The Cheapest (and Best) Car Insurance Companies (September 2021)

Carinsurance.com compared rates from 35 auto insurance providers across the country including major companies such as State Farm, Geico, Progressive, Allstate, USAA to find the cheapest car insurance in 2021. Car insurance quotes vary based on your unique driver profile that’s based on your age, location, driving record, credit-based insurance score, driving habits, and type of vehicle you have -- some insurers may be cheaper for certain types of drivers than others.

Shopping around and comparing quotes for similar coverage from different insurance companies is the best way to find the cheapest and best car insurance for you without having to compromise on quality. We’ll provide all the information and tips you need to find cheap car insurance no matter what driving habits you have. 

The data in this report is from our analysis of various driver profiles, from dozens of major carriers. The rates reported here are averages that give you accurate idea of coverage costs for different scenarios. However, exactly what you pay will depend on your own personalized data.

Who has the cheapest auto insurance?

Our team of insurance experts carefully analyzed different driver profiles and coverage levels to help you find cheap car insurance for your unique situation. We found that Progressive is the cheapest major car insurance company for full coverage policies providing savings of over $850 over the national average. While Progressive is also the cheapest insurance company for liability and state minimum, Geico’s rates are just a few dollars higher.

Geico, however, is the cheapest car insurance company for drivers with speeding tickets, accidents or bad credit. Progressive had the lowest car insurance rates for young drivers. For teens, students and low-mileage drivers, Liberty Mutual is the insurance company that had the lowest car insurance rate.

Cheapest car insurance rates from major auto insurance providers by coverage type

Cheapest insurance for full coverage policy

In our research we found that Progressive is the cheapest car insurance company for full coverage policies, among those surveyed by our expert editorial team. Full coverage is the term used to describe a policy that includes liability insurance, which is required by state law, and also the optional coverages of comprehensive and collision, which carry a deductible. If you financed your car, your lender will require you to have full coverage. Full coverage provides the most protection so is recommended unless your car is very old, not worth much and you have few assets or savings.This type of policy will cover damage to your own car as well as damage you cause to other cars and pays for those you injure in an accident.

*Note :

• Full Coverage: 100/300/100 with Comprehensive and Collision, $500 deductible
• USAA is among the top 10 cheapest companies with a rate of $1,111 but is only available to military members, veterans and their immediate family.

Read more about Full coverage car insurance

Cheapest car insurance for liability-only

Liability insurance pays for damage you cause to other vehicles and property. It does not cover damage to your own car. You can buy just enough coverage to drive legally, or opt for higher limits that provide more protection. The rates below are for a policy that provides more protection than what is required under state laws. The bodily injury liability portion would pay out up to $50,000 for injuries per person, up to $100,000 per accident, and the property damage liability would pay up to $50,000 for property damage you cause.

*Note :

• Liability Only: 50/100/50
• USAA is among the top 10 cheapest companies with a rate of $473 but is only available to military members, veterans and their immediate family.

Read more about Liability car insurance

Cheapest insurance for state minimum car insurance requirements

If you’re looking for an auto policy with bare-bones coverage, Progressive and Geico are the auto insurance companies with the lowest car insurance premiums, based on our experts’ rate analysis. A policy that meets your state’s minimum liability limits required to drive legally is the cheapest car insurance you can get among coverage options. Because a state minimum liability policy is the least amount of coverage you can get, the car insurance premium will be low. These insurance policies include just bodily injury liability and property damage liability and only cover damage and injuries you cause to others and their property -- they don’t cover your car.

*Note :

• State Minimum: Lowest Liability Limits
• USAA is among the top 10 cheapest companies with a rate of $358 but is only available to military members, veterans and their immediate family.

Cheapest car insurance rates from major auto insurance providers by drivers profile

Who has cheap car insurance rates for bad credit?

Geico has the lowest rate for drivers with poor credit, among auto insurance carriers surveyed. If you’re looking for cheap car insurance with poor credit, you’ll see in the table below how companies compare. Note that though other companies have a lower percentage increase for poor credit, Geico has the lowest price. Aside from comparison shopping, keeping dings off your credit history and sustaining a high credit score is one of the best ways to get – and keep – cheap car insurance rates. Drivers with poor credit pay an average of 71%, or about $1,000 more for insurance than those with good credit, according to a CarInsurance.com rate data analysis. That’s higher than the premium hike (32%) for an at-fault accident that injures someone.

Read More : How Can I Get Cheap Car Insurance with Bad Credit?

Who has low cost car insurance for speeding tickets?

Geico has the lowest rate after a speeding ticket (exceeding the limit by 11 to 15 mph) among auto insurance companies researched by the experts at CarInsurance.com. Tickets for moving violations affect what you pay for car insurance, so part of keeping costs low is maintaining a clean driving record. Insurance companies check your driving history upon renewal or when you ask for quotes for a new policy, and use that information when pricing policies. Typically, it means higher rates if you’ve had a recent moving violation, such as a speeding ticket. However, each company assesses risk differently, so even with driving infractions on your record, you’ll save if you compare car insurance companies. Let’s break down average increases for speeding tickets by company:

Read More : How much do car insurance rates go up after a speeding ticket?

Who has cheap car insurance for drivers with a recent accident?

Cheap car insurance after an accident claim comes only by comparing rates. Again, you'll see Geico has a high percentage increase for drivers with a recent accident claim,, but has the lowest car insurance rate for those who have had a wreck, according to our rate analysis. The data below is for a claim of property damage over $2,000.

Read More : How much does insurance go up after an accident?

Cheapest car insurance for teen drivers

Liberty Mutual is the cheapest car insurance company for teen drivers, among those surveyed in our study of rates for a 17-year-old driver buying their own full coverage policy. Car insurance companies consider teens to be high-risk drivers due to their lack of experience behind the wheel, so car insurance for teens is pricey in general. However, by comparing car insurance rates, you can still save, regardless of what age driver you are.

Below you’ll see who has cheap car insurance for teen drivers, based on our rate analysis.

*Note : USAA is among the top 10 cheapest companies with a rate of $2,476 but is only available to military members, veterans and their immediate family.

Read More : How much is car insurance for teen drivers?

Cheapest car insurance for student drivers

Liberty Mutual is the insurance company that has the cheapest car insurance rates for student-age drivers, compared to the other major car insurance companies surveyed in our rate analysis. You’ll see that you will pay more if you don’t compare quotes, as the lowest price is about $3,000 less than the highest price among auto insurers in the study.

*Note : USAA is among the top 10 cheapest companies with a rate of $2,035 but is only available to military members, veterans and their immediate family.

Read More : How much is the average car insurance for a college student?

Cheapest car insurance companies for young drivers

Progressive is the auto insurance company that’s cheapest for young drivers, based on our analysis. Because drivers under age 24 have a short insurance history and are relatively new drivers with little experience, rates are more than for drivers close to age 30 and over. If you’re a driver under age 24 looking for cheap coverage and you’re still in school, make sure to check for student discounts when comparing car insurance quotes. Many major insurers will renew a good student discount up to age, which snags an average savings of 16%. If you’re not a student anymore, you can still save by taking advantage of other driver discounts, for instance by bundling with renters insurance -- a 6% price break, on average.

*Note :

• 3 - Full Coverage - 100/300/100 BI/PD - 500 Comprehensive and Collision
• USAA is among the top 10 cheapest companies with a rate of $1,673 but is only available to military members, veterans and their immediate family.

Read More : How to get cheap car insurance for young drivers?

Cheapest car insurance for senior drivers ( Age 70)

Progressive takes the checkered flag for having cheap auto insurance rates for senior drivers, among insurance companies in our study. Progresive leads the pack in providing cheap car insurance rates for older motorists, about $400 less than Geico and over a thousand less than other major carriers .

*Note : USAA is among the top 10 cheapest companies with a rate of $903 but is only available to military members, veterans and their immediate family.

Read More : Senior car insurance : What you need to know?

Cheapest car insurance for low-mileage drivers

If you’re a driver who logs less than about 12,000 miles a year, you qualify for cheap auto insurance. Driving less means you have less of a chance to get into an accident, so insurance rates for a low-mileage driver will generally be lower than for a driver who is on the road more, all else being equal. Farmers is the cheapest auto insurance company for low-mileage drivers.

How to get the cheapest car insurance rates

Comparing car insurance quotes can help you save hundreds of dollars and find cheaper car insurance. That’s because each car insurance company uses its own formula to calculate your insurance rate. This means the same policy can have prices that vary significantly among insurance companies. Penny Gusner, senior consumer analyst for CarInsurance.com recommends getting a car insurance quote from at least three insurance companies to see who has the best cheap car insurance for you. There are many factors that affect car insurance rates, but comparing quotes will prevent you from paying more than you should.

Gusner offers the following expert tips to help you find cheap car insurance without sacrificing coverage.

1. Driver discounts: Be sure to have all car insurance discounts for which you qualify applied to your coverage. Common car insurance discounts include those for safe drivers, student discounts, buying car and home insurance from the same company, paying in full, paying online, insuring a new vehicle, having certain safety features, having more than one car on a policy, continuing coverage for several years with the same company, having a clean driving record for a set number of years and driving few miles.
2. Hike your deductible: Another way to get low auto insurance rates is to increase your deductible. This will typically lower your rate. Just be sure to have the cash on hand to pay out the deductible should you need to file a claim.
3. Comparison shop at least upon renewal: Compare car insurance quotes at least upon renewal of your policy, and also if you buy a new car, add or remove drivers, adding a teen driver, move or buy a house, get married or divorced, have a change in credit score or have an accident or multiple tickets.
4. Bundle home insurance with your car insurance: Bundling is among the best car insurance discounts you can get. Buying home and car insurance from the same company can net you an average savings of 14%, but it can up to twice that much.
5. Check your driving record for accuracy, fix any errors: It’s important to check your driving record and fix it if you see any errors before shopping for coverage because a clean driving record generally means low cost car insurance.
6. Check safety ratings and buy a vehicle that’s considered safe by insurance companies: One factor considered when pricing your policy is the type of car you drive. Safer cars have fewer accidents, so generally are cheaper to insure.
7. Buy just the coverage you need if you have an old car and few assets: If you don’t own a home, have much savings or a retirement fund, and your car is worth less than $3,000, buying just standard (50/100/50) or state minimum liability coverage is usually sufficient.
8. Work diligently to fix poor credit: Here’s how to improve your credit-based insurance score to get cheaper car insurance rates:
• Pay your bills on time. Late payments and collections will hurt you.
• Don’t max out your credit cards. Keep your credit card balances low. The insurance score considers the amount you owe in relation to your credit limits.
• Don't open new credit card accounts. Too many new accounts signals trouble to insurers.
• Don’t cancel all your credit cards. The longer you maintain a decent credit history, the better. Having no or little credit history will lower your score.
• Check the accuracy of your credit report; errors will hurt your score. You can request free copies of your credit reports from the three national credit reporting agencies through AnnualCreditReport.com. Follow directions from the agencies to fix any errors.
• If you're struggling financially and can’t pay your bills, get professional finance advice. You can find free or low-cost help through the nonprofit National Foundation for Credit Counseling.
9. Consider low-mileage or usage-based plans: If you don’t drive much, typically under 10,000 miles or so a year, you can save money by getting coverage under a low mileage plan. MetroMile is one company that specializes in this type of policy, but some major carriers also offer this coverage. Additionally, you can save by opting for a usage-based plan, which involves having your driving habits monitored through an app or plug-in device. If you prove you’re a safe driver, you get a discount. Progressive Snapshot is one example, but most major insurance companies offer it, too.

Cheapest car insurance companies by state

If you’re wondering who has the cheapest auto insurance near you, our rate data analysis from our staff of experts can help. Here we show average car insurance rates from major insurers, ranked from least to most expensive, for every state, for a full coverage insurance policy, so that includes comprehensive and collision. Geico is the cheapest car insurance company in 33 states among insurers surveyed. In the table below, you can see how companies rank in your state, from cheapest to most expensive for car insurance premiums.

*Note : Driver profile is male, age 30 for 100/300/100, comprehensive and collision with $500 deductible.

Read More : Car insurance rates by state with interactive map

Is it a bad idea to buy cheap car insurance?

You might be wondering when it makes sense to buy bare-bones auto insurance coverage and when you should really buy more insurance to ensure you are financially protected. Going with the minimum bodily injury liability and property damage liability car insurance required by your state is rarely recommended.The amount of coverage required by state law is low, which means even a minor accident can exceed the amount your insurer will pay out. "You should be careful to have adequate coverage to fully protect your vehicle and other assets so you don't get stuck with out-of-pocket expenses," says Gusner. But there are a few scenarios in which having minimum coverage may be a good strategy.

Here are four:

1. Your car is old and not very valuable, so you skip comprehensive and collision
• Collision coverage pays to repair your car if you're in an accident. 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. Both of these types of protection are optional. Comprehensive and collision only pay out up to the actual cash value of your car. That’s why these coverages may be unnecessary if the vehicle isn't worth much.
• "This is especially true for a car that you aren't driving as much, such as an extra car that sits most of the time and you want to pay as little as possible for insurance," says Gusner. “If you are looking to save to buy a newer car, then by dropping down coverage to state minimum you can put away the money saved for the replacement car.
• Dropping comp and collision could be reasonable, but remember that, if it's your only car, you'll have to pay for any body work or be prepared to drive around a car that looks like a wreck."
2. You don't drive very much.
• If you log few miles on your car, Gusner says minimum coverage may suffice, simply because the less you drive, the less risky your driving experience will be.
• "If you are retired, work from home or otherwise don't drive much, then dropping liability coverage to the lowest possible limits can save you money," she says. "You aren't as likely to be in an accident as someone who commutes to and from work each day or drives for work."
• She adds that consistently driving few miles each year will likely snag a low-mileage discount.
3. You don't have a home, big savings or other assets to protect.
• If you're in an accident, the other driver or drivers can sue you to cover damages beyond what your insurer pays out, which puts all your assets at risk. But if you don't have any assets to target, it's less likely you'll be sued, says Gusner.
• But that comes with a strong warning: "Just because you don't have much doesn't mean a lien can't be placed against you, or that your license and registration can't be suspended if you cause an accident and can't pay for all damages," Gusner says. "If you don't want to end up in that type of situation, then it's wise to buy higher liability limits if you can afford it."
4. You want to wait until dings are off your record and full coverage becomes cheaper.
• Points are placed on your traffic and insurance record for most moving violations and accidents that are your fault. These points figure into the mix that insurers use to determine how much you pay. High-risk drivers mean higher risks for insurance companies and higher rates for you if you have a less-than-stellar driving record.
• These points usually remain on your driver record for three years.
• Until your rates drop, however, you may decide to buy only minimum liability insurance to save money, Gusner says.
• "Insurance may be costing you more than average due to violations or accidents on your record," she explains. "While it's always wise to carry higher liability limits if you can, carrying bare-bones basic car insurance is better than nothing. Try to work on keeping a clean record and within three years your rates should drop so that you can afford higher limits."
• There are other ways high-risk drivers can find affordable rates. One way to keep costs low is to buy a policy from a company that sells the majority of its policies to high-risk drivers. A company that provides coverage to just a few high-risk drivers will generally charge you more than a company that specializes in high-risk drivers, Gusner says. Typically, car insurance companies that cater to high-risk drivers offer policies with limits. For instance, they may just cover you, and not those you lend your car to, which helps keep their rates low.

Review customer service ratings for the best cheap car insurance

You can take into account the affordability of a policy when looking for cheaper car insurance, but the price of your premium shouldn’t be the sole factor in deciding which auto insurance company to choose for your next car insurance policy. In addition to comparing car insurance quotes, you should research what policyholders and experts have to say about customer service and the claims process for the insurers on your list. Locking in the best cheap car insurance means you’re not sacrificing customer satisfaction for lower car insurance rates.

CarInsurance.com’s experts fielded a survey of 3,700 customers, yielding the following results. Our best car insurance companies guide has detailed rankings that show how the top 20 largest auto insurance companies rank on metrics of customer service, claims handling, value and website/app functionality.

The top 10 car insurance companies for customer service were:

Average auto insurance rate up 22% from 2017 for full coverage

CarInsurance.com's auto insurance rates by ZIP code analysis showed a national average rate of $1,758 for full coverage. That's up 22% since 2017 when rate by ZIP code data was last surveyed by the experts at CarInsurance.com. State required minimum coverage ticked up just 4%, while standard liability limits rose 16%, according to the study.

Why is car insurance so expensive? 

Cynthia Burleson, the director of the Center for Insurance & Risk Management at Central Arkansas University, explains why the trend of rising car insurance rates won't end any time soon. It basically involves a hike in the amount of claims, or frequency, and in the cost of claims, or severity. As these two variables increase, so do premiums.

"There are two causes of upward trends in auto insurance rates: rising frequency and severity," said Burleson. "There were many companies that, during the pandemic, took rate reductions due to the drop in vehicle use, which saw lower frequency numbers. Other companies, instead of reducing rates, offered premium credits for a short period of time. Now, the companies who lowered their rates are seeing higher frequency numbers as driving increases with more and more business and office openings and vacation seekers."

The other side of rising auto rates is severity, or claims costs. Burleson outlines factors contributing to higher claims costs, which result in higher costs for insurance companies, who then pass this extra expense on to customers in the form of higher rates.

"While I don't have current numbers, it is my opinion that severity numbers (dollars) may have dropped some during the pandemic but probably not significantly. However now severity numbers are increasing. This would be due to three main factors:  1) increase in frequency, 2) increase in the cost of vehicles, and 3) increase in the cost of service (repairs, parts, along with medical care, etc..) The average cost of a vehicle in 2019 according to Kelley Blue Book was $36,718. In 2020 the average price had increased to $38,273, up 2.5%. The estimated price in 2021 as of May was $41,263 which is a 5.4% increase from 2020. Along with these increases you have the current rising trend of costs to service/repair a vehicle due to rising labor costs and the rising costs of parts. This is why I don't see the upward trend in car insurance rates reversing until there is some relief and leveling out of the issues noted above."

The bottom line on cheap car insurance

Given that car insurance rates are expected to keep climbing, it's important to remember that comparison shopping for the cheapest car insurance for  your driver profile is the most effective way to save money on coverage.