Your age impacts your car insurance rates, and 35-year-old drivers are likely paying much lower rates than their 20-year-old counterparts. We found that the average cost of car insurance coverage for a 35-year-old driver is $1,654 per year.
But getting older isn’t the only way to save money on your car insurance. USAA, Erie, and State Farm have some of the lowest rates for 35-year-old drivers, which means comparing car insurance quotes to find your cheapest option could save you even more money on car insurance.
How much is car insurance for a 35-year-old?
While rates for 35-year-old drivers are lower than rates for younger drivers, comparing quotes from multiple companies is the best way to save money on car insurance.
According to Policygenius analysis, this is what 35-year-old drivers pay for full-coverage car insurance at ten of the top insurance companies in the U.S.:
Company | Average rate for 35-year-old drivers | JD Power score |
|---|---|---|
Allstate | $1,977 | 876 |
American Family | $1,428 | 862 |
Erie | $1,138 | 880 |
Farmers | $1,934 | 872 |
GEICO | $1,188 | 871 |
Nationwide | $1,494 | 876 |
Progressive | $1,794 | 856 |
State Farm | $1,170 | 881 |
Travelers | $1,535 | 861 |
USAA | $1,044 | 890 |
Rates vary by company, so getting quotes from multiple companies can save you hundreds of dollars (or more) on your car insurance each year.
Cheapest car insurance companies for 35-year-olds
According to our research, USAA has the best rates for 35-year-old drivers at $1,044 per year, followed by Erie at $1,138 and State Farm at $1,170.
USAA
We found that USAA has the lowest average rates for 35-year-old drivers, $94 per year less than Erie and $126 less than State Farm. USAA has the lowest rates and the highest JD Power score (890) of all the major insurance companies, but it is only available to active and retired military members or their families, so not everyone is eligible for coverage.
Erie
Erie has the next-lowest rate for 35-year-old drivers, and a JD Power score of 880. But they only offer insurance in 13 states, so drivers in other states aren’t eligible for coverage through Erie. And unlike USAA and State Farm, Erie doesn’t offer online or mobile claims filing.
State Farm
We found State Farm has the third-lowest average rates for 35-year-old drivers. The biggest insurance company in the U.S., State Farm has a JD Power score of 881, putting them above the industry average.
Average car insurance costs for 35-year-old drivers by gender
Car insurance companies set rates by gender in almost every state. A few states have laws preventing insurance companies from considering your gender when setting your rates, including California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Michigan, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania, but on average, 35-year-old male drivers pay $19 more a year for coverage than female drivers.
Gender | Average annual cost |
|---|---|
35-year-old female | $1,732 |
35-year-old male | $1,751 |
Each company has their own internal system for determining rates, but the difference in price between male and female drivers is relatively small for 35-year-old drivers.
Average car insurance costs for 35-year-old drivers by credit score
Improving your credit score can help you save money on your car insurance. No matter how old you are, having a low credit score can raise your car insurance rates, and having stellar credit can mean lower rates.
Credit score | Credit rating | Average annual cost |
|---|---|---|
Excellent | 823+ | $1,420 |
Very Good | 795-822 | $1,569 |
Good | 769-794 | $1,718 |
Fair | 710-740 | $2,084 |
Poor | 524-577 | $3,107 |
If you have a fair credit rating, it doesn’t take much to bring your credit score up. Raising your credit rating from 739 to 769 isn’t much of an increase, but it is enough to save you more than $300 a year on your car insurance.
Average car insurance costs for 35-year-old drivers by state
Where you live plays a big part in how much you pay for insurance. We found that North Carolina has the cheapest rates for 35-year-old drivers at $1,009 per year, while 35-year-old drivers in Florida pay the highest rates at $2,926 per year for a full-coverage policy.
State | Rates for 35-year-old drivers |
|---|---|
$1,337 | |
$1,742 | |
$1,752 | |
$1,572 | |
$1,853 | |
$1,759 | |
$1,789 | |
$2,127 | |
$2,926 | |
$1,713 | |
$1,200 | |
$1,158 | |
$1,118 | |
$1,421 | |
$1,232 | |
$1,609 | |
$2,162 | |
$2,916 | |
$1,614 | |
$1,801 | |
$1,157 | |
$2,379 | |
$1,434 | |
$1,568 | |
$1,672 | |
$1,888 | |
$1,009 | |
$1,421 | |
$1,737 | |
$1,233 | |
$2,268 | |
$1,489 | |
$2,154 | |
$2,181 | |
$1,045 | |
$1,934 | |
$1,470 | |
$1,616 | |
$1,856 | |
$1,869 | |
$1,630 | |
$1,338 | |
$1,846 | |
$1,504 | |
$1,321 | |
$1,135 | |
$1,654 | |
$1,068 | |
$1,695 | |
$1,410 |
How to save money on car insurance for 35-year-old drivers
While 35-year-old drivers may have lower rates than they did when they were younger, there are still ways to save even more on car insurance.
1. Compare quotes
Different car insurance companies offer different rates, which means the same driver could get two different quotes that vary by hundreds of dollars (or more). If you don’t compare car insurance quotes before buying or renewing a policy, you could be missing out on a much better deal.
2. Improve your credit rating
Taking steps to improve your credit rating can help you save hundreds of dollars on your car insurance each year. Pay down debts when you can, make your payments on time, and work with a financial professional to make sure your credit is in the best shape possible.
3. Take advantage of discounts
Bundling discounts, multi-car discounts, customer loyalty discounts, employer group discounts, and discounts for safety features are just a few of the discounts available through most major insurance companies.
4. Keep your driving record clean
You will likely pay more for car insurance if you have a recent accident or moving violation on your driving record, so keeping your driving record clean is one of the easiest ways to make sure you’re getting the lowest possible rates.
Does car insurance get cheaper at 35?
Most drivers will see their rates go down as they get older, but this isn’t a guarantee. There are several things that that could raise (or lower) the cost of your insurance, including:
Changes to your driving record, like an accident or violation
Changes to your policy, like adding or dropping coverage
Getting married
Moving to a new ZIP code
Buying a new car
Frequently asked questions
What is the average monthly payment for car insurance?
Average insurance costs vary by age, but 35-year-old drivers have an average monthly premium payment of $137.83 for a full-coverage policy.
Why is car insurance so expensive for older drivers?
While car insurance rates typically go down as you age, after you turn 60, your rates will start to increase again. This is because there are some common issues most people face as they get older, including slowed reaction times and worsening vision. Not everyone will have these problems, but because they are more common in senior drivers, insurance companies typically increase rates starting at age 60.
Why does your address affect what you pay for insurance?
Insurance companies use local information, like the number of accidents that are reported in a specific neighborhood or ZIP code, when they are calculating your rates. If you live in an area with a lot of accidents or moving violations, or high rates or car theft and vandalism, your insurance company will charge you more to account for your increased risk level.
Methodology
Policygenius has analyzed car insurance rates provided by Quadrant Information Services for every ZIP code in all 50 states, plus Washington, D.C.
For full coverage policies, the following coverage limits were used:
Bodily injury liability: 50/100
Property damage liability: $50,000
Uninsured/underinsured motorist: 50/100
Comprehensive: $500 deductible
Collision: $500 deductible
In some cases, additional coverages were added where required by the state or insurer.
Rates for overall average rate, rates by ZIP code, and cheapest companies determined using averages for single drivers age 30, 35, and 45. Our sample vehicle was a 2017 Toyota Camry LE driven 10,000 miles per year.
Rates for driving violations and “poor” credit were determined using average rates for a single male 30-year-old driver with a credit score under 578.
Some carriers may be represented by affiliates or subsidiaries. Rates provided are a sample of insurance costs. Your actual quotes may differ.
