How to find the cheapest car insurance quotes in Chattanooga

In Chattanooga, the average auto insurance policy costs about $74 per month for minimum coverage liability insurance, and about $154 per month for full coverage insurance. Chattanooga drivers pay 16% less than the Tennessee average.

While it would certainly make shopping easy, there’s no single car insurance company that offers the cheapest rates for everyone. That’s why it pays for drivers to shop around and compare quotes to find the best cheap auto insurance policy for them. Fortunately, Jerry makes it easy for Chattanooga drivers to do just that—and once you find the policy you want at the right rate, our licensed insurance agents can help you cancel your old one completely hassle-free.

Best car insurance companies in Chattanooga

Car insurance might not seem like a personal thing, but it is. Finding the right auto insurance policy depends on your needs as a driver, which means no single provider will offer the best rate for everyone. Apart from cost, other factors like claims handling and customer service are also important when choosing a carrier.

If you’re struggling to find the best company in Chattanooga, we’ve made it easy. We wanted to find out what car insurance companies offered the cheapest car insurance rates in Chattanooga, so we conducted the largest insurance shopping survey in the nation.

Our findings: Policyholders in Tennessee gave Bristol West, GEICO, and Travelers the highest rates for cost, customer service, and claims processing.

After finding new car insurance policies with Jerry, here’s what Tennessee drivers have had to say about working with their providers.

Best cheap car insurance quotes in Chattanooga

Tennessee’s minimum car insurance requirements reflect how much insurance you need the carry to legally drive as well as the cheapest coverage option in Chattanooga. However, minimum liability coverage provides minimal financial protection.

You’ll need full coverage if you want to cover the cost of repairing or replacing your own vehicle–but that’s not as easy to get in the Volunteer State as it once was thanks to the current car insurance crisis. Take a listen to what Jerry’s experts have to say about the state of the insurance industry in Tennessee, and how it could affect your policy choices in Chattanooga.

Cheap minimum liability insurance quotes in Chattanooga

In Chattanooga, Tennessee, drivers must satisfy the state’s minimum car insurance requirements. Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll need:

• $25,000 of bodily injury liability per person
• $50,000 of bodily injury liability per accident
• $25,000 of property damage liability per accident

Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage is offered by insurers in Tennessee but isn’t required by law. If drivers choose to reject coverage, they must do so in writing.

Purchasing liability coverage is the easiest way to reduce monthly insurance payments, but it can leave you susceptible to significant expenses if you’re involved in an at-fault accident that causes injury or property damage.

Do you need more than minimum coverage in Chattanooga?

Generally speaking, most drivers would benefit from having more than Tennessee’s required 25/50/25 liability insurance.

The reason why: More severe accidents can easily exceed these limits, and if you were found at fault for an accident, you’d need to find another way to pay for others’ injuries and damages once that limit is reached. And because Tennessee’s car accident laws allow drivers to file property damage lawsuits up to three years after the accident, your liability can extend long beyond the original crash.

For better financial protection, insurance experts commonly recommend choosing higher liability limits, such as 50/100/50 or 100/300/100.

Cheap full coverage car insurance quotes in Chattanooga

Liability coverage won’t cover damage to your vehicle—you’d need collision and comprehensive coverage for that.

Full coverage car insurance generally refers to a policy that includes both comprehensive and collision coverage. Collision coverage pays to repair or replace your vehicle after an accident with another vehicle or stationary object, while comprehensive coverage applies to damages caused by various other non-collision-related events, like theft, severe weather, or animal damage.

If you lease or finance a car, your lenders will likely require that you keep full coverage on your car for the duration of your loan.

Check out the rates other Chattanooga drivers have found for full coverage car insurance with Jerry’s help.

Finding affordable car insurance doesn’t have to be like finding a needle in a haystack. With a comparison app and licensed insurance broker like Jerry, you can find the coverage you need at the most affordable rates in minutes. And with over 100+ licensed insurance agents helping provide end-to-end customer service, no questions will go unanswered.

Average cost of car insurance in Chattanooga

After analyzing scores of insurance providers in Chattanooga, we have discovered that the average price for minimum liability coverage amounts to be $74 per month or $894 per year. Additionally, residents of Chattanooga can expect to pay an average of $152 per month or $1,823 per year for full coverage insurance.

While it’s useful to understand average insurance rates to estimate your personal insurance costs, it’s important to note that individual insurance premiums are influenced by numerous factors. These factors may include vehicle type, driving history, claims record, and other key demographics.

Average cost of car insurance in Chattanooga by zip code

Your ZIP code plays a large part in your car insurance calculations since different areas of a city are subject to their own unique features. If you move to a ZIP code notorious for traffic congestion or vehicle theft, you’ll likely see higher rates than drivers in other areas of the city.

To see how your ZIP code could affect your Chattanooga insurance rates, check out the table below.

Car insurance quotes in Chattanooga by rating factors

Insurance companies in Chattanooga use many rating factors when deciding your auto insurance premium:

• Your driving record and claims history: Drivers with a track record of accidents or violations generally face higher premiums than those with a clean record.
• Your demographics: Your age, gender, and marital status can all influence the cost of your insurance rates.
• Your location: City dwellers often encounter higher premiums compared to rural residents due to factors like increased crime rates and higher population density.
• Your mileage: High annual mileage can result in higher insurance costs.
• The make/model of your car: Luxury, sport, and high-performance vehicles typically cost more to insure since replacement parts are more expensive.
• Your credit score: Good credit scores are generally associated with lower insurance rates, even for identical coverage.

Cheap car insurance quotes in Chattanooga after driving violations

Your Tennessee driving record will predictably have a significant influence on your car insurance rate. Racking up too many violations could send your insurance rate skyrocketing, so it pays to practice safe driving by following the rules of the road.

Some common violations that contribute to premium increases include:

• Speeding
• DUIs
• At fault accident
• Reckless driving
• Driving on a suspended license
• Driving without insurance

Cheapest car insurance in Chattanooga after DUI

If you’re convicted of DUI in Tennessee, it serves a major red flag for auto insurance companies, signaling you’re a high-risk driver, which can send your rates soaring. In fact, some providers may not offer coverage after a DUI, especially if it’s not your first.

Luckily, Jerry can help you get a quote for affordable coverage even after a major conviction, like a DUI.

Cheapest car insurance in Chattanooga after an at-fault accident

At-fault accidents can result in steep rate hikes from your car insurance company. Too many at-fault accidents on your record suggest you’re a risky driver, which, to insurers, means a more costly driver. That’s why you’ll see higher insurance rates than drivers with clean driving records.

If you recently had an accident and saw your car insurance rate increase, shopping around for new car insurance quotes might get you a better rate—like it did for these Chattanooga policyholders:

Cheapest car insurance in Chattanooga after other driving violations

As you’d probably expect, driving offenses can increase your car insurance rate—but the exact impact will likely depend on how many you have and their severity. Things like reckless driving, driving on a suspended license, and driving without insurance are all violations that can increase car insurance rates in Chattanooga.

Here’s a look at rates Chattanooga drivers have found after various types of violations with help from Jerry:

Cheap car insurance quotes in Chattanooga by age

Age isn’t everything, but it has a significant impact on what you pay for auto insurance coverage.

Young drivers have the highest average car insurance premiums. Luckily, this is only temporary for safe drivers, as you can generally expect your car insurance rates to decrease gradually over time for most of your adult life.

By age 75, you can usually expect car insurance costs to rise again

Cheapest car insurance in Chattanooga for young drivers

Teen drivers aged 16 to 19 see some of the highest insurance premiums of any age group due to limited driving experience, but rates usually remain high until 25. New drivers also face high premiums due to a lack of driving experience and limited insurance history. After 25, rates tend to decline steadily.

While minimum coverage is the cheapest option for young and new drivers, most can benefit from a full coverage policy’s added protection. To help offset the high costs of teen insurance, look for student discounts!

Jerry can also help secure affordable rates for young motorists.

Cheapest car insurance in Chattanooga for senior drivers

Older drivers usually enjoy lower premiums, but senior drivers may see a rate increase in their mid-seventies thanks to slower reflexes and increased risk for injury.

Cheap car insurance quotes in Chattanooga based on insurance history

Like your driving record and claims history, your insurance history is a significant rating factor in the eyes of insurance companies. Specifically, insurers will consider how long you have been insured and whether you’ve experienced any lapses in coverage.

Drivers who have had recent or past lapses in coverage may face higher auto insurance rates. The good news is, Jerry can help customers find savings on car insurance coverage regardless of their insured status:

Cheap car insurance quotes in Chattanooga for drivers with bad credit

While having poor credit doesn’t automatically mean you’re an unsafe driver, insurers have seen a correlation between low credit scores and an increased frequency of claims. That’s why drivers with bad credit tend to pay higher premiums than those with healthy credit ratings.

Generally, drivers with excellent credit (over 750) pay about 20% less for auto coverage than drivers with scores below 550.

Cheap car insurance quotes in Chattanooga for popular cars

The kind of car you drive can have a significant impact on auto insurance premiums. The more expensive, large, and rare your vehicle is, the more it will cost to repair—and to insure.

Vehicles that are popular with Chattanooga drivers are:

• Ford F-150
• Chevrolet Silverado 1500
• Ram 1500
• Honda Civic
• Nissan Altima
• Nissan Rogue
• Toyota Camry
• Ford Escape

Learn more: How to get car insurance before buying a car

How to lower car insurance costs in Chattanooga

1. Shop around and compare quotes

Different insurance companies use different rules to set your premium, and those rules are constantly changing! To make sure you always have the most affordable car insurance, experts recommend comparing quotes from at least three companies and shopping for new rates every six months.

Jerry makes this tedious process simple! In just 45 seconds, Jerry can collect quotes from a pool of 55+ top insurance providers to help you identify the best auto insurance coverage at the best price. Better yet—Jerry provides this service for free!

2. Hunt for car insurance discounts

Every insurance company offers a set of discounts, but the exact discount offered varies by company. Some common discounts include:

• Good driver discounts. California state law mandates 20% insurance discounts for drivers with one or fewer points on their license who have continuously held a license for three years with no at-fault accidents responsible for injury or death.
• Telematics discounts. Many companies offer easy-to-win discounts to drivers who use telematics to track their driving habits. You might even get a discount just for signing up!
• Good student discounts. Are you a full-time student in either high school or college? Do you have a B average or better? You probably qualify for a discount from your insurance company.
• Bundling discounts. Bundle your home and auto insurance (or auto and renters) with the same company, and you could get a discount on both policies.

3. Increase your deductible for comprehensive and collision coverage

If you’ve got full coverage car insurance, increasing your deductible is an easy way to keep your monthly expenses low without sacrificing coverage.

MEET OUR EXPERTS

R.E. Fulton

• Licensed Insurance Agent

R.E. Fulton is an expert insurance writer specializing in car ownership topics from car shopping and loan advice to insurance and repair guides. R.E.’s mission is to create unique and accessible content that helps readers to become more successful and independent car owners. R.E. has written and edited over 900 high-performing articles for Jerry, with an average of 1 million+ views. As a senior writer on Jerry’s editorial team, R.E. draws on over 10 years of experience as a professional writer and digital publishing specialist. Prior to joining Jerry’s editorial team in 2021, R.E. worked as a writing coach at Columbia University, the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), and the University of Rochester. They serve as a managing editor for peer-reviewed history publication Nursing Clio, where their work has appeared regularly since 2015.

Lina Zhang

Lina Zhang is co-founder and vice president of operations at Jerry, where she leads a global team responsible for operations, talent acquisition, content, legal, and compliance. Lina’s operational excellence was a critical enabler of Jerry’s 10x growth in its first year of operation.

Prior to Jerry, Lina and her Jerry co-founders, Art Agrawal and Musawir Shah, led YourMechanic, the largest on-demand car repair services provider. In one year, Lina built and scaled YourMechanic operations from five markets to more than 50. The trio left YourMechanic to incubate Jerry at Y Combinator in 2017.

Lina’s previous roles include intellectual property attorney at Morrison & Foerster LLP and a biomedical researcher at Stanford University.

Lina holds a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from Nanjing University, a doctorate in biochemistry from Dartmouth College, and a juris doctorate from the University of California Berkeley School of Law. She’s a member of the State Bar of California and a licensed property and casualty insurance producer in all 50 states.

Josh Damico

As Vice President of Insurance Operations at Jerry, Josh Damico leads teams across product development, operations and carrier relations, integrating Jerry’s smart and fast car insurance customer experience with that of traditional carriers to help customers find savings and coverage. Josh’s nearly 20 years of insurance-industry experience and knowledge generate partnerships with more than 55 name-brand and specialty insurance partners that enable Jerry to serve customers with all types of vehicle and policy needs.

Previously, Josh held executive roles at Geico, where he had vast regional oversight and leadership opportunities. In his most recent role as director of sales, servicing, and underwriting, Josh developed and executed profit and growth strategy for the New England states and New Jersey.

Josh holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and management from Medaille College.

*Illustration only. For all the pricing information presented in this article (including various tables), please note that not all customers find savings and the information is for illustrative purposes only. Savings depend on type of car, location, policy features, driving history and other factors. Drivers who switch through Jerry save over $70/month on average.