Best Auto Insurance Rates in Vermont

Compare Auto Insurance in Vermont

Monday, November 5 2018 By Steve Bowen

Vermont’s name comes from the French words for “green” and “mountain”. We can’t promise that QuoteWizard will save Vermont drivers a mountain of green, but it certainly won’t hurt.

This page will show you which types of coverage are legally required in Vermont, provide information about the cost of driving including average rates, and share some insights about insurance risk to help you protect yourself and your family.

Average Vermont Car Insurance Rates

How much is car insurance in Vermont? Average premiums here are far lower than the national average. On average, the cost of auto insurance in Vermont is $680.18 a year. The national average annual price is $889.01.

Prices may vary depending on your limits, urban conditions, coverage, and zip code.

Vermont (VT) Average Annual Car Insurance Rates

Coverage	Rates
Liability	$343.12
Collision	$295.42
Comprehensive	$125.48
Total Annual Cost	$680.18
Price Per Month	$56.68
Source: Facts + Statistics: Auto insurance

The graph below shows the change in average Vermont rates from 2011 to 2015, the most recent year the data is available. According to the III, Vermont car insurance rates increased from $633 in 2011 to $680 in 2015, a jump of $46 dollars, or 7.37 percent.

Shopping around and comparing auto insurance quotes is important, but who has the time and energy for it? Well, if you use QuoteWizard, you won’t have to worry about time or energy.

That’s because QuoteWizard will connect you to multiple companies that serve Vermont drivers so you can compare car insurance rates and get coverage that fits your needs.

Last year, 3,779 people used QuoteWizard to compare car insurance quotes in Vermont from multiple companies.

Best Car Insurance Companies in Vermont

This is our list of the most common car insurance companies reported by QuoteWizard users living in the state of Vermont. Out of the 3,779 Vermont drivers that used QuoteWizard to request insurance quotes last year, 397 were uninsured.

Top 10 Vehicles

These are the most common vehicles owned by Vermont drivers requesting car insurance quotes through QuoteWizard in the past year.

Vermont State Auto Insurance Laws

Minimum Car Insurance Requirements in Vermont

If you drive a vehicle registered in Vermont, you must maintain a minimum level of insurance coverage of 25/50/10 plus uninsured/underinsured coverage. This means that you must have a policy with at least the following:

• $25,000 of coverage for bodily injury liability per person
• $50,000 of coverage for bodily injury liability per incident
• $10,000 of coverage for property damage liability per incident
• $50,000 of coverage for uninsured motorist bodily injury per person
• $100,000 of coverage for uninsured motorist bodily injury per incident
• $10,000 of coverage for uninsured motorist property damage per incident

Remember, you can purchase more inclusive plans that cover more, but if you want the bare minimum required to keep you legal on the road, make sure your policy has the above coverage. And, if you’ve financed your car through a lender, they’ll probably require that you purchase collision and comprehensive coverage to protect their investment.

Recommended Coverage Levels

Severe car crash rates in Vermont are on the rise. Investing in collision insurance is a smart move. It covers you for repairs in the event of a car crash.

It may be tempting to just go with the required minimum liability insurance coverage. However, one severe crash can show what a mistake that is. Liability insurance only covers the other driver in a crash. You need to have your own insurance or pay out of pocket. Talk with your insurance agent about full coverage options that you can afford.

Regarding liability insurance, look into raising the coverage amounts beyond the minimum. A severe accident can quickly exceed the top payout of minimum liability. To avoid this, up your limits to:

• $100,000 Individual Body Injury Liability 
• $300,000 Total Bodily Injury Liability 
• $100,000 Property Damage Liability

Required Proof of Car Insurance

Any time you drive in Vermont, you must be prepared to show your car insurance identification card to law enforcement upon request. You will get this identification card from your car insurance company when you buy a policy.

The card must include all of the following:

• Name of the insurance company
• Policy number
• Effective date of the policy
• Expiration date of the policy
• Description of the year, make, or model of the insured vehicles, or the name of the insured driver.

Penalties

Failure to show valid proof of insurance at an accident or traffic stop will result in a fine, two points on your Vermont driving record, and may result in your license being suspended for up to two years.

SR-22 Requirements

Vermont residents that have had their driver’s licenses suspended due to drunk driving convictions or other violations must provide proof of financial responsibility by filing an SR-22 form. “SR” stands for safety responsibility and it certifies that a driver has the minimum amount of insurance required by state law.

Vermont State law requires that an SR-22 be carried for 36 consecutive months. If a driver fails to renew their policy 15 days before expiration, a letter is sent to the state resulting in suspension of their license. Once renewed, the license will be reinstated, but this can be a time-consuming process.

State of Vermont Traffic Safety Laws

Distracted Driving Laws

Vermont has banned the use of hand-held cell phones while driving in the state. Drivers ages 18 and up may use a cell phone while driving provided they have a hands-free headset. Drivers under the age of 18 may not use a cell phone while driving at all. All drivers are banned from sending or receiving text messages while driving in Vermont.

Implied Consent Law

Vermont’s Implied Consent law requires that any driver submit to testing to determine the alcohol or drug content of their blood or breath when arrested by law enforcement for suspicion of driving while under the influence (DUI) of drugs or alcohol. Refuse the test and you’ll face the following penalties as well as those for a DUI:

• First Offense: 6-month driver's license suspension
• Second Offense: 18-month driver's license suspension
• Third Offense: lifetime driver's license suspension

DUI Law and Penalties

If you drive or operate a motor vehicle in Vermont with a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) of 0.08% or higher, you are guilty of Driving While Under the Influence (DUI).

The penalties for a first offense DUI conviction are:

• Up to 2 years in jail
• A fine of up to $750
• 90-day driver’s license suspension

The penalties for a second offense DUI conviction are more severe:

• Up to 2 years in jail
• A Maximum $1,500 fine
• 18-month driver’s license suspension

After a third DUI conviction the penalties increase to:

• A maximum of 5 years in jail
• A maximum $2,500 fine
• A lifetime driver’s license suspension

Senior Drivers in Vermont

Vermont has no special provisions for senior drivers. All drivers are required to renew their driver’s license every 4 years.

Seat Belt Laws

Vermont requires that everyone in a vehicle age 18 or older wear seat belts. Children are required to use approved child seats as described above. The maximum penalty for failing to comply is $25 for the first offense.

Vehicles Registered in Another State

When you drive a vehicle in Vermont that is required to be registered in another state, you must have the type of insurance required by that state. You must be able to provide proof of this insurance to law enforcement upon request.

Car Insurance Risk in Vermont

Vehicle Thefts

Vermont had 244 vehicle thefts reported in 2014, a 27.6% decrease compared to 2013. In 2014, the vehicle theft rate was 38.9 per 100,000, a decrease of 27.6% from the 2013 rate of 53.8 per 100,000.

The vehicle theft rate in Vermont is much lower than the overall US vehicle theft rate, which was 216.2 per 100,000 in 2014.

Top 10 Most Stolen Vehicles in Vermont

Some cars are more prone to theft than others, be sure to check the list below to see if your car is a target on the streets.

Source: National Insurance Crime Bureau - Hot Wheels Report 2014

1. 2001 Ford Pickup (Full Size)
2. 2001 Chevrolet Pickup (Full Size)
3. 2004 Subaru Legacy
4. 1996 Honda Civic
5. 1996 GMC Pickup (Full Size)
6. 1994 Toyota Corolla
7. 2002 Ford Focus
8. 2013 Chevrolet Cruze
9. 1998 Chevrolet Pickup (Small Size)
10. 2001 Honda Accord

Uninsured Motorists

The percentage of Vermont residents estimated to be driving without insurance is 8.5%. That ranks Vermont as #39 among US states and the District of Columbia, significantly better than the US average of 12.6%.

Vermont Department of Financial Regulation - Insurance Division

Website:

Homepage

Insurance Commissioner:

Michael S. Pieciak

Insurance Hotline:

(802) 964 – 1784

Office Hours:

Monday - Friday
7:45am to 4:30 pm

File a Consumer Insurance Complaint

Complaint Page

Sources:

• NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System
• Insurance Information Institute – Minimum Coverage Levels by State
• National Insurance Crime Bureau
• Governors Highway Safety Association
• Insurance Information Institute – Insurance Expenditures by State
• Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles - DMV

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