The best cheap car insurance for you depends on your driver profile, your location, and your coverage needs.
QUICK LOOK
- GEICO and State Farm have the lowest car insurance rates overall for good drivers with strong credit and no accidents or violations.
- In most states, the cheapest insurance provider is a smaller regional company like Erie, Mercury, or MAPFRE.
- Multi-policy discounts, high deductibles, and telematics discounts can all help drivers find cheap insurance.
The cheapest car insurance companies for most drivers
| 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 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.
The cheapest car insurance in your state might be from a smaller or non-standard insurance company
Average minimum coverage premium: $800 per year
Average full coverage premium: $992 per year
Average minimum coverage premium: $1,638 per year
Average full coverage premium: $2,791 per year
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% | Average rate increase after a first DUI: 81% |
| Cheapest insurance company after a speeding ticket: Allstate | Cheapest insurance company after a DUI: Progressive |
| Most expensive insurance company after a speeding ticket: Progressive | Most expensive insurance company after a DUI: GEICO |
| Cheapest state after a speeding ticket: Texas | Cheapest state after a DUI: Missouri |
| Most expensive state after a speeding ticket: New Jersey | 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.
| Age | Average annual premium |
|---|---|
| 19 | $2,069 |
| 20 | $2,754 |
| 21 | $2,909 |
| 22 | $2,983 |
| 23 | $2,301 |
| 24 | $2,621 |
| 25 | $2,475 |
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
| Insurance company | Average annual premium | Average monthly premium |
|---|---|---|
| Nationwide | $1,677 | $140 |
| State Auto | $1,971 | $164 |
| Electric | $2,092 | $174 |
| Anchor General | $2,274 | $190 |
| Commonwealth Insurance | $2,279 | $190 |
| National General | $2,358 | $196 |
| Kemper | $2,477 | $206 |
| Aspire Advantage | $2,519 | $210 |
| Infinity | $2,566 | $214 |
| Plymouth Rock | $2,622 | $219 |
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.
FAQ
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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.
Kathleen Flear is an expert insurance writer and editor who previously lead up Jerry’s editorial team as director of content. Kathleen empowers drivers to make smart car ownership decisions through best-in-class articles on insurance, loans, and maintenance. Prior to joining Jerry in 2021, Kathleen served as managing editor for a team of SEO content marketing professionals at Article-Writing.co and worked as a freelance writer and editor for a range of digital publications, including Chicago Literati magazine and Golden Words. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English language and literature from Queen’s University, and a master’s degree in creative writing and fiction from Sierra Nevada University.
As previous Director of Sales and Service at Jerry, Stephanie Ubaldini manages a team responsible for meeting the daily needs of Jerry’s 5M+ customers. Stephanie’s mission is to make sure that every Jerry customer can reach out to a human being for support when navigating difficult insurance questions. Stephanie brings over 10 years of experience in the insurance industry to her work at Jerry. Before joining Jerry in 2021, Stephanie served as a sales manager for GEICO. In 2021, Stephanie spoke at Forge Buffalo’s “Talking Tech Talent & Startups” event. More recently, she became a 2022 Digital Insurance Women in leadership NEXT honoree.
