Compare Best Cheap Car Insurance Quotes in Connecticut, 2023
Connecticut drivers save as much as $708/year when switching with Jerry. Compare quotes from top insurance companies including Progressive, Allstate, and AAA for free today!
Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.
The average cost of basic liability car insurance in Connecticut is $2,610 per year. Opting for full-coverage car insurance in Connecticut will leave you with an average cost of $2,870 per year. In comparison, the national average is $1,627 per year to buy basic liability car insurance and $2,297 per year to buy full-coverage car insurance.
Compare best car insurance quotes in Connecticut
Your car insurance rates could be dramatically different based on your zip code, age, driving history, and other factors. This can make finding the best rates for car insurance a complicated process.
Here are some real quotes and savings from customers in Connecticut who switched with Jerry:
The best auto insurance companies in Connecticut include State Farm, GEICO, and Progressive. But those aren’t the only companies offering competitive rates on auto insurance coverage in the Constitution State. Some drivers may find their lowest rates from USAA, Nationwide, or Allstate.
The reason we can’t name a single cheapest car insurance company in Connecticut is pretty simple—every auto insurance company uses a different methodology to set your annual premium. Their algorithms take into account a wide range of factors, from credit history and driving habits to age, gender, insurance claims history.
While one company might give more weight to your poor credit but offer competitive discounts, another might find you a lower annual rate based on your gender, your ZIP code, or another set of calculations.
Connecticut car insurance rates are quite high thanks to a high number of dense urban areas, a recent increase in car theft, and harsh winter weather.
Why is Connecticut known for insurance?
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When the insurance industry was just getting off the ground in the 1800s, Hartford became the unofficial “Insurance Capital of the World” because so many insurance companies were started there. Today, the Constitution State is home to over 100 insurance companies—including The Hartford!
Is car insurance cheaper in CT or NY?
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As high as Connecticut’s average insurance rates are, they can’t hold a candle to New York’s. High coverage requirements and the biggest city in the nation make New York one of the most expensive states for insurance.
How much is car insurance in Connecticut?
Why are Connecticut car insurance rates so high? A few reasons:
Densely populated cities: Much of Connecticut, especially the western part of the state, is made up of densely-packed cities and suburbs, where a high number of cars on the road leads to high car accident rates.
Auto theft: Car thefts have seen a recent increase in Connecticut, much to the dismay of insurance companies writing auto insurance policies in the state.
Harsh winter weather: If you’ve ever tried to navigate I-95 in freezing rain or blizzard conditions, you know the risks that winter can pose to your car. Those risks raise average car insurance rates across the state.
Uninsured motorists: The independent nonprofit Insurance Research Council estimates that about 12% of Connecticut drivers don’t carry car insurance, which raises average premiums for everyone else.
Here’s a rundown of what Connecticut drivers need to know about shopping for car insurance.
Let’s talk about how coverage limits affect your auto insurance costs. Connecticut state law only requires drivers to purchase liability car insurance before hitting the road, and sticking to that minimum coverage will give you the lowest possible annual premium.
How much insurance do I need in Connecticut?
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In Connecticut, drivers need $25,000 for bodily injury liability per person, $50,000 of bodily injury liability for each accident, and $25,000 of property liability for each accident. These requirements are known as the 25/50/25 rule.
What do you need if you’re pulled over?
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If you get pulled over, you are required to show your driver’s license, proof of insurance, and registration. Thankfully, digital insurance ID cards are accepted by police and the DMV so you will always have your stored proof of insurance available 24/7 in the Jerry app.
Is Connecticut a no-fault state?
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No, Connecticut is an at-fault state This means the at-fault driver’s insurance will pay for the not-at-fault driver’s and passengers' injuries, once the at-fault driver’s insurance company accepts liability and confirms that there is enough coverage.
If you’ve met Connecticut’s minimum requirements for bodily injury liability and property damage liability coverage, you’re all set to drive in the state—legally. But minimum liability insurance on its own likely won't give you the coverage you need.
Take a look at the graph below to understand how much you’re paying for each.
Cheap car insurance in Connecticut with a DUI or speeding ticket
Your driving history is one of the biggest determinants of your annual premium—just one violation can cause your rate to spike, even if it’s something as minor as a speeding ticket.
A history of repeated violations or serious offenses (e.g. DUI or reckless driving) can get you labeled as a “high-risk driver.” To avoid this, it’s smart to practice safe driving habits or even attend a defensive driving course.
But there are some bells you can’t unring. Still, that doesn’t mean you can’t save on car insurance if you have driving violations.
Here’s just a sample of the savings that Jerry customers with spotty driving records have found:
Teen drivers pay some of the highest car insurance premiums in Connecticut for one simple reason: lack of experience. Because they have less time behind the wheel, young drivers tend to be the riskiest and most accident-prone on the road—as statistics confirm.
Insurance companies don’t like risk, so they’ll assign sky-high premiums to young drivers, from brand-new 16-year-old drivers to car owners up to age 25.
Here are a few things you need to know if you’re trying to find affordable car insurance in Connecticut as a young driver:
Drivers under the age of 25 have the highest number of fatal crashes of any age group in the state—and male drivers are more likely to be involved in fatalities than female drivers
Connecticut ranks 4th in the nation for teen driver safety, so your rates will be lower than your teenage friends in neighboring states!
How can young drivers save money on car insurance in Connecticut?
You can expect your rate to drop around age 18, and again around age 25
Connecticut auto insurance rates by city
Although Connecticut drivers pay slightly more than the national average for car insurance across the board, exact rates vary based on your specific zip code.
Why? Different areas of Connecticut have different risk factors. Drivers in Hartford and New Haven, for instance, have to contend with dense traffic, making insurance costs in those cities higher due to the heightened risk of an accident. On the other hand, in the tiny village of Moosup, car insurance costs can be higher due to fatal accident rates and the risks associated with rural driving.
Here’s a more specific breakdown of insurance prices for Jerry users across Connecticut:
Groton is the least expensive city for car insurance in Connecticut. Drivers in Groton can expect average annual rates of $1,384.
City with Highest Rates of Accidents in Connecticut
Manchester has the highest accident rates in Connecticut, with 13.02% of drivers having a prior at-fault accident on their record. High accident rates mean higher insurance premiums for Manchester residents.
Cities With the Longest Commute Times in Connecticut
At an average 41.6 minutes, Westport has the highest commute time in Connecticut. You’ll end up with higher mileage, and longer commutes increase the risk of accidents—both of which raise rates.
The vehicle you drive also helps to determine your insurance rate.
The tried-and-true Honda Accord is the most popular vehicle in Connecticut—and it just happens to have some of the lowest car insurance costs of any vehicle. That’s because Accords are affordable, plentiful, and dependable, making repairs infrequent and cheap.
On the other hand, if you drive a luxury vehicle like the Lexus RX—also popular in Connecticut—you’ll pay more for insurance. Not only are luxury cars expensive to replace, but they typically come with higher repair costs and may need to be serviced at specific locations, meaning that insurance claims for these vehicles are bigger.
While young drivers see higher rates than average, they can still pay less on car insurance premiums by applying for discounts, shopping around, and maintaining a clean driving record.
The most popular vehicle in Connecticut is the Honda CR-V. On average, CR-V drivers pay $1,100 a year in car insurance. This is relatively low overall, and CR-V owners can save even more money by switching carriers with Jerry.
Do you need more than the minimum car insurance in Connecticut?
Most states have minimum insurance requirements that you must meet to hit the road.
However, a lot of drivers choose to buy additional coverages including:
Collision insurance, which pays for damage to your vehicle caused by a crash with another vehicle, animal, or stationary object
Comprehensive coverage, which pays for damage to your vehicle caused by something other than a collision (e.g. severe weather, natural disasters, theft, or vandalism)
Underinsured/uninsured motorist coverage, which covers your costs if you’re in an accident with an at-fault driver who doesn’t carry sufficient liability coverage
A policy with all three in addition to liability coverage is often called a “full-coverage car insurance policy” (a bit of a misnomer, since there are a lot more coverage add-ons you can buy!). It’s generally considered the gold standard of basic insurance options—but even the cheapest full-coverage policy will cost significantly more than a liability-only policy, as seen in the graph below.
Consider the following risk factors that affect the coverage Connecticut drivers should consider carrying:
Connecticut ranks 34th for traffic and infrastructure, which puts it in the bottom half of states for poor driving conditions. Drivers have a higher risk of a collision, so make sure you have collision coverage.
In Connecticut, 6.30% of drivers are uninsured. Get uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage to ensure damages are covered if you’re in an accident with an uninsured driver.
Connecticut drivers rank their roads a 7/10—which isn’t exactly a glowing recommendation. Don’t let the occasional bump-in-the-road leave you stranded. Get roadside for towing services, flat tires, and more.
How to lower the average cost of car insurance in Connecticut
If you live in Connecticut, you’re probably paying more than the national average for car insurance. Here’s how you can lower your rate—no matter your age, credit score, or driving history!
Get at least three car insurance quotes
Getting multiple quotes is the easiest (and best!) way to save money on car insurance.
Put another way, the easiest way to overpay for car insurance is by taking the first rate you see and leaving potential savings on the table. But many drivers choose to do this anyway, because the hassle of car insurance shopping is just too great.
Look for discounts
You may already qualify for a lower rate on car insurance—but you might not know it, because most car insurance companies don’t advertise all the discounts they offer.
Here are some popular car insurance discounts to keep your eyes out for in Connecticut:
Clean Driving Record Discounts
Drivers with a clean driving history are less likely to be in or cause an accident, which means insurance carriers are less likely to pay out claims. As a result, clean drivers are awarded a discount.
Bundling Discounts
Customers who bundle their car insurance with home or renters insurance are eligible for a bundling discount.
Mature Driver Accident Prevention Discounts
State law in Connecticut requires insurance companies to offer a discount to drivers ages 60 and older who complete an appropriate accident prevention course.
Increase your deductible
If your auto insurance policy includes collision and comprehensive coverage, you have a deductible—a lump sum that you agree to pay before insurance kicks in on a claim. Typical car insurance deductibles are $500 or $1,000, but you can get a higher deductible in many cases.
With a higher deductible, you’ll pay less month to month for the same coverage. Just be careful—never choose a deductible that’s higher than you could reasonably pay out of pocket if you get in an accident. That’s a recipe for financial (and legal!) trouble.