Nationwide and Geico have the cheapest auto insurance rates in 2024 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 for tips on finding an affordable car insurance policy.
- 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.
Cheapest car insurance company for you
-
Nationwide$129 per month; $1,548 a year
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Geico$47 per month; $560 a year
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Geico$34 per month; $405 a year
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Travelers$403 per month; $4,834 a year
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Nationwide$121 per month; $1,456 a year
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Nationwide$188 per month; $2,259 a year
-
State Farm$193 per month; $2,321 year
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Progressive$225 per month; $2,707 a year
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State Farm$203 per month: $2,436 a year
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Travelers$125 per month; $1,499 a year
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.
| Company | Good credit | Bad credit | Percent increase | Dollar 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.
| Company | Average rate | Average rate with a speeding ticket | Percent increase | Dollar 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.
| Company | Average rate | Average rate after a DUI | Percent increase | Dollar 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.
| Company | Average rate | Average rate after an at-fault accident claim | Percent increase | Dollar 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.
| Company | Average rate for male drivers | Average rate for female 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.
| Company | Average rate for male drivers | Average rate for female 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.
| Company | Average 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.
Select your state below to see the cheapest company and its average annual and monthly rates for full coverage.
Note: USAA is only available to military community members and their families.
- Alaska (AK)
- Alabama (AL)
- Arizona (AZ)
- Arkansas (AR)
- California (CA)
- Colorado (CO)
- Connecticut (CT)
- Delaware (DE)
- Florida (FL)
- Georgia (GA)
- Hawaii (HI)
- Idaho (ID)
- Illinois (IL)
- Indiana (IN)
- Iowa (IA)
- Kansas (KS)
- Kentucky (KY)
- Louisiana (LA)
- Maine (ME)
- Maryland (MD)
- Massachusetts (MA)
- Michigan (MI)
- Minnesota (MN)
- Mississippi (MS)
- Missouri (MO)
- Montana (MT)
- Nebraska (NE)
- Nevada (NV)
- New Hampshire (NH)
- New Mexico (NM)
- New York (NY)
- New Jersey (NJ)
- North Carolina (NC)
- North Dakota (ND)
- Ohio (OH)
- Oklahoma (OK)
- Oregon (OR)
- Pennsylvania (PA)
- Rhode Island (RI)
- South Carolina (SC)
- South Dakota (SD)
- Tennessee (TN)
- Texas (TX)
- Utah (UT)
- Vermont (VT)
- Virginia (VA)
- Washington (WA)
- Washington D.C. (DC)
- West Virginia (WV)
- Wisconsin (WI)
- Wyoming (WY)
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
Affordable car insurance for drivers with full coverage
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.
| Company | Full 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.
| Company | Liability-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.
| Company | State 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
| 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
Given that 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.
Why you can trust us: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
Resources & Methodology
Methodology
CarInsurance.com commissioned Quadrant Information Institute in 2023 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.
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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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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.
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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.
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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.