The most affordable car insurance company for you depends on many factors, including your age, driving record and location. Our study showed that the cheapest insurer charged an average of $47 per month, while the most expensive cost $134 — an $87 difference for the same driver.
Table of content:
What are the cheapest car insurance companies?
We analyzed more than 20 companies in our study of the cheapest auto insurance. From those companies, the following six stood out for offering consistently affordable rates.
State Farm offers the cheapest minimum-coverage insurance rates, at $64 per month, while Farm Bureau has the second-most affordable option, at $72 a month.
USAA and Erie both offer inexpensive rates. USAA's minimum-coverage policy costs $47 per month, and Erie's costs $53 a month. However, USAA is only available to qualified military members, veterans and some of their family members. Erie only sells policies in 12 states and the District of Columbia.
| Company | Minimum coverage | Full coverage |
|---|---|---|
| USAA | $570 | $1,256 |
| Erie | $636 | $1,300 |
| State Farm | $766 | $1,549 |
| Farm Bureau | $868 | $1,835 |
| MetLife | $885 | $1,001 |
| Auto-Owners | $1,041 | $2,998 |
| Progressive | $1,045 | $1,981 |
| Mid-Century | $1,099 | $1,960 |
| American Family | $1,108 | $1,832 |
| Geico | $1,132 | $2,521 |
| Nationwide | $1,282 | $2,346 |
| Allstate | $1,322 | $2,669 |
| Farmers | $1,341 | $2,406 |
| Travelers | $1,604 | $2,979 |
| Note: Average rates are based on non-binding estimates provided by Quadrant Information Services. Your rates may vary. | ||
For both minimum and full coverage, Erie, State Farm and Farm Bureau offer some of the cheapest rates around.
What is the cheapest auto insurer in each state?
| State | Company | Average annual rate |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | State Farm | $486 |
| Alaska | Allstate | $509 |
| Arizona | State Farm | $1,336 |
| Arkansas | State Farm | $1521 |
| California | CSAA | $589 |
| Colorado | Nationwide | $827 |
| Connecticut | State Farm | $706 |
| Delaware | Travelers | $942 |
| District of Columbia | Erie | 331 |
| Florida | Geico | $535 |
| Georgia | Georgia Farm Bureau | $634 |
| Hawaii | Geico | $287 |
| Idaho | State Farm | $340 |
| Illinois | State Farm | $645 |
| Indiana | Erie | $384 |
| Iowa | State Farm | $317 |
| Kansas | State Farm | $399 |
| Kentucky | Kentucky Farm Bureau | $951 |
| Louisiana | Louisiana Farm Bureau | $764 |
| Maine | MetLife | $343 |
| Maryland | Erie | $691 |
| Massachusetts | State Farm | $329 |
| Michigan | MetLief | $780 |
| Minnesota | Western Agricultural | $481 |
| Mississippi | Mississippi Farm Bureau | $884 |
| Missouri | State Farm | $514 |
| Montana | Geico | $441 |
| Nebraska | State Farm | $394 |
| Nevada | State Farm | $1,125 |
| New Hampshire | State Farm | $1,125 |
| New Jersey | Geico | $802 |
| New Mexico | State Farm | $477 |
| New York | Erie | $1,702 |
| North Carolina | Erie | $386 |
| North Dakota | American Family | $293 |
| Ohio | State Farm | $416 |
| Oklahoma | State Farm | $520 |
| Oregon | State Farm | $635 |
| Pennsylvania | Erie | $478 |
| Rhode Island | Geico | $1,565 |
| South Carolina | State Farm | $688 |
| South Dakota | State Farm | $331 |
| Tennessee | State Farm | $414 |
| Texas | State Farm | $810 |
| Utah | State Farm | $735 |
| Vermont | State Farm | $332 |
| Virginia | Erie | $419 |
| Washington | PEMCO | $545 |
| West Virginia | Erie | $377 |
| Wisconsin | Geico | $255 |
| Wyoming | State Farm | $920 |
| Note: Average rates are based on non-binding estimates by Quadrant Information Services. Your rates may vary. | ||
State Farm: cheapest widely available insurer
State Farm customers pay an average of $64 a month for minimum coverage, or $129 for full coverage, making it one of the cheapest insurers we researched.
What to know:
- Performs better than average in customer satisfaction surveys like J.D. Power.
- State Farm has one of the best mobile apps and offers more discounts than we usually see, giving you more opportunities to save.
- Available in every state and the District of Columbia.
Erie: cheapest auto insurance overall
Erie offers the cheapest auto insurance rates, based on our research. With an average of $53 a month for minimum coverage, or $108 a month for full coverage, Erie’s rates are tough to beat.
Whether you’re looking for minimum coverage or full coverage, are a new or experienced driver, or have an accident on your record, make sure to consider Erie for affordable coverage.
What to know:
- Erie’s Rate Lock program means your rates won’t change unless your policy does.
- Erie offers first accident forgiveness after three years of safe driving.
- Erie only operates in 12 states — Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin — and the District of Columbia.
USAA: cheapest insurer for veterans
USAA is the largest insurance company in the U.S. that caters exclusively to military personnel and their families. The average minimum-coverage policy is $47 per month, while a full-coverage policy costs an average $105 a month.
What to know:
- Offers a vehicle storage discount that can be extremely beneficial for military members deployed abroad.
- Consistently one of the highest-ranking insurers in customer service by J.D. Power and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).
- Available in every state and the District of Columbia.
>> See how we made our picks in our methodology.
Cheapest companies after a driving incident
Who has the cheapest car insurance for drivers with an accident?
We found that Erie offered the cheapest rates after an at-fault accident, at $129 a month. Auto-Owners had the smallest percentage increase, with a 14% rate hike after an accident, although their quote for a clean driver is on the expensive side.
Getting into a bad accident can make finding affordable rates difficult, as many people see their rates skyrocket after a serious incident. According to our data, rates increase by 40% after an accident — a $71 per month increase.
Here’s what you can expect to pay from some of the top companies after an accident.
| Company | No incidents | After one accident | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Erie | $1,300 | $1,554 | 20% |
| USAA | $1,256 | $1,725 | 37% |
| State Farm | $1,549 | $1,840 | 19% |
| Farm Bureau | $1,835 | $2,537 | 38% |
| Mid-Century | $1,960 | $2,851 | 45% |
| American Family | $1,832 | $2,860 | 56% |
| Progressive | $1,981 | $3,075 | 55% |
| MetLife | $2,001 | $3,193 | 60% |
| Nationwide | $2,346 | $3,197 | 36% |
| Farmers | $2,406 | $3,415 | 42% |
| Auto-Owners | $2,998 | $3,432 | 14% |
| Travelers | $2,979 | $3,842 | 29% |
| Geico | $2,521 | $3,957 | 57% |
| Allstate | $2,669 | $3,970 | 49% |
| Note: Average rates are based on non-binding estimates provided by Quadrant Information Services. Your rates may vary. | |||
Who has the cheapest car insurance for drivers with a speeding ticket?
Speeding tickets increase your rates by an average of 26%. Our previous picks remain among the most affordable options because they hike your rates less than other companies. Some companies may increase your rates by more than 50%.
| Company | No speeding ticket | One speeding ticket | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Erie | $1,300 | $1,425 | 10% |
| USAA | $1,256 | $1,539 | 23% |
| State Farm | $1,549 | $1,698 | 10% |
| Farm Bureau | $1,835 | $2,194 | 38% |
| American Family | $1,832 | $2,210 | 21% |
| Progressive | $1,981 | $2,574 | 30% |
| Mid-Century | $1,960 | $2,604 | 33% |
| Geico | $2,521 | $3,005 | 19% |
| Nationwide | $2,346 | $3,042 | 30% |
| Auto-Owners | $2,998 | $3,089 | 3% |
| Allstate | $2,669 | $3,123 | 17% |
| Farmers | $2,406 | $3,197 | 33% |
| Travelers | $2,979 | $3,622 | 22% |
| MetLife | $2,001 | $3,904 | 95% |
| Note: Average rates are based on non-binding estimates provided by Quadrant Information Services. Your rates may vary. | |||
Who has the cheapest car insurance for drivers with a DUI?
Driving under the influence is a dangerous crime with steep penalties. Our study shows that drivers who have been charged with a DUI can see as much as a 127% increase in their insurance premiums, depending on their company. The average driver caught with a DUI pays 75% more for auto insurance versus their counterpart with a clean record.
| Company | No DUI | One DUI | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| State Farm | $1,549 | $2,110 | 36% |
| Erie | $1,300 | $2,142 | 65% |
| USAA | $1,256 | $2,383 | 90% |
| Progressive | $1,981 | $2,621 | 32% |
| American Family | $1,832 | $2,810 | 53% |
| Mid-Century | $1,960 | $3,104 | 58% |
| Farm Bureau | $1,835 | $3,131 | 71% |
| Farmers | $2,406 | $4,080 | 70% |
| Nationwide | $2,346 | $4,390 | 87% |
| MetLife | $2,001 | $4,546 | 127% |
| Travelers | $2,979 | $4,598 | 54% |
| Allstate | $2,669 | $4,944 | 85% |
| Geico | $2,521 | $5,673 | 125% |
| Auto-Owners | $2,998 | $5,673 | 97% |
| Note: Average rates are based on non-binding estimates provided by Quadrant Information Services. Your rates may vary. | |||
State Farm, Erie and USAA continue to be some of the cheapest options after an accident or DUI. For more ideas on getting cheap rates after a DUI, check our DUI insurance guide.
How can you get the best car insurance rates?
Besides comparing rates from multiple companies, every driver should take advantage of the following steps to reduce the cost of their insurance policy:
- Ask your insurer about discounts. All major insurance companies offer discounts to reward customers who engage in safe driving practices or who are loyal. You can receive discounts for installing anti-theft devices, bundling your car insurance with the company's home plan or taking a defensive driving course.
- Regularly re-evaluate your coverage needs. Your individual coverage needs will change over time. For instance, if you're driving significantly less these days, you should see if a pay-per-mile program would be better suited for your lifestyle. If you don't expect to use your car anytime soon, but don't want lapses in coverage, you might save money by having a minimum-coverage policy.
- Contact your insurer for an updated quote if your driving profile changes. Your car insurance cost is influenced by multiple factors, including your age, credit score and ZIP code. Have any of these changed? See if your insurer will quote you a lower rate compared to what you have now.
Compare Auto Insurance Rates from Multiple Companies
See how much you could save with a new policy
Get cheaper rates by taking advantage of discounts
When it comes to finding cheap auto insurance, there are things you cannot control easily or at all, like your age, gender or vehicle. That’s why taking advantage of all the discounts at your disposal is so important. If you think the following discounts could apply to you, make sure to ask your insurance company if they offer them.
- Low-mileage discounts are available through many car insurance companies. Often, this discount applies to people who drive their vehicle 8,000 miles per year or less, but the exact number varies between insurers. Alternatively, you can look into pay-per-mile or telematics-based car insurance programs.
- Bundling multiple policies with one company, like your home and auto or renters and auto insurance policies, can save you hundreds of dollars every year. Bundling discounts tend to be around 5% to 20%.
- Defensive driver courses can lower your rates, sometimes lowering specific parts of your policy by around 10%, according to our survey of courses. Over a few years, the cost of the course usually pays for itself.
Check out our complete guide on auto insurance discounts for more ways to save.
Methodology
To find the cheapest auto insurance companies, we aggregated and analyzed over 200,000 quotes from every state and the District of Columbia.
We evaluated two policies: a minimum-coverage policy and a full-coverage policy. During instances where a minimum-coverage policy was discussed, the limits were the lowest amount of coverage needed to drive in a particular state.
When we assessed full-coverage liability policy data, the following specifications were applied:
| Coverage | Limits |
|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability (BIL) | $100,000 per person/$300,000 per accident |
| Property damage liability (PDL) | $100,000 per accident |
| Uninsured motorist BI | $100,000 per person/$300,000 per accident |
| Comprehensive | $500 deductible |
| Collision | $500 deductible |
QuoteWizard.com LLC has made every effort to ensure that the information on this site is correct, but we cannot guarantee that it is free of inaccuracies, errors, or omissions. All content and services provided on or through this site are provided "as is" and "as available" for use. QuoteWizard.com LLC makes no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, as to the operation of this site or to the information, content, materials, or products included on this site. You expressly agree that your use of this site is at your sole risk.