[car_insurance_widget title="Compare Car Insurance Quotes"]
Comparing car insurance rates can save drivers up to $1,778 per year, since every auto insurance company calculates premiums differently. As a general rule, you should compare car insurance quotes every time you renew your policy to make sure that you’re still getting the best deal.
- How to Compare Car Insurance Quotes
- Compare Car Insurance By Company
- Compare Car Insurance By Age
- Compare Car Insurance By Driving Record
- Compare Car Insurance By Discount Availability
- Compare Car Insurance By State
- Best Car Insurance Comparison Tools
- Comparisons of Popular Insurance Companies
- Methodology
- Compare Car Insurance FAQ
- Ask the Experts
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How to Compare Car Insurance Quotes 1. Get quotes from at least 3 insurers.
Since every insurance company calculates rates differently, the best way to find cheap rates for your individual circumstances is to get multiple quotes. There are a few different ways to get car insurance quotes. You can get quotes directly from individual insurance companies – online, over the phone or in person. You can also get quotes from insurance agents and brokers, as well as from some third-party comparison websites.
It’s good to consider all the major national insurers when you’re comparing quotes. But don’t forget to include regional insurers, too, since they might offer the lowest premiums in your area.
2. Make sure to compare the same coverage levels.
Before you compare car insurance rates, decide how much coverage you’d like to buy. Adding coverage will increase your premium, so it’s important to keep the policy details consistent. For example, make sure to compare comprehensive car insurance quotes along with collision insurance quotes if you plan to get full coverage.
3. Compare more than the quoted premium.
Although a cheaper rate can be very enticing, you could be missing out if you don't take into account the number of discounts a company offers. Beyond dollars and cents, reviews about an insurance company - particularly its customer service and claims process - can also be very revealing.
4. Find the best companies for your age group.
To help drivers determine which companies to compare quotes from, WalletHub’s editors have ranked the cheapest insurers for specific categories of customers. For instance, you can learn more about the best car insurance companies for young drivers, college students, and seniors.
5. Have your information ready.
To compare quotes tailored to your specific needs, you will need:
- Your vehicle’s identification number (VIN)
- Your vehicle’s current mileage
- The age, make, and model of your vehicle
- The vehicle’s home address
- Your driver’s license number
- Your name, date of birth and Social Security number
- Your contact information
- Details regarding your driving habits and insurance history
Once you have your information ready, you can go to car insurance companies’ websites to get quotes. You can also use insurance brokers or car insurance comparison sites to compare multiple quotes at once.
6. Have a backup plan in case your actual rate is higher than your quote.
The quote you receive from an insurance company is an estimate – kind of like a pre-approval. The actual rate you’re assigned once you’re officially approved for a policy and the corresponding premium you have to pay after discounts are factored in could be different. If the price of your policy ends up being a lot higher than your quote, you can try negotiating with the insurance company, but it’s good to have a backup insurer in mind. It’s a good idea to consider how much of an increase from the quote you’d be comfortable with ahead of time.
7. Learn from other consumers.
In addition to reading reviews of different insurance companies, you can benefit from the wisdom of the masses when it comes to perfecting the art of comparing car insurance offers. With that in mind, we perused the message boards on Reddit to find additional tips for you to try. Some of the most common, highly-upvoted advice we found was to find an independent agent you trust, devote at least a couple hours to comparison, switch companies if you can save 20%, and be careful about giving out your personal information too freely. Redditors also echoed our advice to compare numerous insurance companies, big and small.
Compare Car Insurance Rates by Company
| Company | Average Minimum Coverage Premium | Average Full Coverage Premium | User Rating on WalletHub | Get a Quote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geico | $462 per year | $1,955 per year | 1.6/5 | Quote |
| USAA | $487 per year | $1,829 per year | 2.5/5 | Quote |
| Progressive | $549 per year | $2,271 per year | 2.4/5 | Quote |
| Travelers | $639 per year | $2,536 per year | 1.8/5 | Quote |
| Kemper | $689 per year | $2,600 per year | 1.5/5 | Quote |
| State Farm | $718 per year | $2,627 per year | 2.9/5 | Quote |
| Allstate | $781 per year | $2,438 per year | 2.6/5 | Quote |
| Nationwide | $890 per year | $3,046 per year | 3.2/5 | Quote |
| Farmers | $1,044 per year | $3,295 per year | 3.1/5 | Quote |
| Liberty Mutual | $1,090 per year | $3,419 per year | 1.6/5 | Quote |
Note: Premiums represent average annual prices for a policy that fulfills minimum coverage requirements and a full coverage policy that includes comprehensive and collision coverage. The driver is assumed to be a 45-year-old male in California. Actual rates will vary.
This list is a good starting point when you’re comparing quotes for your own car insurance policy. However, keep in mind that your individual circumstances will determine your exact premium. As a result, the cheapest insurer for most drivers might not be the cheapest company for your needs.
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Compare Car Insurance Rates by Age
| Company | 16-year-old | 25-year-old | 45-year-old |
|---|---|---|---|
| State Farm | $1,803 per year | $845 per year | $718 per year |
| Geico | $1,544 per year | $550 per year | $462 per year |
| Progressive | $1,780 per year | $692 per year | $549 per year |
| Allstate | $2,349 per year | $874 per year | $781 per year |
| USAA | $1,581 per year | $575 per year | $487 per year |
| Liberty Mutual | $2,991 per year | $1,305 per year | $1,090 per year |
| Farmers | $2,588 per year | $1,188 per year | $1,044 per year |
| Nationwide | $4,372 per year | $1,168 per year | $890 per year |
| Travelers | $1,372 per year | $730 per year | $639 per year |
| Kemper | $2,507 per year | $942 per year | $689 per year |
Note: Premiums represent average annual prices for a policy that fulfills minimum coverage requirements for a male driver in California. Actual rates will vary.
Young drivers are particularly expensive to insure because they are statistically the most likely to be in accidents. However, premiums gradually decrease as drivers gain experience.
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[edu-qna ids="2140756273,2140802008,2140876845,2140732877"]
Compare Car Insurance Rates by Driving Record
| Company | Clean Record | Speeding Ticket | At-Fault Accident |
|---|---|---|---|
| Travelers | $639 per year | $984 per year | $1,103 per year |
| Geico | $462 per year | $705 per year | $826 per year |
| USAA | $487 per year | $533 per year | $701 per year |
| Progressive | $549 per year | $996 per year | $1,103 per year |
| State Farm | $718 per year | $1,091 per year | $1,140 per year |
| Allstate | $781 per year | $1,104 per year | $1,277 per year |
| Farmers | $1,044 per year | $1,431 per year | $1,431 per year |
| Liberty Mutual | $1,090 per year | $1,656 per year | $1,845 per year |
| Nationwide | $890 per year | $1,546 per year | $1,385 per year |
| Kemper | $689 per year | $1,231 per year | $1,336 per year |
Note: Premiums represent average annual prices for a policy that fulfills minimum coverage requirements. The driver is assumed to be a 45-year-old male in California. Actual rates will vary.
Traffic violations, including minor ones like speeding tickets, indicate to an insurer that you are high-risk and more likely to get into a crash than the average driver. Additionally, more serious offenses like at-fault accidents generally cause an even bigger rate hike.
Learn more about car insurance options for high-risk drivers.
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Compare Car Insurance Rates by Credit Score
| Company | Average Cost with Good Credit | Average Cost with Bad Credit |
|---|---|---|
| State Farm | $1,591 per year | $3,478 per year |
| Geico | $784 per year | $1,003 per year |
| Progressive | $852 per year | $10,811 per year |
| Allstate | $1,616 per year | $3,089 per year |
| USAA | $872 per year | $1,323 per year |
| Travelers | $1,871 per year | $3,655 per year |
| Kemper | $1,988 per year | $6,584 per year |
Note: Rates are an approximation based on a driver in New York with minimum coverage. Actual rates will vary. Bad credit means a credit score below 640.
Studies have shown that a lower credit score correlates to a higher likelihood of a consumer filing an expensive insurance claim. However, using credit scores as a factor in determining car insurance rates is not legal in every state. California, Hawaii, and Massachusetts have banned the practice.
Learn more about car insurance rates and credit scores.
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Compare Car Insurance Companies by Number of Discounts
| Company | Number of Available Discounts |
|---|---|
| Geico | 23 |
| Farmers | 22 |
| Progressive | 18 |
| State Farm | 16 |
| Liberty Mutual | 13 |
| Travelers | 12 |
| Nationwide | 11 |
| Allstate | 11 |
| Kemper | 8 |
| USAA | 7 |
Car insurance companies offer a variety of discounts designed to reward safe driving, customer loyalty, and more. Common ways to save include good-student discounts, good-driver discounts, and multi-car discounts. Click on the company names above to find out which discounts each company offers.
Learn more about car insurance discounts.
Compare Car Insurance Rates by State
| State | Minimum Coverage Cost | Full Coverage Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $577 per year | $2,029 per year |
| Alaska | $470 per year | $1,679 per year |
| Arizona | $720 per year | $2,111 per year |
| Arkansas | $591 per year | $2,450 per year |
| California | $717 per year | $2,567 per year |
| Colorado | $606 per year | $2,445 per year |
| Connecticut | $1,086 per year | $2,453 per year |
| Delaware | $927 per year | $2,396 per year |
| Florida | $1,242 per year | $3,406 per year |
| Georgia | $877 per year | $2,287 per year |
| Hawaii | $432 per year | $1,434 per year |
| Idaho | $374 per year | $1,262 per year |
| Illinois | $592 per year | $1,801 per year |
| Indiana | $422 per year | $1,432 per year |
| Iowa | $294 per year | $1,409 per year |
| Kansas | $565 per year | $2,109 per year |
| Kentucky | $827 per year | $2,492 per year |
| Louisiana | $1,175 per year | $3,824 per year |
| Maine | $427 per year | $1,251 per year |
| Maryland | $1,038 per year | $2,533 per year |
| Massachusetts | $647 per year | $2,114 per year |
| Michigan | $1,300 per year | $3,397 per year |
| Minnesota | $698 per year | $1,928 per year |
| Mississippi | $508 per year | $1,920 per year |
| Missouri | $651 per year | $2,105 per year |
| Montana | $423 per year | $2,079 per year |
| Nebraska | $437 per year | $1,930 per year |
| Nevada | $874 per year | $2,365 per year |
| New Hampshire | $503 per year | $1,510 per year |
| New Jersey | $1,283 per year | $2,936 per year |
| New Mexico | $497 per year | $1,959 per year |
| New York | $1,719 per year | $4,535 per year |
| North Carolina | $511 per year | $1,454 per year |
| North Dakota | $384 per year | $1,623 per year |
| Ohio | $393 per year | $1,308 per year |
| Oklahoma | $511 per year | $2,155 per year |
| Oregon | $807 per year | $1,755 per year |
| Pennsylvania | $611 per year | $2,321 per year |
| Rhode Island | $946 per year | $2,479 per year |
| South Carolina | $802 per year | $2,339 per year |
| South Dakota | $304 per year | $1,822 per year |
| Tennessee | $467 per year | $1,736 per year |
| Texas | $773 per year | $2,577 per year |
| Utah | $765 per year | $2,114 per year |
| Vermont | $318 per year | $1,212 per year |
| Virginia | $50,000 | $1,653 per year |
| Washington | $699 per year | $2,215 per year |
| West Virginia | $523 per year | $1,787 per year |
| Wisconsin | $412 per year | $1,457 per year |
| Wyoming | $291 per year | $1,716 per year |
Note: Premiums represent average annual prices for a policy that fulfills minimum coverage requirements and a full coverage policy that includes comprehensive and collision coverage. The driver is assumed to be a 45-year-old male. Actual rates will vary.
Learn more about car insurance rates by state.
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Best Comparison Tool for Car Insurance
WalletHub is the best car insurance comparison site since it lets you compare car insurance options from a wide range of companies to find the best deal. WalletHub not only shows you prices, but also provides user reviews and ratings from watchdog groups like the BBB and the NAIC to give more insight into these companies.
Some of the best apps for comparing car insurance include WalletHub, Insurify, Jerry, Gabi, and Way. These apps are free to download, have good user ratings, and make it easy to compare multiple companies to find cheap car insurance.
Comparisons of Popular Insurance Companies
Methodology
Quote information comes from Quadrant Information Services. Average annual premiums by company reflect nationwide quotes for a 45-year-old single driver with a clean driving record who is purchasing minimum coverage. This driver has good credit and drives an average of 15,000 miles annually.
Quotes for policyholders with a recent speeding ticket or a recent at-fault accident are also for 45-year-old single drivers with good credit who drive 15,000 miles annually and are purchasing minimum coverage. Average premiums for 16-year-old and 25-year-old drivers reflect minimum coverage requirements, good credit, a clean driving record, and 15,000 annual miles as well.
We asked a panel of experts to share their favorite car insurance comparison tips. You can click “Read More” under each expert’s name and title to see their answers to the following questions:
- Do you have any advice for people who aren’t quite sure how to go about comparing car insurance rates?
- What would you say are the biggest mistakes that people make when they compare car insurance options
- What are the most important factors to consider, aside from the premium, when comparing car insurance options?
Brian C. Payne Ph.D., CFP®, Professor of Finance, College of Business Administration - University of Nebraska at Omaha
Susan Hume Ph.D., Associate Professor Finance, School of Business, The College of New Jersey
Eric W. Chan Ph.D., Associate Professor of Accounting, Ernst & Young Faculty Fellowship in Teaching Excellence – University of Texas at Austin, McCombs School of Business
Dr. Michele Fyola Professor, Rowland School of Business, Point Park University
Dr. David Gordon Ph.D., Division Chairperson, Professor of Economics - University of St. Francis
David W. Barman Associate Teaching Professor, School of Accounting, College of Business - Florida International University
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