Car insurance estimator: Use our calculator to estimate your car insurance cost in 2025

Car insurance companies look at factors such as theft, vandalism, accidents, claims and fraud, which helps insurers discern the risk associated with insuring your car in that ZIP code. All other factors being the same, your ZIP code can change your rate by hundreds of dollars.

“Regardless of whether you want full coverage or the cheapest minimum amount, it is a good move to shop around,” says David C. Marlett, managing director of the Brantley Risk and Insurance Center at Appalachian State University. “Insurers have widely different pricing models and it is often surprising how much they can differ. This is a quick and easy process that can easily save you hundreds of dollars in premiums.”

Auto insurers penalize inexperience—the less experienced the driver, the higher the rates—because statistically, inexperienced drivers crash—a lot. Therefore, young drivers are the riskiest to insure and car insurance rates reflect this risk.

Of course, most inexperienced drivers are teenagers and those younger than 25. So, young drivers pay significantly more, in general, than older drivers. Rates are cheapest for drivers in their 40s, 50s and early 60s.

Read more: How to get cheap car insurance for young drivers

Car insurance companies will give you a quote based on several factors listed above—your age, location, vehicle make/model, driving record, credit score and annual mileage. But while one company may charge you more for an accident, another may not—the same goes for tickets and adding a teen driver to your policy, for example—because each company evaluates risk differently.

So, it’s always a good idea to compare car insurance rates every six months—at minimum annually —to ensure you have the most affordable policy.

CarInsurance.com recommends liability limits of 100/300/100 with full coverage for most drivers, which protects you for up to $100,000 in bodily injury for one person, $300,000 in bodily injury per accident and $100,000 in property damage per accident.

Liability coverage

Liability insurance provides bodily injury and property damage protection for other drivers if you’re found at fault in an accident, up to the limits of your policy. Buy car insurance with high enough limits to protect your finances in case of a car accident.

“Chances are that you will need more liability insurance than the state requires because accidents cost more than the minimum limits,” says Mark Friedlander, director of corporate communications for the Insurance Information Institute. “If you are found legally responsible for bills that cost more than your insurance covers, you will have to pay the difference out-of-pocket, which could be financially devastating for you and your family.”

Collision coverage

Full coverage car insurance includes both comprehensive and collision coverages, each serving a crucial role in safeguarding your vehicle. Collision coverage pays for damages to your car resulting from an accident, regardless of who is at fault. This is particularly important in scenarios such as colliding with another vehicle or hitting an object like a tree or guardrail.

Comprehensive coverage

On the other hand, comprehensive coverage protects against non-collision-related damages, such as those caused by theft, vandalism, natural disasters or hitting an animal. Having full coverage ensures that you are financially protected in a variety of situations, reducing the risk of significant out-of-pocket expenses and providing peace of mind while on the road.

f you have an expensive vehicle or one you can’t afford to replace, you should also purchase collision and comprehensive coverage.

Other types of car insurance include:

• Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage
• Personal injury protection
• Medical payments coverage

How much does insurance cost for a $100K car?

Pricier cars have expensive car insurance. For example, a Tesla Model S Plaid costs $4,115 annually for full coverage car insurance. A Tesla Model S Plaid starts around $90,000.

How much does insurance cost for a $50K car?

A vehicle that costs around $50K, such as the Audi S3 with a starting MSRP of $48,700, will cost less for car insurance. A full coverage policy for an Audi S3 averages $2,251 annually.

Your driving record is paramount to a car insurance company. Safe drivers get a discount from standard rates for keeping a clean driving record, while drivers with moving violations are riskier and could pay a surcharge in addition to standard rates.

Generally, a minor violation, such as a speeding ticket, can boost your average rates by 26% to 43%. If you have a major violation like a DUI, your rates can increase even more. The more risk you appear to be to your auto insurer, the more you will pay.

Insurance companies routinely check your credit rating to create your premium—except in California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Michigan and Washington—where state law prohibits credit from being a pricing factor. In Oregon and Utah, policies can’t be canceled or not renewed due to credit history.

Credit scores help insurance companies assess a potential customer’s risk level. Research has shown that people with lower credit scores (typically 600 or lower) are more likely to file claims.

Read more: What is an auto insurance score and why does it matter?