How to find the cheapest car insurance in Tampa

Home of the Cuban sandwich and the world’s best cigars, Tampa is a hub of culture and tourism on Florida’s Gulf Coast. As the state’s largest port, Tampa plays a key role in the state’s economy—and it’s also at the heart of a statewide crisis in the auto insurance industry. 

On average, Florida drivers pay $3,741 per year for full coverage and $2,090 per year for state minimum coverage—well above the national average. But Tampa drivers have it even harder, with average rates over $5,000 for full coverage and close to $3,000 for state minimum policies. 

Uncontrolled fraud, rising accident rates, and a burdensome no-fault insurance law are all behind Tampa’s sky-high insurance rates. But living in Tampa doesn’t have to mean paying exorbitant auto insurance rates. To find an auto insurance policy that meets your needs without breaking the bank, shop around with help from an independent broker like Jerry. 

The table below shows real quotes from Tampa-area auto insurance companies that Jerry found for customers in the past month. 

Insurance Company	Premium (monthly)	Age	Zip Code	Car	Liability Limits	Has Full Coverage
Bristol West	$143	30	33614	Mazda Cx-7	No Coverage	No
Progressive	$273	49	33624	Kia Forte Fe	State Minimum	Yes
National General	$385	27	33610	Ford Expedition Max Xlt	No Coverage	Yes
Progressive	$208	27	33602	Mercury Mountaineer Premier	State Minimum	No
National General	$96	34	33625	Volkswagen Eos Lux	No Coverage	Yes

Last Updated Nov 29, 2024

Cheapest Tampa car insurance for good drivers

Unsafe driving habits are one of the biggest drivers of high insurance rates nationwide, and Tampa is no exception. Data from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) shows a sharp increase in fatal and injury accidents in Hillsborough County in the past few years:¹

Year	Fatal crashes	Injury crashes	Hit-and-run crashes	Total crashes
2023	210	12,084	7,057	27,441
2022	218	12,144	7,506	28,358
2021	254	12,157	7,319	28,020
2020	198	10,803	6,128	24,168
2019	207	13,118	6,857	29,155

While the overall number of accidents in Hillsborough County is down since 2019, the total number of fatal crashes is up—meaning that accidents in Tampa have a higher chance of resulting in fatalities. Insurance companies use data like this to set rates in your area—and unless you can prove that you’re a safe driver, your premiums could suffer as a result.  

Customer	Driving Score	Insurance Savings	Has Violations	Insurance Coverage
Jonas, 25	94	35%	No	– State Minimum Liability – Minimum Coverage
Alejandra, 34	77	24%	No	– 100/300 – Comp/Collision
Jean, 44	85	29%	No	– State Minimum Liability – Minimum Coverage
Michelle, 54	97	38%	No	– State Minimum Liability – Minimum Coverage
Eric, 64	67	22%	No	– State Minimum Liability – Comp/Collision

The best and cheapest car insurance companies in Tampa

Finding the best car insurance company is about more than price—you also need an insurer you can trust to have your back when problems arise. 

Jerry conducted a nationwide survey of insurance policyholders to determine which companies live up to their promises. We took the ratings we got from drivers all over the country and combined them with real quote data from Tampa drivers to find 10 companies that offer rates at least 35% below the citywide average and scored 4 stars or higher overall in our shopping survey. 

Insurance company	Average annual full coverage rate in Tampa	Jerry user rating
Anchor General	$2,693	4.7 stars
Aspire	$2,630	4.6 stars
Travelers	$2,950	4.5 stars
Safeco	$3,507	4.5 stars
State Auto	$2,718	4.4 stars
Mercury Insurance	$2,865	4.3 stars
Nationwide	$2,224	4.2 stars
AAA	$3,124	4.2 stars
Plymouth Rock	$2,093	4.1 stars
Direct Auto	$3,409	4 stars

Some of the biggest names in car insurance—GEICO, State Farm, and USAA—don’t make the list. That’s because major insurers are being hit hard by market forces, and because real policyholders often rated these companies lower for customer service and claims handling. The most affordable car insurance often comes from smaller companies that can focus more directly on customer needs. 

Best cheap car insurance quotes in Tampa

The key to finding the best cheap auto insurance quotes in Tampa is deciding the right amount of coverage to carry on your policy. At Jerry, our insurance agents advise most drivers in Tampa to carry a full coverage policy with high limits for both bodily injury liability and property damage liability.

Cheap minimum liability insurance quotes in Tampa

Florida law requires all drivers to carry $10,000 of property damage liability and $10,000 of no-fault personal injury protection (PIP). The state’s no-fault car insurance requirements are partially responsible for Florida’s unusually high insurance rate. 

Sticking to state minimum coverage is risky, but if you’re willing to take the risk in exchange for a lower bill, it’s the cheapest option available.

Do you need more than minimum coverage in Tampa?

For most drivers, minimum coverage isn’t enough—even with PIP included. 

With rising healthcare costs, car accidents can quickly exceed a driver’s $10,000 no-fault benefits, leaving the at-fault driver to cover the remainder. If you’re at fault and don’t have bodily injury liability coverage, your income and assets could go towards paying a stranger’s medical bills for years to come. 

State minimum coverage also won’t cover damage to your own car or protect against accidents with hit-and-run or uninsured drivers, which are on the rise in Tampa.

The bottom line: Raise your liability limits and supplement minimum coverage in Tampa with full coverage, uninsured motorist coverage, and bodily injury liability coverage. 

Cheap full coverage car insurance quotes in Tampa

Full coverage car insurance is essential for protecting yourself from the costs associated with repairing or replacing your car. It typically includes both collision and comprehensive coverage. Collision insurance pays for damages after an accident, while comprehensive insurance pays for damages after a vandalism, theft, or natural disaster.

Your lender will usually require collision and comprehensive coverage if you finance or lease your car. And even if your vehicle is paid off, you should carry full coverage if its value exceeds $3,000 or if you can’t afford to replace it out of pocket.

Liability Limits	Has Full Coverage	Insurance Company	Premium (monthly)	Age	Zip Code	Car
No Coverage	No	Bristol West	$143	30	33614	Mazda Cx-7
State Minimum	Yes	Progressive	$273	49	33624	Kia Forte Fe
No Coverage	Yes	National General	$385	27	33610	Ford Expedition Max Xlt
State Minimum	No	Progressive	$208	27	33602	Mercury Mountaineer Premier
No Coverage	Yes	National General	$96	34	33625	Volkswagen Eos Lux

Last Updated Nov 29, 2024

Average cost of car insurance in Tampa

A full coverage car insurance policy in Tampa, Florida costs 44% more, on average, than the Florida state average—and 172% more than the national average. 

Coverage type	Tampa	Florida	U.S.
Full coverage	$5,387	$3,741	$1,984
Minimum coverage	$2,721	$2,090	$928

Florida is at the forefront of a nationwide auto insurance crisis, which has seen double-digit rate increases for most drivers, even without any changes to their policy or driving record.² According to Mark Friedlander of the Insurance Information Institute, Florida’s rates are now the highest in the nation.³

But why is Tampa so far ahead of the rest of the state when it comes to high-priced insurance? Three key factors contribute to Tampa’s out-of-control auto insurance prices: 1) insurance fraud, 2) dysfunctional no-fault laws, and 3) hurricane threats. 

Fraud

Tampa is a hotspot for property insurance fraud. 

One of the most common auto insurance fraud schemes in Florida, according to the Washington Post, involves sketchy windshield replacement. Here’s how the con works: an auto shop convinces a motorist they need a windshield replacement, promises them it will be free—and then slaps their insurance company with a massive bill. 

When the insurance company refuses to pay, the repair shop takes them to court, suing for legal fees and repair costs. In 2023 alone, the Department of Financial Services records over 46,000 of these fraudulent glass lawsuits.⁴

Insurance companies lose millions of dollars each year to fraud—and those losses pass on to policyholders in the form of rate hikes and nonrenewals. According to the FBI, insurance fraud costs the average American family between $400 and $700 each year in increased premiums—whether or not they’ve been a direct victim of fraud.⁵

No-fault laws 

Florida is one of 12 no-fault insurance states in the U.S.—and it’s one of the reasons Tampa’s insurance costs are so high. 

No-fault laws are intended to ensure that all drivers can cover their medical expenses after an accident with a minimum of hassle. Rather than waiting around for another driver’s liability insurance to cover your bills, you can simply file a first-party claim with your own insurance company. 

But here’s the catch—if your PIP runs out, auto insurance won’t cover your medical bills unless the other driver carries bodily injury liability insurance, which isn’t required in Florida. PIP coverage also creates loopholes for fraud and reduces driver responsibility. In other words, Florida’s no-fault law adds all the costs of no-fault insurance without providing enough financial security for drivers.

All of these problems are amplified in a major city like Tampa, where accidents, PIP claims, and fraud are all common. Florida lawmakers are trying to repeal the no-fault law and return Florida to a fault-based system, but only time will tell if their efforts succeed.⁶

Hurricane risks

The risk of hurricane damage is one of the reasons experts encourage Tampa drivers to carry full coverage insurance. It’s also one of the reasons full coverage is so expensive. 

Tampa’s coastal location makes it more vulnerable than most of the state to property damage from hurricanes. In fact, according to the Insurance Information Institute, the Tampa–St. Petersburg–Clearwater metropolitan area is the 3rd most at risk for storm surge in the nation.⁷

Insurance companies take the risk of hurricane claims into account when writing premiums in the Tampa area, which raises the cost of full coverage considerably. 

Car insurance quotes in Tampa by rating factors 

Is car insurance calculated at random? No, even if it seems like it. Here are the five factors that determine the rates you pay for Tampa car insurance:  

• Driving record and claims history: A history of car accidents and traffic tickets may increase your car insurance premiums.
• Vehicle location: Some ZIP codes come with higher rates.
• Vehicle type: Some types of car—such as sports cars and luxury vehicles—have higher rates overall, especially for full coverage policies.
• Usage: If you use your car regularly for work, your annual premium may be higher than if you use it only occasionally for pleasure.
• Credit score: Drivers with good credit typically pay lower insurance premiums than those with bad credit for the same coverage.

Cheap car insurance quotes in Tampa after driving violations

Your Florida driving record can significantly affect your car insurance rates. High-risk drivers receive proportionally higher insurance premiums. While a conviction for running a red light, committing a DUI, or reckless driving in Florida makes it harder to find an affordable rate in Tampa, it’s not impossible. 

Cheapest car insurance in Tampa after speeding ticket

Florida speeding tickets come in several different flavors, each with a different amount of driver violation points:

• 1-5 MPH over limit: No points
• 6-9 MPH over limit: 3 points
• 10-14 MPH over limit: 3 points
• 15-19 MPH over limit: 4 points
• 20-29 MPH over limit: 4 points
• 30 MPH or more over limit: 4 points and mandatory court appearance

The more severe the offense, the more you’ll pay for car insurance. In spite of this, Jerry has helped a number of drivers save money by finding the lowest rates in Tampa.

Speeding Type	Insurance Company	Premium (monthly)	Age	Zip Code	Car	Liability Limits	Has Full Coverage
Speeding Violation-Major	Bristol West	$421	37	33610	Volkswagen Gti	No Coverage	No
Speeding Violation-Minor	Bristol West	$240	32	33615	Kia Sportage Ex	No Coverage	Yes
Speeding Violation-Minor	Progressive	$150	72	33618	Toyota 4Runner Limited	State Minimum	No
Speeding Violation-Minor	Bristol West	$116	39	33611	Lincoln Mkz	No Coverage	Yes
Speeding Violation-Minor	National General	$405	26	33617	Nissan Altima 2.5	No Coverage	No

Last Updated Nov 29, 2024

Cheapest car insurance in Tampa after DUI

DUIs are a growing problem in Florida, and Tampa has more than its share. In March of 2022, a study by FLHSMV found that Hillsborough county accounted for more impaired-driving crashes than any other Florida County except Pinellas and Duval, with 54 crashes—nearly 11% of the impaired crashes in the state of Florida.⁸

If you have a DUI on your record, it’s important to shop around and compare rates from multiple insurance companies to find the most affordable option. Jerry can help you find the best rates for auto insurance in Tampa even after a DUI conviction.

Cheapest car insurance in Tampa after an at-fault accident

Your driving record in Florida is one of the crucial factors that affect your car insurance rates. Insurance companies look at any past accidents where you were at fault to determine the level of risk you pose to your insurer.

If you have been involved in an at-fault accident in the recent past, your car insurance rates in Tampa could significantly increase when your policy is up for renewal. It is essential to shop around and compare rates from different insurers to find the cheapest auto insurance after an at-fault accident.

Accident type	Insurance Company	Premium (monthly)	Age	Zip Code	Car	Liability Limits	Has Full Coverage
Not At Fault	Bristol West	$143	30	33614	Mazda Cx-7	No Coverage	No
Not At Fault	Mendota	$847	37	33634	Nissan Kicks S	State Minimum	Yes
Not At Fault	Assurance America	$746	25	33647	Hyundai Sonata Gls	No Coverage	No
Not At Fault	National General	$225	29	33624	Honda Accord Lx	State Minimum	No
Not At Fault	National General	$291	34	33610	Mazda Cx-5 Grand Touring	No Coverage	Yes

Last Updated Nov 29, 2024

Cheapest car insurance in Tampa after other driving violations

Apart from speeding tickets and DUIs, there are several other violations that can lead to an increase in car insurance costs in Tampa, including careless driving, driving without a license, and reckless driving.

We’ve compiled a list of various other driving violations and how we helped drivers with these violations save on their car insurance.

Violation	Insurance Company	Premium (monthly)	Age	Zip Code	Car	Liability Limits	Has Full Coverage
Failure to Stop	National General	$385	27	33610	Ford Expedition Max Xlt	No Coverage	Yes
Failure to Stop	Mendota	$847	37	33634	Nissan Kicks S	State Minimum	Yes
Suspension	Assurance America	$746	25	33647	Hyundai Sonata Gls	No Coverage	No
Suspension	National General	$225	29	33624	Honda Accord Lx	State Minimum	No
Other Minor	Progressive	$493	24	33624	Honda Accord Exl	State Minimum	Yes

Last Updated Nov 30, 2024

Cheap car insurance quotes in Tampa by age

Young drivers typically have limited driving experience and are therefore considered high-risk by insurance companies, resulting in high insurance rates. However, when drivers reach the age of 25, they may see a drop in their rates. 

On the other hand, drivers over the age of 75 may see an increase in their rates due to potential health issues and slower reflexes.

Cheapest car insurance in Tampa for young drivers

In Tampa, teen drivers between the ages of 16 and 21 pay the highest insurance premiums of any age group. 

The best financial protection for young drivers is full-coverage car insurance, which provides coverage for all their mistakes while they learn the rules of the road. The cheapest full coverage car insurance for young drivers comes with a provider that offers good student or new driver discounts.

Cheapest car insurance in Tampa for senior drivers

Similar to teenage drivers, car insurance rates for senior drivers are typically higher than the national average. Insurers consider senior drivers high-risk because:

• Senior drivers have a higher likelihood of being involved in car accidents
• Accidents involving senior drivers typically result in more severe injuries and increased medical expenses

Cheap car insurance quotes in Tampa based on insurance history

If you’ve had a car insurance lapse or you’re currently uninsured, it can lead to higher car insurance rates.

To help our customers avoid a lapse in coverage and make payments on time, Jerry sends payment reminders to eligible customers when a payment is due or if they’re late on their payments.

We’ve helped many customers in Tampa who are currently uninsured or have had a lapse in coverage find affordable insurance options.

Cheap car insurance quotes in Tampa for drivers with poor credit

While your credit rating doesn’t necessarily reflect your driving ability, insurance companies have found a correlation between lower credit scores and higher claim filings. Tampa drivers with poor credit scores tend to face higher car insurance costs than those with good credit scores. 

A 2023 study by the Consumer Federation of America (CFA) found that Florida drivers with poor credit (524-577) pay 143% more for car insurance than drivers with excellent credit (over 823). Jerry finds the cheapest rates for Florida car insurance regardless of your credit rating.

Credit Range	Insurance Company	Premium (monthly)	Age	Zip Code	Car	Liability Limits	Has Full Coverage
<550	The General	$489	36	33604	Chevrolet Equinox Ls	No Coverage	No
550-659	National General	$238	55	33610	Hyundai Accent Gs	No Coverage	No
<550	Bristol West	$143	30	33614	Mazda Cx-7	No Coverage	No
660-750	Progressive	$273	49	33624	Kia Forte Fe	State Minimum	Yes
550-659	National General	$385	27	33610	Ford Expedition Max Xlt	No Coverage	Yes

Last Updated Nov 30, 2024

Cheap car insurance quotes in Tampa for popular cars

If you want to save on car insurance, avoid sports cars, luxury SUVs, and high-performance models. These vehicles might be beautifully-made, but they cost a ton to repair, and thus insure.

Insurance companies look at a vehicle’s cost of repairs and replacements, likelihood of theft, and safety ratings when determining its insurance premiums. Here are the top five picks of Tampa drivers that perform well in all three categories: 

• Toyota Camry
• Honda Accord
• Ford F-Series
• Chevrolet Silverado
• Nissan Altima

Popular Car	Insurance Company	Premium (monthly)	Age	Zip Code	Liability Limits	Has Full Coverage
Honda Accord Lx	National General	$225	29	33624	State Minimum	No
Honda Accord Exl	Progressive	$493	24	33624	State Minimum	Yes
Toyota Camry Le	National General	$362	36	33618	No Coverage	Yes
Nissan Altima	The General	$376	19	33634	No Coverage	No
Nissan Altima S	Embark General	$748	46	33605	No Coverage	No

Last Updated Nov 30, 2024

How to lower car insurance costs in Tampa

1. Shop around and compare quotes

To get through the Tampa car insurance crisis, you need to take action to avoid overpaying. Because insurance companies adjust their pricing models frequently, regular comparison shopping is the best way to keep your rates low without sacrificing coverage.

2. Hunt for car insurance discounts

You can make an okay rate into a great one with the right car insurance discount. See if your provider offers a program for:

• Good drivers. If you’ve held a clean driving record for at least three years, you’re due for some sweet discounts.
• Installing a telematics device. Telematics devices track how far you drive, when you drive, and how you drive. If you brake often and hard, this isn’t the program for you. But if you’re a calm and mellow driver, you could reap a low rate as a reward!
• Good students. Full-time high school and college students with a B average or better can translate their scholastic successes into savings.
• Bundling insurance products. Bundle your car and home insurance and you could pay less for each of them.

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.

Sources

1. https://www.flhsmv.gov/traffic-crash-reports/crash-dashboard/ ↩︎
2. https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/news-insights/latest-news-headlines/us-private-auto-insurance-rates-see-double-digit-jump-in-2023-77178794 ↩︎
3. https://wsvn.com/news/investigations/car-insurance-in-florida-is-costliest-in-country-whats-driving-the-sky-high-rates/ ↩︎
4. https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2023/11/12/auto-glass-florida-insurance/ ↩︎
5. https://www.fbi.gov/stats-services/publications/insurance-fraud ↩︎
6. https://www.tampabay.com/opinion/2023/12/12/florida-auto-insurance-is-too-high-here-is-one-fix-column/ ↩︎
7. https://www.iii.org/fact-statistic/facts-statistics-hurricanes ↩︎
8. https://www.flhsmv.gov/2023/03/03/flhsmv-launches-never-drive-impaired-campaign-discusses-dui-dangers/ ↩︎

*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.