Full coverage auto insurance
includes coverage for you, your vehicle, and your passengers. Without full coverage, you won’t be able to file a claim with your insurance provider for physical damage to your vehicle. Policies that include full coverage cost an average of $165 a month. What are the best car insurance companies for full coverage?
No single car insurance company has the best rates on full coverage car insurance for every driver. Instead of looking for a definitive “best company,” compare full coverage quotes for your driver profile to find the best fit for you.
Jerry
can help you find the best full coverage for the most affordable price. According to our experts’ analysis, here’s what you might pay for full coverage car insurance from some of the nation’s top insurance companies:Auto insurance companies base rates on risk
. A high-risk ZIP code or a new car could mean higher premiums. Providing complete information means more accurate quotes. Check out what you need to start a policy
before you request quotes. Car insurance rates change all the time. If you’re not able to save today, check back often for new options.
Take advantage of discounts
. Insurers offer discounts for bundling multiple policies, paying your premium in full, and tracking your driving habits with a telematics app or device.
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How much does full coverage insurance cost?
On average, a full coverage car insurance policy costs around $165 a month. But there are a lot of factors that can impact how much you’ll actually pay, like your car, where you live, your coverage choices, and whether you have a history of claims, traffic violations, and accidents.
What is full coverage?
Although “full coverage” doesn’t have a precise definition, most insurance agents use this term to refer to a policy that includes at least these four types of coverage
: Jerry’s experts have gathered everything you need to understand what will typically be included in a full-coverage policy based on your state’s insurance requirements and/or lease or finance agreements.
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| Medical bills and vehicle repairs for other parties in an at-fault accident, up to your coverage limits. | |
| Physical damage to your vehicle caused by a collision, including single-car rollover events | Required by lenders for financed or leased vehicles |
| Physical damage or losses caused by events other than a collision (e.g. vandalism, theft, severe weather, or natural disaster) | Required by lenders for financed or leased vehicles |
| Medical expenses (and sometimes property damage) from an accident caused by an uninsured driver, up to your policy’s limits | Required by law in CT , DC, IL , KS , ME , MD , MA , MN , MO NE , NH *, NY , NC , ND , OR , SC , SD , VT , VA , WV , and WY |
| Medical bills, lost wages, rehabilitation costs, and funeral expenses after a car accident regardless of fault | Required by law in no-fault states |
| Medical bills, rehabilitation costs, and funeral expenses for you and your passengers | |
Depending on your state’s insurance laws, full coverage may also include:
Full coverage is a step above a liability-only state minimum policy
. While a policy with only liability insurance is the cheapest coverage option and will satisfy legal requirements in most states, it only covers damage you cause to other drivers in an at-fault accident
. Still making car payments? If your vehicle is financed and you’re still paying off the loan, you need a policy with full coverage insurance. Lenders require you to carry comprehensive and collision insurance and will purchase an expensive policy on your behalf if you skip this coverage.
Optional add-ons available with a full-coverage policy
Another benefit of full-coverage policies is the ability to add perks and protections not available with liability-only coverage. Here are some of the most common optional insurance types you’ll find in a full coverage car insurance policy.
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| The difference between a totaled car payout and the remaining loan balance | May be required if you lease a car |
| Towing and labor costs associated with a mechanical breakdown | |
| The cost of a rental car when your vehicle is in the shop following a collision or comprehensive claim | |
What affects the cost of a full coverage insurance policy?
To better understand how various factors can impact the cost of your insurance premiums, our experts analyzed thousands of policies purchased by Jerry
users. They found that some of the biggest factors affecting the cost of a full coverage policy include your location, the car you drive, your driving and insurance history, your age, and your credit score
(in most states). Location
Where you live can have a significant impact on your car insurance costs—you might even pay different rates if you move from one ZIP code to another within the same city. On the state level, insurance companies will consider things like minimum liability requirements
, crime rates, weather patterns, average claims costs, and more when they’re setting rates. Here’s the average monthly cost of a full coverage policy in each state, with monthly minimum liability costs included for comparison:
Your vehicle
Because full coverage pays to repair or replace your vehicle if it’s damaged, the value of your car can make a big difference in what you pay for car insurance. If your car is moderately-priced with easy-to-find, inexpensive parts, it won’t cost as much to insure as a high-priced luxury model with parts that are expensive and difficult to source. Safer vehicles and cars that are harder to steal may also cost less to insure on average.
Our experts looked at the average monthly minimum liability and full coverage costs for the vehicles Edmunds named the Top 10 Best-Sellers of 2023, and here’s what they found:
Your age
Because younger drivers have less experience behind the wheel, they’re statistically more likely to get into serious accidents. In fact, according to the CDC, fatal crash rates among teendagers are three times higher than for more experienced drivers.1 As a result, drivers under 18 pay the highest car insurance rates of any age group. On average, here’s what drivers pay a month for minimum liability and full coverage car insurance based on their age:
Driving and coverage history
If you’ve been involved in a recent accident, you’ve received a number of traffic citations, or you’ve gotten even one serious violation like a DUI
, insurance companies will consider you more likely to file an insurance claim in the future. Allowing your insurance coverage to lapse
can also cause insurers to flag you as high-risk
. If you’re labeled a high-risk driver by insurance companies, you’ll pay a lot more for your full coverage premiums than if you have a clean driving record
. Our experts analyzed how different types of violations can impact your rates. Here’s what they found:
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Failure to wear seat belt | | |
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Credit score
In every state except CA, HI, MA, and MI, car insurance providers can consider your credit score when they’re setting your car insurance rates. Insurers have found that drivers who have poor credit are statistically more likely to file claims. On average, here’s how drivers’ credit scores impacts their monthly car insurance rates:
Do you need full coverage?
Almost every driver needs full coverage insurance. But you may be able to skip it if you own your car and can afford to repair or replace it out of pocket, or if a full coverage policy costs more than the vehicle is worth.
You need full coverage if:
You have an auto loan or lease
You can’t afford to replace your vehicle out of pocket
You live in an area with a high rate of accidents, auto theft, and/or animal collisions
You can skip full coverage if:
You own an older car outright and full coverage would cost more than 10% of its value each month
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FAQ
What does full coverage mean in auto insurance?
“Full coverage” refers to a car insurance policy that includes collision and comprehensive insurance in addition to liability coverage, uninsured motorist coverage, and any other coverage mandated by your state’s minimum insurance requirements. It’s the standard level of coverage needed by most drivers.
What’s the best car insurance to have?
This combination of coverages offers financial protection for most accidents and situations drivers face, but you can also raise your liability limits or buy additional coverages like roadside assistance and gap insurance.
How much does full coverage car insurance cost?
The average cost of a full coverage auto insurance policy depends on several factors, including the ZIP code where your car is kept, your liability limits, any optional coverages on your policy, your driving record, and your credit-based insurance score.
Is full coverage car insurance required?
Collision
and comprehensive insurance
aren’t required by law in any states, but they are required by lenders for financed or leased vehicles.Methodology
To determine average insurance rates, Jerry's experts analyze thousands of policies purchased by our customers. Our data are based on real policy premiums for all customers in a given category.
Where real customer data are unavailable, Jerry’s editorial team researches average rates using expert sources from Forbes, NerdWallet, ValuePenguin, WalletHub, The Zebra, and CarInsurance.com. Our data shows the average of the data shared by those sources.