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Mandy Sleight has over 15 years of insurance knowledge and expertise in auto, home, life, health, pet, supplemental benefits, and other insurance products. She’s a sought-after insurance expert, appearing in Bankrate.com, Moneygeek.com, U.S. News & World Report, Reviews.com, CNET, and other publications, and she's been writing for Compare.com since 2023.
Mandy uses her background and experience working for well-known insurance companies like State Farm and Nationwide Insurance to create engaging and easy-to-understand content that helps readers make smarter insurance choices that have a positive effect on their budgets and finances.
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Nick Versaw leads Compare.com's editorial department, where he and his team specialize in crafting helpful, easy-to-understand content about car insurance and other related topics. With nearly a decade of experience writing and editing insurance and personal finance articles, his work has helped readers discover substantial savings on necessary expenses, including insurance, transportation, health care, and more. As an award-winning writer, Nick has seen his work published in countless renowned publications, such as the Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, and U.S. News & World Report. He graduated with Latin honors from Virginia Commonwealth University, where he earned his Bachelor's Degree in Digital Journalism.
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Amanda Clear is a licensed Property and Casualty insurance agent who runs her family insurance agency providing coverage in the states of Connecticut, New York, and Vermont. She specializes in providing customized insurance packages to her clients that provide the best coverage for the price that they can afford. She holds a bachelor's degree in English from Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT, and works as a freelance editor, proofreader, and writer outside of her insurance career.
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At Compare.com, it’s our mission to give you the tools to find the best (and most affordable) insurance for your unique needs and budget. We strive to provide information that’s helpful, clear, and unbiased, and we believe that comparing insurance companies should never put you at risk of spam. Our editorial team — which is made up of experienced writers, editors, insurance agents, and data analysts — has spent thousands of hours researching and creating the coverage overviews, side-by-side comparisons, and detailed reviews you see across our site.
While we make money through partnerships with some of the brands we discuss in our articles, our editorial team operates 100% independently, and these partners never influence or affect the topics, reviews, ratings, or recommendations we provide. We never guarantee favorable reviews or mentions in exchange for compensation from any brands or partners, and we uphold strict editorial standards to ensure our content is always independent, truthful, and unbiased.
The best way to get cheaper car insurance is to compare personalized car insurance quotes from multiple companies. In fact, we found that the average comparison shopper saves more than $66 per month on their car insurance by comparing quotes. That means you could be leaving almost $800 on the table every year.
We’ll help you understand the importance of comparing quotes, how to compare them, and the factors that affect your premiums, in the sections below.
Car insurance companies base rates on several factors, including your age and gender, your driving history, the car you drive, where you live, and more.
The average American driver pays $108 per month for basic liability insurance or $190 for full-coverage.
COUNTRY Financial currently has the cheapest average car insurance rates, but you should use these broad national averages only as a starting point.
Prices of consumer goods have been on the rise since the pandemic, and while inflation has begun to slow in 2024, the cost of auto insurance continues to skyrocket. In fact, auto insurance rates increased by nearly 25% in 2023, according to research from Insurify. And experts predict rates will continue to increase even more in 2025 and beyond.
But that doesn’t mean you’re stuck with ever-increasing rates. Some insurers are raising premiums at a faster rate than their competitors, while others are better suited to withstand the rising automobile prices and repair costs that have caused the recent spike in insurance prices.
Either way, the single best way to get cheaper car insurance is to compare quotes from as many companies as possible.
“It’s important for consumers to compare auto insurance quotes because it’s the easiest way to find better deals and less expensive premiums,” says Michael DeLong, research and advocacy associate at the Consumer Federation of America. “Competition drives our economic system; comparing rates allows consumers to see all the best insurance premium options available.”
We compared average quotes from dozens of car insurance companies for different driving profiles and rating factors to show you how much you could save.
You’ve seen their commercials offering major savings, and you’ve probably wondered which insurance company really offers the lowest rates. But even the largest insurers in the U.S. have widely different average rates because each has its own formula for calculating monthly premiums.
The table below compares average full-coverage car insurance quotes for the 10 largest auto insurance companies in the U.S., according to Compare.com data.
Company  | Average Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| USAA | $97 |
| State Farm | $114 |
| Allstate | $131 |
| CSAA | $132 |
| GEICO | $140 |
| American Family | $146 |
| Progressive | $167 |
| Travelers | $187 |
| Farmers | $223 |
| Liberty Mutual | $242 |
As you can see, rates can vary pretty widely from one insurance company to the next. Even among the largest insurers, we found pretty big differences.
For example, State Farm — the largest auto insurer in the nation, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) — has average full-coverage rates of around $114 per month, according to our research. But the second-largest insurer, Progressive, charges its average customer $167 for the same policy.
The type of coverage you choose also plays a big role. For example, the average American driver pays around $108 per month for a basic liability policy, but a more robust full-coverage plan comes in at around $190.
That said, the best rates don’t always come from the most well-known insurers. Sometimes, smaller companies offer a more personalized touch — and better rates, to boot.
Compare personalized quotes from dozens of America's top insurance companies.
Just because an insurance company is large and advertises significant savings doesn’t mean it will be the cheapest option for you. When you compare car insurance quotes, don’t be afraid to check out lesser-known insurance companies.
We compared 10 smaller regional insurers with the cheapest average quotes in the table below.
Company | Average Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| COUNTRY Financial | $44 |
| Auto-Owners | $69 |
| NJM | $84 |
| Erie | $115 |
| Root | $143 |
| Mercury | $161 |
| Direct Auto | $176 |
| Elephant | $182 |
| The General | $193 |
| Bristol West | $224 |
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Comparing car insurance quotes online can be quick and easy if you know how to do it. You can get free car insurance quotes online and, using these tips, find the best coverage from the most affordable company for your unique needs.
Before you start comparing quotes, you need to determine your budget, the type of insurance you need, and how much coverage you require. By doing this as your first step, you can quickly weed out overpriced insurance companies and focus on the insurers with the lowest prices.
The average U.S. driver pays $149 per month for car insurance, according to Compare.com data, so that’s a good place to start.
Make sure you have the right information available, like your:
Date of birth
Social Security number
Driver’s license number
Vehicle identification number (VIN)
Current coverage details
Insurance-comparison sites make comparing quotes faster and easier because you only have to provide your information once. Plus, you can compare prices and coverage options from different companies at the same time.
But not all comparison sites are created equal. Several sites advertise the ability to compare quotes, but many are just lead-generation websites that sell your personal information. True comparison sites — like Compare.com, Insurify, and Jerry — partner with insurance companies to provide real-time quotes.
The largest insurance companies won’t always have the best price for your specific needs. Do your research before committing to an insurer. Third-party websites — like J.D. Power and AM Best — analyze insurance companies based on customer feedback and experiences with things like website and mobile performance, the shopping experience, the claims process, and financial strength.
Here’s how a few of the top companies stack up among a few of the most reputable studies:
Insurance Company | J.D. Power Customer Satisfaction Index | J.D. Power Claims Satisfaction Index | AM Best Financial Strength Rating | NAIC Complaint Index* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allstate | 636 | 691 | A- | 1.71 |
| American Family | 657 | 692 | A | 0.68 |
| Farmers | 619 | 706 | A | 1.62 |
| Liberty Mutual | 612 | 717 | A | 1.39 |
| Nationwide | 641 | 728 | A+ | 0.46 |
| Progressive | 622 | 672 | A+ | 1.30 |
| State Farm | 657 | 710 | A++ | 2.04 |
| Travelers | 616 | 684 | A++ | 0.07 |
| USAA | 739 | 726 | A++ | 1.87 |
| Industry average | 644 | 697 | N/A | 1.00 |
After researching, you should have narrowed down your list to a few insurance companies. It’s time to choose which company best meets your coverage needs and budget. Review your auto insurance quotes again and select the best quote for you. Then, complete the application for your new policy.
When your policy comes up for renewal, you’ll typically get a renewal notice about 30 days before your renewal date. Take some time to compare car insurance quotes again to see if your current insurer is still the best deal. You won’t know if you could find lower rates or get a better deal if you don’t get new quotes.
Compare quotes from dozens of America’s top insurers.
The state you live in is one of the biggest factors affecting your car insurance rates. Insurance regulations are on a state level, so laws, coverage requirements, and minimum limits differ from state to state. These variables also affect the average cost of auto insurance in each state.
The table below shows the overall average quote in each state in the U.S., according to Compare.com data.
State | Average Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| North Carolina | $76 |
| New Hampshire | $80 |
| Wyoming | $82 |
| Hawaii | $83 |
| Iowa | $86 |
| Idaho | $91 |
| South Dakota | $96 |
| Wisconsin | $96 |
| Alabama | $100 |
| Ohio | $100 |
| North Dakota | $102 |
| Alaska | $104 |
| Vermont | $104 |
| Indiana | $106 |
| New Mexico | $108 |
| Tennessee | $108 |
| Montana | $113 |
| Maine | $114 |
| Mississippi | $116 |
| Kansas | $118 |
| West Virginia | $118 |
| Nebraska | $118 |
| Illinois | $123 |
| Oregon | $125 |
| Massachusetts | $127 |
| Pennsylvania | $129 |
| Arizona | $131 |
| Washington | $132 |
| Oklahoma | $133 |
| Utah | $135 |
| Missouri | $141 |
| Minnesota | $141 |
| Arkansas | $145 |
| United States | $149 |
| Virginia | $152 |
| Colorado | $154 |
| California | $158 |
| Kentucky | $166 |
| Louisiana | $174 |
| Texas | $176 |
| Rhode Island | $178 |
| New Jersey | $186 |
| Florida | $187 |
| Michigan | $200 |
| Delaware | $209 |
| Georgia | $212 |
| South Carolina | $215 |
| Nevada | $222 |
| Connecticut | $256 |
| New York | $263 |
| Maryland | $264 |
| Washington D.C. | $271 |
Your vehicle’s make, model, and type also play a role in determining your insurance premiums. In the table below, you’ll find average monthly quotes for some of the bestselling vehicles in 2024, according to Kelley Blue Book.
Vehicle | Body Type | Average Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Ford F-150 | Full-size truck | $150 |
| Toyota RAV4 | Crossover SUV | $146 |
| Tesla Model Y | Electric SUV | $181 |
| Toyota Camry | Sedan | $179 |
| Jeep Grand Cherokee | Full-size SUV | $165 |
| Toyota Tacoma | Midsize truck | $152 |
If you don’t see your model or body type listed, we gathered rates for various vehicle brands, including cars, trucks, and SUVs, to help you find the best vehicle that fits your needs and budget.
Save money by comparing quotes from top companies.
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Insurance companies use many factors to determine car insurance rates. Below, we highlight several with the greatest impact, like age, driving record, relationship status, and credit score.
With age come maturity and smarter driving decisions, which typically translates to lower car insurance premiums. Teens usually pay the most, while drivers 40 and older usually pay the least for auto insurance.
Here’s how rates change as you get older, according to Compare.com data.
Age Range | Average Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| Teens | $290 |
| 40s | $151 |
| 60s | $126 |
Young drivers will almost always pay the highest rates because they generally make riskier driving decisions, making them more likely to get tickets and cause accidents. But if you maintain a clean driving record, your rates should decrease considerably once you turn 25.
The average car insurance rate for a teen driver is $290 monthly, while someone in their 40s pays much less — $151 per month, on average. Rates are fairly level from age 40 on but can start to climb again as you reach an age when vision or mobility challenges may affect your driving, around 70.
Alongside age, your gender also plays a small role in how much you pay for car insurance. Men typically pay slightly more than women because male drivers are statistically more likely to cause a collision. In fact, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) found that men are more than twice as likely than women to die in traffic accidents.
Here’s how average rates break down between the two genders, according to real-life quotes from Compare.com customers.
Gender | Average Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| Male | $154 |
| Female | $144 |
Our research found that the average male driver pays around $154 per month for car insurance, compared to $144 for the average female driver.
Your driving record will also affect your auto insurance rates. Drivers without tickets, convictions, or at-fault accidents get the best pricing. In contrast, drivers with infractions are riskier to insure and usually pay more for the same coverage.
The table below shows the overall average car insurance quotes for drivers with a clean record and those with different infractions.
Driving Record | Average Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| Clean record | $149 |
| Recent speeding ticket | $189 |
| Recent at-fault accident | $194 |
| DUI/DWI conviction | $218 |
After a speeding ticket, drivers pay an average of $189 per month for car insurance — a relatively steep increase compared to someone with a clean record. But drivers who cause a collision pay even more — $194 per month.
Still, drivers with a DUI or DWI pay more than any other group, with average rates coming in at a staggering $218 per month.
Whether you’re married or single has an effect on your auto insurance rates. Married drivers tend to pay less for car insurance than single drivers, as shown in the table below.
Marital Status | Average Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| Single | $153 |
| Married | $96 |
When comparing auto insurance quotes, we found that single drivers spend an average of $153 per month for car insurance, while the average married driver pays $96.
Lenders and employers aren’t the only ones interested in your credit score; some insurance companies also use your score to determine premiums. The better your credit score, the less you’ll likely pay for car insurance, as shown in the below chart.
Credit Score | Average Monthly Full-Coverage Premium |
|---|---|
| Excellent | $212 |
| Good | $253 |
| Average | $302 |
| Poor | $444 |
Drivers with excellent credit pay an average of $212 per month for full-coverage car insurance, according to our analysis. On the other hand, people with poor credit pay $444 for the same policy.
When it comes to getting cheaper car insurance, you may have more options than you think. Here are some of the best ways to save money on your monthly bill.
Most insurance companies offer a wide array of discounts to customers. You could save some serious money for things like driving a safe car, getting good grades, taking a driver improvement course, and more.
One of the best ways to save on car insurance is to purchase multiple insurance policies from the same company. For example, combining your home and auto insurance can save you as much as 30% on your monthly bill.
As we showed above, the best way to get cheap car insurance is to have a clean driving record. But there’s still hope, even if you have a spotty record. Most insurance companies have a “look-back” period of three to five years, so today’s good driving can help you save in the future.
Speaking of safe driving, most big-name insurers offer telematics programs that reward you for good driving behaviors. Some of the best usage-based insurance programs include State Farm’s Drive Safe & Save, Nationwide’s SmartRide, and USAA’s SafePilot.
The best way to get cheaper insurance is to get quotes from several companies. After all, the U.S. has hundreds of insurance companies to choose from, so the only way to determine which has the best rates for your unique profile is to get quotes from as many as you can. Luckily, car insurance comparison sites give you the tools to compare multiple quotes side by side, making the whole process quicker and easier.
Compare personalized quotes to find the best rate for you.
Although price is an important factor, it’s not the only one to consider when comparing auto insurance quotes. Your coverage choices and the insurance company should also factor into your decision.
You have multiple coverage options to choose from, including the ones listed below.
Liability coverage: Included in every auto insurance policy, this coverage pays for the other party’s injuries and property damage in a covered accident.
Collision coverage: If you cause an accident, collision coverage pays for damage to your own vehicle.
Comprehensive coverage: This pays for damage to your own vehicle from “non-collision events,” such as weather, vandalism, or theft.
Full coverage: Purchasing comprehensive and collision coverages on top of basic liability insurance gives you a “full-coverage” policy. This way, you’re covered if your vehicle gets damaged.
You can also consider optional coverages, like the ones mentioned below.
Uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage provides added protection if you’re hit by a driver who doesn’t have enough insurance to cover your damages.
Medical payments (MedPay) and personal injury protection (PIP) cover your medical bills, regardless of fault.
Roadside assistance pays for towing and labor costs if you’re stranded with a flat tire or dead battery, among other problems.
Gap insurance pays for the difference between your loan balance and your car’s actual cash value if totaled.
Rental car reimbursement covers rental car costs while yours is in the shop during a claim.
New car replacement pays for a brand-new vehicle if your new car is totaled in an accident.
Your policy limits are the most the insurance company will pay per covered loss. Suppose you have 25/50 bodily injury liability. In that case, the most the company will pay is $25,000 per person and $50,000 per bodily injury claim. Higher limits will require higher premiums because the insurance company might have to pay more for each claim.
The deductible is the amount you pay if you file a comprehensive or collision claim. For instance, if your car receives $5,000 in hail damage and you have a $500 deductible, you’ll pay $500 to the body shop for repairs, and the insurance company will pay $4,500. Lower deductibles require higher rates because the insurance company pays more per claim.
You pay for customer service when you buy auto insurance, especially when going through the claims process. Before you commit to an insurance company, check their customer service and claims satisfaction. Companies like J.D. Power and the NAIC study insurance companies and use customer feedback to score them.
Doing your research can pay off when comparing car insurance. The following are answers to some common questions auto insurance shoppers have about comparing rates.
We found the national average full-coverage auto insurance cost is $190 per month. How much you pay for car insurance depends on factors like your age, driving history, where you live, and coverage choices.
Your quotes may be high for multiple reasons. It could be your age, driving record, vehicle type, or the insurance company. Comparing quotes could help you save.
To compare car insurance quotes online, you should have your personal information, vehicle type, VIN, and current policy details available. Being prepared will make the process faster and easier.
You can compare car insurance quotes at any time, including after getting a ticket or being involved in an accident. Depending on your insurer, when your policy renews may be the best time to compare; some insurance companies charge cancellation fees for terminating your policy before the renewal date.
We’ve tried all the leading car insurance comparison sites and found that Compare.com and Insurify are the clear winners. Both sites have great customer reviews and provide the highest number of actual quotes.
You can lower your car insurance costs by checking for discounts and reviewing your coverage. Regularly comparing car insurance quotes can also help you get the lowest price.
AM Best, “Company ratings”
J.D. Power, “2024 Auto Insurance Study”
J.D. Power, “2024 Auto Claims Satisfaction Study”
Moody’s, “Property & Casualty – North America”
National Association of Insurance Commissioners, “Consumer Insurance Search Results”
Insurance Research Council, “Auto Insurance Affordability: Countrywide Trends and State Comparisons”
Kelley Blue Book, “The 25 Best-Selling Cars of 2024”
Data scientists at Compare.com analyzed more than 50 million real-time auto insurance quotes from more than 75 partner insurers in order to compile the rates and statistics seen in this article. Compare.com’s auto insurance data includes coverage analysis and details on drivers’ vehicles, driving records, insurance histories, and demographic information.
All the rates listed in this article have been collected from a combination of real Compare.com quotes and external insurance rate data gathered in collaboration with Quadrant Information Services. Compare.com uses these observations to provide readers with insights into how auto insurance companies determine their premiums.
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Compare.com's #1 goal is to save you money. We publish resources that are based on hard-hitting data and years of industry experience to help you make more informed decisions with your wallet.
Learn more about us, our team, and what makes us tick.
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Mandy Sleight has over 15 years of insurance knowledge and expertise in auto, home, life, health, pet, supplemental benefits, and other insurance products. She’s a sought-after insurance expert, appearing in Bankrate.com, Moneygeek.com, U.S. News & World Report, Reviews.com, CNET, and other publications, and she's been writing for Compare.com since 2023.
Mandy uses her background and experience working for well-known insurance companies like State Farm and Nationwide Insurance to create engaging and easy-to-understand content that helps readers make smarter insurance choices that have a positive effect on their budgets and finances.
Nick Versaw leads Compare.com's editorial department, where he and his team specialize in crafting helpful, easy-to-understand content about car insurance and other related topics. With nearly a decade of experience writing and editing insurance and personal finance articles, his work has helped readers discover substantial savings on necessary expenses, including insurance, transportation, health care, and more. As an award-winning writer, Nick has seen his work published in countless renowned publications, such as the Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, and U.S. News & World Report. He graduated with Latin honors from Virginia Commonwealth University, where he earned his Bachelor's Degree in Digital Journalism.
Amanda Clear is a licensed Property and Casualty insurance agent who runs her family insurance agency providing coverage in the states of Connecticut, New York, and Vermont. She specializes in providing customized insurance packages to her clients that provide the best coverage for the price that they can afford. She holds a bachelor's degree in English from Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT, and works as a freelance editor, proofreader, and writer outside of her insurance career.
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