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Of national insurers, Geico is typically the cheapest car insurance provider with average rates of $38 per month for minimum-liability coverage.
Discover if you are overpaying for car insurance below.
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Key Takeaways:
In this guide, we highlight the cheapest car insurance companies, their rates and cover our top affordable picks in detail. We encourage you to compare car insurance quotes from multiple providers to find the best auto insurance with the lowest prices.
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Nationwide has the cheapest auto insurance rates for full coverage in the United States. However, the provider has limited availability across the country, so we recommend comparing multiple companies for vehicle coverage. For minimum coverage, Geico offers the cheapest car insurance rates.
Because insurance premiums are based on personalized criteria like your location and driving history, the cheapest rate for you will vary. To help you find which provider is the most affordable for you, we’ve summarized the lowest-cost companies by coverage and driving profile:
| Cheap Car Insurance Category | Cheapest Car Insurance Company (Among National Insurers) | Cheapest Car Insurance Rate |
| Minimum Liability | Geico | $38 monthly |
| Full Coverage | Nationwide | $119 monthly |
| After a Speeding Ticket | State Farm | $156 monthly |
| After an Accident | State Farm | $163 monthly |
| After a DUI | State Farm | $183 monthly |
| Poor Credit | Nationwide | $173 monthly |
| Teens | Nationwide* | $403 monthly |
| Young Adults | Nationwide | $139 monthly |
| Senior Drivers | Geico | $112 monthly |
| Military Members | USAA | $126 monthly |
Note: The premium averages cited above include full coverage rate estimates based on a 2022 Toyota Camry driven by a single 35-year-old with a good credit history and clean driving record, unless otherwise stated.
The top 10 cheapest car insurance companies in the United States are:
This list represents the most affordable large providers, and you may find cheaper rates elsewhere with smaller companies. To determine our rankings, we used overall annual average car insurance costs across both minimum and full coverage auto insurance policies gathered by Quadrant Information Services.
Note: *While USAA car insurance is the cheapest overall, it is limited to active-duty military members, veterans and their families.
According to J.D. Power, large insurers are ones that have written $4.5 billion or more in direct premiums for personal auto.
The cheapest large car insurance companies are Nationwide, Geico, State Farm, Travelers and Progressive.
| Cheap Major Car Insurance Company | Cheapest Minimum Liability Car Insurance Rates (Monthly Average) | Cheapest Full Coverage Car Insurance Rates (Monthly Average) | Number of Available Car Insurance Discounts | Visit Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $44 | $119 | 10 | Learn More | |
| $38 | $133 | 12 | Learn More | |
| $44 | $138 | 16 | Learn More | |
| $54 | $133 | 12 | Learn More | |
| $58 | $169 | 13 | Learn More | |
| $32 | $136 | 9 | Learn More |
| Cheap Major Car Insurance Company | Cheapest Minimum Liability Car Insurance Rates (Monthly Average) | Cheapest Full Coverage Car Insurance Rates (Monthly Average) | Number of Available Car Insurance Discounts | Visit Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $44 | $119 | 10 | Learn More | |
| $38 | $133 | 12 | Learn More | |
| $44 | $138 | 16 | Learn More | |
| $54 | $133 | 12 | Learn More | |
| $58 | $169 | 13 | Learn More | |
| $32 | $136 | 9 | Learn More |
Note: The rate estimates above are based on a 2022 Toyota Camry driven by a single 35-year-old with a good credit history and clean driving record.
Read More: Largest Car Insurance Companies
J.D. Power defines midsize insurers as those that have written between $1 and $4.499 billion in direct premiums for personal auto.
The cheapest midsize car insurance companies include Central Insurance, Country Financial, Erie, Auto-Owners and Shelter.
| Cheap Major Car Insurance Company | Cheapest Minimum Liability Car Insurance Rates (Monthly Average) | Cheapest Full Coverage Car Insurance Rates (Monthly Average) | Number of Available Car Insurance Discounts | Policy Availability | Visit Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $20 | $113 | 11 | Available in 24 states | ||
| $30 | $118 | 11 | Available in 19 states | ||
| $33 | $122 | 11 | Available in 12 states | Learn More | |
| $30 | $135 | 12 | Available in 26 states | Learn More | |
| $51 | $171 | 17 | Available in 15 states |
| Cheap Major Car Insurance Company | Cheapest Minimum Liability Car Insurance Rates (Monthly Average) | Cheapest Full Coverage Car Insurance Rates (Monthly Average) | Number of Available Car Insurance Discounts | Policy Availability | Visit Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $20 | $113 | 11 | Available in 24 states | ||
| $30 | $118 | 11 | Available in 19 states | ||
| $33 | $122 | 11 | Available in 12 states | Learn More | |
| $30 | $135 | 12 | Available in 26 states | Learn More | |
| $51 | $171 | 17 | Available in 15 states |
Below, we’ll highlight the cheapest average car insurance rates for both minimum and full coverage insurance.
The cheapest minimum-liability car insurance rates are offered by Geico at an average of $38 monthly or $461 yearly.
| Cheap Car Insurance Company | Cheapest Minimum Liability Car Insurance Rates (Monthly Average) | Cheapest Minimum Liability Car Insurance Rates (Annual Average) |
| 1. Geico | $38 | $461 |
| 2. State Farm | $44 | $523 |
| 3. Nationwide | $44 | $531 |
| 4. Travelers | $54 | $648 |
| 5. Progressive | $58 | $697 |
| USAA** | $32 | $387 |
**USAA car insurance is limited to active-duty military members, veterans and their families.
Read more: Cheapest Liability-Only Car Insurance
Nationwide offers the cheapest full-coverage car insurance in the United States with average rates of $119 monthly or $1,433 yearly.
| Cheap Car Insurance Company | Cheapest Full Coverage Car Insurance Rates (Monthly Average) | Cheapest Full Coverage Car Insurance Rates (Annual Average) |
| 1. Nationwide | $119 | $1,433 |
| 2. Travelers | $133 | $1,595 |
| 3. Geico | $133 | $1,596 |
| 4. State Farm | $138 | $1,657 |
| 5. Progressive | $169 | $2,030 |
| USAA** | $126 | $1,512 |
**USAA car insurance is limited to active-duty military members, veterans and their families.
Read more: Cheapest Full Coverage Car Insurance
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Geico has the cheapest car insurance for most young drivers. However, it has limited availability, and you may be able to find cheaper coverage elsewhere. Keep reading for the cheapest auto insurance rates for teens and the lowest car insurance rates for young adults.
Nationwide offers the cheapest full-coverage car insurance for 16-year-olds at rates of $403 per month or $4,835 per year.
| Car Insurance Company | Monthly Rate Average | Annual Rate Average |
| 1. Nationwide | $403 | $4,835 |
| 2. Geico | $442 | $5,307 |
| 3. Travelers | $453 | $5,436 |
| 4. State Farm | $460 | $5,514 |
| 5. Chubb | $694 | $8,333 |
| USAA** | $536 | $6,431 |
Read more: Cheap Car Insurance For 16-Year-Olds
You can find the cheapest full coverage car insurance for 17-year-olds with Geico with average rates of $304 per month.
| Car Insurance Company | Monthly Rate Average | Annual Rate Average |
| 1. Geico | $304 | $3,646 |
| 2. State Farm | $310 | $3,714 |
| 3. Nationwide | $361 | $4,238 |
| 4. Travelers | $440 | $5,277 |
| 5. Allstate | $567 | $6,804 |
| USAA** | $283 | $3,398 |
**While USAA car insurance was the cheapest in this category, it is limited to active-duty military members, veterans and their families.
Read more: Cheap Car Insurance For 17-Year-Olds
At average rates of $3,161 per year for full coverage, Geico offers the cheapest car insurance for 18-year-olds.
| Car Insurance Company | Monthly Rate Average | Annual Rate Average |
| 1. Geico | $263 | $3,161 |
| 2. State Farm | $278 | $3,340 |
| 3. Nationwide | $344 | $4,132 |
| 4. Travelers | $369 | $4,429 |
| 5. Allstate | $494 | $5,925 |
| USAA** | $241 | $2,897 |
**While USAA car insurance was the cheapest in this category, it is limited to active-duty military members, veterans and their families.
Read more: Cheap Car Insurance For 18-Year-Olds
For 19-year-olds, Geico offers the cheapest average full coverage rates of $207 per month and $2,485 per year.
| Car Insurance Company | Monthly Rate Average | Annual Rate Average |
| 1. Geico | $207 | $2,485 |
| 2. State Farm | $244 | $2,924 |
| 3. Nationwide | $296 | $3,552 |
| 4. Travelers | $298 | $3,570 |
| 5. Allstate | $349 | $4,188 |
| USAA** | $188 | $2,261 |
**While USAA car insurance was the cheapest in this category, it is limited to active-duty military members, veterans and their families.
Read more: Cheap Car Insurance For 19-Year-Old
Geico provides the cheapest full coverage car insurance for 21-year-olds at an average yearly rate of $1,844.
| Car Insurance Company | Monthly Rate Average | Annual Rate Average |
| 1. Geico | $154 | $1,844 |
| 2. Nationwide | $179 | $2,147 |
| 3. State Farm | $194 | $2,322 |
| 4. Travelers | $209 | $2,513 |
| 5. Progressive | $239 | $2,872 |
| USAA** | $134 | $1,609 |
**While USAA car insurance was the cheapest in this category, it is limited to active-duty military members, veterans and their families.
Read more: Cheap Auto Insurance For 21-Year-Olds
Nationwide offers the cheapest full coverage car insurance for 25-year-olds at rates of $139 per month or $1,663 annually.
| Car Insurance Company | Monthly Rate Average | Annual Rate Average |
| 1. Nationwide | $139 | $1,663 |
| 2. Travelers | $141 | $1,694 |
| 3. Geico | $151 | $1,807 |
| 4. State Farm | $163 | $1,952 |
| 5. Progressive | $187 | $2,243 |
| USAA** | $152 | $1,825 |
Read more: Cheap Auto Insurance For 25-Year-Olds
Overall, Geico offers the cheapest car insurance for senior drivers, but if you’re a military member or family of a military member, USAA is cheaper. Below, we’ve broken down the cheapest car insurance for older drivers aged 65 and 75.
For 65-year-old drivers, Geico offers the cheapest full coverage car insurance at an average monthly rate of $102.
| Car Insurance Company | Monthly Rate Average | Annual Rate Average |
| 1. Geico | $102 | $1,227 |
| 2. Nationwide | $105 | $1,263 |
| 3. State Farm | $113 | $1,353 |
| 4. Travelers | $122 | $1,465 |
| 5. Progressive | $131 | $1,566 |
| USAA** | $88 | $1,057 |
**While USAA car insurance was the cheapest in this category, it is limited to active-duty military members, veterans and their families.
For full coverage car insurance for 75-year-olds, Geico offers the cheapest average rates of $1,238 per year or $103 per month.
| Car Insurance Company | Monthly Rate Average | Annual Rate Average |
| 1. Geico | $121 | $1,457 |
| 2. Nationwide | $123 | $1,479 |
| 3. State Farm | $127 | $1,520 |
| 4. Travelers | $146 | $1,754 |
| 5. Progressive | $156 | $1,872 |
| USAA** | $105 | $1,260 |
**USAA car insurance is limited to active-duty military members, veterans and their families.
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Overall, State Farm has the cheapest car insurance for high-risk drivers, such as those with a DUI, accident, bad credit, or speeding ticket, among large insurers. Below, we’ll break down the cheapest rates within high-risk driver profiles to help you find the lowest rate policy for you.
Read More: Best Car Insurance For High-Risk Drivers
State Farm offers the cheapest car insurance for those with a DUI or DWI at average full coverage rates of $183 per month.
| Car Insurance Company | Monthly Rate Average | Annual Rate Average |
| 1. State Farm | $183 | $2,194 |
| 2. Travelers | $185 | $2,218 |
| 3. Progressive | $212 | $2,548 |
| 4. Nationwide | $274 | $3,288 |
| 5. Geico | $303 | $3,641 |
| USAA** | $227 | $2,721 |
The cheapest car insurance for those with an accident within the last 3 years is State Farm with average rates of $1,953 per year for full coverage.
| Car Insurance Company | Monthly Rate Average | Annual Rate Average |
| 1. State Farm | $163 | $1,953 |
| 2. Travelers | $176 | $2,110 |
| 3. Nationwide | $197 | $2,368 |
| 4. Geico | $224 | $2,694 |
| 5. Progressive | $254 | $3,052 |
| USAA** | $182 | $2,187 |
Read More: What Is Accident Forgiveness Coverage?
At average rates of $173 per month or $2,072 per year for full coverage car insurance, Nationwide offers the cheapest rates available for those with bad credit.
| Car Insurance Company | Monthly Rate Average | Annual Rate Average |
| 1. Nationwide | $173 | $2,072 |
| 2. Geico | $216 | $2,592 |
| 3. Travelers | $252 | $3,019 |
| 4. Chubb | $311 | $3,726 |
| 5. Progressive | $331 | $3,977 |
| USAA** | $228 | $2,737 |
Read More: Best Auto Insurance For Bad Credit
State Farm offers the cheapest auto insurance for those with speeding tickets at average annual rates of $1,872.
| Car Insurance Company | Monthly Rate Average | Annual Rate Average |
| 1. State Farm | $156 | $1,872 |
| 2. Nationwide | $157 | $1,878 |
| 3. Travelers | $164 | $1,970 |
| 4. Geico | $178 | $2,137 |
| 5. Progressive | $212 | $2,541 |
| USAA** | $152 | $1,828 |
Read More: Best Speeding Ticket Car Insurance
Depending on the state you live in, the cheapest car insurance rates and their providers vary widely. To help you find the cheapest coverage, we’ll highlight the providers offering the cheapest car insurance rates in each state for minimum and full coverage.
Read More: Car Insurance Rates By State
The table below highlights the cheapest annual minimum liability insurance in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
| State | Cheapest Car Insurance Company* | Cheapest Annual Minimum Liability Rate |
| Alabama | State Farm | $344 |
| Alaska | Geico | $323 |
| Arizona | Auto-Owners | $356 |
| Arkansas | State Farm | $293 |
| California | Geico | $373 |
| Colorado | Southern Farm Bureau | $275 |
| Connecticut | Geico | $445 |
| Delaware | Travelers | $614 |
| Florida | State Farm | $650 |
| Georgia | Country Financial | $373 |
| Hawaii | Geico | $287 |
| Idaho | Geico | $209 |
| Illinois | Pekin Insurance | $268 |
| Indiana | Auto-Owners | $290 |
| Iowa | State Farm | $149 |
| Kansas | Geico | $258 |
| Kentucky | Geico | $429 |
| Louisiana | Southern Farm Bureau | $492 |
| Maine | Auto-Owners | $268 |
| Maryland | Geico | $508 |
| Massachusetts | The Hanover | $424 |
| Michigan | Auto-Owners | $500 |
| Minnesota | State Farm | $351 |
| Mississippi | National General | $304 |
| Missouri | Missouri Farm Bureau | $284 |
| Montana | QBE Insurance | $217 |
| Nebraska | Auto-Owners | $247 |
| Nevada | State Farm | $513 |
| New Hampshire | The Hanover | $220 |
| New Jersey | Geico | $633 |
| New Mexico | Central Insurance | $236 |
| New York | NYCM Insurance | $513 |
| North Carolina | Erie | $307 |
| North Dakota | North Star | $261 |
| Ohio | Erie | $327 |
| Oklahoma | State Farm | $273 |
| Oregon | State Farm | $557 |
| Pennsylvania | Travelers | $249 |
| Rhode Island | Travelers | $593 |
| South Carolina | American National | $225 |
| South Dakota | Farmers Mutual of Nebraska | $216 |
| Tennessee | Auto-Owners | $232 |
| Texas | State Farm | $325 |
| Utah | Geico | $482 |
| Vermont | Union Mutual | $180 |
| Virginia | State Farm | $330 |
| Washington | Pemco Mutual | $283 |
| Washington, D.C. | Chubb Limited | $359 |
| West Virginia | State Farm | $325 |
| Wisconsin | State Farm | $242 |
| Wyoming | Geico | $174 |
**USAA offered the cheapest rates across many states, but since coverage is only available to military members and their families, its cost data is not provided in this table.
Below are the cheapest full-coverage auto insurance rates in each state and Washington, D.C.
| State | Cheapest Car Insurance Company* | Cheapest Full-Coverage Rate (Annual Average) |
| Alabama | Travelers | $1,332 |
| Alaska | Geico | $1,020 |
| Arizona | Geico | $1,173 |
| Arkansas | State Farm | $1,346 |
| California | Mercury Insurance | $1,748 |
| Colorado | Geico | $1,306 |
| Connecticut | Geico | $995 |
| Delaware | Travelers | $1,554 |
| Florida | State Farm | $1,813 |
| Georgia | Auto-Owners | $1,544 |
| Hawaii | Geico | $1,162 |
| Idaho | State Farm | $881 |
| Illinois | Pekin Insurance | $792 |
| Indiana | State Farm | $881 |
| Iowa | Pekin Insurance | $816 |
| Kansas | Geico | $1,263 |
| Kentucky | Geico | $1,583 |
| Louisiana | Southern Farm Bureau | $1,926 |
| Maine | Auto-Owners | $758 |
| Maryland | Geico | $1,245 |
| Massachusetts | Progressive | $1,776 |
| Michigan | Progressive | $2,209 |
| Minnesota | State Farm | $1,340 |
| Mississippi | Progressive | $1,212 |
| Missouri | Travelers | $1,477 |
| Montana | Progressive | $972 |
| Nebraska | Nationwide | $1,332 |
| Nevada | State Farm | $1,376 |
| New Hampshire | Auto-Owners | $833 |
| New Jersey | Geico | $1,472 |
| New Mexico | Central Insurance | $1,358 |
| New York | Progressive | $1,302 |
| North Carolina | Erie | $1,043 |
| North Dakota | American Family | $1,401 |
| Ohio | Nationwide | $825 |
| Oklahoma | State Farm | $1,502 |
| Oregon | State Farm | $1,210 |
| Pennsylvania | Travelers | $907 |
| Rhode Island | Travelers | $1,806 |
| South Carolina | American National | $783 |
| South Dakota | Farmers Mutual of Nebraska | $1,657 |
| Tennessee | State Farm | $1,223 |
| Texas | Texas Farm Bureau | $1,205 |
| Utah | Geico | $1,129 |
| Vermont | Union Mutual | $708 |
| Virginia | State Farm | $1,185 |
| Washington | Geico | $1,304 |
| Washington, D.C. | Geico | $1,579 |
| West Virginia | Nationwide | $1,242 |
| Wisconsin | Geico | $1,059 |
| Wyoming | American National | $918 |
**USAA offered the cheapest rates across many states, but since coverage is only available to members of the military community, its cost data is not provided in this table.
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Below are thorough reviews of our top recommendations for the best cheap car insurance companies among large and midsize insurers. These rankings are based on average overall rates and our company rankings in our study of 130 providers.
Auto insurance companies take several factors into account when determining your rate. To get the best deal on auto insurance, we recommend comparing quotes online and searching for companies offering discounts that you’re eligible for.
There are three methods for buying car insurance: contacting a local agent, purchasing through an independent broker or getting quotes from an online portal. In most cases, the process will end with talking to an agent to finalize the deal. You’ll need personal information like your address, a vehicle description (make, model and year) and your desired coverage level in mind.
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Most companies provide an array of car insurance discounts for drivers. The table below shows which car insurance discounts some of the top-rated insurers offer, which we’ll explain in further detail below:
| Car Insurance Discount | Erie Insurance | USAA | Nationwide | Geico | Auto-Owners |
| Multi-policy | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Multi-vehicle | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Good driver | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Student | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Teen driver | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| Defensive driving | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Driver training | ✔ | ✔ | |||
| New vehicle | ✔ | ✔ | |||
| Car safety equipment | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Loyalty | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| Military | ✔ | ✔ |
Below is a further breakdown of the most common car insurance discounts:
There are many things to consider when looking for the cheapest car insurance:
Read More: How To Save On Car Insurance
Though switching car insurance companies is a good way to find cheaper car insurance, it’s not always the most convenient. Below, we detail ways you can lower your car insurance rate with your current company when searching for a new policy:
| Way Lower Auto Insurance | How it Helps You Get Cheaper Coverage |
| 1. Try usage-based programs | Usage-based programs track your mileage and/or safe driving habits through an app, plug-in device or Bluetooth beacon. They can offer sign-up discounts and deductions for good driving up to 40%. Bad driving typically doesn’t raise auto insurance premiums. |
| 2. Pay your premium annually or biannually | Most providers offer annual, biannual or monthly payment options. In addition, some providers give discounts for paying in full for the entire year or every six months. |
| 3. Review your coverage regularly | When it’s time to renew, review your policy to find areas where you can adjust your coverage to better fit your needs. You can also compare quotes to ensure you’re getting a good rate. |
| 4. Capitalize on major life changes | You may find different rates if you get married, send a student off to college, buy a home or have another major life change. |
| 5. Improve your driver profile | Good drivers are less likely to file claims, and insurance companies reward safe drivers with clean records by offering them lower rates. You can improve your driver profile by taking a driver safety course. |
| 6. Improve your credit score | Since most states allow credit-based insurance scoring, you can lower your rates over time if you improve your credit score. |
| 7. Drive a vehicle that costs less to insure | Some models are more expensive to insure than others, so when shopping for a car, take into account how much it will cost to insure the vehicles you’re interested in. |
| 8. Increase your deductible | Choosing a higher car insurance deductible for a policy can help you save money on your policy. Determine if you can afford out-of-pocket costs if an accident happens before making this call. |
| 9. Opt for less coverage | While there is more risk in choosing less coverage, buying a lower-level policy can help you save. We recommend you review your driving habits, state requirements and financial situation before downgrading your desired coverage. |
Read More: Cheapest Cars To Insure, Most Expensive Cars To Insure
When a lender is determining your rates, they consider a large range of factors. Below, we go over how each factor affects your rates so you can see where your quote may stand and where you need to improve to get cheaper rates
These are the factors that affect car insurance costs. Keep in mind that factors may vary by state:
While cheap car insurance seems attractive, there are risks to choosing low-cost policies. Below, we’ve summarized key considerations as you shop around for affordable auto insurance policies:
| Risk To Getting Cheap Car Insurance | Risk Details |
| Cheap policies often come with higher deductibles | While monthly premiums have low costs, you may not be able to pay the deductible if an accident does occur. |
| Cheaper policies may have less protection | The cheapest policies typically only come with liability protections. If other damages and repairs are needed to be paid, you may not be able to pay out of pocket. |
| Customer service quality may be lower | If policies are abnormally cheap, typically, a company cuts costs elsewhere. This may mean weaker customer service, which slows response times, claims processes and more. |
| A company may not be able to pay out claims | Especially with smaller companies, make sure your insurer is financially able to pay out claims. While its rates may be low, this may mean is isn’t covering costs. |
| Cheaper policies may leave you underinsured | Depending on your state, you may be underinsured depending on the policy you choose. Make sure the plan you choose covers you up to state requirements. |
As a reminder, here are our top 10 choices for cheap auto insurance:
All rates are averages derived from both full coverage and minimum liability cost quotes from Quadrant Information Services to get an overall company cost estimate.
We reviewed the cheapest car insurance rates, companies and quotes based on a variety of determining price factors. Since prices depend on so many factors, keep in mind that cheap auto insurance looks different for each driver.
Note: *While USAA car insurance is the cheapest overall, it is limited to active-duty military members, veterans and their families.
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Below are commonly asked questions about the cheapest car insurance companies, coverage policies, rates and quotes:
Based on our cost estimates, Nationwide has the cheapest car insurance overall with rates of $119 per month for full coverage. For minimum coverage, its average rates are $44 per month.
Our cost analysis shows the cheapest midsize company for full-coverage vehicle insurance is Central Insurance at rates of $1,358 per year. Among large insurers, Nationwide offers the cheapest full coverage at $1,433 per year.
Among midsize insurers, Central Insurance is the cheapest minimum coverage car insurance company with average rates of $236 per year. For those eligible, USAA offers the cheapest minimum coverage among large insurers at a yearly average premium of $387. For most drivers, Geico is cheapest, at $461 a year on average.
The cheapest overall full coverage car insurance rates for teens starts at an average of $3,180 a year from Central Insurance. If the company is not available in your state, Nationwide offers the lowest rates of $4,836 per year.
Nationwide offers the lowest full coverage car insurance rates among larger insurers for young adults and costs $139 a month on average. For mid-size insurers, Central Insurance offers the lowest rates of $131 per month on average.
Geico and Acuity have the cheapest full-coverage car insurance for Seniors. Acuity has the lowest average rate of $107 per month, but if it isn’t in your area, Geico has a rate of $112 per month on average.
Country Financial has average rates of $1,980 per year for high-risk drivers, making it the cheapest car insurance for this group among midsize insurers. Among more widely available companies, State Farm is the cheapest overall, with rates averaging $2,631 per year.
USAA offers the lowest overall rates for military members at an average rate of $126 per month for full coverage. If you have availability in your area, Central insurance offers cheaper rates of $113 per month on average.
State minimum car insurance coverage is generally the cheapest plan for car insurance. However, it only covers other people, their passengers and their property in an accident. This means that if you’re injured in an accident that you cause, your medical bills and vehicle damage aren’t covered. If you want more protection on the road, consider purchasing a full-coverage plan, which includes comprehensive, collision and liability car insurance.
You don’t have to be concerned about your credit score when getting cheap car insurance quotes. In states where credit is a factor in determining rates, car insurance companies check your credit with a soft inquiry, which doesn’t affect your score. This is different from a hard inquiry that a bank or lender would do if you were applying for a loan.
Auto insurers use more than a dozen individual rating factors to price your policy, so there are a variety of ways to lower the cost of car insurance. Compare quotes and discounts from at least three different companies and research what the right amount of coverage is for your needs. You can also try usage-based insurance options if you’re a good driver who doesn’t put many miles on your vehicle.
With cheap car insurance (such as a liability-only policy) you can still use whatever standard services the company offers, such as mobile ID cards and digital apps. However, you’ll be taking on more risk if you don’t have collision or comprehensive insurance to pay for damage to your car when you cause an accident. Some companies also require you to have full coverage to qualify for special programs like accident forgiveness or roadside assistance.
We recommend having full-coverage car insurance. Full coverage includes comprehensive coverage and collision coverage, which cover repairs to your car if you cause an accident or crash into an object. If you don’t drive very often, having a pay-per-mile plan may be your cheapest option. Talk to an agent or review plans online to ensure you’re getting what’s best for you.
Minimum liability car insurance policies cover medical bills and property damage for other people in accidents you cause, but they can leave you financially vulnerable to an at-fault accident. Full-coverage car insurance includes collision coverage, which repairs damage to your car when you cause an accident or strike a stationary object. Comprehensive insurance covers damages from theft, vandalism, fire, severe weather or other non-collision incidents such as a cracked windshield.
You need car insurance to drive a car off the lot after purchase. Reputable dealers won’t allow you to leave until you provide proof of insurance. If you have a current policy, you’ll be protected for a brief period until you can provide your agent or insurer with your new vehicle information.
If you don’t have insurance, you’ll need to secure a policy before you complete the vehicle purchase transaction. You can get an endorsement from a major provider within hours of applying for coverage. Make sure you know what you need to have to be driving legally. Ask an insurance agent or search online to get the information you need.
Insurance usually follows the car, so the insurance of the car you’re driving would be used in the event of an accident. If the insurance on your car has better coverage than the car you’re borrowing, then it would cover any gaps in coverage. Compare coverage before borrowing a friend’s or loved one’s car. If you’re renting a car, your insurance coverage will usually cover that vehicle, as well.
If you’re looking for other insurance coverage, we’ve provided our reviews of our top picks along with supporting cost information to assist your search:
| Insurance Category | Best Companies | Cheapest Companies | Average Insurance Cost |
| Home Insurance | Best Home Insurance Companies | Cheapest Home Insurance Companies | Home Insurance Cost |
| Renters Insurance | Best Renters Insurance Companies | Cheapest Renters Insurance Companies | Renters Insurance Cost |
| Life Insurance | Cheapest Life Insurance Companies | Best Life Insurance Companies | Term Life Insurance Cost; Whole Life Insurance Cost |
| Pet Insurance | Best Pet Insurance Companies | Cheapest Pet Insurance Companies | Pet Insurance Cost |
| Motorcycle Insurance | Best Motorcycle Insurance Companies | Cheapest Motorycycle Insurance Companies | Motorcycle Insurance Cost |
| RV Insurance | Best RV Insurance Companies | Cheapest RV Insurance Companies | RV Insurance Cost |
| Boat Insurance | Best Boat Insurance Companies | Cheapest Boat Insurance Companies | Boat Insurance Cost |
| Travel Insurance | Best Travel Insurance Companies | Cheapest Travel Insurance Companies | Travel Insurance Cost |
Because consumers rely on us to provide objective and accurate information, we created a comprehensive rating system to formulate our rankings of the best car insurance companies. We collected data on dozens of auto insurance providers to grade the companies on a wide range of ranking factors. The end result was an overall rating for each provider, with the insurers that scored the most points topping the list.
Here are the factors our ratings take into account:
Our credentials:
*Data accurate at time of publication.
