Cheap car insurance doesn’t have to mean mediocre coverage. We’ve analyzed rates from 97 car insurance companies to help you find the lowest rates.
Key Takeaways
- The lowest car insurance rates start at $38 per month for minimum coverage and $135 for full-coverage policies.
- To save money on car insurance, determine coverage needs before buying, review coverage regularly, compare providers, improve your credit score and take advantage of discounts.
- The cheapest coverage might not always be the best for you, so research thoroughly.
The Best Cheap Car Insurance Companies
Based on averages derived from over 8 million auto insurance quotes, we found that USAA, West Bend Mutual, Auto-Owners, and Erie generally have the cheapest insurance rates for full and minimum coverage policies. Check out the complete list of the 10 cheapest national and regional insurers below.
| Cheapest Car Insurance Company* | Average Monthly Minimum-Coverage Rate | Average Monthly Full-Coverage Rate |
|---|---|---|
| USAA** | $38 | $135 |
| West Bend Mutual | $40 | $151 |
| Auto-Owners | $41 | $167 |
| Erie | $44 | $168 |
| Geico | $44 | $165 |
| Shelter Insurance | $49 | $184 |
| Travelers | $55 | $161 |
| State Farm | $59 | $220 |
| Progressive | $61 | $211 |
| Country Financial | $62 | $182 |
**USAA only offers car insurance coverage to military members, veterans and their families.
Note that minimum-coverage amounts and required types of coverage vary by state, but you’ll likely find that your state requires liability coverage for property damage and bodily injury. A full-coverage auto policy includes liability, collision and comprehensive coverage.
Cheapest Car Insurance by Coverage
Coverage level plays a large part in determining car insurance rates, with liability-only policies costing less than full-coverage insurance.
Most Affordable Minimum-Coverage Car Insurance: USAA
National Minimum-Liability Average: $60 per month
Among nationally available providers, USAA offers the cheapest minimum-liability car insurance at 36% below average, but it’s only for military members and their families. If that’s not you, West Bend Mutual Insurance will be the most affordable option. Unless otherwise stated, costs are based on a 35-year-old driver with good credit and no driving violations.
| Cheap National Car Insurance Provider | Average Monthly Minimum Car Insurance Rates | Average Monthly Savings |
|---|---|---|
| USAA | $38 | $22 |
| West Bend Mutual | $40 | $20 |
| Auto-Owners | $41 | $19 |
| Erie | $44 | $16 |
| Geico | $44 | $16 |
*All costs presented are for a 35-year-old driver with good credit and no driving violations.
Most Affordable Full-Coverage Car Insurance: USAA
National Full-Coverage Average: $199 per month
USAA is the cheapest option for full-coverage car insurance at 32% cheaper than the national average. For those who are not eligible for coverage with USAA, West Bend Mutual Insurance is the cheapest car insurance provider.
| Cheap National Car Insurance Provider | Average Monthly Minimum Car Insurance Rates | Average Monthly Savings |
|---|---|---|
| USAA | $135 | $64 |
| West Bend Mutual | $151 | $48 |
| Travelers | $161 | $38 |
| Geico | $165 | $34 |
| Auto-Owners | $167 | $32 |
*All costs presented are for a 35-year-old driver with good credit and no driving violations.
Cheapest Car Insurance by Age
Typically, drivers under the age of 25 and drivers over 55 years old pay a higher premium than other ages, as insurance companies consider these groups a higher risk to insure due to statistically higher rates of accidents.
Below, you can discover the cheapest car insurance for different driver profiles, including teens (those between 16 and 19 years old), young adults (those between 21 and 25 years old), adults (between 35 and 55 years old) and seniors (those 65 to 75 years old). Rates in the tables below are based on averages for those age groups.
Did You Know?
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2021, drivers aged 20 years old and under made up 5.1% of licensed drivers in the United States but accounted for 12.6% of drivers in all fatal crashes.
Cheap Car Insurance for Teens: Erie
National Average Minimum-Coverage Rate for Teens: $235 per month
National Average Full-Coverage Rate for Teens: $474 per month
For 16-year-olds seeking minimum-coverage options, Erie insurance will offer the most affordable premiums. For those interested in a full-coverage policy, Farmers offers the lowest monthly rates.
Cheapest Minimum Coverage for Teens
Cheapest Full Coverage for Teens
| Cheap National Car Insurance Provider | Average Monthly Minimum-Coverage Rate |
|---|---|
| Erie | $118 |
| Auto-Owners | $151 |
| West Bend Mutual | $160 |
| Shelter Insurance | $173 |
| Geico | $184 |
| Cheap National Car Insurance Provider | Average Monthly Minimum-Coverage Rate |
|---|---|
| Farmers | $326 |
| West Bend Mutual | $424 |
| Erie | $441 |
| Auto-Owners | $442 |
| Geico | $463 |
Cheap Car Insurance for Young Adults: USAA
National Average Minimum-Coverage Rate for Young Adults: $73 per month
National Average Full-Coverage Rate for Young Adults: $229 per month
If you’re 25 years old and are enlisted, a veteran or a family member of someone who served in the military, you can expect to get the best car insurance rates from USAA. If not, West Bend Mutual Insurance is the cheapest national provider.
Cheapest Minimum Coverage for Young Adults
Cheapest Full Coverage for Young Adults
| Cheap National Car Insurance Provider | Average Monthly Minimum-Coverage Rate |
|---|---|
| USAA | $44 |
| West Bend Mutual | $49 |
| Geico | $50 |
| Erie | $55 |
| Travelers | $57 |
| Cheap National Car Insurance Provider | Average Monthly Minimum-Coverage Rate |
|---|---|
| USAA | $153 |
| West Bend Mutual | $158 |
| Travelers | $170 |
| Geico | $178 |
| Erie | $209 |
Cheap Car Insurance for Adults: USAA
National Average Minimum-Coverage Rate for Adults: $60 per month
National Average Full-Coverage Rate for Adults: $199 per monthThe cheapest car insurance for 35-year-old drivers is offered by USAA for military members and West Bend Mutual for those outside the military.
Cheapest Minimum Coverage for Adults
Cheapest Full Coverage for Adults
| Cheap National Car Insurance Provider | Average Monthly Minimum Car Insurance Rates |
|---|---|
| USAA | $38 |
| West Bend Mutual | $40 |
| Auto-Owners | $41 |
| Erie | $44 |
| Geico | $44 |
| Cheap National Car Insurance Provider | Average Monthly Minimum Car Insurance Rates |
|---|---|
| USAA | $135 |
| West Bend Mutual | $151 |
| Travelers | $161 |
| Geico | $165 |
| Auto-Owners | $167 |
Cheap Car Insurance for Seniors: Shelter Insurance
National Average Minimum-Coverage Rate for Seniors:$73 per month
National Average Full-Coverage Rate for Seniors: $207 per month
If you’re 75 years old, you can expect the best minimum-coverage car insurance rates with Shelter Insurance. For full coverage, USAA will be the cheapest option, but for those without military affiliations Travelers also offers highly affordable coverage.
Cheapest Minimum Coverage for Seniors
Cheapest Full Coverage for Seniors
| Cheap National Car Insurance Provider | Average Monthly Minimum-Coverage Rate |
|---|---|
| Shelter Insurance | $48 |
| USAA | $48 |
| Erie | $50 |
| Auto-Owners | $54 |
| Geico | $54 |
| Cheap National Car Insurance Provider | Average Monthly Minimum-Coverage Rate |
|---|---|
| USAA | $141 |
| Travelers | $160 |
| West Bend Mutual | $167 |
| Shelter Insurance | $170 |
| Geico | $176 |
Cheapest Car Insurance for High-Risk Drivers
Insurance companies classify certain drivers as high risk, resulting in higher premiums. Below, we’ll detail the cheapest car insurance companies for high-risk drivers, including those with bad credit, a DUI, an accident and a speeding ticket.
Did you know?
Most driving violations stay on your record for up to five years at most from the time of the violation, but this cutoff point depends on the provider. More serious violations like DUIs may affect your rates for up to 10 years.
Cheapest Car Insurance With Bad Credit: USAA
National Average Minimum-Coverage Rate for Bad Credit: $117 per month
National Average Full-Coverage Rate for Bad Credit: $293 per month USAA and West Bend Mutual have the cheapest minimum- and full-coverage insurance for drivers with bad credit, (those with credit scores between 300 and 579).
Cheapest Minimum Coverage With Bad Credit
Cheapest Full Coverage With Bad Credit
| Cheap National Car Insurance Provider | Average Monthly Minimum-Coverage Rate |
|---|---|
| USAA | $66 |
| West Bend Mutual | $66 |
| Geico | $72 |
| Erie | $89 |
| Travelers | $104 |
*All costs provided are based on averages for a 35-year-old driver with no driving violations who is insuring a 2023 Toyota Camry.
| Cheap National Car Insurance Provider | Average Monthly Full-Coverage Rate |
|---|---|
| West Bend Mutual | $218 |
| USAA | $237 |
| Geico | $238 |
| Travelers | $255 |
| Country Financial | $278 |
Cheapest Car Insurance With a Recent DUI: USAA
National Average Minimum-Coverage Rate With a DUI: $105 per month
National Average Full-Coverage Rate With a DUI: $285 per month
USAA offers the cheapest minimum-coverage rates for military-affiliated drivers who’ve recently had a DUI, while Progressive has the cheapest minimum coverage for those outside of the military. Travelers has the cheapest full coverage for those with a recent DUI.
Cheapest Minimum Coverage With DUI
Cheapest Full Coverage With DUI
| Cheap National Car Insurance Provider | Average Monthly Minimum-Coverage Rate |
|---|---|
| USAA | $75 |
| Progressive | $77 |
| Shelter Insurance | $82 |
| State Farm | $84 |
| West Bend Mutual | $84 |
*All costs provided are based on a 35-year-old driver with good credit who is insuring a 2023 Toyota Camry.
| Cheap National Car Insurance Provider | Average Monthly Full-Coverage Rate |
|---|---|
| Travelers | $208 |
| State Farm | $238 |
| American Family | $257 |
| Country Financial | $261 |
| USAA | $262 |
Cheapest Car Insurance With an Accident: West Bend
National Average Minimum-Coverage Rate With an Accident: $91 per month
National Average Full-Coverage Rate With an Accident: $273 per month
If you’ve had an accident within the last three years, West Bend Mutual will likely be your cheapest option for minimum-coverage car insurance. For those looking to purchase full-coverage insurance with a military affiliation, USAA offers the most competitive rates. If you do not qualify for coverage with USAA, you can still find affordable full-coverage insurance with Travelers. To protect yourself against rate hikes following an accident in the future, we recommend selecting a plan with accident forgiveness.
Cheapest Minimum Coverage With Accident
Cheapest Full Coverage With Accident
| Cheap National Car Insurance Provider | Average Monthly Minimum-Coverage Rate |
|---|---|
| West Bend Mutual | $56 |
| USAA | $57 |
| Auto-Owners | $62 |
| Erie | $67 |
| Shelter Insurance | $69 |
*All costs provided are based on a 35-year-old driver with good credit who is insuring a 2023 Toyota Camry.
| Cheap National Car Insurance Provider | Average Monthly Full-Coverage Rate |
|---|---|
| USAA | $196 |
| Travelers | $219 |
| West Bend Mutual | $220 |
| American Family | $229 |
| Shelter Insurance | $230 |
Cheapest Car Insurance With a Speeding Ticket: USAA
National Average Minimum-Coverage Rate With a Speeding Ticket: $76 per month
National Average Full-Coverage Rate With a Speeding Ticket: $242 per month. For those with speeding tickets on their record, USAA will be the cheapest option if you have military affiliation. For everyone else, Erie is the most affordable option.
Cheapest Minimum Coverage With Speeding Ticket
Cheapest Full Coverage With Speeding Ticket
| Cheap National Car Insurance Provider | Average Monthly Minimum-Coverage Rate |
|---|---|
| USAA | $46 |
| Erie | $48 |
| West Bend Mutual | $52 |
| Shelter Insurance | $56 |
| Auto-Owners | $59 |
*All costs provided are based on a 35-year-old driver with good credit who is insuring a 2023 Toyota Camry.
| Cheap National Car Insurance Provider | Average Monthly Full-Coverage Rate |
|---|---|
| USAA | $164 |
| Erie | $187 |
| West Bend Mutual | $198 |
| Shelter Insurance | $203 |
| Travelers | $205 |
Cheapest Car Insurance by State
The table below showcases the cheapest car insurance premiums overall in each state regardless of the coverage level chosen. Rates are based off a 35-year-old driver with good credit and no driving violations who is insuring a 2023 Toyota Camry.
| State | Average Monthly Minimum-Coverage Car Insurance Cost | Average Monthly Full-Coverage Car Insurance Cost | Cheapest Car Insurance Company |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $53 | $179 | Geico |
| Alaska | $37 | $164 | USAA |
| Arizona | $69 | $210 | Geico |
| Arkansas | $47 | $199 | USAA |
| California | $60 | $248 | Geico |
| Colorado | $47 | $237 | American National Insurance |
| Connecticut | $99 | $214 | Geico |
| Delaware | $101 | $215 | Travelers |
| District of Columbia | $89 | $257 | Chubb |
| Florida | $127 | $290 | Geico |
| Georgia | $76 | $215 | Auto-Owners |
| Idaho | $36 | $139 | Geico |
| Indiana | $41 | $157 | USAA |
| Kansas | $45 | $188 | USAA |
| Louisiana | $90 | $301 | Farm Bureau |
| Maryland | $80 | $186 | USAA |
| Michigan | $77 | $227 | Travelers |
| Mississippi | $43 | $173 | National General |
| Montana | $43 | $205 | USAA |
| Nevada | $118 | $264 | USAA |
| New Jersey | $115 | $232 | Geico |
| New York | $93 | $202 | NYCM |
| North Dakota | $39 | $186 | USAA |
| Oklahoma | $47 | $217 | USAA |
| Pennsylvania | $43 | $210 | Westfield Insurance |
| South Carolina | $60 | $182 | American National Insurance |
| Tennessee | $45 | $174 | USAA |
| Utah | $78 | $205 | USAA |
| Virginia | $54 | $152 | Farm Bureau |
| West Virginia | $53 | $202 | Westfield Insurance |
| Wyoming | $24 | $140 | Geico |
Calculate the Cost of Car Insurance
See how much you can expect to spend on car insurance before requesting quotes from providers to ensure you get the most affordable policy for you.
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How To Get Cheap Car Insurance Rates
We’ve provided some simple methods to help you save when shopping for car insurance.
Determine Your Needs Before You Buy
You should know what coverage you need so you don’t overpay for insurance. While the decision is ultimately based on your tolerance for risk, it mostly comes down to these considerations:
- Location: If you’re in an area with a lot of traffic, consider getting collision coverage and a higher liability limit so you’re financially protected in the event of an accident.
- Your financial situation: If you can afford to pay out of pocket for possible damages to your vehicle, you’ll likely only need liability coverage.
- Your vehicle: If you have a vehicle over 10 years old, you’ll likely not need full-coverage car insurance due to the low value of the vehicle.
Review Your Coverage Regularly
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) consumer price index (CPI), the total cost for motor vehicle insurance increased by about 52% between the first halves of 2020 and 2024. We recommend comparing your policy to new options when renewal is coming up and when you have major life changes (like marriage) to avoid these rising costs as much as possible. It’s a good idea to compare quotes from several providers.
Improve Your Credit Score
In states that consider credit when determining premiums, a bad credit score can increase pricing by almost double, based on our cost analysis. Improving your credit score can get you lower rates over time.
Take Advantage of Discounts and Incentives
There are many common car insurance discount options available with most major companies that may help you save, like home and auto insurance bundles, multi-car insurance bundles and telematics programs.
Risks of Getting Cheap Car Insurance
Buying the lowest-price policy available from the cheapest provider can save you money, but it may come with a few risks:
- Minimum coverage may be more expensive: Going without higher coverage limits can be risky if you can’t afford accident costs, especially if you drive a lot. Lower limits may not cover damages to your car or other parties’ injuries. Additionally, if the other party sues, you’d be responsible for any associated expenses.
- Poor customer service and transparency: While car insurance from a reputable provider may cost you more, cheaper providers may lack the customer support and experience you’ll find from a well-established company.
- Slow claims processing: Some car insurance companies may take longer to process a claim than others. You may be without a vehicle during this time, which can be a major headache. A company that processes claims slowly could cause more issues than the savings are worth.
- Fewer resources and tools: Larger companies offer mobile apps and online services that can make the entire insurance experience more convenient. Budget providers may lack some of these tools.
- Fewer coverage options: Some companies with low rates may not offer add-ons like roadside assistance and rental car reimbursement. With add-ons, you’ll have more choices available to get you the coverage you want and need.
“Major factors that drivers should consider when comparing car insurance quotes are the types of coverage — including liability, collision, comprehensive and uninsured motorist coverage — policy limits, deductibles, an insurer’s financial strength and the quality and reputation of its claims service.”
Cheap Car Insurance: FAQ
Below are some frequently asked questions pertaining to the cheapest car insurance:
USAA and West Bend Mutual offer both the cheapest minimum-coverage and full-coverage auto insurance rates, on average. However, the cheapest company for your needs will depend on factors such as your age, risk factors, state of residence and more.
Minimum-coverage policies, which only satisfy your state’s minimum insurance requirements, are the cheapest type of car insurance. However, these policies offer significantly less financial protection in the event of an accident than full-coverage or higher liability limits.
Those who are 55 years old tend to pay the lowest rates — no matter what driver profile they have — at an average rate of $59 per month for minimum coverage or $179 per month for full coverage.
Geico tends to be cheaper for most drivers than Progressive, based on our research. However, Progressive tends to have favorable rates for drivers in high-risk categories such as those with recent DUIs, accidents, tickets or poor credit (depending on the state you live in).
Our Methodology: Ranking U.S. Car Insurance Providers
Because consumers rely on us to provide objective and accurate information, we created a comprehensive rating system to formulate our rankings of the best car insurance companies. We collected data on dozens of auto insurance providers to grade the companies on a wide range of ranking factors. The end result was an overall rating for each provider, with the insurers that scored the most points topping the list.
Here are the factors our ratings take into account:
Our credentials:
- 800+ hours researched
- 130+ companies reviewed
- 8,500+ consumers surveyed
How We Determined the Cheapest Car Insurance Providers
We based our national rankings on the average car insurance costs of a 35-year-old driver with good credit and a clean driving record for both minimum and full coverage. Coverage for liability estimates are based on minimum requirements in each state, and full-coverage estimates are based on a 50/100/50 policy that includes:
- $50,000 in bodily injury coverage per person
- $100,000 in bodily injury coverage per accident
- $50,000 in property damage coverage per accident
- $500 deductible
In the spirit of quality control, we filtered out insurance providers that don’t meet the standards we uphold for our readers. Every company you see mentioned in this article has been thoroughly researched, evaluated and approved by our insurance researchers.
*Data accurate at time of publication.
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