While it may not always be practical for a teen driver to purchase a separate policy, looking at those rates can give you an idea of how much car insurance costs for teen drivers and how much prices vary. With this in mind, InsuredCircle compared car insurance rates from the largest auto insurers in each of the 50 states, as well as Washington, D.C. We looked at rates for hypothetical male and female teenagers driving a 2017 Toyota Camry LE with no traffic tickets or violations.

While it is less expensive for a teen to remain on a parent's or guardian's policy, our analysis shows that these figures can serve as a benchmark for car insurance costs.

How much is car insurance for teen drivers?

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, teen drivers are involved in four times as many car accidents as drivers 20 and older. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, car accidents are the leading cause of death for teenagers in the United States.

All of this translates to higher insurance costs for teens, but the amount varies depending on the state where the teen lives, the teen's gender and age, and whether the teen is the primary policyholder, among other factors. According to our research, a newly licensed 16-year-old driver can pay 44 percent more for full coverage than a more experienced 19-year-old driver.

While the cost of teen driver car insurance varies greatly by state, here are the average annual prices we found for both full and minimum coverage, by age:

• 16-year-olds: full coverage costs $6,613; minimum coverage costs $2,733.
• 17-year-olds: full coverage costs $5,373; minimum coverage costs $2,206.
• For 18-year-olds, full coverage costs $4,837; minimum coverage costs $1,938.
• For 19-year-olds, full coverage costs $3,716; minimum coverage costs $1,451.

In our analyses, full coverage insurance policies include comprehensive and collision coverage, as well as uninsured/underinsured motorist protection and higher liability limits. Only state-mandated coverage is included in minimum coverage policies.

Cheapest car insurance for teen drivers from large companies

To find the cheapest auto insurance for teen drivers, we looked first at large companies that are available in almost every state.

Allstate, Geico, Progressive, State Farm, and USAA are the five largest auto insurance companies in the United States. However, USAA only insures active military personnel, veterans, and their families.

Based on average annual prices for both full and minimum coverage, we've ranked the largest companies, excluding USAA, from cheapest to most expensive.

Coming from a large corporation does not make an insurance policy better; in many cases, local and regional insurers have the best rates in those areas. Before selecting a car insurance company, compare quotes to find the cheapest insurer in your state.

Cheapest car insurance for teen drivers by state

The cheapest car insurance company for a teenager differs by state. The cheapest average full coverage rate for a teen driver in Hawaii, for example, is around $950 per year, while the cheapest average rate in Alabama is over $3,000.

Average cost of car insurance for 16-year-olds

Sixteen-year-old drivers are the most expensive to insure due to their inexperience.

Because the state does not allow the use of age to price car insurance, Hawaii is the cheapest state for both full and minimum annual coverage policies for 16-year-olds. For a driver of any age, the average full coverage rate in the state is between $1,000 and $1,100.

Meanwhile, Louisiana has the highest cost of annual full coverage policies for teenagers. A stand-alone policy with full coverage costs more than $11,500 per year on average. If you are a 16-year-old driver in Louisiana, it is strongly advised that you try to get on an adult's auto insurance policy in order to take advantage of multidriver and other discounts.

See how your state compares to others in terms of full and minimum coverage rates for 16-year-old drivers.

Average cost of car insurance for 17-year-olds

While not as expensive as for a 16-year-old driver, car insurance for a 17-year-old driver will be substantial. For a 17-year-old, the national annual average rate for full coverage is slightly more than $5,370 and $2,206 for minimum coverage.

North Carolina, along with Hawaii, has the lowest annual average rate for a full-coverage policy for a 17-year-old, at just under $2,660. In Iowa, the cheapest annual minimum coverage rate for a 17-year-old is just over $930. Louisiana, on the other hand, has the highest average full-coverage rates for 17-year-olds — $9,255 for a 12-month full-coverage policy. Michigan has the highest average annual minimum coverage rate, at just under $4,070.

See how your state ranks in terms of average full and minimum coverage rates for 17-year-old drivers.

Average cost of car insurance for 18-year-olds

The national average annual rate for an 18-year-old driver with full coverage is slightly more than $4,830, while the average rate for minimum coverage is $1,940. Aside from Hawaii, North Carolina has the lowest average full coverage rate at $2,398 per year, and Iowa has the lowest minimum coverage at $812. Louisiana has the highest rate for full coverage, while Michigan has the highest rate for minimum coverage.

See how your state ranks in terms of average full and minimum coverage rates for 18-year-old drivers.

Average cost of car insurance for 19-year-olds

Nineteen-year-old drivers are the cheapest to insure because they have been licensed for a longer period of time and have more driving experience. A full coverage policy for a 19-year-old costs about $3,717 per year on average in the United States. A 12-month minimum-coverage policy costs around $1,451.

Aside from Hawaii, the cheapest state for a 19-year-old driver is North Carolina, where full coverage costs $1,490 per year and minimum coverage costs slightly less than $550 per year. Meanwhile, Louisiana has the highest average cost for full coverage — more than $6,240 per year. Michigan has the most expensive minimum coverage policy for an 18-year-old, with annual premiums averaging around $2,890.

See where your state ranks in terms of average full and minimum coverage rates for 19-year-old drivers.

Why is car insurance for young men so expensive?

Young women can pay a lot for car insurance, but among people with clean driving records, young men have some of the highest auto insurance rates. Part of the reason for this is that they are inexperienced and lack a driving record on which insurers can base their rates.

When insurance companies cannot use your driving record to determine your likelihood of filing a claim, they must rely on statistics to assess risk and set prices. A newly licensed adolescent receives high insurance quotes because his peers file a high number of claims, more expensive claims, or both.

Male teenagers are more likely than any other group to be involved in a car accident. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, teens aged 16 to 19 cause nearly three times as many fatal accidents as adults aged 20 and up. According to the data, teen boys were responsible for roughly two-thirds of those crashes in recent years, down from 75% in 1975.

Aside from the risk of crashing, teens typically lack a credit history, are unmarried, and have not completed as much education, all of which can raise car insurance rates.

See how the top five auto insurance companies compare for female and male teen drivers, for both full and minimum coverage policies, in the table below.

How teens can save on car insurance

If you're a teen driver, the best way to save money on car insurance is to join your parent's or guardian's policy. If that isn't an option for you, start by comparing multiple car insurance quotes to find the best deal.

When shopping for car insurance, keep an eye out for possible discounts such as:

• Good grade discount. Some car insurance companies provide discounts for maintaining a high GPA or getting straight A's.
• Defensive driving discount. Some car insurance companies may offer you a rate reduction if you take a defensive driving course.
• Student away-at-school discount. If you are a college student or attend school away from home, you may be eligible for a student-away discount.