When you purchase car insurance, it’s important to compare quotes from different insurance carriers to make sure you are getting the best price. Using a car insurance comparison app is the easiest way to get quotes from multiple insurers all in one place. Then all that’s left is to choose the best policy that fits your insurance needs.
Where to look for free car insurance quotes
There are four common ways to find free quotes online: directly from an insurance company, through a local agent, from an insurance comparison website, or with the Jerry app.
Insurance company website: The easiest way to overpay
Most insurance companies give you the option of purchasing a policy through their website, although in some cases, you may need to call and speak with an agent.
| The upside: | The downside: |
|---|---|
| You can visit any car insurance company’s website, or call a customer service line to get quotes directly from the source. It’s quick and allows you to adjust your coverage options. | Comparing multiple quotes through this method is a lot of work, and it’s easy to end up overpaying without realizing it. |
Local insurance agent: Friendly service and hidden costs
Local insurance agencies will often allow you to request quotes through their website. Some agents work with a single insurance company, while others may be able to connect you with several insurers.
| The upside: | The downside: |
|---|---|
| A local insurance agent understands the insurance market in your area and can help you find the best rates. | Captive agents—i.e., agents who work for a single company—often upsell to get a bigger commission. Even independent agents may steer you towards pricier policies to improve their earnings. |
Quote comparison websites: Proceed at your own risk
Many quote comparison websites are lead generation sites rather than actual online brokers. Once you request quotes, your information will be sent to the website’s insurance and marketing partners.
| The upside: | The downside: |
|---|---|
| Comparison sites are an easy way to find quotes from hundreds of insurance companies. There are a lot of options available, because many financial advice websites now include an auto insurance comparison tool. | Unfortunately, most sites either partner with insurance companies—sending you to the provider’s website to fill out extra forms before getting your final quotes—or simply capture and sell your information to marketing companies. |
The Jerry car insurance comparison app: The easiest way to get free car insurance quotes online
With Jerry, you can request quotes from dozens of car insurance companies. And because we’re a licensed broker, you can buy a policy right in the app.
| The upside: | The downside: |
|---|---|
| The Jerry app helps drivers manage all the costs of car ownership—like finding affordable car insurance. With Jerry, you can compare multiple personalized quotes in under two minutes for free. And thanks to Jerry’s DataLock Guarantee™, all your information is protected by bank-level security measures. | None. Download the app, enter your information, and review all your insurance options from the best car insurance companies like Nationwide, Allstate, and Progressive. Input your zip code below to get a quote today. |
Have this info on hand when you look for quotes
When shopping for car insurance quotes, have the following information and documents ready:
- Driver’s license: Your driver’s license contains essential identifying information, from your name and address to your driver’s license number.
- Vehicle information: You should know the make, model, and year of your vehicle, along with the vehicle identification number (VIN) and trim level.
- Usage information: Do you use your vehicle mainly for pleasure, commuting, or business? How many miles do you drive a year? Be ready to provide realistic estimates.
- Insurance information: Are you currently uninsured? How long have you been with your current insurer? Have you made any insurance claims in the past five years?
- Accidents and violations: If you’ve been at fault in a car accident or convicted of a violation like a DUI in the past five years, be ready to provide dates and other information about the incident.
Why it matters: The more detailed information you provide about your insurance and driving history, your vehicle, and your habits, the more accurate your quotes will be.
What if my quotes are still too high? If you’ve provided accurate information and can’t find any quotes you can afford—or if you’ve been turned down for coverage—you may need to seek out a non-standard auto insurance company that specializes in high-risk insurance.
Consider your coverage needs and budget before you shop
Before you start comparing car insurance quotes, think about what you can reasonably afford to spend on insurance. Also consider how much coverage you need ahead of time.
It’s helpful to compare policies that all offer the same amounts and types of coverage so you can really see which company is offering the best rate—if a policy is cheaper but it offers considerably less protection, it may not actually be a better deal.
Your coverage needs
In most states, drivers are required by law to carry liability insurance that includes bodily injury liability and property damage liability insurance. The minimum amount of coverage you need is set by the state where you live.
Typical state minimum liability requirements are 25/50/25, which refers to $25,000 of bodily injury liability per person, $50,000 of bodily injury liability per accident, and $25,000 of property damage liability per accident. But for many drivers, this state minimum coverage isn’t enough. Jerry’s experts recommend that most drivers purchase higher liability limits of 50/100/50 or 100/300/100.
EXPERT TIP:
Check your state’s laws to see what coverage is required. Many states only require liability coverage; others require uninsured motorist coverage. No-fault states require all drivers to carry personal injury protection (PIP).
Because liability insurance won’t pay for any physical damages to your vehicle, many drivers also add full coverage insurance to their policies. Full coverage includes collision insurance and comprehensive insurance, and it pays to repair or replace your vehicle if it’s damaged due to a collision, severe weather, theft, vandalism, and more.
Your budget
Before you shop, evaluate your budget. It’s important to choose a policy that you can comfortably afford, but that doesn’t mean you should always go for the cheapest policy you can find. It’s often worth paying a little more for additional coverage to protect you from significant out-of-pocket expenses if you need to file a claim.
Although there are a number of factors that will go into calculating your individual car insurance rates, looking at average rates can give you a general idea of what you might pay. Our experts analyzed thousands of car insurance policies across dozens of insurance companies. Based on their findings, here’s what drivers pay each month on average for minimum liability and full coverage policies:
| Insurance company | Minimum liability | Full coverage |
|---|---|---|
| AAA | $105 | $215 |
| Allstate | $85 | $198 |
| Bristol West | $158 | $361 |
| Clearcover | $66 | $130 |
| Founders | $51 | $174 |
| Gainsco | $98 | $222 |
| MAPFRE | $66 | $205 |
| National General | $93 | $211 |
| Nationwide | $61 | $155 |
| Progressive | $79 | $178 |
| Safe Auto | $122 | $200 |
| State Auto | $58 | $162 |
| Travelers | $59 | $141 |
Build your ultimate car insurance quote
Car insurance rates are based on a wide range of factors—some of which you can control during the quoting process. Let’s break down what goes into your quotes.
Easiest to control: Deductibles, policy discounts, and coverage selections
Customize your policy to get the coverage you need at a price you can afford.
- Deductibles: Choosing a higher deductible will lower your car insurance costs. Select the highest deductible you could afford to pay out of pocket in the event of a claim.
- Auto insurance discounts: Take advantage of any car insurance discounts you may be eligible for—such as safe driver discounts for staying accident-free or telematics discounts for tracking your driving. You can also receive a discount for bundling your car insurance with homeowners or renters insurance.
- Coverage options: There are six primary types of car insurance: Liability insurance, collision coverage, comprehensive coverage, uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, personal injury protection, and medical payments. Policyholders can also choose from optional coverage add-ons, such as rental car reimbursement and new car replacement coverage.
- Coverage amounts: A full coverage auto insurance policy with high liability limits and add-ons like roadside assistance costs more than a cheap state minimum policy. But that doesn’t mean you should purchase a bare-minimum policy just to shrink your premium—you’ll also limit protection and sacrifice peace of mind.
The big picture: Driving record, insurance history, and vehicle type
While your driving history, insurance history, credit score, and vehicle all impact your insurance, it’s harder to make changes to these factors in the short term.
- Driving history: Any at-fault accidents or violations in the last three to five years will likely affect your auto insurance rates. Usage-basinsurance programs can help you lower your rate with discounts for real-time safe driving habits.
- Insurance history: If you don’t have a current insurance policy—or if your prior provider reports claims on your policy—you’ll see higher rates. Make sure your new policy starts before your old coverage ends to avoid a costly insurance lapse.
- Credit-based insurance score: Missed payments or nonpayment of your previous insurance bills can affect the cost of car insurance coverage. So can your overall credit score, which influences the credit-based insurance scores that insurance companies use in underwriting.
- Vehicle safety and security: Safer vehicles with better anti-theft features tend to have lower rates for full coverage car insurance. If your car insurance policy includes collision and comprehensive coverage, installing a security system or driver assistance tech could improve your auto quotes.
EXPERT TIP:
Raising your credit score to a higher tier could have an outsized impact on your quotes. If you’re close to a higher tier, consider waiting to shop until you’ve leveled up.
The non-negotiables: Demographics, location, and marital status
Factors you can’t change may be impacting your insurance rate, as well. Being aware of these factors can help you budget successfully for your car insurance.
- Gender: Male drivers pay more than female drivers for the same coverage—and the difference is greater at younger ages.
- Location: Insurers look at crash statistics, crime rates, and population density in your ZIP code when calculating your insurance premiums. If you live in a high-risk ZIP code, parking in an enclosed garage could help lower the cost of your coverage.
- State laws: Minimum coverage can be more expensive in certain locations due to state laws. Insurance in New York, for example, costs considerably more than other states because New York State requires drivers to purchase personal injury protection (PIP), wrongful death coverage, and uninsured motorist coverage in addition to basic liability insurance.
- Marital status: Yes, married people pay less for car insurance. Providers see married people as more financially stable and responsible.
- Age: Young drivers pay more—especially teen drivers. If you’re shopping for cheap car insurance with a new driver under 25 years old on your policy, expect higher rates. Here’s what drivers pay each month on average for minimum liability and full coverage insurance based on their age:
| Age | Minimum liability | Full coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Under 18 | $275 | $680 |
| 18-21 | $247 | $542 |
| 22-25 | $163 | $368 |
| 26-34 | $123 | $274 |
| 35-44 | $110 | $242 |
| 45-54 | $106 | $230 |
| 55-64 | $100 | $213 |
| 65+ | $106 | $214 |
FAQ
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Is $500 too much for car insurance?
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How much should I spend on car insurance?
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What does car insurance for $15,000/$30,000/$5,000 refer to?
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What does liability insurance cover?
Hillary Kobayashi is an insurance writer and editor specializing in insurance and finance topics. Hillary’s mission is to use her knowledge and love of education to help car owners better understand how they can save time and money on car ownership. The articles Hillary has published for Jerry span topics from state-specific bill of sale requirements to SR-22 insurance information. Prior to joining Jerry, Hillary spent over ten years in education at Pacific University and the University of Oregon.
Expert insurance writer and editor Amy Bobinger specializes in car repair, car maintenance, and car insurance. Amy is passionate about creating content that helps consumers navigate challenges related to car ownership and achieve financial success in areas relating to cars. Amy has over 10 years of writing and editing experience. After several years as a freelance writer, Amy spent four years as an editing fellow at WikiHow, where she co-authored over 600 articles on topics including car maintenance and home ownership. Since joining Jerry’s editorial team in 2022, Amy has edited over 2,500 articles on car insurance, state driving laws, and car repair and maintenance.
