Best Auto Insurance Rates in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Compare Auto Insurance in Pittsburgh

Friday, January 11 2019 By QuoteWizard

Pittsburgh is nicknamed “Steel City” because of its pivotal role in the history of the US steel industry. In 1901, famed businessman Andrew Carnegie formed US Steel in Pittsburgh. That same year, the world’s first movie theater opened in Pittsburgh. Within ten years, Pittsburgh was the eighth-largest city in the country, and produced about half the nation’s steel.

In modern times, Pittsburgh has 68 universities, 446 bridges, and 8 Fortune 500 Companies, not to mention three national championship-winning sports teams.

Average Pittsburgh Car Insurance Rates

How much is car insurance in Pittsburgh, PA? If you drive here in the city, you know how much insurance can cost. Pittsburgh has much higher crime rates than national averages. That's why insurance rates in Pittsburgh are so much higher than the national and state average. The average cost of auto insurance in Pennsylvania is $878.18 per year. The national annual average price is $889.01.

How much you pay will depend on several factors including your driving record and the number of claims filed in your zip code.

The graph below shows the change in average Pennsylvania insurance rates from 2011 to 2015, the most recent year the data is available. According to the III, Pennsylvania car insurance rates increased from $812 in 2011 to $878 in 2015, a jump of $65, or 8.05 percent.

QuoteWizard helps consumers compare quotes from both national companies and local independent agents. Comparing quotes can help you find cheap car insurance rates near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and save up to 40% on your premium.

Last year, 10,078 people used QuoteWizard to get a car insurance quote comparison in Pittsburgh, PA from multiple companies and find the cheapest rates.

Best Car Insurance Companies in Pittsburgh, PA

These are the most common car insurance companies reported by QuoteWizard users living in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania last year. Out of the 10,078 people in Pittsburgh that used QuoteWizard, 457 were uninsured.

Top 10 Vehicles

This is our list of the most common car makes and models owned by Pittsburgh, PA drivers who requested quotes through QuoteWizard last year.

Minimum Car Insurance Requirements in Pittsburgh, PA

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania has a minimum liability coverage requirement known as the 15/30/5 rule. This rule says that each policy must include at least:

• Individual Bodily Injury Liability (BIL): $15,000.
  The most your insurer will pay for a single person injured in a car accident.
• Total Bodily Injury Liability: $30,000.
  The most your insurer will pay in total for every person injured in a car accident.
• Property Damage Liability (PDL): $5,000.
  The most your insurer will pay for property damage caused by a car accident.
• Medical Payments: $5,000.
  This coverage pays for your medical expenses or any of your passengers who are hurt in an accident regardless of who is at fault.

Pittsburgh Drivers

Pittsburgh ranks 175th out of 200 cities in Allstate’s annual “Best and Worst Cities for Drivers” report. Most US drivers go ten years between accidents. Drivers here are involved in one every 7.1 years. A rate much higher than the national average.

Driving Conditions

Weather and road conditions can have an impact on car insurance rates.

Weather

The climate in Pittsburgh is in between a humid subtropical and humid continental climate. Summers are hot and humid. Winters are cold with a few snowy days. Spring and fall can be very nice with mild temperatures and a few rainy days. On average, Pittsburgh has 151 rainy days and about 40 snowy days each year. Pittsburgh is one of the cloudiest major cities, as well as one of the cities with the most days of measurable precipitation. This is a factor in Pittsburgh’s poor showing in the “Best and Worst Cities for Drivers” report above.

Road Conditions

As residents probably know, Pittsburgh’s roads are in bad shape. TRIP reports that 25 percent of Pittsburgh's major roads are in poor condition. Another 22 percent are mediocre. These poorly maintained, pothole-filled streets costs drivers $495 a year in extra vehicle operating costs. Rough roads can damage cars and can play a role in car accidents.

Traffic Congestion

TomTom ranks Pittsburgh 146th for worst traffic congestion in the world. An average commuter spends 21 minutes a day stuck in traffic. This adds up to 81 minutes a year.

Moving Violations

Moving violations like at-fault accidents, speeding, and drunk driving can result in an expensive car insurance premium. If that happens, you may need to purchase cheap high-risk car insurance.

Traffic Tickets

It's not easy, but fighting traffic tickets may be well worth your while. Even if you can't get the ticket dismissed, you may be able to have the charges lowered. If nothing else, fight the number of points assessed to your driver's license because of a moving violation. These points are what insurers look at when determining your insurance rates. If you want to keep your insurance rates low, you want to keep these points off your driver's license.

The Pittsburgh Courts website allows you to plead guilty and pay your citation, plead not guilty and request a hearing, make installment payments, and find valuable traffic court information.

Pittsburgh Police made 32,278 traffic stops in 2012. A 1.7 percent increase from the 31,724 traffic stops made in 2011.

DUI Arrests

Pittsburgh reported 4,331 arrests in 2014 for driving under the influence (DUI). This number includes all driver arrests, both alcohol-related and those impaired by other substances.

SR-22 DUI Insurance

A DUI conviction may require you to obtain an SR-22 form. Request a quote and we'll will connect you with local agents from top companies that specialize in Pittsburgh DUI insurance.

DWI Crashes and Injuries

Pittsburgh reported 361 crashes involving alcohol or drugs in 2017. These accidents caused 155 injuries and five fatalities.

Car Accident Statistics

Pittsburgh officials reported 4,604 car crashes in 2017. These crashes resulted in 1,899 injuries, 113 of them serious.

Car Accident Fatalities

Pittsburgh reported 15 car accident fatalities in 2017. All traffic deaths are a tragic loss, and considering Pittsburgh's estimated population of 302,407, this is one of the nation's safer cities in terms of traffic fatalities.

Vehicle Theft Rates

Pittsburgh reported 686 vehicle thefts in 2017. This is a rate of 2.27 thefts per 1,000 residents. This is close to US average of 2.37 car thefts per 1,000 people.

Car Insurance Discounts

Are you looking for affordable car insurance? Discounts are a great way to lower your rates. These are some of the many auto insurance discounts available in Pittsburgh, PA.

1. Bundle your auto policy with your homeowners or renters insurance. Bundling your cars and insurance policies together could save you as much as 20 percent
2. Active duty and retired members of the Military, National Guard, or Reserves are entitled to discounts for their service
3. If you're 55 or older you could qualify for either the senior discount or the 55 and retired discount
4. Safe driver. If you have a perfect driving record, you may qualify for the accident free discount.
5. Maintain at least a B grade point average ion school to qualify for the good student discount
6. Live in a safe neighborhood with low crime and good drivers where residents file few insurance claims. Residents of zip codes with high crime and poor driving conditions file more of the claims that lead to higher rates

Sources:

• Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh Municipal Court 05-0-03 - Traffic Citations
• Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Crime Rates
• United States Census Bureau - Pittsburgh, PA
• TRIP Urban Roads Report Appendices

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