Best Full Coverage Car Insurance

Written by Amy Bobinger and 1 other
Nov 29, 2024

Full coverage car insurance includes liability, collision, and comprehensive insurance, and it’s a better option than state minimum coverage for most drivers.

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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:

Insurance companyMinimum liabilityFull 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

When shopping for full coverage insurance, remember:

  • 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.
SIMPLIFY YOUR CAR INSURANCE IN MINUTES

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.

Type of coverageWhat it coversIs it required?
Liability insuranceMedical bills and vehicle repairs for other parties in an at-fault accident, up to your coverage limits.Typically
Collision insurancePhysical damage to your vehicle caused by a collision, including single-car rollover eventsRequired by lenders for financed or leased vehicles
Comprehensive insurancePhysical 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
Uninsured motorist/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) insuranceMedical expenses (and sometimes property damage) from an accident caused by an uninsured driver, up to your policy’s limitsRequired 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
Personal injury protection (PIP)Medical bills, lost wages, rehabilitation costs, and funeral expenses after a car accident regardless of faultRequired by law in no-fault states
Medical payments (MedPay) coverageMedical bills, rehabilitation costs, and funeral expenses for you and your passengersRequired by law in Maine

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.

Type of coverageWhat it coversIs it required?
Gap insuranceThe difference between a totaled car payout and the remaining loan balanceMay be required if you lease a car
Roadside assistanceTowing and labor costs associated with a mechanical breakdownNo
Rental car reimbursementThe cost of a rental car when your vehicle is in the shop following a collision or comprehensive claimNo

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:

StateMinimum liabilityFull coverage
Alabama$64$149
Arizona$66$161
Arkansas$61$157
California$66$200
Colorado$60$181
Connecticut$98$183
Delaware$83$164
District of Columbia$77$185
Florida$174$312
Georgia$104$213
Hawaii$82$146
Idaho$42$102
Illinois$63$138
Indiana$56$114
Iowa$44$114
Kansas$55$135
Kentucky$109$199
Louisiana$105$260
Maine$41$75
Maryland$91$192
Massachusetts$60$129
Michigan$118$197
Minnesota$67$133
Mississippi$59$147
Missouri$65$162
Montana$45$124
Nebraska$52$121
Nevada$63$150
New Hampshire$43$83
New Jersey$93$181
New Mexico$54$159
New York$122$211
North Carolina$43$109
North Dakota$73$152
Ohio$49$106
Oklahoma$60$137
Oregon$70$149
Pennsylvania$53$133
Rhode Island$67$152
South Carolina$113$218
South Dakota$53$124
Tennessee$59$155
Texas$85$198
Utah$67$132
Vermont$36$80
Virginia$61$130
Washington$65$145
West Virginia$59$134
Wisconsin$42$103
Wyoming$29$89

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:

ModelMinimum liabilityFull coverage
Ford F-Series$96$170
Chevrolet Silverado$94$211
Toyota RAV4$103$228
Tesla Model Y$118$343
Honda CR-V$100$211
Ram 1500/2500/3500$105$240
GMC Sierra$91$205
Toyota Camry$115$235
Toyota Tacoma$89$172
Tesla Model 3$117$362

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:

Age groupMinimum liabilityFull coverage
Under 18$275$681
18–21$248$542
22–25$163$369
26–34$123$274
35–44$110$242
45–54$106$230
55–64$100$213
65 and up$106$214

Learn more: Teen car insurance


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:

ViolationAverage monthly insurance costPercentage increase
Good driver$121
Insurance lapse$15427%
Failure to wear seat belt$18653%
At-fault accident$19460%
Failure to signal$20468%
Improper cell phone use$21779%
Speeding (all speeds)$252108%
DUI/DWI$272125%

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:

Credit rangeMinimum liabilityFull coverage
< 600$62$145
601–699$59$132
700+$54$120

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
SIMPLIFY YOUR CAR INSURANCE IN MINUTES

Learn more: Liability insurance versus full coverage


FAQ

  • What does full coverage mean in auto insurance?
  • What’s the best car insurance to have?
  • How much does full coverage car insurance cost?
  • Is full coverage car insurance required?

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.

Source

  1. https://www.cdc.gov/transportationsafety/teen_drivers/teendrivers_factsheet.html ↩︎
MEET OUR EXPERTS
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Amy Bobinger

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.

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Sarah Gray

Sarah Gray is an insurance writer with nearly a decade of experience in publishing and writing. Sarah specializes in writing articles that educate car owners and buyers on the full scope of car ownership—from shopping for and buying a new car to scrapping one that’s breathed its last and everything in between. Sarah has authored over 1,500 articles for Jerry on topics ranging from first-time buyer programs to how to get a salvage title for a totaled car. Prior to joining Jerry, Sarah was a full-time professor of English literature and composition with multiple academic writing publications.

For illustrative purposes only, results may vary

Editorial Note: This article was written by a paid member of Jerry’s editorial team. Statements in this article represent the author’s personal opinions and do not constitute advice or recommendations. You should consult with an insurance professional about your specific circumstances and needs before making any insurance decisions.