower rates significantly
- Shop around for cheaper rates regularly
The last tip in the list is notably crucial, as was emphasized in this piece. Coverage rates in Pittsburgh change constantly, so don’t be hesitant to switch companies if a better deal can be had. Brand loyalty is not necessarily bad, but is isn’t recommended if it’s costing you hundreds every year. It only takes a couple minutes to compare rates to find cheaper insurance for 18 year olds.