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- GEICO often has the cheapest car insurance rates, but not always.
- The cheapest average annual rate for car insurance we found was $324 per year, or $27 per month.
- State Farm may be the cheapest provider for drivers with speeding tickets and other violations.
The provider that offers the cheapest car insurance for you depends on where you live, how you drive, who you are, and other factors. While we found that GEICO offers the most affordable estimates for many drivers in many places, the one that has the lowest premiums for you could vary.
Our research team pulled cost estimates for a variety of drivers and locations from some of the best car insurance companies, both national and regional. You’ll find those estimates and tips for finding cheap rates in the following article. We also profiled a few top insurers that offer affordable coverage to help you find the right provider for you.
The Cheapest Car Insurance
GEICO* has the lowest national average rate estimate for a minimum coverage policy at $468 per year, or $39 per month**. However, another provider may offer you better rates depending on your situation.
Cheapest Auto Insurance Providers: At a Glance
In the following sections, we’ll go into detail about rates and providers for drivers in different scenarios. You’ll find the cheapest national provider and its estimate for drivers in several different categories in the list below.
- Cheapest overall: GEICO at $39 per month*
- Cheapest for drivers with an accident: State Farm at $157 per month
- Cheapest for drivers with a speeding ticket: State Farm at $150 per month
- Cheapest for seniors: Erie Insurance at $102 per month
- Cheapest for drivers with a DUI: Nationwide at $239 per month
- Cheapest for drivers with poor credit: GEICO at $173 per month
- Cheapest for military members and their families: USAA at $28 per month
*While USAA technically offers the cheapest average rate estimate, the company’s coverage is only available to military members, veterans, and select family members. Some regional providers may offer cheaper rates in select areas. GEICO has the cheapest rate estimates among companies available to anyone nationwide.
**These estimates are based on a standardized profile of a 35-year-old driver with good credit and a clean driving record. All estimates that appear in this article use the same profile unless otherwise noted.
Cheapest Car Insurance by Coverage Type
Cheapest Car Insurance by State
Cheapest Car Insurance by Age
Cheapest Car Insurance by Risk Category
Best Cheap Car Insurance Companies
Car Insurance Costs
Auto coverage premiums are tailored to individual policies. While one provider may offer low-cost insurance to a friend or neighbor, they might have higher rates for you. This variation is why it’s always a good idea to get car insurance quotes from a few providers and compare before making a decision.
Car Insurance Cost Factors
Here are some of the factors that can affect your car insurance premiums:
- Car: The age, type, and price of your vehicle can influence the cost of your premium.
- Age: Teen drivers and senior citizens usually pay the most for car insurance. Rates for middle-aged drivers tend to be lower.
- Credit score: Your credit history plays a role in the cost of your insurance. The higher your score, the lower your premiums.
- Coverage choices: Policies that only satisfy minimum coverage requirements will typically have the lowest rates. Adding personal property and injury coverage or policy add-ons will increase your rates.
- Coverage limits: Setting lower coverage limits typically gets you cheaper car insurance, but it also increases your risk of personal financial liability.
- Driving history: If you have recent accidents, speeding tickets, or other violations on your driving record, you’ll have to pay more for car insurance. Drivers with a clean driving record have access to the lowest rates.
- Deductible: Setting a low deductible means your out-of-pocket costs will be low when you need to file an insurance claim, but the lower your deductible is, the higher your premium is likely to be.
- Location: Average car insurance premiums vary from state to state, but auto insurance rates can also vary depending on your ZIP code. If you live in a rural area, you will likely pay less than you would in a city.
Auto Insurance Discounts
Many providers offer discounts that can substantially reduce your rates, but not all providers offer the same opportunities. These are some of the most common discounts available from auto insurers:
- Multi-policy discount: Also called a bundling discount, companies that offer multiple kinds of insurance typically offer discounts for combining your auto policy with other products like homeowners, renters, or life insurance.
- Multi-car discount: You can often get a discount for insuring more than one car under the same policy.
- Anti-theft discount: Insurers tend to offer discounts for having car alarms and other anti-theft devices installed on your vehicle.
- Good student discount: Some companies reward students who maintain good grades in school with an auto insurance discount.
- Safety equipment discount: You can sometimes get a discount for having safety features like additional airbags and anti-lock brakes installed on your car.
- Affinity discount: Some insurers offer discounts to members of groups like the U.S. military, government workers, and more.
- Paperless discount: Policyholders can often get a small discount for switching from getting paper bills in the mail to getting them digitally only.
Car Insurance Coverage
Unless you live in New Hampshire or Virginia, you’re required to carry car insurance. The types of coverage and the amount of coverage required vary from state to state. Usually, this is some combination of liability coverage, personal injury protection, and uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, but some states require additional coverage.
You can always opt for more coverage. But if you want to find the cheapest car insurance, you’ll want to look for a policy that only satisfies your state’s minimum coverage requirements.
Standard Coverage Options
These are the standard insurance options you’ll find at every provider:
- Bodily injury liability insurance: Covers medical expenses and lost wages for others involved in an accident you caused.
- Property damage liability insurance: Covers damages to others’ vehicles and personal property in an accident for which you are found at fault.
- Uninsured motorist/underinsured motorist insurance: Covers your damages and costs related to injuries in an accident in which the at-fault driver does not have sufficient insurance coverage.
- Personal injury protection (PIP): Also known as “no-fault” insurance, PIP covers you and your passengers’ medical expenses and lost wages regardless of who is found at fault for the accident.
- Medical payments (MedPay): Covers only medical expenses for you and your passengers, regardless of who is found at fault for an accident.
- Collision coverage: Covers damages to your vehicle regardless of who caused the accident.
- Comprehensive coverage: Covers damages to your vehicle that aren’t related to car accidents, such as treefall, extreme weather, and civil unrest.
How To Get Cheaper Car Insurance
While some things about your driver profile are out of your control, there are some things you can do to try to get cheap auto insurance.
Shop Around
One of the most immediate ways to get cheaper coverage is simply to shop around for car insurance. This may take a little extra time – and may result in a few extra marketing calls and emails – but it’s more than worth it. You might be surprised at how much quotes vary between providers for the exact same driver profile.
These days, it’s easy to get free quotes online from multiple providers with just a little bit of information and a few minutes of your time. Doing so allows you to compare rates and find the cheapest auto insurance available to you right now.
Look For Car Insurance Discounts
Almost every provider offers at least a few discounts you can apply to your car insurance policy. Some of these are more general, while others are targeted toward specific drivers. You can find a list of a provider’s discounts on their website (or in our reviews), but since the availability of discounts may vary, it’s always a good move to ask a local insurance agent which discounts you can use.
Consider Your Coverage Choices
Experts generally agree that it’s a good idea to have a full coverage policy. While the definition of “full coverage” varies somewhat, in general, it refers to a policy that includes coverage for your property and medical expenses in addition to liability coverage.
However, if you’re looking to get the cheapest car insurance, it’s worth considering what coverage you need and what you can live without. For example, if you have an older, less-expensive car you may not need the same coverage levels and limits as you would for a brand-new vehicle.
Increase Your Deductible
The amount of your deductible is one of the key factors in the cost of your premiums. The lower it is, the less you’ll have to pay out of pocket toward a claim, but the more you’ll have to pay for coverage.
Increasing your deductible is an immediate way to get cheaper rates, but it does put you at some financial risk. Be realistic about what you can afford to pay in the event of an unexpected covered loss and consider raising your deductible to the maximum amount you’re comfortable with.
Check Out Regional Providers
For the purpose of this article, we focused mainly on providers that offer coverage nationwide. However, in many places, the cheapest auto insurance companies were smaller providers that only serve specific states or regions.
Don’t overlook these smaller providers. Many offer similar options, discounts, and customer service as their national competitors – sometimes at cheaper rates.
Try Usage-Based Insurance
Many providers now offer usage-based insurance, which charges you by the mile rather than a flat premium. People who don’t drive much are likely to see lower rates on their coverage. This may be a good option if you live in a walkable area, work from home, or otherwise don’t need to drive much.
Consider a Telematics Program
These days, most car insurance companies have mobile app-based programs that monitor your driving habits and report them back to the company. If you practice good driving habits, you’ll see your premiums go down. Many companies even give an immediate discount simply for signing up for their telematics program.
However, you should be realistic about your own driving habits and make sure you understand which behaviors factor into your rates. If you practice habits that your insurer deems unsafe, you could also see your rates go up. Some companies penalize drivers for things like driving at night, which may be necessary depending on your life and work patterns.
It’s also worth considering whether or not you want to hand over that much data to your insurance company.
Enroll in a Safe Driving Course
Several insurers in our study offer discounts for completing a defensive driving class approved by the company or state agencies. Typically called a good driver or safe driver discount, the savings on your policy tend to outweigh the cost of a course. Brushing up on safe driving habits can also help you avoid accidents and violations that cause your rates to go up.
Improve Your Credit Score
This isn’t a quick fix, as repairing your credit score takes a long time. However, if you live in a state where your insurer is legally allowed to use your credit rating as a factor in your premiums, you likely pay substantially more for coverage if you have a poor or even fair credit score.
Make sure to pay your bills on time and work towards paying down your credit card and other loan balances. In time, a consistent history of good credit habits will bring your score up and your premiums down.
Cheapest Car Insurance: Conclusion
The cheapest car insurance will almost always be a minimum liability policy. The cheapest rate we saw for a minimum coverage policy available nationwide to all drivers was $39 per month from GEICO.
However, several regional providers such as The Grange and Erie Insurance offered even lower rate estimates in the areas they serve. USAA also has cheaper premium estimates but is only available to military personnel, veterans, and select family members.
Most insurance experts recommend getting a full coverage policy that includes collision, comprehensive, and personal injury coverages. Depending on your driver profile, you may find full coverage policies that are relatively affordable and greatly reduce your financial risk.
While there are several tactics you can use to try to get cheaper coverage, the single best course of action is to get auto insurance quotes from several providers and compare them. That way you’ll know exactly which company offers you the cheapest car insurance.
Cheapest Car Insurance: FAQ
Who normally has the cheapest car insurance?
On average, GEICO and State Farm normally offer the cheapest car insurance coverage that’s available to everyone, according to our research. USAA has lower average rates, but it is only available to military members, veterans, and their families. Some regional providers offer lower rates in the limited areas they serve.
Why is my car insurance rate so high?
If your car insurance rate is high, it could be for a number of reasons. Factors that affect the cost of your insurance include your age, driving history, credit score, and location. In addition, car insurance rates have gone up across the board in recent years.
What is the cheapest level of car insurance?
The cheapest car insurance will almost always be your state’s minimum required coverage. This typically includes bodily injury and property damage liability insurance. Some states require additional insurance, such as uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.
Is GEICO really cheap?
GEICO is really cheap for many drivers in many different places. Throughout our study, GEICO had among the lowest estimated rates in most markets.
Is GEICO cheaper than Liberty Mutual?
In most cases, GEICO is cheaper than Liberty Mutual for car insurance. While Liberty Mutual insurance rates are often competitive, GEICO is consistently among the cheapest providers in most markets.
Why are GEICO rates so low?
One of the reasons GEICO rates are so low is that the company is a direct provider, meaning it administers its coverage and claims directly. Many companies use a third-party company to administer their auto insurance policies, which adds cost.
How can I reduce my car insurance?
You can reduce your car insurance costs immediately by cutting back on coverages and coverage limits, increasing your deductible, and applying any discounts available. You can also enroll in a defensive driving course, try a telematics program, or switch to usage-based insurance. When it’s time to sign up for a new policy, the best way to reduce your car insurance premium is to shop around by getting and comparing quotes from multiple providers.
What age has the cheapest car insurance?
Drivers between the ages of 35 and 65 typically have access to the cheapest car insurance. Teen drivers tend to pay the highest rates, with premiums going down as they get older. Some insurers charge slightly higher rates to senior drivers.
What type of car insurance is cheapest?
Minimum coverage policies will almost always be the cheapest type of car insurance. These policies only satisfy state minimum requirements and typically offer only liability coverage and, in some cases, personal injury coverage. While they are typically cheaper than full coverage policies, they also expose you to greater financial risk.
Our Methodology
Our expert review team takes satisfaction in providing accurate and unbiased information. We identified the following rating categories based on consumer survey data and conducted extensive research to formulate rankings of the best car insurance providers.
- Affordability: A variety of factors influence cost, so it can be difficult to compare quotes between providers. Our team considers auto insurance rate estimates generated by Quadrant Information Services and discount opportunities when giving this score.
- Coverage: Because each consumer has unique needs, it’s essential that a car insurance company offers an array of coverage options. We take into account types of insurance available, maximum coverage limits, and add-on policies.
- Industry Standing: Our team considers Better Business Bureau (BBB) ratings, financial strength, and years in business when giving this score.
- Availability: Auto insurers with greater state availability and few eligibility requirements are more likely to meet consumer needs.
- Customer Service: Reputable car insurance providers operate with a certain degree of care for consumers. We consider complaints filed with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), J.D. Power claims servicing scores, and customer feedback.
- Online Experience: Insurers with easy-to-use websites and highly rated mobile apps scored best in this category.
