New drivers face many obstacles when first attempting to purchase an insurance policy in Pennsylvania. With no previous driving experience on record, many insurance companies will charge very high insurance rates. This can be especially true based on a number of factors that might be out of the control of the driver. As time progresses, most new drivers become eligible for discounts and more favorable premium rates, but these reduced premiums usually have to be earned in some way. Due to the graduated driver's license system that is in place in Pennsylvania, new drivers can sometimes benefit from slightly lower rates than those in states that do not have such a program. Many factors affect the cost of insurance for new drivers in Pennsylvania. Age is one of the largest considerations. Teenage drivers usually have the highest rates possible because they are statistically more likely to have minor accidents while learning how to drive. In general, the older a new driver is, the lower the premiums will be. On average, most insurance companies stop penalizing policy prices based on age when a driver is over 25 years old. The gender of the driver can also affect rates, with women having lower rates than men. Female drivers also see a larger reduction due to age as early as when they turn 21 instead of 25 for men. When assessing the risk of a new driver, the type of car that is being used is taken into consideration. New cars, large vehicles like sports utility vehicles (SUVs), and trucks generally increase the cost of a policy because the price of repairs to the car will be higher, or because the truck could cause excessive damage to another car in a collision. For this reason, driving a used car, a small car, or a vehicle with low maintenance and repair costs can reduce the price of a car insurance policy. There are a few actions that can be taken by new drivers in Pennsylvania that can reduce the cost of an initial auto insurance policy. Driving schools that are sanctioned by the insurance company and defensive driving classes can both reduce premiums. Installing a monitoring device that tracks the speed of the car as well as any erratic driving maneuvers can bring down monthly costs if the driver obeys the law and maintains good driving habits. It can also be beneficial for a new driver to shop around for better car insurance rates after having an initial policy for a few months since some companies might offer lower rates once a driver has a little experience.