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Best cheap car insurance companies

State Farm and Geico are the most affordable major car insurance companies in the country. State Farm offers an average rate of $44 per month for a minimum-liability policy, 26% below the national average. Geico also offers cheap car insurance quotes, at around $56 per month.

Cheapest national car insurance companies

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Only current and former military members and their families are eligible for a USAA policy.

Cheapest local car insurance companies

Farm Bureau and Auto-Owners have the cheapest car insurance among local companies, with rates less than $40 per month. Erie's in a close third place at $42 per month.

Did you know the same driver could get quotes from $39 per month from one car insurance company and $255 from another? To help you get the most affordable car insurance near you, our insurance experts analyzed cost, coverage, availability and customer support for 37 top companies across the country. ValuePenguin's editorial team spent hundreds of hours ranking the best cheap companies by collecting millions of quotes across every ZIP code in the US.

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Find Cheap Auto Insurance Quotes in Your Area

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What's the cheapest car insurance company for you?

The cheapest company for you might not be the same for everyone, based on factors like your state, age and driving record. You can get affordable car insurance and good customer support by comparing quotes from multiple companies. Start with the cheapest companies in your state that balance affordable rates and coverage with strong customer service.

Cheapest car insurance overall: State Farm

State Farm is the best and cheapest car insurance company for most drivers.

State Farm is the largest auto insurance company in the country, and it also has the cheapest quotes in 29 states if you're not eligible for USAA. Additionally, the company boasts an enormous network of local agents, meaning there's likely a State Farm agent in your city who can help you compare rates.

Cheapest for full coverage

Cheapest for minimum liability

Company

Monthly cost

State Farm $109
Geico $160
Progressive $170
Nationwide $177
USAA $98

Only current and former military members and their families are eligible for a USAA policy.

A full coverage policy includes both collision and comprehensive insurance, which covers damage to your car, not just damage to another driver's car.

Company

Monthly cost

State Farm $109
Geico $160
Progressive $170
Nationwide $177
USAA $98

Only current and former military members and their families are eligible for a USAA policy.

A full coverage policy includes both collision and comprehensive insurance, which covers damage to your car, not just damage to another driver's car.

Company

Monthly cost

State Farm $44
Geico $56
Progressive $74
Nationwide $76
USAA $36

Only current and former military members and their families are eligible for a USAA policy.

A liability only policy includes your state's minimum required coverage, which covers medical and repair bills for the other driver if you cause an accident.

State Farm also has some of the best coverage add-ons at affordable rates, like roadside assistance, rideshare insurance and pet injury coverage. You also have plenty of options to bundle car insurance with other types of insurance and get even cheaper rates.

Drivers with State Farm can enroll in programs such as Drive Safe & Save to turn good driving habits into affordable quotes. You can also qualify for a range of discounts, including an accident-free discount, multicar discount and anti-theft discount.


Cheap car insurance after discounts: Geico

Geico has some of the cheapest car insurance in the country, second only to State Farm among the biggest companies.

Depending on where you live, Geico may have cheaper quotes for you than State Farm. Geico's the cheapest company in seven states, including California and Florida.

Geico stands out when it comes to potential savings through discounts. Though Geico's car insurance rates are slightly more expensive than State Farm on average, you may pay less overall if you qualify for Geico's many car insurance discounts.

Geico has one of the longest lists of discounts available, and how much you can save with each discount is higher with Geico than most companies.

For example, Geico offers safe drivers a discount of up to 22%, compared to the average of 10%. Having anti-theft devices installed in your car typically saves you up to 15%, but Geico promises savings up to 23%.

Company

Number of car insurance discounts

Geico 20
Allstate 20
Travelers 16
American Family 16
Liberty Mutual 14

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Cheapest auto insurance with a bad driving record: Erie

Erie has some of the most affordable car insurance quotes for drivers with a ticket or accident on their driving record. And you probably won't find a better rate if you have a DUI (driving under the influence) on your driving record. Erie also increases auto insurance rates the least after a driving incident.

Erie will only raise your rates by an average of 7% if you get a ticket, while most insurers increase premiums by 22% or more. For an at-fault accident, Erie will only raise your rates by 25% instead of the average 44%. And Erie's average quote with a DUI is $188 per month, an increase of 64%. Expect other companies to double your rates after a DUI.

Cheapest car insurance with a driving incident

Company

Ticket

Accident

DUI

State Farm $122 $136 $299
Erie $122 $143 $188
Auto-Owners $140 $165 $267
Farm Bureau $148 $176 $234
American Family $171 $226 $236

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Monthly quotes for a full-coverage policy

Erie also has a strong customer service reputation and a good set of insurance options.

Erie customers who are eligible for its Rate Lock program can avoid premium hikes that could cause rates to creep up over the years. This is a unique program where customers won't see their rates increase except for three reasons: you move to a different area or change where you park your car, add or remove someone from your policy or add or remove a car.

That means your car insurance costs won't go up even if you happen to get a ticket or file a claim.

Erie also offers the same car insurance discounts as larger national companies, including bundling multiple insurance policies, having a vehicle equipped with anti-lock brakes or anti-theft equipment or driving safely as a young or senior driver.

The biggest downside to Erie is that it's only available in 12 states plus DC:

  • District of Columbia
  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Kentucky
  • Maryland

  • New York
  • North Carolina
  • Ohio
  • Pennsylvania

  • Tennessee
  • Virginia
  • West Virginia
  • Wisconsin


Cheapest car insurance for teens and parents: Auto-Owners

The cheapest way to get car insurance for a teen driver is usually to stay on a parent's policy. Auto-Owners has some of the cheapest rates for drivers under age 21 on their parent's plan.

The biggest downsides are that Auto-Owners is only available in 26 states, and that you'll need to contact an agent to get a quote.

Company

Parent and teen

Teen only

Auto-Owners $152 $345
USAA $173 $237
Erie $174 $256
Farm Bureau $190 $350
State Farm $218 $293

Monthly quotes for a full-coverage policy for an 18-year-old driver versus a 50-year-old parent with a teen driver

Auto-Owners also consistently scores well on customer service ratings. You can contact support or make a claim through your dedicated agent, the mobile app or your online account. That's especially important for young drivers away at college who might not be able to get home to talk to their local agent in person.


Cheap car insurance for safe and low-mileage drivers: Metromile

If you drive less than average or are generally a safe driver, a usage-based or pay-per-mile auto insurance company such as Metromile may be the cheapest insurance for you.

Metromile was one of the first companies in the U.S. to determine car insurance quotes largely based on mileage. How much driving is too much when shopping with Metromile? Generally, for Metromile to be a good deal, you should drive fewer than 10,000 miles per year.

The biggest downside to Metromile is that it's only available in eight states: Arizona, California, Illinois, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington. If you don't live in one of those states, consider other telematics programs that offer discounts for less driving or safer driving, like Nationwide, Liberty Mutual or State Farm.

Which drivers could get the cheapest quotes with Metromile?

Usage-based insurance is often cheaper than standard car insurance because your rates are largely based on how often and how well you drive. It's a good option for people who are generally safe drivers but can't get cheap rates because they're young, have poor credit or have other risk factors that raise their insurance rates.

  • Safe drivers who don't get tickets
  • Young drivers under age 25
  • People who work from home or are retired
  • People with poor, bad or no credit
  • Drivers who often use public transit
  • Students who live on campus


Cheapest car insurance for drivers with poor credit: Farm Bureau

Company

Poor credit

Very good credit

Rate hike

Farm Bureau $107 $58 83%
Geico $109 $64 71%
Nationwide $112 $74 52%
American Family $113 $62 83%
Erie $119 $44 171%

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Monthly fully coverage rates for a typical driver

Farm Bureau operates like AAA: nearly every state has a local chapter that offers cheap insurance policies and other benefits to members. Anyone can become a member, not just farmers, but you'll need to pay an annual membership fee, which can range from $20 to $100 per year. Membership benefits also include discounts on car purchases, farm equipment, produce, healthcare, travel, rental cars and more.

Drivers with poor credit typically receive insurance quotes that are 99% higher on average compared to drivers with excellent credit. Improving your credit score is a great way to get big savings on your insurance policy.


Cheap car insurance quotes for military members: USAA

Company

Monthly cost

USAA $36
Farm Bureau $39
Auto-Owners $40
Erie $42
State Farm $44
Average of all insurers $60

USAA covers drivers in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., but only active military members, veterans and their families may be eligible. However, as the fifth-largest auto insurance company in the country, it serves almost as many drivers as other big names like Progressive and Allstate.

USAA stands out for more than just affordable rates: It also has one of the best customer service reputations in the industry. The company takes the top spots in J.D. Power's Auto Insurance Claims Satisfaction Study every year. USAA also has a low complaint index from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), which means customers don't have many complaints about support or claims.


Cheapest car insurance companies by state

The cost of car insurance varies between states. One company may be expensive in Utah but inexpensive in New York. USAA is almost always the cheapest car insurance in every state, but its eligibility requirements make it restrictive. State Farm was the cheapest widely available and accessible insurer in most states.

In some states, a small, local company or affiliate could offer you the least expensive car insurance. For example, Farm Bureau has the cheapest insurance in Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana and Nebraska.

Which drivers can get the cheapest car insurance quotes?

A variety of factors affect your car insurance quotes, including your location, age, driving history, vehicle, credit score and, perhaps most importantly, coverage.

Cheapest rates by age and coverage

Having more driving experience and not having any tickets or accidents helps make car insurance cheap. Drivers who opt for a minimum-coverage policy can get cheaper auto insurance premiums, though they risk not being fully covered after a major accident.

How to find the best cheap car insurance for you

To find the cheapest car insurance for you, decide the right level of car insurance coverage, and get quotes from multiple companies to take advantage of all available discounts.

How to get cheap car insurance coverage

Taking the first step — knowing how much car insurance you need — is important for finding the right cheap car insurance. Start by getting the minimum amount of coverage your state requires, then add more liability coverage if you can afford it. Add collision and comprehensive coverage if you have a newer car. You don't want to pay for coverage you don't need, but you do need to get enough coverage to meet your state's requirements and pay for any damage after a car crash.

How much auto insurance you need depends on your budget, where you live and what kinds of coverage you need.

Coverage

Required

How much to get

Bodily injury liability Required in every state except FL, NH and VA Limits close to your net worth
Property damage liability Required in every state except NH and VA Limits close to your net worth
Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage Required in 22 states Limits close to your net worth if you don't have PIP and collision
Collision and comprehensive Required if you have a car loan or lease a car Recommended if your car is worth more than $5,000
Personal injury protection (PIP) or medical payments Required in 14 states Recommended if you don't have health insurance or you have high deductibles or copays

How can I avoid overpaying for car insurance?

How much coverage you need will depend on your finances. For example, drivers with newer cars or a car loan or lease should get full coverage with collision and comprehensive coverage. Full coverage pays for repairs to your car, regardless of who caused the damage.

Liability coverage covers damage in an accident you cause. Your insurance will pay for car repairs and medical bills for the other driver and passengers up to your coverage limits. You'd have to pay for any damage beyond your limits. Consider getting liability limits close to your net worth to reduce the risk of having to dip into your savings or investments if you had to pay out of pocket.

Adding extra liability coverage doesn't cost much. Doubling your bodily injury liability coverage from 25/50 to 50/100 typically costs an extra 14%. That's only $8 per month for twice the coverage, based on the average price of a liability only policy.

How to get cheaper car insurance with discounts

Once you know how much coverage you need, the best way to find cheap car insurance is to compare quotes from multiple companies.

Once you know how much coverage to buy, it's time to compare car insurance companies. Even when you opt for the exact same coverage levels with two different insurers, one company could be much cheaper for you than another based on how it calculates its rates.

It's easier than ever to compare cheap insurance quotes using online quote tools. But you may want to talk to an insurance agent to ensure you get the most accurate quote possible. By talking to an agent, you can see if you qualify for car insurance discounts that may not be applied in the online quote tool process.

Best car insurance discounts

  • Safe driver discounts: Save up to 15% for not having tickets or accident claims on your driving record, or taking defensive driving courses.
  • Driver discounts: You could save 10% off car insurance for being a student and getting good grades, or you might qualify for a mature driver discount if you're at least 55 years old. You could also save if you're a homeowner, a member of a professional group or in the military.
  • Bundling discounts: If you get car insurance and another type of insurance from the same company, you'll often get at least a 10% discount for each policy.
  • Policy discounts: Get 5% off for choosing paperless billing, signing up for a new policy in advance or getting an online quote.
  • Safe car discounts: You could save up to 15% per safety feature if your car has anti-theft technology, automatic braking, passive restraints or anti-lock brakes.

icon of insurance policy

Chances are you could get a cheaper car insurance policy

Once you know how much coverage you need, the best way to find cheap car insurance is to compare quotes from multiple companies.

Compare Quotes Now

Drivers looking for a state-mandated insurance policy — the minimum coverage required — overpay for car insurance by an average of $384 per year. This means Americans are overpaying for car insurance by almost $41 billion per year, based on an analysis of nationwide rates.

You can get cheaper car insurance by getting comparing rates online. Or if you prefer to work with an actual person when looking for car insurance, you could talk to an independent insurance agent who can help you compare rates from multiple companies at the same time.

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Frequently asked questions

Who has the cheapest car insurance?

USAA has the cheapest rates among national insurers, at $36 per month, with State Farm in second place, at $44 per month. The cheapest local company is Farm Bureau, at $39 per month.

What's the cheapest online car insurance?

Geico, Progressive, USAA and State Farm are some of the cheapest companies that let you get quotes and buy a policy online. It's often cheaper to buy car insurance online than it is to work with an agent, since you won't have to pay agent fees and you can often get a discount for buying online.

How can I save money on car insurance?

The best way to save on auto insurance is to compare quotes from multiple companies. Consider every factor that goes into your quote, such as your coverage amounts, deductibles and discounts. And don't just get quotes from big national companies — regional companies like Erie, Farm Bureau and Auto-Owners could have some of the cheapest rates if you live in a state they serve.

What's the cheapest type of car insurance?

State-minimum liability coverage is the cheapest type of car insurance. Liability-only insurance is $1,333 cheaper on average than a full-coverage policy. Liability-only car insurance could help you save if your car isn't worth much and you don't have a car loan or lease.

Is it a good idea to get the cheapest car insurance?

It depends on what you're giving up in exchange for the cheapest rate. If you raised your deductible or lowered your coverage, for example, consider how much extra you'd have to pay out of pocket after an expensive accident. Or, if you choose a company known for a slow claims process, consider how long you could afford to be without a car or pay for a rental car while you wait for the repair check in the mail.

What credit score do I need to get the cheapest car insurance?

Typically you can get the cheapest auto insurance rates if you have good to excellent credit, which means having a credit score of at least 700. But not every state allows car insurance companies to base your quotes on your credit-based insurance score.

When does car insurance get cheaper for young drivers?

Car insurance for young drivers costs up to three times more on average. Teen drivers can expect car insurance rates to go down with each year of driving experience, with significant drops when they turn 21 and 25.

Methodology: How we got our info

We collected quotes for thousands of ZIP codes in the U.S. for 37 insurance companies. Our sample driver was a single 30-year-old man who drives a 2015 Honda Civic EX and has a clean driving record. The only parameter that changed was the ZIP code where he lives in the U.S. These rates are for this specific driver profile — your results may vary. The amount of coverage we opted for gave our driver the state minimum required coverage, which varies by state but is typically:

Coverage type

Study limits

Bodily injury liability $20,000 per person/ $50,000 per accident
Property damage liability $25,000 per accident
Uninsured/ underinsured motorist BI $50,000 per person/ $100,000 per accident
Personal injury protection Minimum when required by state

ValuePenguin's analysis used insurance rate data from Quadrant Information Services. These rates were publicly sourced from insurer filings and should be used for comparative purposes only — your own quotes may be different.

ValuePenguin calculated the average amount drivers overpay for car insurance by calculating the difference between the average cost of a minimum-coverage policy across all sample insurers in each state and the average cost of the cheapest sampled insurers in that state

These figures were then averaged across all 50 states and Washington, D.C., to find a national average. This average was multiplied by the Federal Highway Administration's latest figure for the number of registered automobiles in the country to find the aggregate amount drivers overpay for insurance.