Consumers are shopping more than ever for car insurance, resulting in record levels of auto insurance policy shopping and switching.
Whether shopping for new car insurance or considering a switch, comparing car insurance rates is the best way to find a great deal on auto insurance. Comparing car insurance quotes is a simple process that can save you hundreds of dollars annually.
CarInsurance.com Insights
- In the most expensive states for car insurance – California, Florida and Louisiana – drivers can save 50% by shopping around.
- Nationwide, Travelers and USAA offer the cheapest full coverage insurance policies among national insurers.
- Shop your policy around renewal time by comparing quotes from at least three insurers.
Compare car insurance quotes by company
To compare car insurance rates, see how companies compare at three coverage levels below. The rates shown are the average annual rates for:
- State-minimum liability only: Limits vary based on your state
- Liability-only coverage: 50/100/50 ($50,000 bodily injury per person, $100,000 bodily injury per accident and $50,000 property damage per accident)
- Full coverage: 100/300/100 liability limits ($100,000 bodily injury per person, $300,000 bodily injury per accident and $100,000 property damage per accident) with comprehensive and collision coverage and $500 collision/comprehensive deductibles
In the table below, compare car insurance rates for various coverage levels and insurers.
| Company | State minimum | Liability only | Full coverage |
|---|---|---|---|
| GEICO | $405 | $560 | $1,763 |
| State Farm | $502 | $651 | $1,984 |
| Allstate | $700 | $854 | $2,509 |
| Progressive | $549 | $709 | $1,998 |
| Farmers | $701 | $991 | $2,387 |
| Nationwide | $532 | $651 | $1,548 |
| Travelers | $518 | $646 | $1,606 |
| USAA* | $335 | $435 | $1,381 |
* Note: USAA is only available to military community members and their families.
Step-by-step guide on how to compare quotes
To compare car insurance rates, you must first decide how much coverage you need and have the details about your car, location and listed drivers. The exact amount you pay for coverage – your rate – may be more or less after the insurance company finalizes its calculations.
Here are five steps to take so you can compare car insurance quotes to find the best deal on coverage.
Step 1: Use the car insurance comparison tool to compare quotes
If you’ve moved, want to know how much car insurance costs in your neighborhood or are a new driver, use our car insurance comparison tool, which shows the average car insurance rate in each ZIP code.
Calculate car insurance rates by ZIP code
Rates vary by location. Our tool helps you understand how your ZIP code impacts your premium.
For 30 year old Male ( Liability - Minimum)
Step 2: Review your existing car insurance policy and assess your coverage
The four main types of car insurance are:
- Liability car insurance: Liability covers others’ property damage and medical expenses. If you have few assets, you don’t need high limits. If you own a home or have savings, you do — limits of 100/300/100 are recommended. That means $100,000 per person, up to $300,000 per accident and $300,000 for property damage.
- Uninsured motorist coverage: This comes in two forms. Uninsured motorist bodily injury pays for medical bills if you’re injured in an accident that an uninsured driver causes. Uninsured property damage pays to fix your car. Some states require these coverages, but if yours doesn’t, ask yourself if you would have the money to pay for damages if a driver hits you without car insurance.
- Collision coverage: Collision covers damage to your car. It pays out only up to the actual cash value of your car. If your vehicle is old, you may not need this optional protection.
- Comprehensive insurance: Comprehensive, or “other than collision,” covers theft and damage to your car from hail, floods, fire, vandalism and animal strikes. Like collision coverage, this will pay you up to the amount the insurance company values your car. You may not need extra coverage if you drive an older vehicle.
Also, choose your deductible. Remember that if you have a claim, that deductible will be your out-of-pocket expense to repair or replace your car. You’ll have to pay the deductible each time you file a claim. Choose an amount that you can pay from savings — your car won’t be repaired until you pay your share.
Step 3: Gather information about drivers and vehicles
Comparing car insurance rates side-by-side saves you from repeatedly giving out the same information. Once you know what coverage you need, gather the following information to request car insurance quotes.
- Names, birthdates and license numbers of all drivers to be covered.
- Make and model of each car to be covered.
- Driving history, including accidents and driving violations, of all drivers to be covered by the policy. is moving off your policy, you’ll likely see a significant drop in rates.
Step 4: Compare insurance rates from different companies
Now, you can begin collecting car insurance quotes. Request rates from at least three insurers. Compare coverage using the same liability limits, identical deductibles and optional coverages.
Also, follow up with potential insurers about any car insurance discounts you may qualify for. Additional discounts not part of the online quote process may be offered. For instance, you may be asked how many miles you drive a year to see if you’re eligible for a low-mileage discount, but you may not be asked what your teen driver’s grades are, which could snag you a good-student discount.
Step 5: Research potential car insurance companies
When you’re ready to buy, research the insurers that offer the cheapest rates to make sure they offer good claims service and can pay their claims.
- Check the company’s financial strength rating through AM Best.
- Check for complaints against the company with the NAIC.
- Research complaint rates online at the Better Business Bureau and your state insurance department.
- Check out our best car insurance companies list.
Compare side-by-side car insurance quotes by state
In the three most expensive states for car insurance – California, Florida and Louisiana – car insurance shoppers can save 57%, 52% and 50%, respectively, between the average lowest and average highest rates in the state.
The table below compares the highest and lowest rates from major insurers in each state. The difference between the highest and lowest rates is the amount you could save by comparing car insurance quotes from different companies.
| State | Average highest rate | Average rate | Average lowest rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $2,241 | $1,676 | $1,154 |
| Alabama | $2,681 | $1,860 | $1,272 |
| Arkansas | $3,077 | $1,957 | $1,075 |
| Arizona | $2,529 | $1,812 | $1,248 |
| California | $3,133 | $2,416 | $1,790 |
| Colorado | $3,807 | $2,337 | $1,361 |
| Connecticut | $2,591 | $1,725 | $602 |
| Washington, D.C. | $3,817 | $2,157 | $1,221 |
| Delaware | $3,365 | $2,063 | $1,411 |
| Florida | $3,787 | $2,694 | $1,981 |
| Georgia | $2,865 | $1,970 | $1,449 |
| Hawaii | $1,966 | $1,517 | $1,062 |
| Iowa | $2,594 | $1,630 | $1,130 |
| Idaho | $2,453 | $1,428 | $733 |
| Illinois | $2,739 | $1,532 | $930 |
| Indiana | $2,346 | $1,515 | $778 |
| Kansas | $2,965 | $1,900 | $1,135 |
| Kentucky | $3,312 | $2,228 | $1,649 |
| Louisiana | $3,730 | $2,883 | $1,860 |
| Massachusetts | $2,740 | $1,726 | $689 |
| Maryland | $3,190 | $1,746 | $1,034 |
| Maine | $1,698 | $1,175 | $674 |
| Michigan | $3,777 | $2,352 | $1,448 |
| Minnesota | $2,878 | $1,911 | $1,307 |
| Missouri | $3,285 | $1,982 | $1,073 |
| Mississippi | $2,928 | $2,008 | $1,259 |
| Montana | $3,080 | $2,193 | $919 |
| North Carolina | $2,899 | $1,741 | $1,049 |
| North Dakota | $2,448 | $1,665 | $815 |
| Nebraska | $2,787 | $1,902 | $1,160 |
| New Hampshire | $2,138 | $1,265 | $777 |
| New Jersey | $2,438 | $1,902 | $1,310 |
| New Mexico | $3,404 | $2,049 | $1,042 |
| Nevada | $2,981 | $2,060 | $1,357 |
| New York | $3,136 | $1,870 | $1,009 |
| Ohio | $1,980 | $1,417 | $945 |
| Oklahoma | $3,300 | $2,138 | $1,186 |
| Oregon | $3,040 | $1,678 | $1,129 |
| Pennsylvania | $2,629 | $1,872 | $925 |
| Rhode Island | $3,508 | $2,061 | $1,142 |
| South Carolina | $3,165 | $2,009 | $1,424 |
| South Dakota | $3,346 | $2,280 | $1,499 |
| Tennessee | $3,083 | $1,677 | $1,176 |
| Texas | $3,485 | $2,043 | $1,203 |
| Utah | $2,754 | $1,825 | $1,131 |
| Virginia | $2,250 | $1,469 | $1,085 |
| Vermont | $2,398 | $1,319 | $791 |
| Washington | $2,654 | $1,608 | $848 |
| Wisconsin | $2,573 | $1,664 | $961 |
| West Virginia | $3,249 | $2,005 | $1,145 |
| Wyoming | $2,914 | $1,758 | $827 |
How to get the cheapest car insurance quotes
Understanding variables that impact rates: When you compare car insurance costs, understand that many factors influence car insurance rates. The primary considerations include your age, where you live, the type of car you drive, your driving record, your credit history and how much coverage you buy.
Your deductible: The deductible you pay, if you have a full coverage policy, will increase or decrease your price. Higher deductibles lower your rates because insurers assume you will file fewer claims. If your deductible is $1,000, it doesn’t make sense to file a claim for damage under that amount or even for a bit more than that, since you’ll have to pay the deductible before your insurance pays out. Fewer claims mean your potential cost to your insurer is lower, so you pay less. On the other hand, a low deductible, say $500, means you’ll likely file more claims. So, a low deductible will increase your rates.
Drop optional coverages you don’t need: If you own a car outright that’s worth less than $3,000 or so and is 10 or older, it might not make financial sense to carry the optional coverages of comprehensive and collision. You only get paid up to the actual cash value of your car if you file a claim under these portions of your policy.
Get all the discounts you can: Not all drivers meet the criteria for all discounts, so be sure to get the ones that match your driver profile. Standard car insurance discounts include those for bundling with your home insurance company, paying your policy in full, paying electronically, meeting low mileage requirements, having safety and anti-theft features installed, insuring more than one vehicle with the same company, staying accident-free for three to five years and maintaining a high grade-point average.
Check customer reviews: Be sure to read customer reviews of companies you are considering. Also, check the insurance companies’ social media and Facebook pages on your list to see what policyholders have to say about their experiences.
Factors to consider when comparing insurance rates
Many factors affect your car insurance rates. The chief variables of your driver profile that insurers consider when pricing your policy are listed below:
- Where you live: Insurance companies consider the frequency and cost of accidents, vandalism/theft and weather events in your area to set a base rate.
- Your age: Rates are cheapest for drivers in their 40s, 50s, and 60s and then increase again at age 70. Teens and young drivers pay the most.
- Your credit history: Drivers with bad credit pay more for coverage than those with good credit. If you have bad credit, you can still save on coverage by comparing quotes but be prepared for more expensive rates.
- Your driving record: At-fault accidents, speeding tickets and DUIs increase your rates.
- Your vehicle make/model: Car insurance costs also vary by make and model, as insurance companies consider, along with other factors we’ve mentioned already, how safe the vehicle is, its rate of accident claims, and how much it costs to repair.
Key takeaways on comparing quotes
Shop your policy at least once a year or upon renewal to be sure you’re not paying too much. Remember to compare car insurance quotes when you experience life changes because your existing company may no longer be the most affordable.
“You should compare car insurance quotes to ensure you’re getting the best coverage at the most competitive price,” says James Brau, Joel C. Peterson Professor of Finance at Brigham Young University. “It also helps you find the policy that meets your specific needs and budget, avoiding overpaying or being underinsured. When you compare, always make sure it is apples to apples, meaning the same exact services from each firm.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should you compare car insurance quotes?
Car insurance rates can vary widely from insurer to insurer, and personal factors such as where you live, what you drive, how old you are, and other criteria can influence the bottom line as well. To get the best rate on the coverage you need, experts recommend getting rate quotes from at least three different carriers. Be sure that you’re using similar coverage and deductible amounts when getting quotes to ensure that you’re making an apples-to-apples comparison between carriers.
How can I qualify for discounts?
Car insurance companies offer a wide range of discounts to entice new customers and to retain existing ones. Common savings include bundling your auto and home, renters, or condo insurance; maintaining a clean driving record; switching to paperless billing and paying your bill in advance; and others.
How often should I compare car insurance quotes?
At minimum, you should review your coverage every six to 12 months, prior to your current policy’s renewal date. Even if your driving habits or the vehicles you own haven’t changed, you may find that another insurer can offer coverage at a lower rate. If you have experienced a major life change or your coverage needs have changed – by moving, marrying or divorcing, adding a teen driver, buying a new vehicle, and so on – it’s even more important to compare car insurance quotes.
Resources & Methodology
Sources
- LexisNexis. “2024 LexisNexis Risk Solutions Auto Insurance Trends Report.” Accessed February 2025.
- Kelly Blue Book. “The 25 Best-Selling Cars of 2023.” Accessed February 2025.
- NAIC “How to File a Complaint and Research Complaints Against Insurance Carriers.” Accessed February 2025.
Methodology
CarInsurance.com editors collected rates from Quadrant Information Services for a 40-year-old male and female driver carrying a full coverage insurance policy with limits 100/300/100 and $500 comprehensive and collision deductibles. Read the detailed methodology for more information.
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