Key Takeaways
- The average cost of full-coverage car insurance is $1,949 a year, which is about double the cost of minimum liability.
- Although full coverage is not required by law, it is required for a car loan or lease. It’s also recommended for vehicles worth more than a few thousand dollars.
- Drivers with bad credit pay an average of 58% for full coverage than those with good credit. All but seven states allow insurance companies to factor credit into your auto insurance rate.
In this article:
- How much does full-coverage car insurance cost
- Cheapest companies for full-coverage car insurance
- Cheapest full-coverage car insurance companies by state
- How prior incidents affect full-coverage car insurance rates
- Full-coverage car insurance for young drivers
- How to save money on full-coverage car insurance
How much is full coverage car insurance?
The average cost of full-coverage car insurance nationwide is $1,949 a year, or $162 a month. However, your actual rate depends on several factors, including:
- Your age
- Your ZIP code
- Your vehicle’s model, age and safety features
- Your driving record
- Your insurance history
- Your credit history, except in states that ban credit scoring
- Any discounts you may be eligible to receive
Since each auto insurance company weighs these factors differently and offers different discounts, it’s best to compare quotes from multiple companies when you shop.
Get free car insurance quotes from top companies near you
Why get full-coverage auto insurance?
Full-coverage auto insurance costs about twice as much as minimum-liability insurance, but it also provides a lot more coverage.
State-required minimum-liability policies typically only cover your financial responsibility for injuries or property damage you cause to others in a car accident.
Full coverage combines the minimum coverages most states require with collision and comprehensive coverage. The latter two combine to cover your vehicle for theft and damage from most foreseeable causes, including an accident you cause, flood, fire and vandalism.
Most states only require minimum-liability auto insurance to drive legally, although some also require uninsured motorist coverage and/or personal injury protection.
Lenders and leasing companies, on the other hand, require you to add collision and comprehensive to your policy to protect their financial interest in your car.
You don’t have to get collision or comprehensive coverage if you own your vehicle outright. However, both are recommended for any vehicle valued at more than a few thousand dollars.
Cheapest company for full-coverage car insurance: American Family
American Family has the cheapest average rate for full-coverage car insurance nationwide, $124 a month. The next-best rate, $127 a month from State Farm, is only slightly higher.
Both companies’ rates are about 20% less than the national average of $162 a month.
USAA’s average rate for full-coverage car insurance, $91 a month, is cheapest overall. However, USAA is only available to current and former members of the military and their families.
| Company | Monthly rate |
|---|---|
| American Family | $124 |
| State Farm | $127 |
| U.S. average | $162 |
| Progressive | $164 |
| Nationwide | $177 |
| GEICO | $181 |
| Travelers | $201 |
| Allstate | $210 |
| Farmers | $215 |
| USAA* | $91 |
| Rates are for single 35-year-old males with good credit and a clean driving record. Your rates may vary. *Only available to current/former military and their families. | |
Cheapest full-coverage auto insurance companies by state
Although American Family has the cheapest average full-coverage car insurance rate in the U.S. overall, State Farm’s full-coverage rates are cheapest in 31 states.
In contrast, American Family’s full-coverage rates are only lowest in one state, Nebraska.
Among other large companies, GEICO has the cheapest full-coverage rates in five states, while Progressive is cheapest in two.
In most other states, the cheapest full-coverage rates are available from regional auto insurance companies, including Erie, Auto-Owners and Farm Bureau affiliates.
| State | Cheapest company | Monthly full-coverage rate |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | State Farm | $102 |
| Alaska | State Farm | $94 |
| Arizona | State Farm | $123 |
| Arkansas | State Farm | $80 |
| California | GEICO | $125 |
| Colorado | State Farm | $111 |
| Connecticut | Travelers | $130 |
| Delaware | State Farm | $112 |
| Florida | GEICO | $156 |
| Georgia | Georgia Farm Bureau | $118 |
| Hawaii | GEICO | $71 |
| Idaho | State Farm | $52 |
| Illinois | State Farm | $93 |
| Indiana | State Farm | $72 |
| Iowa | State Farm | $51 |
| Kansas | State Farm | $87 |
| Kentucky | State Farm | $90 |
| Louisiana | Louisiana Farm Bureau | $153 |
| Maine | State Farm | $57 |
| Maryland | State Farm | $139 |
| Massachusetts | Safety | $95 |
| Michigan | Progressive | $221 |
| Minnesota | State Farm | $83 |
| Mississippi | State Farm | $87 |
| Missouri | State Farm | $92 |
| Montana | State Farm | $83 |
| Nebraska | American Family | $104 |
| Nevada | State Farm | $114 |
| New Hampshire | Hanover | $35 |
| New Jersey | GEICO | $128 |
| New Mexico | State Farm | $86 |
| New York | Progressive | $121 |
| North Carolina | North Carolina Farm Bureau | $70 |
| North Dakota | State Farm | $73 |
| Ohio | Grange | $83 |
| Oklahoma | State Farm | $124 |
| Oregon | State Farm | $119 |
| Pennsylvania | Erie | $116 |
| Rhode Island | Amica | $200 |
| South Carolina | Auto-Owners | $104 |
| South Dakota | State Farm | $77 |
| Tennessee | State Farm | $71 |
| Texas | GEICO | $138 |
| Utah | State Farm | $111 |
| Vermont | State Farm | $51 |
| Virginia | Virginia Farm Bureau | $77 |
| Washington | State Farm | $114 |
| Washington DC | State Farm | $108 |
| West Virginia | State Farm | $74 |
| Wisconsin | Secura | $71 |
| Wyoming | State Farm | $86 |
| Rates are for single 35-year-old males with good credit and a clean driving record. Your rates may vary. | ||
Cheapest full-coverage car insurance for drivers with a prior incident
The impact a ticket or accident has on the price you pay for full coverage depends on the severity of the incident.
For example, a driver with a speeding ticket pays 21% more for full-coverage car insurance than someone with a clean record. An at-fault accident increases the average cost of full coverage by 41%, while a DUI doubles the cost.
Cheapest for drivers with a speeding ticket: State Farm
State Farm offers the cheapest full-coverage car insurance to drivers with a speeding ticket, charging rates that average $144 a month. American Family has the next-best rate, $147 a month.
A speeding ticket raises the average price of car insurance nationwide by 21% to $196 a month.
| Company | Monthly rate |
|---|---|
| State Farm | $144 |
| American Family | $147 |
| U.S. average | $196 |
| Progressive | $215 |
| Nationwide | $232 |
| GEICO | $238 |
| Allstate | $248 |
| Travelers | $252 |
| Farmers | $291 |
| USAA* | $111 |
| Rates are for single 35-year-old males with good credit and one prior speeding ticket on their record. Your rates may vary. *Only available to current/former military and their families. | |
Cheapest for drivers with an at-fault accident: State Farm
State Farm and American Family also have the cheapest full-coverage car insurance for drivers with an at-fault accident. They charge rates that average $159 and $201 a month, respectively.
An at-fault accident raises the average price of full-coverage car insurance by 41% to $229 a month.
| Company | Monthly rate |
|---|---|
| State Farm | $159 |
| American Family | $201 |
| U.S. average | $229 |
| Progressive | $257 |
| Nationwide | $243 |
| GEICO | $316 |
| Allstate | $324 |
| Travelers | $281 |
| Farmers | $317 |
| USAA* | $131 |
| Rates are for single 35-year-old males with good credit and one prior at-fault accident on their driving record. Your rates may vary. *Only available to current/former military and their families. | |
Cheapest for drivers with a DUI: American Family
American Family offers the cheapest full-coverage car insurance to drivers with a DUI, charging rates that average $191 a month nationwide. State Farm’s rate of $194 a month is only slightly higher.
The average price of car full coverage for a driver with a DUI is $333 a month. This is more than double the rate available to a driver with a clean record.
| Company | Monthly rate |
|---|---|
| American Family | $191 |
| State Farm | $194 |
| Progressive | $209 |
| Allstate | $301 |
| Travelers | $305 |
| U.S. average | $333 |
| Farmers | $333 |
| Nationwide | $352 |
| GEICO | $445 |
| USAA | $172 |
| Rates are for single 35-year-old males with good credit and one prior DUI on their record. Your rates may vary. *Only available to current/former military and their families. | |
Cheapest full-coverage car insurance for young drivers: Nationwide
Nationwide and GEICO have the cheapest full-coverage car insurance for young drivers, charging 18-year-olds a monthly average of $385 and $464, respectively.
Teens have the highest crash rates among all age groups. This is the main reason why young drivers pay so much more for car insurance than mature adults.
The good news is that teens pay 48% less for car insurance when added to a parent’s car insurance than they do when they get their own policy.
Teens can typically also score discounts on car insurance by maintaining good grades and/or completing an accredited driver education program.
| Company | Monthly rate |
|---|---|
| Nationwide | $385 |
| GEICO | $465 |
| American Family | $471 |
| State Farm | $574 |
| Progressive | $612 |
| Allstate | $620 |
| Travelers | $692 |
| Farmers | $731 |
| USAA* | $368 |
| Rates are for single 18-year-old males with no prior tickets or accidents. Your rates may vary. *Only available to current/former military and their families. | |
Cheapest full-coverage auto insurance for seniors citizens: American Family and State Farm
American Family and State Farm tie for the cheapest full-coverage auto insurance for senior citizens, with each company charging an average $121 a month for 65-year-olds.
A senior driver can often score a discount on car insurance by completing an approved defensive driving class. Find out which classes your insurance company approves of for its discount before you enroll in one.
| Company | Monthly rate |
|---|---|
| American Family | $121 |
| State Farm | $121 |
| Progressive | $154 |
| Nationwide | $165 |
| GEICO | $177 |
| Travelers | $180 |
| Farmers | $211 |
| Allstate | $214 |
| USAA* | $91 |
| Rates are for single 65-year-old males with good credit and a clean driving record. Your rates may vary. *Only available to current/former military and their families. | |
Cheapest full-coverage car insurance for married drivers: American Family
American Family offers the cheapest full-coverage car insurance to married drivers, charging rates that average $127 a month.
Insurance companies charge lower rates to married drivers, because married drivers are considered less risky to insure than unmarried drivers.
Although the average price of full coverage for married drivers overall is only 2% less per spouse than it is for single drivers, the discounts vary by company.
For example, Progressive’s average rate for married drivers is 14% lower than its price for singles.
| Company | Monthly rate |
|---|---|
| American Family | $127 |
| State Farm | $130 |
| Progressive | $140 |
| Nationwide | $165 |
| GEICO | $189 |
| Travelers | $201 |
| Allstate | $208 |
| Farmers | $214 |
| USAA* | $84 |
| Rates are for married 35-year-old males with good credit and a clean driving record. Your rates may vary. *Only available to current/former military and their families. | |
Cheapest full-coverage auto insurance for drivers with bad credit: American Family
American Family and Nationwide have the cheapest full-coverage auto insurance rates for drivers with bad credit. They charge rates that average $197 and $246 a month, respectively.
Insurance companies view certain factors about your credit history, such as the types and amounts of credit you use, as indicative of how likely you are to file a claim.
Although the practice is widely used, seven states, including California, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania, prohibit credit-scoring for insurance.
In states where credit-scoring is allowed, the average cost of full-coverage car insurance for a driver with bad credit is $256 a month. This is 58% higher than the average rate available to drivers with good credit.
| Company | Monthly rate |
|---|---|
| American Family | $197 |
| Nationwide | $246 |
| U.S. average | $256 |
| GEICO | $270 |
| Progressive | $275 |
| State Farm | $298 |
| Allstate | $322 |
| Farmers | $345 |
| Travelers | $392 |
| USAA* | $158 |
| Rates are for single 35-year-old males with a clean driving record and poor credit. Your rates may vary. *Only available to current/former military and their families. | |
How can I save money on full-coverage car insurance?
Although full-coverage car insurance can get expensive, here are steps you can take to get a cheaper rate:
- Shop around: Compare quotes from multiple companies every few years, or anytime you are being overcharged, to make sure you are not overpaying for full coverage.
- Choose high deductibles: Increasing collision and comprehensive deductibles from $500 to $1,000 reduces the average cost of full-coverage car insurance by 9%. A higher deductible lowers your rate by more.
- Ask about discounts: Give the companies you contact all the information they need to apply every relevant discount to your quote or policy.
- Avoid small insurance claims: Since your insurance rates typically go up after an at-fault collision claim, pay for minor damage you cause to your own car out of your own pocket. Only consider footing the bill for minor damage you cause to another person’s vehicle if the other driver is cooperative and the repairs are affordable.
Consider dropping full coverage if your car is old and/or has a low market value.
If you ever have to file a collision or comprehensive claim, the insurance company caps its payment at your car’s market value, minus your deductible.
If your car is valued at $10,000 and you have a $1,000 deductible, the most your insurance company pays is $9,000 if the vehicle is stolen or totaled. The maximum insurance payment for a car valued at $2,500 with a $1,000 deductible is only $1,500.
Methodology
The rates shown in this article are based on an analysis of quotes obtained from Quadrant Information Services for sample drivers in every state and the District of Columbia.
Unless otherwise noted, our sample driver is a 35-year-old male with good credit and a clean driving record.
All sample drivers have a 2012 Honda Accord LX that they drive an average of 13,500 miles per year.
Full-coverage car insurance includes the following coverages, limits and deductibles:
- Bodily injury liability: $100,000 per person/$300,000 per accident
- Property damage liability: $100,000 per person
- Collision: $500 deductible
- Comprehensive: $500 deductible
Uninsured motorist coverage and/or personal injury protection are included for sample drivers in states where either or both of these coverages are required by law.
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