Nationwide and Geico have the cheapest auto insurance rates in 2025 among the dozens of insurance providers CarInsurance.com studied. Major insurers State Farm, Progressive, Farmers and Allstate also offer some of the cheapest car insurance. 

The cheapest company for a full coverage policy is Nationwide with a monthly cost of $129. Geico is the cheapest for a liability-only or state minimum policy with monthly rates of $47 and $34, respectively.

Keep reading to explore the cheapest auto insurance companies and tips for finding the most affordable policy for your situation.

Key Highlights
  • Nationwide has the cheapest full coverage car insurance policy with rates of $129 per month or $1,548 per year.
  • Travelers offers the cheapest policy for teens at $403 per month or $4,834 per year.
  • State Farm offers the cheapest policies for drivers with speeding tickets and at-fault accidents.
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Written by:
Sarah Sharkey
Contributing Researcher
Sarah Sharkey is a personal finance writer with a master’s degree in management from the Hough School of Business at the University of Florida. She enjoys helping readers find money solutions that work. She has written for numerous personal finance publications including Money Under 30 and The College Investor.
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Edited by:
Laura Longero
Executive Editor
Laura Longero is an insurance expert and Executive Editor at CarInsurance.com, where she specializes in helping consumers navigate the complexities of the financial and insurance industries. She has 15 years of experience educating people about finance and car insurance. Prior to joining CarInsurance.com, she worked as a reporter and editor at the USA Today Network. Her expertise provides readers with practical guidance, helping them make informed choices about their financial and insurance needs.
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Reviewed by:
Dr. James C. Brau
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Industry Expert
Dr. Brau teaches finance principles, entrepreneurial finance, financial planning, and corporate finance at Brigham Young University’s School of Business. His research includes issues related to initial public offerings, financial education, real estate, and entrepreneurial finance.
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Data checked by:
Brent Buell
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Data Journalist
Before joining QuinStreet, Brent worked for nearly four years at NYCM Insurance (a personal and commercial insurance carrier based in New York) between his roles as a product analyst and a commercial lines underwriter. Before joining NYCM, Brent owned and operated a captive insurance agency. He holds a property & casualty broker’s license and is a Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU).
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Cheapest car insurance company for you

Real-world insight: Experience of shopping for the cheapest car insurance shared on Reddit

A 22-year-old driver shared his experience shopping for cheap car insurance on Reddit. Several commenters gave helpful tips for how to best shop for car insurance, including the post below:

“Quotes don’t cost you anything, get an agent if you really don’t wanna do any work. Either way, no one’s gonna be able to tell you because what you pay would be based on not your only age but your driving record, vehicle type, location and many other miscellaneous things and that’s before we even get to what type of coverages you’re going to select which would further affect what you pay.”

Cheapest car insurance company overall: Nationwide

Nationwide is the cheapest major car insurance company for full coverage policies, providing savings of $347 compared to the national average of $1,895. Geico is the cheapest insurance company for liability and state minimum coverage levels.

Travelers is the cheapest carrier in most other categories. 

The data in this report is from our analysis of various driver profiles from dozens of major carriers. The rates reported here are averages that give you an idea of coverage costs for different scenarios.

However, exactly how much you pay depends on your personal circumstances. Car insurance quotes vary based on your age, location, driving record, credit-based insurance score, driving habits and the type of vehicle you drive.

Cheap car insurance from major insurers by driver profile

Senior
Drivers

Nationwide

$1456/yr.

Low-mileage
Drivers

Travelers

$1499/yr.

Drivers with
Speeding Tickets

State Farm

$2,320/yr.

Drivers with
Accidents

State Farm

$2,436/yr.

Poor
Credit

Nationwide

$2,259/yr.

Teen
Drivers

Travelers

$4,834/yr.

Cheap car insurance for drivers with poor credit

Nationwide has the most affordable car insurance for drivers with poor credit among the auto insurance carriers surveyed. The table below shows how companies compare for cheap car insurance with poor credit. 

Note that though other companies have a lower percentage increase for poor credit, Geico has the lowest price.

Good credit and bad credit, by company
CompanyGood creditBad creditPercent increaseDollar increase
Nationwide$1,548 $2,259 46%$711 
Geico$1,763 $3,038 72%$1,275 
Travelers$1,606 $3,054 90%$1,448 
Progressive$1,998 $3,372 69%$1,374 
Allstate$2,509 $4,177 66%$1,668 
Farmers$2,387 $4,999 109%$2,613 
State Farm$1,984 $8,653 336%$6,669 
USAA*$1,381 $2,737 98%$1,356 

Note: USAA is only available to military community members and their families.

How can I get cheap car insurance with bad credit?

Cheapest car insurance after a speeding ticket

State Farm has the cheapest car insurance cost after a speeding ticket. Rates increase only 17% with State Farm after a speeding ticket, which is the lowest increase among carriers surveyed.

Tickets for moving violations affect how much you pay for car insurance, so part of keeping your costs low is maintaining a clean driving record. Insurance companies check your driving history upon renewal or when you get quotes for a new policy and use that information for rate pricing. You’ll pay higher rates if you’ve had a recent moving violation, such as a speeding ticket.

However, each company assesses risk differently, so even if you have driving infractions on your record, you’ll save if you compare car insurance companies. 

Below is a breakdown of average increases for speeding tickets by company.

Average increases for a speeding ticket, by company
CompanyAverage rateAverage rate with a speeding ticketPercent increaseDollar increase
State Farm$1,984 $2,320 17%$337 
Nationwide$1,548 $2,347 52%$799 
Travelers$1,606 $2,417 50%$811 
Progressive$1,998 $2,650 33%$652 
Geico$1,763 $2,830 61%$1,067 
Allstate$2,509 $2,965 18%$456 
Farmers$2,387 $3,380 42%$993 
USAA*$1,381 $1,680 22%$299 

Note: USAA is only available to military community members and their families.

How much do car insurance rates go up after a speeding ticket?

Cheap car insurance after a DUI

If you are caught driving under the influence, you risk losing your driver’s license, with penalties varying by state and prior DUI convictions. Your car insurance premiums will increase as well – anywhere from 35% to 155%. Progressive is the cheapest company after a DUI with a rate increase of $709 annually.

Following a DUI conviction, your insurance company might drop you, necessitating a search for a new insurer and likely leading to higher premiums due to your status as a high-risk driver. 

See annual rates before and after a DUI in the table below.

Cheapest car insurance companies for drivers after an DUI
CompanyAverage rateAverage rate after a DUIPercent increaseDollar increase
Progressive$1,998 $2,707 35%$709 
Travelers$1,606 $2,999 87%$1,392 
State Farm$1,984 $3,178 60%$1,195 
Nationwide$1,548 $3,627 134%$2,079 
Geico$1,763 $4,503 155%$2,740 
Allstate$2,509 $4,884 95%$2,375 
Farmers$2,387 $5,128 115%$2,742 
USAA*$1,381 $2,786 102%$1,405 

Note: USAA is only available to military community members and their families.

How much does your insurance go up after a DUI?

Cheap car insurance after an accident

Following an at-fault accident, State Farm offers the cheapest car insurance rate at $2,436, which represents a 23% increase. State Farm has the lowest increase percentage for drivers with a recent accident claim as well as the most affordable car insurance for those who have had an accident. 

The table below breaks down the average rates for drivers before and after an accident. 

Cheapest auto insurance companies for drivers after an accident
CompanyAverage rateAverage rate after an at-fault accident claim Percent increaseDollar increase
State Farm$1,984 $2,436 23%$453 
Travelers$1,606 $2,509 56%$903 
Nationwide$1,548 $2,564 66%$1,016 
Progressive$1,998 $3,116 56%$1,118 
Geico$1,763 $3,206 82%$1,443 
Farmers$2,387 $3,977 67%$1,590 
Allstate$2,509 $4,150 65%$1,640 
USAA*$1,381 $2,091 51%$710 

Note: USAA is only available to military community members and their families.

How much does insurance go up after an accident?

Cheap car insurance for teens

Travelers is the cheapest car insurance company for teen drivers, among those surveyed in our study of rates for a 16- to 19-year-old driver with their own full coverage policies. However, teens can’t buy policies without having a parent/guardian co-sign until they’ve reached the age of majority in their state. 

USAA is among the cheapest companies with a rate of $4,473 and $4,296 for male and female teen drivers, respectively, per year, but is only available to military members, veterans and their immediate family. Also, Liberty Mutual, one of the biggest auto insurers in the U.S., is not included in the list of insurers offering cheap car insurance because of a lack of public rate information from the company.

Travelers’ average rates for male and female drivers are $5,155 and $4,516, respectively. See more rates in the table below.

Cheapest car insurance for teen drivers
CompanyAverage rate for male teen driversAverage rate for female teen drivers
Travelers$5,155 $4,516 
Geico$5,315 $4,783 
Nationwide$5,685 $4,885 
State Farm$5,851 $4,886 
Progressive$7,480 $6,870 
Allstate$7,766 $7,105 
Farmers$8,668 $8,024 
USAA*$4,473 $4,296 

Note: USAA is only available to military community members and their families.

How much is car insurance for teen drivers?

Cheap car insurance for seniors

Nationwide has the cheapest car insurance rates for senior drivers among the insurance companies in our study. Their average rates for males vs. females are comparable at $1,493 and $1,419.

USAA is among the cheapest companies with average annual rates of $1,418 and $1,383 for male and female senior drivers, respectively, but is only available to military members, veterans and their immediate families. 

See more rates in the table below.

Cheap car insurance for senior drivers
CompanyAverage rate for male senior driversAverage rate for female senior drivers
Nationwide$1,493 $1,419 
Travelers$1,641 $1,539 
Geico$1,796 $1,779 
State Farm$1,859 $1,858 
Progressive$2,050 $1,951 
Farmers$2,351 $2,228 
Allstate$2,492 $2,462 
USAA*$1,418 $1,383 

Note: USAA is only available to military community members and their families.

Senior car insurance : What you need to know?

Cheap car insurance quotes for low-mileage drivers

You could qualify for cheaper auto insurance if you’re a driver who logs less than 12,000 miles a year.  Farmers is the cheapest auto insurance company for low-mileage drivers.

Driving fewer miles means you have a smaller chance of getting into an accident, so insurance rates for a low-mileage driver will generally be lower than for a driver who is on the road more, all else being equal. 

See the average annual rates for low-mileage drivers in the table below.

Cheap car insurance for low-mileage drivers
CompanyAverage rate
Travelers$1,499 
State Farm$1,742 
Geico$1,802 
Progressive$2,249 
Nationwide$2,331 
Farmers$2,905 
Allstate$3,320 
USAA*$1,282 

Note: USAA is only available to military community members and their families.

Cheapest car insurance companies by state

Geico, State Farm and Progressive are the cheapest car insurance companies in most states among insurers surveyed. The table below shows how companies rank in your state, from the cheapest to the most expensive.

Cheapest car insurance companies in California

Select your state below to see the cheapest company and its average annual and monthly rates for full coverage.

CompanyMonthly ratesAnnual rates
Geico$160$1,919
Mercury Insurance$169$2,031
Progressive$182$2,179
Kemper$202$2,429
Travelers$205$2,460
Auto Club Enterprises (AAA)$206$2,466
CSAA Insurance (AAA)$217$2,600
Allstate$219$2,627
State Farm$225$2,701
Nationwide$233$2,799
Farmers$253$3,035
USAA$152$1,827

Note: USAA is only available to military community members and their families.

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Affordable car insurance companies, by city

Car insurance rates don’t just differ from state to state. They vary – sometimes greatly – from city to city and even by ZIP code. That’s because your location is important in how insurers calculate rates. But you can find cheap rates in your city by using CarInsurance.com’s car insurance ZIP code calculator.

Cheapest car insurance rates by coverage type

The type of car insurance coverage you want can greatly impact your insurance premiums. Below, we explore the cheapest options for different kinds of insurance coverage. 

Affordable car insurance for drivers with full coverage

Full coverage car insurance includes both comprehensive and collision insurance. After an accident, this type of coverage can help you pay for repairs or replace your own vehicle. 
Nationwide is the cheapest car insurance company for full coverage policies among those surveyed by CarInsurance.com’s editorial team. Full coverage includes liability insurance, which state law requires, and comprehensive and collision coverage.

Cheapest companies for full coverage
Graph
Table
CompanyFull coverage monthly cost
Nationwide$129 
Travelers$134 
Geico$147 
State Farm$165 
Progressive$166 
Farmers$199 
Allstate$209 
USAA*$115 

Note: USAA is only available to military community members and their families.

Cheapest small companies for full coverage insurance

Smaller, regional carriers American National, Grange and Oregon Mutual offer the cheapest car insurance. American National’s rate for a full coverage policy is $827 per year. See more rates from small and regional car insurance companies in the table below.

Company Full coverage monthly cost  Full coverage annual cost
American National$69 $827 
Grange Insurance$82 $986 
Oregon Mutual Insurance$96 $1,147 
Virginia Farm Bureau$97 $1,167 
North Carolina Farm Bureau$101 $1,217 
NYCM Insurance$108 $1,300 
Texas Farm Bureau$108 $1,301 
MMG Insurance$109 $1,306 
NJM$110 $1,318 
PEMCO$111 $1,326 
West Bend Insurance Company$112 $1,339 
Farm Bureau Insurance of Tennessee$113 $1,355 
Vermont Mutual$118 $1,413 
Erie Insurance$123 $1,480 
Safety Insurance$126 $1,517 
Auto-Owners$129 $1,554 
Plymouth Rock Assurance$132 $1,581 
Indiana Farmers Insurance$134 $1,604 
Auto Club Group – ACG (AAA)$135 $1,621 
Cincinnati Insurance$135 $1,624 
IMT Insurance$136 $1,634 
Co-operative Insurance Companies$137 $1,640 
Central Insurance$137 $1,645 
Idaho Farm Bureau$138 $1,652 
Country Financial$140 $1,680 
Redpoint Insurance$140 $1,681 
American Family$142 $1,698 
Arbella Insurance$142 $1,708 
Island Insurance$148 $1,771 
Missouri Farm Bureau$154 $1,845 
Westfield Insurance$155 $1,855 
Penn National Insurance$157 $1,886 
Selective Insurance$159 $1,908 
Donegal Insurance$161 $1,937 
Farmers Mutual of Nebraska$162 $1,941 
Shelter Insurance$164 $1,969 
Southern Farm Bureau$165 $1,984 
AFR Insurance$172 $2,063 
Utica National Insurance Group$173 $2,070 
United Insurance Co$173 $2,071 
The Hanover$174 $2,082 
Kentucky Farm Bureau$176 $2,113 
Indiana Farm Bureau$179 $2,153 
Amica$185 $2,216 
Nodak Insurance$186 $2,233 
Kemper$188 $2,261 
Iowa Farm Bureau$189 $2,272 
North Star Mutual$190 $2,283 
Auto Club Enterprises (AAA)$192 $2,301 
Mercury Insurance$193 $2,314 
Acuity Insurance$201 $2,413 
Frankenmuth Insurance$201 $2,416 
Grinnell Mutual$216 $2,591 
Western National Insurance$217 $2,600 
CSAA Insurance (AAA)$217 $2,600 
Pioneer State Mutual$222 $2,662 
UAIC$233 $2,796 
Sentry Insurance$240 $2,880 
Encova Insurance$244 $2,933 
Chubb$245 $2,937 
Michigan Farm Bureau$246 $2,948 
Safeway Insurance$247 $2,964 
National General$259 $3,103 
Louisiana Farm Bureau$260 $3,122 
Alfa Insurance$269 $3,225 
Oklahoma Farm Bureau$275 $3,295 

What is full coverage car insurance and what does it cover?

Affordable car insurance for liability-only coverage

Liability car insurance pays for damage you cause to other vehicles and property. It does not cover damage to your car. Geico offers the cheapest liability-only car insurance at a monthly cost of $47.

The table below shows rates for a policy that provides more protection than most state minimums: Bodily injury liability of up to $50,000 for injuries per person, up to $100,000 per accident and up to $50,000 for property damage liability.

Cheapest companies for liability only
Graph
Table
CompanyLiability-only monthly cost
Geico$47 
Travelers$54 
Nationwide$54 
State Farm$54 
Progressive$59 
Allstate$71 
Farmers$83 
USAA*$36 

Note: USAA is only available to military community members and their families.

Affordable car insurance rates from smaller companies for liability only

For liability-only coverage from smaller companies, American National offers the cheapest car insurance, followed by IMT Insurance, Grange and Nodak Insurance. See more rates in the table below.

Company Liability-only monthly cost Liability-only annual cost
American National$18 $221 
IMT Insurance$20 $244 
Grange Insurance$21 $248 
Nodak Insurance$22 $267 
West Bend Insurance Company$22 $270 
Farmers Mutual of Nebraska$24 $285 
Vermont Mutual$25 $301 
MMG Insurance$28 $336 
Missouri Farm Bureau$29 $349 
PEMCO$29 $351 
Farm Bureau Insurance of Tennessee$29 $352 
Virginia Farm Bureau$30 $357 
North Star Mutual$30 $363 
North Carolina Farm Bureau$32 $380 
Donegal Insurance$32 $380 
Co-operative Insurance Companies$33 $399 
Auto-Owners$34 $412 
Erie Insurance$35 $415 
Westfield Insurance$35 $420 
Idaho Farm Bureau$35 $423 
Iowa Farm Bureau$35 $423 
Indiana Farmers Insurance$36 $430 
Acuity Insurance$38 $453 
Texas Farm Bureau$39 $462 
Grinnell Mutual$39 $468 
NYCM Insurance$40 $475 
Cincinnati Insurance$40 $483 
Oregon Mutual Insurance$41 $497 
Auto Club Group – ACG (AAA)$42 $507 
Country Financial$43 $516 
Kentucky Farm Bureau$44 $522 
AFR Insurance$45 $545 
Island Insurance$46 $556 
Central Insurance$47 $559 
NJM$47 $560 
Western National Insurance$47 $565 
Plymouth Rock Assurance$47 $565 
Indiana Farm Bureau$48 $573 
Safety Insurance$48 $576 
Frankenmuth Insurance$51 $618 
CSAA Insurance (AAA)$52 $628 
Shelter Insurance$53 $642 
Penn National Insurance$54 $649 
Southern Farm Bureau$55 $664 
Pioneer State Mutual$56 $668 
Kemper$61 $733 
Utica National Insurance Group$64 $768 
Arbella Insurance$67 $799 
Amica$67 $801 
Michigan Farm Bureau$72 $865 
American Family$73 $870 
Alfa Insurance$75 $898 
Redpoint Insurance$75 $905 
Encova Insurance$76 $913 
Oklahoma Farm Bureau$78 $934 
Auto Club Enterprises (AAA)$79 $944 
Chubb$79 $949 
Mercury Insurance$81 $975 
Selective Insurance$82 $985 
The Hanover$86 $1,034 
United Insurance Co$86 $1,036 
Safeway Insurance$92 $1,102 
Louisiana Farm Bureau$96 $1,148 
Sentry Insurance$140 $1,676 
National General$159 $1,912 
UAIC$179 $2,150 

Liability car insurance: What it covers and what it costs by state

Cheapest car insurance companies for state minimum coverage

If you’re looking for an auto policy with bare-bones coverage, Geico, State Farm and Travelers have the cheapest car insurance for state-minimum liability-only coverage.

The cheapest car insurance policy among coverage options is the one that meets your state’s minimum liability limit requirements. Since a state-minimum liability policy provides the least coverage so the premium will be low, as seen in the table below.

Cheapest companies for state minimum coverage 
Graph
Table
CompanyState minimum monthly cost
Geico$34 
State Farm$42 
Travelers$43 
Nationwide$44 
Progressive$46 
Allstate$58 
Farmers$58 
USAA*$28 

Note: USAA is only available to military community members and their families.

Cheapest smaller companies for state minimum car insurance

Many small companies offer state minimum coverage policies. See the options and average rates in the table below. 

Company State minimum monthly cost State-minimum annual cost
PEMCO$13 $158 
American National$15 $177 
Grange Insurance$15 $182 
IMT Insurance$19 $232 
Nodak Insurance$20 $239 
West Bend Insurance Company$20 $242 
Farmers Mutual of Nebraska$22 $261 
Donegal Insurance$23 $280 
Farm Bureau Insurance of Tennessee$24 $287 
Missouri Farm Bureau$24 $290 
Vermont Mutual$25 $301 
Westfield Insurance$26 $311 
Virginia Farm Bureau$27 $319 
North Star Mutual$27 $326 
Kentucky Farm Bureau$27 $326 
MMG Insurance$27 $329 
Safety Insurance$28 $332 
AFR Insurance$28 $334 
Auto-Owners$28 $337 
Acuity Insurance$28 $337 
Idaho Farm Bureau$28 $337 
North Carolina Farm Bureau$28 $338 
Erie Insurance$29 $346 
Indiana Farmers Insurance$29 $353 
Iowa Farm Bureau$30 $360 
Grinnell Mutual$30 $362 
Texas Farm Bureau$30 $363 
Country Financial$31 $372 
Central Insurance$31 $373 
Co-operative Insurance Companies$32 $383 
Southern Farm Bureau$33 $400 
Cincinnati Insurance$34 $404 
Island Insurance$35 $415 
NYCM Insurance$35 $420 
Oregon Mutual Insurance$37 $445 
CSAA Insurance (AAA)$38 $459 
Western National Insurance$39 $472 
Indiana Farm Bureau$40 $485 
Plymouth Rock Assurance$41 $487 
Auto Club Group – ACG (AAA)$41 $488 
Kemper$42 $509 
Shelter Insurance$43 $518 
Alfa Insurance$43 $522 
NJM$47 $560 
Frankenmuth Insurance$49 $586 
Pioneer State Mutual$49 $591 
American Family$50 $602 
Mercury Insurance$51 $607 
Arbella Insurance$51 $617 
Oklahoma Farm Bureau$52 $619 
Auto Club Enterprises (AAA)$52 $626 
Amica$54 $652 
Redpoint Insurance$55 $656 
Penn National Insurance$57 $683 
Utica National Insurance Group$58 $695 
Encova Insurance$65 $778 
Louisiana Farm Bureau$67 $800 
United Insurance Co$67 $801 
Michigan Farm Bureau$69 $827 
Safeway Insurance$71 $853 
Chubb$71 $855 
The Hanover$74 $894 
Selective Insurance$75 $895 
National General$97 $1,166 
Sentry Insurance$118 $1,415 
UAIC$142 $1,702 

What is state minimum car insurance?

How to get the cheapest car insurance rates

Comparing car insurance quotes can help you save hundreds of dollars because each car insurance company uses its own formula to calculate your rate. So, the same policy can have different prices among different insurance companies.

Shopping around and comparing quotes for affordable car insurance coverage from several insurers is the best way to find cheap car insurance without compromising on quality.

“Car insurance buyers, like voters in political elections, are time- and attention-constrained and therefore do not devote much energy to searching for information about the alternatives available to them,” says William Shughart, professor in public choice at the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business at Utah State University. “Theories of consumer searches conclude that it is optimal to stop when the costs of gathering one more piece of information (value of other uses of time forgone) equal the perceived benefits of continued search (lower price or improved quality).”

Here are a few tips to help you save money on car insurance:

  • Ask about discounts: Common car insurance discounts include those for safe drivers and students, paying in full, paying online, bundling auto and home, insuring a new vehicle, and installing safety features on your car.
  • Increase your deductible: If you increase your deductible, ensure you can pay the deductible if you file a claim.
  • Comparison shop for insurance: Compare car insurance quotes upon the renewal of your policy – and if you buy a new car, add or remove drivers, add a teen driver, move, buy a house, get married or divorced, have a change in your credit score or get into an accident. Get a car insurance quote from at least three companies. 
  • Check safety ratings and buy a safer vehicle: Safer cars have fewer accidents and typically are cheaper to insure.
  • Consider low-mileage or usage-based auto insurance plans: If you don’t drive much – 10,000 miles or so a year – you can save money by purchasing a low-mileage plan from a company like Metromile.

Check out our detailed guide on the factors that affect car insurance rates

What are the risks of buying the cheapest car insurance?

In life, they say, you get what you pay for. Just because a particular carrier charges the lowest rate doesn’t necessarily mean you should choose that company. There could be risks with opting for the cheapest insurer, such as the possibility that the company may not be financially solvent, for example.

“Cost of coverage is just one factor you should consider when purchasing car insurance,” says Mark Friedlander, director of corporate communications for the Insurance Information Institute. “You need to make sure your insurer is financially stable and has the capability to pay claims, even after a catastrophic large-scale loss event like a hurricane, tornado, wildfire or flood. Ask your insurance agent to provide you with the insurer’s from a third-party rating firm like AM Best, as well as their J.D. Power customer satisfaction scores. You can also check out consumer sites where policyholders post unfiltered comments about their customer service and claims experiences.”

The bottom line on the cheapest car insurance

“Drivers should remember that the cheapest policy isn’t necessarily the best,” says Scott Distasio, a Florida-based board-certified civil trial lawyer with extensive experience in auto accident law. “It’s crucial to ensure adequate coverage to safeguard against costly liabilities in the event of a severe accident. Balancing cost with coverage is key.”

As you look for car insurance, rates are expected to keep climbing. Remember that comparison shopping for the cheapest car insurance is the most effective way to save money on coverage.

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Our editorial team is dedicated to providing insurance shoppers with the most accurate and most current information about insurance trends, insurance products and insurance rates. We adhere to the strictest standards of professional journalism. Our reporting is unbiased and free of any influence. The sole mission of our editorial experts is to give you trusted, accurate, informative content to help you make important insurance decisions

Frequently asked questions

How often should I shop around for car insurance to get the best rate?

Shop around for car insurance every time your auto insurance policy renews. With that, you’ll likely shop around every six or 12 months. 

What should I consider when comparing car insurance quotes?

As you compare quotes, consider the level of coverage available, the insurance company’s financial strength, and customer satisfaction from organizations like the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) or J.D. Power. Also consider CarInsurance.com’s best insurance companies, policy/driver discounts, state availability, claims handling, ease of service, and coverages each insurer offers.

Can I get cheaper car insurance if I’m a student?

Many insurance companies offer discounts to students who get good grades or who live at least 100 miles away from home. A good student discount saves drivers an average of 12.5%.

Resources & Methodology

Sources

  1. Insurance Information Institute “What determines the price of an auto insurance policy?” Accessed December 2024. 
  2. Insurance Information Institute “How much auto coverage do I need?” Accessed December 2024.

Methodology

CarInsurance.com commissioned Quadrant Information Institute to get car insurance rate data. The rates are based on the sample profile of a 40-year-old male and female driver for different coverage limits.

  • Full coverage policy with limits 100/300/100 and a $500 coll/comp deductible.
  • A liability-only policy with limits 50/100/50.
  • Minimum liability policy with state-specific limits.

We have gathered data based on different driving profiles, including-

  • Teen drivers (Age: 16-19)
  • Senior drivers (Age: 65-75)
  • Low mileage drivers
  • Drivers with a DUI
  • Drivers with a speeding ticket
  • Drivers with poor credit score
  • Drivers with an at-fault accident on their record.

To evaluate the data, we have compared 53,409,632 insurance quotes from 170 regional and national insurance carriers across 29,152 cities and 34,588 ZIP codes throughout the nation.

Laura Longero

Ask the Insurance Expert

Laura Longero

Executive Editor

Laura Longero is an insurance expert and Executive Editor at CarInsurance.com, where she specializes in helping consumers navigate the complexities of the financial and insurance industries. She has 15 years of experience educating people about finance and car insurance. Prior to joining CarInsurance.com, she worked as a reporter and editor at the USA Today Network. Her expertise provides readers with practical guidance, helping them make informed choices about their financial and insurance needs.

John McCormick

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John McCormick

Editorial Director

John is the editorial director for CarInsurance.com, Insurance.com and Insure.com. Before joining QuinStreet, John was a deputy editor at The Wall Street Journal and had been an editor and reporter at a number of other media outlets where he covered insurance, personal finance, and technology.

Leslie Kasperowicz

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Leslie Kasperowicz

Executive Editor

Leslie Kasperowicz is an insurance educator and content creation professional with nearly two decades of experience first directly in the insurance industry at Farmers Insurance and then as a writer, researcher, and educator for insurance shoppers writing for sites like ExpertInsuranceReviews.com and InsuranceHotline.com and managing content, now at CarInsurance.com.

Nupur Gambhir

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Nupur Gambhir

Managing Editor

Nupur Gambhir is a content editor and licensed life, health, and disability insurance expert. She has extensive experience bringing brands to life and has built award-nominated campaigns for travel and tech. Her insurance expertise has been featured in Bloomberg News, Forbes Advisor, CNET, Fortune, Slate, Real Simple, Lifehacker, The Financial Gym, and the end-of-life planning service.

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Contributing Researcher

Sarah Sharkey is a personal finance writer with a master’s degree in management from the Hough School of Business at the University of Florida. She enjoys helping readers find money solutions that work. She has written for numerous personal finance publications including Money Under 30 and The College Investor.

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