- What is full coverage auto insurance?
- Cheapest full coverage auto insurance companies
- How much is full coverage car insurance?
- Ways to find cheap full coverage insurance
- How much more does full coverage cost compared to liability only?
- Is full coverage auto insurance best for you?
- Full coverage car insurance calculator
- Frequently Asked Questions
USAA, Nationwide, and GEICO are the cheapest full coverage car insurance companies among major national insurers, according to the latest Carinsurance.com rate analysis.
Overall, Concord General Insurance has the cheapest for full coverage, but you may have trouble getting a policy with that company if you don’t live in New England.
Here are national average auto insurance rates by company, for full coverage, based on CarInsurance.com data:
Company | Avg. Total Premium | Avg. Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|
21st Century Centennial Ins Co | $1,398 | $116 |
AAA | $2,056 | $171 |
Alliance United | $2,062 | $172 |
Allied | $1,297 | $108 |
Allstate | $1,801 | $150 |
Alpha | $2,949 | $246 |
AMCO | $877 | $73 |
American Family | $1,197 | $100 |
American Mercury | $1,222 | $102 |
Artisan & Truckers Casualty | $1,300 | $108 |
Auto-Owners Insurance | $1,360 | $113 |
Bristol West | $2,694 | $225 |
California Capital | $2,000 | $167 |
Colonial County Mutual | $1,273 | $106 |
Commerce | $1,148 | $96 |
Concord General Mutual | $724 | $60 |
Encompass | $2,899 | $242 |
Erie | $1,188 | $99 |
Farmers | $1,946 | $162 |
Financial Independence | $1,935 | $161 |
Foremost | $2,457 | $205 |
GEICO | $1,126 | $94 |
Hartford Underwriters | $2,227 | $186 |
Illinois Farmers | $1,623 | $135 |
Interinsurance Exchange | $2,192 | $183 |
Kemper Independence | $1,372 | $114 |
Main Street American | $1,349 | $112 |
Meemic | $1,195 | $100 |
MemberSelect | $1,792 | $149 |
Mercury | $1,858 | $155 |
Metropolitan Lloyds | $2,133 | $178 |
Metropolitan | $2,072 | $173 |
Mid-Century | $1,855 | $155 |
Nationwide | $1,108 | $92 |
Nevada Capital | $1,126 | $94 |
Progressive | $1,448 | $121 |
Security National | $3,110 | $259 |
St. Paul Protective | $1,156 | $96 |
Standard Fire | $1,164 | $97 |
State Farm | $1,273 | $106 |
Travelers | $1,327 | $111 |
Truck Insurance Exchange | $1,249 | $104 |
Trumbull | $1,253 | $104 |
United Financial | $1,096 | $91 |
USAA | $910 | $76 |
What is full coverage auto insurance?
Full coverage car insurance includes liability, comprehensive, and collision coverage. In many cases, a full coverage insurance policy also includes uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. Uninsured motorist coverage helps you if the other driver doesn’t have coverage and underinsured motorist coverage chips in if the other driver doesn’t have enough coverage to reimburse for damage and injuries.
Approximately 80% of American drivers have full coverage insurance, according to the Insurance Information Institute.
"Full coverage refers to an auto policy that has both liability -- damage you may cause with your vehicle -- and physical damage, meaning damage to your automobile," explains Richard Estrella, director of Operations at Miami-based Estrella Insurance.
The components of a full coverage policy and what they do include:
- Liability coverage, which is required to drive in most states. Liability insurance covers damage and injuries you cause to others up to the amount you choose
- Comprehensive and collision coverage, which are optional, pay out up to the cash value of your vehicle minus your deductible. Comprehensive coverage pays to replace your car if it's stolen and pays for damages from fallen objects, like a tree, and from fire, floods, animal strikes, and vandalism. Collision coverage pays to repair your car if you're in an accident that's your fault.
The average cost for collision is $526, comprehensive is $192 annually, according to CarInsurance.com rate data.
Mark Friedlander, director of Corporate Communications for the Insurance Information Institute in St. Johns, Florida, says full coverage policies typically have higher liability limits than state minimum requirements.
Recommended liability coverage limits
Auto insurance experts recommend drivers get more than the state minimums for liability insurance. Liability limits are usually written like this: 100/300/100.
Experts recommend at least:
- Bodily injury coverage of at least $100,000 per person for those you injure in an accident
- Bodily injury coverage of at least $300,000 per accident for others' injuries overall
- Property damage coverage of at least $100,000 per accident
Going with state minimum liability coverage is a way to get cheap car insurance, but you want to make sure you have enough coverage to protect you and your finances if you get into an accident.
Cheapest full coverage auto insurance companies
Let’s look at the car insurers with the cheapest full coverage insurance rates. Whether they’re the best car insurance companies for you depends on your specific driver profile and what you want from a car insurance policy.
So, it’s best to compare multiple insurers and get quotes from each of them rather than choosing a company solely on name recognition.
Concord General Mutual
CarInsurance.com conducted a rate evaluation in 2021 and determined that this car insurance company offers the least expensive full coverage car insurance based on monthly premiums: only $60.
Concord General Mutual isn’t a national company, though. The insurance may be available to you if you live in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, or Vermont.
Concord General Mutual’s parent company received an A rating from AM Best. Its customer service and claims handling departments have stellar reputations, and the carrier has been honored with several honors and awards over the last decade.
Concord offers full coverage insurance as well as additional coverages, such as accident forgiveness, loan gap/lease gap coverage, roadside assistance, and personal auto coverage enhancements, which includes new car replacement coverage and lost earnings coverage for time spent in court concerning a car accident.
AMCO
AMCO boasts the second cheapest auto insurance premium rate based on our 2021 analysis: merely $73 a month.
Similar to Concord General Mutual, most Americans don’t have access to an AMCO policy. In business since 1987, this regional insurer covering areas of Texas offers an array of available coverage options, from full coverage car and motorcycle insurance to renters and homeowners insurance.
The insurance provider also boasts personalized insurance premiums, non-owner liability insurance, and emergency roadside assistance.
USAA
USAA is the cheapest car insurance company found in all 50 states. You'll pay as little as $76 monthly on average by opting for USAA full coverage car insurance. However, you can only qualify for coverage with this carrier if you’re an active-duty military member, veteran, or a member of their family.
USAA coverage is available in all 50 states, and a wide variety of discounts are available, such as loyalty, multi-policy (10%), claims-free (up to 10%), and fire/burglar alarm.
USAA comes highly rated, earning A++ ratings from AM Best, and a #1 rating from JD Power based on overall customer satisfaction, lowest annual shopping rate for existing customers, and price satisfaction.
United Financial
United Financial charges $91 monthly for full coverage auto insurance on average, per our latest industry evaluation.
Founded in 1984 and based in Cleveland, United Financial is a Progressive company known primarily for handling Progressive's commercial auto and business insurance lines. Progressive is the country's largest commercial auto insurer based on market share.
However, this is a regional insurer, so you'll need to live in Florida to get coverage through United Financial.
Nationwide
It's possible to choose a large carrier available in most states in the US and still pay less for auto insurance. Nationwide's monthly tab for full coverage insurance is as low as $92 on average.
This insurer offers multiple discounts, including low-mileage, anti-theft, safe driver, defensive driving, easy pay signup, good student, accident-free, and multi-policy. Rest assured that it comes highly rated, too, earning an A+ from the Better Business Bureau and AM Best.
GEICO
One of the most known insurers (and the second-largest US auto insurance company), GEICO provides full coverage auto insurance for as little as $94 monthly on average.
You may qualify for discounts based on vehicle equipment, driving history and habits, driver's education, driver affiliations, and customer loyalty.
Research shows that most consumers are likely to refer family and friends to GEICO. This carrier also gets high marks for customer service, claims handling, and customer loyalty.
How much is full coverage car insurance?
Full coverage car insurance costs, on average, $1,457, or $121 monthly.
Friedlander says car insurance premiums for full coverage vary by state because of different regulations, accident rates, and geographic factors. They also vary based on the driver.
"Rates vary depending on more than a dozen individual rating factors, including motor vehicle record, claim history, make and model of vehicle, coverages and deductibles chosen, how many miles you drive per year, age, gender, marital status, and your credit-based insurance score,” Friedlander says.
Below you'll see full coverage car insurance costs by state
State | Avg. Total Premium | Avg. Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|
Alaska | $1,236 | $103 |
Alabama | $1,485 | $124 |
Arkansas | $1,485 | $124 |
Arizona | $1,453 | $121 |
California | $2,001 | $167 |
Colorado | $1,941 | $162 |
Connecticut | $1,436 | $120 |
District of Columbia | $1,679 | $140 |
Delaware | $1,560 | $130 |
Florida | $2,192 | $183 |
Georgia | $1,638 | $137 |
Hawaii | $1,067 | $89 |
Iowa | $1,127 | $94 |
Idaho | $980 | $82 |
Illinois | $1,542 | $128 |
Indiana | $1,262 | $105 |
Kansas | $1,426 | $119 |
Kentucky | $1,318 | $110 |
Louisiana | $2,969 | $247 |
Massachusetts | $1,382 | $115 |
Maryland | $1,371 | $114 |
Maine | $964 | $80 |
Michigan | $1,563 | $130 |
Minnesota | $1,185 | $99 |
Missouri | $1,644 | $137 |
Mississippi | $1,448 | $121 |
Montana | $1,588 | $132 |
North Carolina | $1,319 | $110 |
North Dakota | $1,166 | $97 |
Nebraska | $1,761 | $147 |
New Hampshire | $965 | $80 |
New Jersey | $1,579 | $132 |
New Mexico | $1,447 | $121 |
Nevada | $1,625 | $135 |
New York | $1,540 | $128 |
Ohio | $960 | $80 |
Oklahoma | $1,674 | $139 |
Oregon | $1,153 | $96 |
Pennyslvania | $1,277 | $106 |
Rhode Island | $1,786 | $149 |
South Carolina | $1,473 | $123 |
South Dakota | $1,501 | $125 |
Tennessee | $1,236 | $103 |
Texas | $1,747 | $146 |
Utah | $1,529 | $127 |
Virginia | $1,139 | $95 |
Vermont | $1,065 | $89 |
Washington | $1,157 | $96 |
Wisconsion | $1,211 | $101 |
West Virginia | $1,311 | $109 |
Wyoming | $1,722 | $144 |
National average | $1,457 | $121 |
Ways to find cheap full coverage insurance
Comparison shopping is the best way to save on car insurance, whether you're looking for full coverage auto insurance quotes or minimum coverage required.
No two car insurance provider have identical prices for the same policy. Instead, costs vary significantly from one company to another. That's why comparing rates is one of the best ways to save on coverage.
"We recommend you get a minimum of three quotes from a mix of national and regional carriers to compare prices," Friedlander suggests. "You can also lower your car insurance rates by raising your deductible on comprehensive and collision coverages and bundling your coverage by taking advantage of multi-policy discounts."
When shopping for a policy, remember to:
- Compare the same deductible amounts.
- Be sure liability limits are identical when comparing rates.
- See what add-on coverages are available and if there are restrictions or costs associated with these. Examples include roadside assistance.
- Always use the same core information, such as the same list of drivers.
- Make sure you get all the auto insurance discounts that you're eligible to receive.
- Compare full coverage car insurance quotes from at least three insurance car companies to see which is the cheapest.
- Maintain good credit (bad credit can increase rates more than an accident).
Shop around each renewal or every other renewal
Estrella recommends drivers get quotes from insurers every renewal period or every other renewal period.
"Remember, also, that insurance companies sometimes adjust their premiums several times a year and typically never less than once a year. Therefore, it's very possible that your insurer, which may have been the cheapest at the time you purchased coverage, is now more expensive,” Estrella says.
Below you'll see how much the average driver can save by comparing full coverage car insurance quotes. The table shows state car insurance rates for a typical driver with full coverage, and the difference between the highest and lowest average quotes for the same policy.
The amount you can save varies by state, but overall, here are key findings:
- The average savings nationwide after comparing car insurance quotes for full coverage is $1,457 a year.
- The average percentage savings is 382% a year.
State | Avg. Premium | Highest Premium | Lowest premium | $ Savings | % Savings |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
New York | $1,540 | $7,828 | $529 | $7,299 | 1380.00% |
Michigan | $1,563 | $7,364 | $828 | $6,536 | 789.37% |
Massachusetts | $1,382 | $3,283 | $411 | $2,872 | 698.78% |
Nebraska | $1,761 | $6,107 | $769 | $5,338 | 694.15% |
Missouri | $1,644 | $5,548 | $700 | $4,848 | 692.57% |
Illinois | $1,542 | $4,780 | $612 | $4,168 | 681.05% |
Utah | $1,529 | $4,645 | $616 | $4,029 | 654.06% |
Wisconsin | $1,211 | $3,602 | $494 | $3,108 | 629.15% |
Pennsylvania | $1,277 | $4,688 | $652 | $4,036 | 619.02% |
Kentucky | $1,318 | $3,318 | $534 | $2,784 | 521.35% |
Indiana | $1,262 | $3,372 | $544 | $2,828 | 519.85% |
Washington | $1,157 | $3,360 | $549 | $2,811 | 512.02% |
Louisiana | $2,969 | $5,958 | $985 | $4,973 | 504.87% |
Nevada | $1,625 | $4,025 | $726 | $3,299 | 454.41% |
Montana | $1,588 | $2,700 | $491 | $2,209 | 449.90% |
South Carolina | $1,473 | $4,433 | $843 | $3,590 | 425.86% |
Rhode Island | $1,786 | $3,780 | $755 | $3,025 | 400.66% |
North Dakota | $1,166 | $2,370 | $490 | $1,880 | 383.67% |
District of Columbia | $1,679 | $3,548 | $762 | $2,786 | 365.62% |
Colorado | $1,941 | $4,205 | $913 | $3,292 | 360.57% |
Virginia | $1,139 | $2,691 | $597 | $2,094 | 350.75% |
New Jersey | $1,579 | $3,270 | $735 | $2,535 | 344.90% |
Arizona | $1,453 | $3,250 | $734 | $2,516 | 342.78% |
Maryland | $1,371 | $2,888 | $654 | $2,234 | 341.59% |
Maine | $964 | $2,373 | $571 | $1,802 | 315.59% |
Florida | $2,192 | $4,247 | $1,055 | $3,192 | 302.56% |
Oklahoma | $1,674 | $3,246 | $825 | $2,421 | 293.45% |
Delaware | $1,560 | $3,074 | $787 | $2,287 | 290.60% |
Arkansas | $1,485 | $3,236 | $835 | $2,401 | 287.54% |
California | $2,001 | $3,472 | $896 | $2,576 | 287.50% |
Ohio | $960 | $1,786 | $483 | $1,303 | 269.77% |
Mississippi | $1,448 | $2,500 | $685 | $1,815 | 264.96% |
Texas | $1,747 | $3,486 | $979 | $2,507 | 256.08% |
Alabama | $1,485 | $2,797 | $786 | $2,011 | 255.85% |
North Carolina | $1,319 | $2,240 | $659 | $1,581 | 239.91% |
Kansas | $1,426 | $2,467 | $726 | $1,741 | 239.81% |
Idaho | $980 | $1,754 | $519 | $1,235 | 237.96% |
West Virginia | $1,311 | $2,321 | $690 | $1,631 | 236.38% |
South Dakota | $1,501 | $2,698 | $812 | $1,886 | 232.27% |
New Mexico | $1,447 | $2,522 | $779 | $1,743 | 223.75% |
Georgia | $1,638 | $3,110 | $975 | $2,135 | 218.97% |
Iowa | $1,127 | $2,216 | $696 | $1,520 | 218.39% |
Oregon | $1,153 | $2,250 | $708 | $1,542 | 217.80% |
Vermont | $1,065 | $1,722 | $555 | $1,167 | 210.27% |
Connecticut | $1,436 | $2,444 | $794 | $1,650 | 207.81% |
Wyoming | $1,722 | $2,567 | $844 | $1,723 | 204.15% |
Minnesota | $1,185 | $1,964 | $646 | $1,318 | 204.02% |
Tennessee | $1,236 | $2,061 | $705 | $1,356 | 192.34% |
Alasksa | $1,236 | $2,026 | $725 | $1,301 | 179.45% |
New Hampshire | $965 | $1,650 | $595 | $1,055 | 177.31% |
Hawaii | $1,067 | $1,476 | $772 | $704 | 91.19% |
National average | $1,457 | $3,308 | $706 | $2,602 | 382% |
How much more does full coverage cost compared to liability only?
It costs about $100 more a month to increase your protection from state-required minimums to full coverage. Typically, buying higher liability limits doesn't cost that much more.
Consider the following, based on CarInsurance.com's analysis of rates from up to six major insurers for nearly all ZIP codes:
- The nationwide average cost for state minimum liability coverage is $573.
- If you increase that to $100,000/$300,000/$100,000 with comprehensive and collision and a $500 deductible, that average goes up to $1,457.
- So, it only costs less than $1,000 more per year.
Is full coverage auto insurance best for you?
When you shop for a car insurance policy, you have to decide how much coverage you need. The decision may not be up to you if you lease or owe on a loan for your car.
Most lenders require that you buy full coverage -- a liability policy with comprehensive and collision insurance. Still, opting for full coverage makes sense financially unless you drive an old car that's not worth much or have no assets to protect.
"The best candidates for full coverage auto insurance are those who have a vehicle that is still worth covering fully because the cost of repairing it or replacing it would be financially difficult," says Estrella.
How much liability coverage do you need?
Not sure what to choose?
Here are possible liability limits based on your net worth:
- Net worth less than $50,000 – choose at least 50/100/50
- Between $50,000 and $100,000 – choose at least 100/300/100
- More than $100,000 – choose at least 250/500/100
Do you need comprehensive and collision coverage?
Comprehensive and collision only pay out up to the actual cash value of your car, minus a deductible you pay first. That's why these coverages may be unnecessary if the vehicle is old and has little value.
Coverage recommendations for collision and comprehensive:
- If your car is less than 10 years old, you should consider buying collision and comprehensive.
- If your car is more than 10 years old, buy collision and comprehensive if your car is worth $4,000 or more.
- Buy collision and comprehensive if you can't afford to replace it if you get into an accident.
- Buy comprehensive if you live in an area prone to hail, flooding, vandalism, animal strikes, or theft.
Full coverage car insurance calculator
We've highlighted average costs for full coverage based on a driver profile, but if you want to get a customized cost for a policy, use our car insurance estimator tool to see what you can expect to pay. In five easy steps, you can get quick insurance estimates for your car by using this calculator that provides rates for three coverage levels based on your personal profile.