How to Compare Car Insurance Rates 2024

Comparing car insurance quotes from several companies is one of the best ways to get the coverage you need at the cheapest price.

Find the Cheapest Car Insurance Quotes in Your Area

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How to compare car insurance rates

To compare car insurance rates, start by getting quotes from several companies over the phone or online. They will ask for details about yourself and your vehicle before they send you a quote.

Once you get quotes from three or more insurance companies, compare them side by side. Assuming all other details — like coverage types and amounts — are the same, the one with the best price should be the one for you.

Another option for getting and comparing car insurance quotes is to use a quote-comparison website. On these sites, you share your personal and vehicle info once and get quotes from several companies.

How to choose car insurance

  Compare car insurance rates by state

Where you live can have a major impact on how much you pay for car insurance.

Maine drivers pay the lowest full-coverage car insurance rates, at an average of $92 a month. Michigan has the highest average full-coverage rates at $387 a month.

Full-coverage car insurance rates by state

StateAverage rateRank
Alabama$1,97929
Alaska$1,5329
Arizona$2,68347
Arkansas$1,87924
California$1,86723
Colorado$2,54245
Connecticut$2,34643
Delaware$2,48244
Florida$2,99050
Georgia$1,83219
Hawaii$1,64314
Idaho$1,2273
Illinois$2,10936
Indiana$1,5118
Iowa$1,66315
Kansas$1,99130
Kentucky$2,29542
Louisiana$2,71948
Maine$1,1001
Maryland$2,05133
Massachusetts$2,06834
Michigan$4,63851
Minnesota$1,88425
Mississippi$1,79617
Missouri$1,90826
Montana$2,17439
Nebraska$1,90927
Nevada$2,95849
New Hampshire$1,1462
New Jersey$2,23640
New Mexico$1,95328
New York$2,03032
North Carolina$1,3055
North Dakota$1,85821
Ohio$1,3296
Oklahoma$2,11938
Oregon$2,11537
Pennsylvania$1,86122
Rhode Island$2,63646
South Carolina$1,80818
South Dakota$2,01631
Tennessee$1,55412
Texas$1,83320
Utah$2,26141
Vermont$1,2324
Virginia$1,59813
Washington$1,53410
Washington, D.C.$2,08235
West Virginia$1,70116
Wisconsin$1,54011
Wyoming$1,4377

As for the cheapest liability car insurance — which only covers damage to another person when you’re at fault — South Dakota has the lowest rates, at an average of $29 a month, followed by Wyoming at $31 a month.

Liability car insurance rates by state

StateAverage rateRank
Alabama$71730
Alaska$60518
Arizona$1,07941
Arkansas$62221
California$57115
Colorado$89736
Connecticut$1,08842
Delaware$1,28348
Florida$1,20646
Georgia$79033
Hawaii$60919
Idaho$4133
Illinois$84835
Indiana$53313
Iowa$4445
Kansas$61620
Kentucky$1,18345
Louisiana$94837
Maine$5017
Maryland$1,09344
Massachusetts$75732
Michigan$1,84951
Minnesota$74331
Mississippi$66226
Missouri$68627
Montana$57416
Nebraska$4706
Nevada$1,36849
New Hampshire$53714
New Jersey$1,39350
New Mexico$63222
New York$1,05940
North Carolina$53211
North Dakota$52210
Ohio$53212
Oklahoma$65624
Oregon$1,09243
Pennsylvania$60317
Rhode Island$1,21347
South Carolina$80334
South Dakota$3511
Tennessee$5059
Texas$69628
Utah$98939
Vermont$4174
Virginia$71529
Washington$65123
Washington, D.C.$94938
West Virginia$65925
Wisconsin$5038
Wyoming$3702

Find the Cheapest Car Insurance Quotes in Your Area

  Compare car insurance quotes by driving history

Drivers with speeding tickets or accidents on their records usually pay more for car insurance than those with clean records.

A speeding ticket on your record raises your car insurance rate by 20%, on average. Among major car insurance companies, State Farm is the cheapest for most drivers with a speeding ticket or similar traffic violation, charging an average rate of $135 a month.

USAA is even cheaper, at $121 a month, but only members of the military and their families can get insurance from USAA.

Car insurance quotes after a speeding ticket

CompanyAverage rateRank
State Farm$1,6162
Travelers$2,4683
American Family$2,3524
Geico$2,4935
Progressive$2,6066
Nationwide$2,8397
Allstate$3,0738
Farmers$4,2529
USAA*$1,4571

State Farm and USAA are also the cheapest car insurance companies for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records. State Farm’s average quote for drivers after an accident is $154 a month. USAA’s is $138 a month.

Car insurance quotes after an accident

CompanyAverage rateRank
Allstate$4,1258
American Family$2,9804
Farmers$4,5989
Geico$3,3415
Nationwide$3,4607
Progressive$3,0266
State Farm$1,8432
Travelers$2,6993
USAA*$1,6581

Progressive is the cheapest car insurance company with a DUI (driving under the influence) conviction for most drivers. Progressive’s average quote for these drivers is $212 a month.

Car insurance quotes after a DUI

CompanyAverage rateRank
Allstate$3,8755
American Family$3,1144
Farmers$4,7589
Geico$4,5848
Nationwide$4,3766
Progressive$2,5472
State Farm$4,4027
Travelers$2,8933
USAA*$2,2521

  Compare car insurance quotes for teen drivers

Car insurance rates for teen drivers are usually higher than for older drivers with more experience on the road. This is because younger drivers tend to get into more accidents.

Most teen drivers will get the cheapest car insurance with State Farm. State Farm has the lowest average rates for both liability and full coverage, at $151 and $344 a month, respectively.

Full-coverage car insurance for teen drivers

CompanyFull coverageRank
Allstate$7,6688
American Family$5,4134
Farmers$9,3549
Geico$5,0485
Nationwide$7,7437
Progressive$8,4956
State Farm$4,1282
Travelers$5,7583
USAA*$2,8471

Liability car insurance for teen drivers

CompanyLiability coverageRank
Allstate$3,3998
American Family$2,3644
Farmers$4,2279
Geico$2,0443
Nationwide$3,3717
Progressive$3,1936
State Farm$1,8112
Travelers$2,6555
USAA*$1,0301

How to compare car insurance companies

Comparing rates and ratings for car insurance companies can help you find the best company for your needs.

Some people buy a car insurance policy based on the cheapest rate. Others find coverage options or customer service to be the most important.

  Compare cheapest car insurance companies

State Farm is the cheapest car insurance company for most drivers. It charges $124 a month for full-coverage car insurance, on average, and $50 a month for liability car insurance.

MMG is the cheapest car insurance company overall, but it only sells policies in eight states. Its rates average $31 a month for liability and $75 a month for full coverage.

CompanyLiability coverageFull coverage
MMG$375$902
Concord$478$977
Texas Farm Bureau$401$1,036
USAA*$398$1,199
Erie$497$1,270
Island Insurance$418$1,319
Acuity$478$1,361
Hanover$336$1,372
Safety$571$1,392
Westfield$439$1,481
Pemco$464$1,483
State Farm$597$1,487
Mercury$511$1,596
Country Financial$623$1,600
Umialik$598$1,602
Arbella$720$1,629
Co-Op$437$1,635
Grange$570$1,638
Auto-Owners$516$1,690
Travelers$835$1,919
American Family$728$1,920
Shelter$762$1,927
Farm Bureau$548$1,931
Geico$727$1,937
Grinnell Mutual$421$2,015
Progressive$791$2,032
Nationwide$963$2,226
Plymouth Rock$853$2,236
Amica$1,098$2,548
Allstate$1,158$2,609
The Hartford$1,007$2,688
UAIC$1,577$2,886
Nodak$553$2,917
Safeway$1,391$3,080
Farmers$1,188$3,091
NJM$3,125$3,382
AAA$1,520$3,835

Compare car insurance quotes from several companies to get the best rate for the coverage you need.

Find the Cheapest Car Insurance Quotes in Your Area

  Compare car insurance customer service ratings

State Farm has the highest customer satisfaction score for most drivers. USAA’s is even better, but only those with military ties can buy insurance there.

American Family has the lowest complaint score of these companies. Nationwide also receives few customer complaints.

CompanyCustomer satisfaction scoreComplaint Index rating
Allstate8140.65
American Family8280.15
Farmers8020.80
Geico8180.91
Liberty Mutual7981.21
Nationwide8060.34
Progressive8120.65
State Farm8330.70
Travelers8060.61
USAA*8760.95

Sources: J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Auto Insurance Study (regional averages) and National Association of Insurance Commissioners (2022 data).

J.D. Power’s 2023 U.S. Auto Insurance study rates customer satisfaction with the billing process and policy information, claims, interaction, policy offerings and price. Higher scores are better.

The Complaint Index is from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), which compares insurance companies of similar size by confirmed complaints. Lower scores are better in this case.

How to get the cheapest car insurance for you

To get the cheapest car insurance for your situation, compare quotes from several companies, look for discounts and review your coverage types and amounts.

Compare car insurance quotes from several companies

If you get a car insurance quote only from one company, you’ll never know if it’s too high or if you could get a cheaper rate elsewhere.

Looking at quotes from several companies side by side lets you see which one offers the lowest and best price for the coverage you need.

See if you qualify for discounts

The price tied to your car insurance quote is only the beginning. You may be able to make your policy cheaper if you qualify for one or more discounts.

Some of the most common car insurance discounts that could save you money are:

  • Multipolicy discount: Many insurers will lower your premium if you bundle more than one policy with them. This could mean a car and home insurance policy, car and renters insurance, or even car and boat insurance. Some insurers call this a multiline or bundling discount.
  • Multicar discount: If you insure more than one vehicle with the same insurance company, you may get a discount.
  • Anti-theft discount: You may earn a discount if your car has a theft-prevention device or system.
  • Defensive driving discount: Some insurance companies will discount your rate if you take a defensive driving course. However, they often limit the discount to drivers 55 and older, so contact your insurer for more info.
  • Good student discount: If you’re a student and get good grades, you might get a discount.

Make sure you’ve got the right amount of car insurance

You might be overpaying for car insurance if your policy includes more coverage than you need.

If your car is old, you may not need collision or comprehensive coverage. Or you could lower your limits for either or both types of coverage. If you can afford to raise your deductible, it could save you money, too.

The most common types of car insurance are:

Liability

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Liability covers injuries and property damage you cause to others in an accident.

Collision

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Collision pays to repair or replace your vehicle after an accident damages or destroys it.

Comprehensive

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Comprehensive pays to repair or replace your car if something other than a collision damages or destroys it. This includes damage from natural disasters, animals, vandalism or theft.

Other common types of insurance include:

  • Uninsured motorist (UM) covers your injuries as well as damage to your vehicle if a driver without car insurance injures you or your passengers.
  • Personal injury protection (PIP) covers injuries to you and/or your passengers after an accident, no matter who causes it. Medical payments or MedPay provides similar coverage.
  • Factors that impact car insurance rates

    Car insurance companies look at several factors to calculate your rate. Some of the rate factors that most impact what you pay for car insurance include your:

    • Age
    • Gender
    • Marital status
    • Vehicle make and model
    • Yearly mileage
    • Driving record
    • ZIP code
    • Insurance and claims history

    How state laws impact auto insurance rates

    In most states, liability is the only type of car insurance coverage you need to buy. Some states also require uninsured motorist or underinsured motorist coverage. The same is true of PIP.

    The more types and amounts of coverage your state requires, the more you’re likely to pay for car insurance, even if you only buy the state’s minimum required amount.

    This is only one of the factors that determine your rate, though others may also raise or lower your cost.

    Find the Cheapest Car Insurance Quotes in Your Area

    Why you should compare car insurance quotes

    Comparing car insurance quotes is the easiest way to get all the car insurance coverage you need for the cheapest rate.

    Different insurance companies often offer different quotes for the same policy. That’s because each company uses its own method to come up with your quote.

    One insurer may find that your vehicle make and model are more important than where you live. Or it might think your insurance claims history is a bigger deal than a competitor does.

    Frequently asked questions

    You need to buy at least as much car insurance as your state requires. If you finance or lease a vehicle, you’ll also need to buy as much car insurance as your lender or lessor requires.

    All states, except New Hampshire, will make you buy at least a minimum amount of liability car insurance coverage. Lenders and lessors usually make you buy collision and comprehensive coverage, as well.

    For starters, you should get as much car insurance as your state requires. The same is true of whatever your lender or lessor requires if you finance or lease your car.

    Beyond that, you should consider factors like the age of your vehicle, how much it’s worth, how much you could afford to pay for repairs if it’s damaged, and more.

    You should also consider your net worth. If you injure someone in an accident, a long hospital stay or lawsuit could burn through the state-minimum requirements quickly. After that, you may have to pay any remaining costs out of your own pocket.

    Full-coverage car insurance is a policy that usually includes liability, collision and comprehensive coverages.

    Your credit score can impact your car insurance rate in some states, with bad credit car insurance costing more. However, a few states no longer allow insurance companies to use your credit score to calculate your rate.

    You should review your car insurance rate and coverage every six to 12 months. Get quotes from other companies and compare them to your current policy and cost. You may find that another company will give you a cheaper rate for the same coverage you have now.

    The main ways to save money on car insurance are to compare quotes and see if you qualify for any discounts. Reviewing your coverage types and amounts may help, too. If you have coverage you don’t need, reducing or removing it could save you money.

    Methodology

    LendingTree obtains rates from insurance company filings reported to Quadrant Information Services. Rates are based on an analysis of car insurance quotes for sample drivers.

    Unless stated otherwise, we used thousands of car insurance quotes from across the U.S. for a 30-year-old man with good credit and no tickets, accidents or DUI convictions, driving a 2015 Honda Civic EX.

    For full-coverage policies, coverage limits include:

    • Bodily injury liability: $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident
    • Property damage liability: $25,000
    • Uninsured motorist: $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident, where required by law
    • Personal injury protection: Minimum limits, where required by law
    • Collision: $500 deductible
    • Comprehensive: $500 deductible

    Prices are shown for comparative purposes only. Your rates may vary.

    *USAA is only available to current and former members of the military and their families.