With the gas prices in the United States at more than $4, according to AAA data, drivers looking to save a few bucks could opt for cheaper car insurance.

The cheapest car insurance in Tennessee costs $81 per month for a full coverage policy. That’s a $34 savings from the average cost of insurance in the state, which is $114 a month.

To help you find the cheapest rates, CarInsurance.com analyzed rates from multiple auto insurance companies in Tennessee including Geico, Progressive, Mercury, and many others, so that you can easily compare car insurance rates.

Granted, you probably don’t just want a good rate, you want good coverage as well. That’s why we have prepared this comprehensive guide for you. It will help you find cheap car insurance in Tennessee for your needs without sacrificing essential coverage and ensuring your financial security.

Key Highlights
  • The cheapest car insurance in Tennessee is offered by Geico and costs $968 per month for a full coverage policy.
  • Geico offers the cheapest state minimum coverage in Tennessee.
  • The city with the cheapest car insurance rates in Tennessee is Johnson City. The car insurance rate is $1,131 per year.
  • In Tennessee, drivers with clean records can save 43% on car insurance compared to those with DUIs.

Who has the cheapest car insurance in Tennessee?

Geico offers the cheapest car insurance rates in Tennessee for a full coverage policy with an average premium of $81 per month or around $968 per year, based on CarInsurance.com’s rate analysis.

A full coverage policy includes liability insurance, which is required by law in most states, and optional coverage such as comprehensive and collision insurance, which typically have a deductible.

List of cheapest car insurance companies in Tennessee

The below table shows the cheapest quotes in Tennessee by different insurance carriers for a full coverage policy.

Cheapest car insurance rates in Tennessee per month

Graph
Table
CompanyFull Coverage
Geico$81
Auto-Owners$90
Nationwide$90
State Farm$99
Travelers$100
 

Who pays a lower insurance premium in Tennessee?

Car insurance quotes vary based on a number of factors such as your age, location, driving record, credit score, driving habits, and type of vehicle you drive. Some insurance companies may offer cheaper policies for certain types of drivers than others. For instance:

  • Married drivers pay 8% less than single drivers.
  • Tennessee drivers with clean records pay 43% less than drivers who have a DUI on their record.
  • Tennessee drivers in their 20s pay 65% lower rates for insurance than a 16-year-old in Tennessee.
  • Adding a teen to your policy will cost you 55% less than having the teen purchase their own auto insurance policy.
  • Drivers who are licensed for three or more years pay 33% less on their insurance premium.
  • Drivers insured for three or more years can save up to 17% on their insurance cost.
Tip iconTip

If you no longer drive regularly or work these days remotely, you may want to re-evaluate your insurance policy. Drivers with a daily commute of less than 15 miles can save up to 10% more on their premiums.

Cheapest companies for different coverage levels in Tennessee

It’s no secret that car insurance quotes vary drastically from person to person and from company to company. Your car insurance premiums will also vary depending on the coverage level you choose, your driving history, and other factors.

In addition to full coverage, there are also liability-only and state minimum policies. Unlike full coverage, liability-only and state minimum policies typically only cover damage to another driver’s bodily injury and property damage in the event of an accident.

Not all insurers offer the same coverage limits at the same price point. For instance:

  • Geico is the cheapest for a state minimum policy.
  • Auto Owners Ins has the cheapest rates for a liability-only policy (50/100/50).
  • Geico offers the cheapest car insurance for a full coverage policy (100/300/100) in Tennessee.

The numbers above (100/300/100) represent up to $100,000 for the medical bills of those you injure with a $300,000 cap per accident and up to $100,000 to repair other drivers’ cars and property that you damage.

Cheapest state minimum coverage in Tennessee

State laws require all drivers to maintain a minimum level of car insurance coverage, also known as the state’s minimum coverage requirements. In Tennessee, you must have at least the following insurance coverage on your car.

Minimum CoverageMinimum Limit
Minimum bodily injury liability$25,000/$50,000
Minimum property damage liability$15,000

Read more about the minimum liability car insurance requirements by state

Below you’ll see average annual rates for major insurance providers in Tennessee, ranked cheapest to expensive for state minimum coverage.

CompanyAnnual Rates: State Minimum
Geico$234
Auto-Owners$252
State Farm$278
Erie$279
Progressive$298

Cheapest liability-only coverage in Tennessee

Your liability-only coverage will cover the cost of any damage, injuries, or deaths you cause in an accident, up to the policy limits. 

Below you’ll see average annual rates for major insurance providers in Tennessee, ranked cheapest to expensive for liability insurance coverage. The coverage limit for the below-mentioned rates is $50,000 for bodily injury per person, $100,000 for bodily injury per accident and $50,000 for property damage.

CompanyAnnual Rates: Liability Only
Auto-Owners$263
Geico$300
State Farm$361
Erie$363
Progressive$437

Cheapest full coverage in Tennessee

Full coverage car insurance policies consist of comprehensive and collision insurance. It protects against accidents, theft, vandalism, and natural disasters. 

Ideally, full coverage means you have insurance that’s appropriate for your income, assets, and risk profile. Lenders require full coverage from those who finance their cars. 

The table below shows the average annual rates from major insurance providers in Tennessee, ranked cheapest to expensive for a full coverage policy of $100,000 for bodily injury per person, $300,000 for bodily injury per accident, and $100,000 for property damage, with comprehensive and collision coverage, and a $500 deductible.

CompanyAvg. Annual Premium
Geico$968
Auto-Owners$1,077
Nationwide$1,078
State Farm$1,187
Travelers$1,204

Read more about full coverage car insurance:

Which cities in Tennessee have the lowest auto insurance rates?

Your car insurance company sets your rates based on many factors. One of the most important is where you live. Companies look at the number and cost of car insurance claims in your area to determine how risky it is to insure you.

The city with the lowest auto insurance rates in Tennessee is Johnson City, at $1,131 per year. Insurance companies use data about thefts, collisions, and vandalism to decide how likely it is for one of these things to happen in your city. Insurers also consider your driving record, the type of car you drive, and your car’s age to determine your premiums.

Below is a list of cities in Tennessee with the lowest auto insurance rates:

CityAvg. Annual Premium
Johnson City$1,131
Jonesborough$1,144
Bristol$1,146
Telford$1,147
Colonial Heights$1,147
Bluff City$1,153
Piney Flats$1,157
Blountville$1,162
Milligan College$1,164
Kingsport$1,173

How much can you save on car insurance in Tennessee?

By comparing car insurance quotes, you can save an average of 53% per year for a full coverage policy in Tennessee. 

While savings will depend upon individual circumstances, there are still significant benefits associated with comparison shopping and getting exactly what you need at an affordable price.

The bottom line on cheap car insurance in Tennessee

Based on our research, if you are a good driver, then Geico is the cheapest in Tennessee for a full coverage policy.

We know that finding the best and cheapest auto insurance coverage is essential, but so is getting the right amount of protection.

The best way to find affordable car insurance in Tennessee is to know and understand the coverage you need, compare quotes, apply for discounts, and maintain a clean driving record. Even if you have tickets or accidents, it’s still possible that the company will offer you a policy at affordable rates.

Get more insightful data analyzed by experts to learn how much average car insurance costs in Tennessee.

Methodology

CarInsurance.com commissioned Quadrant Information Services to field rates from all the major insurers in nearly every ZIP code of Tennessee for three different coverage levels. The rates mentioned are for a full coverage policy with limits 100/300/100, including comprehensive and collision coverage and a $500 deductible — unless otherwise stated — for a 40-year-old driver with a clean driving record and a good credit score.

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Contributing Writer

Shivani Gite is a personal finance and insurance writer with a degree in journalism and mass communication. She is passionate about making insurance topics easy to understand for people and helping them make better financial decisions. When not writing, you can find her reading a book or watching anime.