Insurance company	Average monthly cost of full coverage	Average annual cost of full coverage
Clearcover	$169	$2,028
Commonwealth	$188	$2,260
GEICO	$113	$1,356
Kemper/Infinity	$177	$2,112
MAPFRE	$151	$1,807
Mercury	$181	$2,188
Nationwide	$143	$1,712
National General	$159	$1,908
Progressive	$152	$1,824
Safeco	$176	$2,115
State Farm	$123	$1,477

Savings 101: How to find cheap car insurance

Compare quotes: Always get car insurance quotes from at least three different insurers before you settle on a policy. Each provider uses a unique algorithm to calculate car insurance rates.

Understand what you’re paying for: Minimum coverage will give you the lowest possible rates, but most drivers actually need full coverage. Know the difference—and which you need.

Find car insurance discounts: You could qualify for a discounted rate by bundling homeowners or renters and auto coverage, maintaining a B average or better, or just by paying your bill (on time!) via electronic funds transfer (EFT).

If you still can’t afford coverage: High-risk drivers and low-income drivers may struggle to find affordable car insurance coverage. Non-standard insurance companies and state programs can help.

10 essential insurance hacks for 2023

The cheapest car insurance in your state might be from a smaller or non-standard insurance company

Cheapest state for car insurance: Maine

Average minimum coverage premium: $800 per year

Average full coverage premium: $992 per year

Find cheap car insurance in Maine

Most expensive state for car insurance: Louisiana

Average minimum coverage premium: $1,638 per year

Average full coverage premium: $2,791 per year

Find cheap car insurance in Louisiana

Although big insurers like GEICO and State Farm claim to have the lowest rates, many drivers actually find cheaper car insurance with small regional companies or non-standard insurance companies like Kemper/Infinity, MAPFRE, or National General.

Look for a low-cost policy from one of the cheap car insurance companies in the table below.

State	Cheapest insurance company	Average annual rate
Alabama	Infinity	$1,124
Alaska	Progressive	$1,497
Arizona	MAPFRE	$939
Arkansas	National General	$1,102
California	Infinity	$1,435
Colorado	Aspire Advantage	$814
Connecticut	Kemper	$1,421
Delaware	Infinity	$1,080
District of Columbia	Clearcover	$1,625
Florida	Commonwealth	$1,645
Georgia	Commonwealth	$1,508
Hawaii	Gainsco	$1,676
Idaho	National General	$1,106
Illinois	Allstate	$1,462
Indiana	National General	$1,105
Iowa	Kemper	$1,153
Kansas	Kemper	$1,179
Kentucky	National General	$931
Louisiana	AAA	$1,618
Maine	Nationwide	$1,203
Maryland	Plymouth Rock	$1,253
Massachusetts	Clearcover	$1,397
Michigan	Mercury	$752
Minnesota	Kemper	$1,113
Mississippi	Mercury	$1,264
Missouri	National General	$748
Montana	Clearcover	$812
Nebraska	Gainsco	$852
Nevada	MAPFRE	$1,130
New Hampshire	Clearcover	$852
New Jersey	Dairyland	$840
New Mexico	Electric	$1,183
New York	Anchor General	$1,510
North Carolina	Aspire Advantage	$1,191
North Dakota	Clearcover	$970
Ohio	Grange	$888
Oklahoma	Commonwealth	$734
Oregon	Encompass	$1,011
Pennsylvania	Kemper	$1,547
Rhode Island	AAA	$1,106
South Carolina	Commonwealth	$1,084
South Dakota	Dairyland	$903
Tennessee	AAA	$1,106
Texas	The General	$1,121
Utah	Aspire Advantage	$836
Vermont	National General	$813
Virginia	Infinity	$1,051
Washington	Safeco	$1,675
West Virginia	Commonwealth	$1,381
Wisconsin	Infinity	$980
Wyoming	The General	$893

Find cheap car insurance in your state

Download the Jerry app to compare rates from the best car insurance companies near you.

Cheap car insurance after an accident

Average rate increase after an at-fault accident: 48%

Cheapest insurance company after an at-fault accident: Erie

Most expensive insurance company after an at-fault accident: GEICO

If you cause a car accident, you can expect your rate to go up at your next policy renewal. Some companies raise rates more than others after an accident—if you’re worried about a rate hike, consider switching to a more lenient insurer.

Insurance company	Average % increase after an at-fault accident
GEICO	64%
Progressive	53%
Allstate	49%
Nationwide	48%
Farmers	46%
AAA	45%
USAA	41%
Travelers	35%
State Farm	31%
Erie	29%

Cheap car insurance with a bad record

Finding affordable car insurance with a spotty driving record can be a serious challenge.

Speeding tickets	DUIs
Average rate increase after a speeding ticket: 24.6% Cheapest insurance company after a speeding ticket: Allstate Most expensive insurance company after a speeding ticket: Progressive Cheapest state after a speeding ticket: Texas Most expensive state after a speeding ticket: New Jersey	Average rate increase after a first DUI: 81% Cheapest insurance company after a DUI: Progressive Most expensive insurance company after a DUI: GEICO Cheapest state after a DUI: Missouri Most expensive state after a DUI: North Carolina

If you have new violations on your driving record, keep in mind:

Rates will go up at renewal: Your insurance company won’t raise your premium right away—but when your policy is up for renewal, they’ll add a surcharge to your rate to account for the higher risk.

Surcharges typically last three to five years: Depending on the severity of your violation, you can expect to see your rates drop again three to five years after the original surcharge.

You may lose discounts: If you had a safe driving discount from your insurer based on a clean driving record, you might see an extra increase in your premium to account for the lost discount.

Find cheap car insurance with a spotty record

Taking a defensive driving course can help lower your rate after violations in most states. Ask your insurer about defensive driving discounts before you find a course.

Cheap car insurance for young drivers

Regardless of your driving history, you’re likely to pay a higher rate for insurance until you reach age 25. The table below compares average rates for drivers under 25.

Teen drivers are the most expensive group to insure, thanks to a fatal crash rate almost three times the rate for older drivers. Because they’re still getting used to driving, very young drivers pose a high risk to insurers.

The cheapest insurance companies for teen drivers

Find cheap car insurance under age 25

Most insurers offer a good student discount to drivers enrolled full time in high school or college who maintain a B average or better.

Cheap car insurance with poor credit

On average, a car insurance policy costs 90% more with poor credit than with excellent credit.

When it comes to your credit score, where you live matters more than which insurance company you work with. While most insurers evaluate credit the same way, states show huge differences in how credit affects your insurance rates—and in some states, it’s illegal for insurance companies to use your credit score to calculate your premium.

States which restrict insurers from using credit history to set rates: California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Michigan, Washington

The state where credit has the least effect on car insurance rates: North Carolina

The state where credit has the most effect on car insurance rates: Wisconsin

State	Average rate increase (poor credit vs. excellent)
North Carolina	44%
Nevada	59%
New Mexico	62%
Alaska	62%
Montana	68%
Maryland	70%
Florida	73%
Wyoming	76%
Kansas	76%
Indiana	77%
Pennsylvania	77%
Oklahoma	78%
Iowa	81%
Vermont	81%
Georgia	82%
Oregon	82%
Idaho	83%
West Virginia	83%
District of Columbia	84%
Rhode Island	87%
Illinois	87%
Delaware	88%
Alabama	89%
Missouri	90%
Ohio	91%
Maine	92%
Mississippi	92%
South Carolina	93%
Colorado	93%
Texas	93%
Virginia	94%
Kentucky	95%
Louisiana	97%
Utah	101%
North Dakota	102%
Connecticut	103%
Nebraska	105%
Arkansas	105%
Tennessee	105%
Minnesota	111%
South Dakota	113%
New Hampshire	117%
New York	117%
New Jersey	118%
Arizona	122%
Wisconsin	172%

Find cheap car insurance with bad credit

The next time your policy’s up for renewal, evaluate your credit score and try to pay off your bills on time. Moving a few points up from average to good credit could earn you a rate drop!

Cheap car insurance for rideshare drivers

Average cost to add a rideshare endorsement to an existing policy: $28 per month

The cheapest insurance company for rideshare drivers: Mercury or Allstate

Major insurers without rideshare insurance: GEICO, Nationwide

If you drive for a rideshare company like Uber or Lyft, having a cheap endorsement on your personal auto policy is essential. But many major insurers are still wary of rideshare companies. Look for a company like Mercury or Allstate with transparent coverage options and affordable auto insurance rates for rideshare drivers.

Find cheap rideshare insurance

Never start driving for a rideshare company without disclosing it to your insurance company. While you might avoid paying for an endorsement in the short term, you risk denied claims and a canceled policy when your insurer finds out.

How to get expert help finding cheaper auto insurance

If you’re struggling to find cheap car insurance quotes, working with an independent insurance broker can help you pin down the cheapest rates from the best auto insurance companies in your area.

Jerry is an independent broker with a state-of-the-art app and a team of 100+ licensed insurance agents standing by to help you get cheap coverage in place as fast as possible. On average, policyholders who compare auto insurance quotes with Jerry reduce their insurance premiums by over $800 a year!

Methodology

Jerry’s editorial team analyzed publicly available data from Forbes, Car and Driver, Insurance.com, ValuePenguin, Bankrate, WalletHub, MoneyGeek, and PolicyGenius along with real quote data from over 15,000 Jerry customers to produce the averages listed in this article.

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FAQs

What is the cheapest type of car insurance you can buy?

The cheapest type of car insurance is state minimum coverage, which typically includes some amount of bodily injury and property damage liability coverage. In some states, minimum coverage includes uninsured motorist coverage and/or personal injury protection (PIP).

If you can only afford minimum coverage, a simple liability insurance policy can help lower costs—but most drivers actually need comprehensive and collision coverage, which cover damage to your vehicle and satisfy lender requirements for financed cars.

What is a good way to find cheap car insurance?

The best way to find cheap car insurance is to compare quotes from multiple providers. Every insurance company uses a slightly different method to calculate premiums, so comparing quotes is the only way to find the best fit for your profile.

What’s the best insurance savings tip that most drivers don’t know?

Tracking your driving habits with a telematics app or device from your insurance provider could save you as much as 30% to 40% on your insurance premiums.

Who has the cheapest car insurance?

For most good drivers, GEICO, Nationwide, and State Farm all have rates close to or below the national average of $1,672 per year, but no single company has the cheapest car insurance for every driver.

Can you get car insurance without a down payment?

It’s impossible to get legitimate car insurance without any money down, but you can reduce your upfront costs by selecting a monthly payment plan and lowering your rates with discounts.

Are you overpaying for car insurance?

Compare quotes and find out in 45 seconds.

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