Best Auto Insurance Rates in Scranton, Pennsylvania

Compare Auto Insurance in Scranton

Friday, January 11 2019 By Shantae Young

With an estimated population of 77,606, Scranton is the sixth-largest city in the state of Pennsylvania. Though it’s home to the infamous fictional paper company Dunder Mifflin from The Office, Scranton is famous for many other things as well. For instance, it introduced the electric-operated trolley to the world back in 1886, which explains the city’s nickname, "The Electric City."

Of course, the electric-operated trolley has been out of commission for some time now. Today, most people in Scranton rely on cars to get around. And that means they need affordable car insurance rates.

Average Scranton Car Insurance Rates

How much is car insurance in Scranton, PA? You won't be surprised to learn that premiums here are expensive. Many local drivers pay much higher rates than the state and national average. The average cost of auto insurance in Pennsylvania is $878.18 per year. The national average price is $889.01.

Prices vary depending on several factors. These include your driving record, claims history, your car make and model, and more.

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 can help you get insurance coverage that not only fits your needs but also fits within your budget. We'll help you compare quotes from a number of insurance carriers and independent agents. Comparing quotes can help you find cheap car insurance rates in Scranton, Pennsylvania and save up to 40% on your premium.

Last year, many people used QuoteWizard to compare quotes from multiple companies and find the cheapest auto insurance rates in Scranton, PA

Best Car Insurance Companies in Scranton, PA

These were the most common car insurance companies reported by QuoteWizard users living in Scranton last year.

Other popular Scranton, Pennsylvania car insurance companies: AAA, Travelers, USAA, Safeco, AIG, American Family, General, Hartford, and Infinity.

Top 10 Vehicles

These are the most common car makes and models owned by Scranton, PA drivers who requested quotes through QuoteWizard last year.

Minimum Car Insurance Requirements in Scranton, PA

Scranton, Pennsylvania, has a minimum liability coverage requirement known as the 15/30/5 rule. This means 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 insurance carrier will pay for every person injured in a car accident.
• Property Damage Liability (PDL): $5,000.
  The most your provider 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.

Driving Conditions

Driving conditions like traffic congestion and weather can affect your insurance rates

Weather

Scranton’s climate is “humid continental.” That means its summers are hot and humid and it has no real dry season. Residents can expect around 174 sunny days annually and around 129 days with some amount of precipitation. Winters here tend to be severe, and can cause dangerous driving conditions. On average, Scranton sees about 30 inches of snowfall each year.

Road Conditions

According to TRIP, Scranton’s roads are poorly maintained. Around 68 percent are either poor or mediocre. Only 18 percent are in good condition. Unfortunately, these poorly maintained roads cost Scranton drivers around $717 annually in extra vehicle operating costs.

If you would like to report a pothole in Scranton, call the Pothole Hotline at 570-348-4178.

Traffic Congestion

Scranton also suffers from traffic congestion problems. According to Inrix 2015 Scorecard, Scranton commuters spend 21 extra hours in traffic. On top of the time they waste in traffic, the city’s commuters also spend around $473 in extra traffic congestion costs.

Moving Violations

Moving violations including speeding tickets, at-fault accidents, and drunk driving can add points to your driver's license and raise your insurance rates. If this happens, you'll need to get affordable high-risk car insurance for bad drivers.

Traffic Tickets

The Pennsylvania ePay website allows drivers to pay any fines or fees to the state’s county courts.

DUI Arrests

Getting a DUI can cause all kinds of problems. One is that it usually causes your car insurance rates to spike. Your financial and legal woes can stick around for months. At the end of the day, a DUI can cost you between $300 and $10,000.

Over the past five years, Lackawanna County DUI arrests dropped 35 percent. Police made 1,122 DUI arrests in 2010, whereas police made just 734 DUI arrests last year.

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 Scranton DUI insurance.

Car Accident Fatalities

Lackawanna County experienced 2,580 car accidents in 2014, resulting in 1,209 injuries. Unfortunately, 15 of these accidents ended in fatalities.

Vehicle Theft Rates

Scranton reported 132 motor vehicle thefts in 2017. That's a rate of 1.70 per 1,000 residents. The national average: 2.37 auto thefts per 1,000 people.

Car Insurance Discounts

If you want affordable car insurance, discounts are one of the best ways to lower your rates. Below are only some of the car insurance discounts available to drivers in Scranton, PA.

1. Bundle your auto policy with your homeowners or renters insurance. Bundling is one of the best discounts and can reduce your rates by as much as 15%
2. If you're 55 or older you could qualify for either the senior discount or the 55 and retired discount
3. Are you married or getting married soon? Some insurers offer drivers a marriage discount
4. Get a new car to qualify for the new car discount. If the car has safety features like anti-lock brakes or electronic stability control, you might be entitled to additional discounts
5. Maintain at least a B grade point average in school to qualify for the good student discount
6. Safe driver. If you have a perfect driving record with no tickets or accidents, you may qualify for the safe driver or accident-free discount
7. Active duty and retired members of the Military, National Guard, or Reserves are entitled to discounts for their service
8. Drive less. Living close to work or taking the bus once in a while could help you get the low mileage discount
9. 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
10. Shop around and compare affordable Scranton auto insurance quotes to see all the discounts you've been missing out on

Sources:

• City of Scranton Pennsylvania
• Lackawanna County, PA - Magisterial District Judges
• United States Census Bureau - Scranton, PA
• Scranton Pennsylvania Crime Rates

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