The Cheapest Auto Insurance in Connecticut in 2023

Connecticut is the 10th most expensive state for car insurance in the country, with the state’s average premium coming in at $160 per month. State-minimum coverage is 25/50/25 (more on that later), and all drivers are required to purchase uninsured and underinsured motorist protection (about 6.3% of Connecticut drivers aren’t legally insured). GEICO offers the cheapest coverage on average, at $73 per month, plus many discounts.

Many drivers manage to find low rates with a variety of insurers, coverage options, driving histories, and other differences. We cover everything you need to know to get cheaper car insurance in Connecticut below.

Key Takeaways:

• Car insurance rates in Connecticut are higher than the national average.
• Most drivers in Connecticut pay an average rate of less than $110 per month, but drivers in densely populated areas typically pay more.
• GEICO, State Farm, and Electric Insurance offer some of the cheapest rates for drivers of various ages and driving records.

Connecticut’s Cheapest Car Insurance Companies

The average rate for car insurance in Connecticut is $160 per month (or $1,920 annually). While this rate is higher than the national average, there are plenty of ways to get a lower rate. You can start with the car insurance companies in the table below — they have the cheapest monthly premiums in Connecticut.

GEICO offers the cheapest average rates to Connecticut drivers, and State Farm isn’t far behind — this will be a theme throughout this article. Of course, this is a broad understanding of how rates vary in the state — neither company may be the cheapest for everyone. We go over the nuances of how different factors can influence your rate in Connecticut below.

The Average Cost of Connecticut Car Insurance

At $160 per month, average rates in Connecticut are higher than in the surrounding states — except for New York — and than the U.S. average.

Despite having a lower population density, Connecticut drivers pay more than their neighbors in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. This suggests that the state’s claim rates are likely higher.

New York’s car insurance rates are substantially higher, largely because New York City skews the data. New York drivers who live in rural areas tend to pay much less.

Cheapest Car Insurance Rates for State-Minimum Insurance: GEICO

State-minimum car insurance in Connecticut is the least amount of coverage you can purchase to legally drive in the state. It includes the following:

• $25,000 in bodily injury liability coverage per person
• $50,000 in bodily injury liability coverage per accident
• $25,000 in property damage liability coverage per accident
• Uninsured and underinsured motorist protection coverage

Here are the cheapest car insurance companies for state-minimum coverage in Connecticut.

If you’re looking for state-minimum insurance, make sure you get quotes from GEICO and State Farm, where the average rates are $53 and $60 per month, respectively. Allstate, Electric Insurance, and Travelers are also good options. All three (and a few more) also offer average rates under $100 per month.

Cheapest Car Insurance Rates for Full-Coverage Insurance: GEICO

Full-coverage car insurance policies typically include liability, comprehensive, and collision coverage (and sometimes additional coverage options). These supplementary coverages protect you when your vehicle is damaged in an at-fault accident or due to a non-collision incident, such as a hailstorm.

Full-coverage policies cost more than state-minimum insurance. But many insurers can offer you a great rate.

Let’s take a look at the five cheapest companies in Connecticut for full-coverage auto insurance.

You’ll likely get the cheapest full-coverage policy from GEICO, where rates average $93 per month. State Farm isn’t far behind, at $102 per month on average. But you may find even lower rates from affordable insurers like Electric Insurance, Kemper, and Travelers.

Compare Connecticut Auto Insurance Rates by Age

Age has a significant effect on your car insurance premiums. Young drivers pay higher rates because they have limited driving experience and are statistically more likely to cause an accident. Fortunately, rates gradually decrease as you age, eventually stabilizing during your mid to late 30s.

Low rates persist well into your 60s and beyond. But rates typically begin to rise sometime in your 70s since older drivers tend to have slower reaction times, which raises their risk of car accidents.

We’ll take a closer look at how age impacts auto insurance rates in the sections below.

Cheapest car insurance for Connecticut teens: GEICO

Teenagers and young drivers face the highest car insurance costs, all else being equal. But rates decline quickly between the ages of 16 and 20.

Rates continue to get lower — but at a slightly slower pace — as you get older. By the time you reach 25, your rates are only marginally higher compared to drivers in older age groups.

Below are Connecticut’s most cost-effective car insurance companies for 18-year-old drivers, sorted by cheapest liability rates.

Teens save the most with GEICO, where average rates are $159 per month for liability and $293 for full coverage. State Farm, Electric Insurance, Amica, and Allstate also offer low rates. Most of these insurers offer teens valuable discounts, including the good student discount.

Teens should also consider staying on their parents’ policies and completing additional driver training to keep their rates low.

Cheapest car insurance for Connecticut seniors: GEICO

You typically enjoy the lowest premiums as you approach retirement age. This is particularly true for seniors who drive less. You can also earn additional savings with a defensive driver discount or by participating in a telematics program, which tracks your driving habits and rewards you for safe driving behaviors.

Let’s take a look at the cheapest companies in Connecticut for drivers aged 65 and older.

GEICO offers the cheapest car insurance to senior drivers on average — $54 per month for liability and $89 for full coverage. It also offers a discount to senior drivers solely based on age, with no other requirements.

State Farm, Allstate, Electric Insurance, and Travelers also offer competitive rates, and several offer a discount to seniors who complete a defensive driving course.

Compare Connecticut Auto Insurance Rates by Driving Record

Your driving record heavily influences your insurance premiums. Generally, drivers with clean records get the best rates, assuming other factors — such as where you live, the type of vehicle you drive, and your credit score — remain consistent.

People with minor traffic violations experience relatively moderate rate hikes compared to drivers with at-fault accidents or more severe moving violations, such as DUIs, reckless driving, and illegal racing.

Let’s dive deeper into how rates vary in Connecticut based on different driving records.

Cheapest car insurance for good drivers in Connecticut: GEICO

Insurance companies typically consider you a “good driver” if you haven’t had traffic tickets or accidents in the past three to five years. But each company’s policies vary. Insurers view good drivers as the least risky to insure, leading to them being eligible for the most affordable rates (and a good driver discount).

Listed below are Connecticut’s most affordable car insurance companies for drivers with a clean record, sorted by liability rates.

GEICO usually offers the lowest monthly premiums to drivers with a clean record, with rates of just $53 per month for liability-only policies and $93 for full coverage. State Farm, Electric Insurance Company, Travelers, and Allstate also offer cheap car insurance — Allstate is less competitive for full coverage.

All of them (except Allstate) offer a good driver discount as well:

• GEICO: Up to 26%
• State Farm: Unspecified
• Electric Insurance Company: Up to 20%
• Travelers: Up to 23%

Some insurers will also encourage you to enroll in their telematics programs for additional savings.

Cheapest car insurance in Connecticut after a ticket: GEICO

Speeding tickets result in a roughly 30% increase in rates for liability policies and around 27% for full-coverage policies, according to Compare.com data. In most cases in Connecticut, tickets can remain on your record for up to three years, but serious violations can remain for up to 10 years.

Let’s take a look at some of the cheapest companies for Connecticut drivers with a recent speeding ticket.

GEICO usually offers drivers with a ticket the cheapest rates for both liability and full-coverage policies at $62 and $110 per month, respectively. But State Farm isn’t far behind. You’ll also likely find a good rate at Allstate, Electric Insurance Company, and Travelers.

Consider looking into telematics discounts — which companies use to reward you for driving at lower speeds — to save even more.

Nick Schrader, licensed agent and owner of Second Western Insurance, also shares, “If an operator gets a moving violation, they can usually complete a driver’s education course to clear their record and lower their rate faster.”

Cheapest car insurance in Connecticut after an accident: State Farm

Our research indicates that an at-fault accident can significantly increase your car insurance rates — resulting in an average rate hike of 40% to 45%. Connecticut operates under a “modified comparative negligence” rule, which means that both drivers involved in a car accident are assigned a percentage of fault and are responsible for damages up to that percentage.

Most companies raise rates only if you’re found 50% or more at fault, but exceptions exist. Here’s a list of the most budget-friendly car insurance companies in Connecticut for drivers involved in one at-fault accident.

State Farm offers drivers with one at-fault accident the cheapest average rates for both liability and full-coverage policies. GEICO, Electric Insurance Company, Travelers, and Allstate also typically offer cheap rates. If you want to save even more, consider additional discounts for bundling insurance products, paying your premium in full, and completing driver safety courses.

Cheapest car insurance in Connecticut after a DUI: State Farm

A first-time DUI conviction doubles the average car insurance premium for both liability-only and full-coverage policies, according to Compare.com data. It’s considered a misdemeanor in Connecticut and may result in all or some of the following:

• Fines: $500 to $1,000
• License suspension: 45 days
• Ignition interlock device (IID): Installed for one year, starting from the date of license reinstatement
• Jail time: 48 hours to six months with a mandatory 30 days if minor passengers were in the vehicle
• Community service: Up to 100 hours, which may be substituted for jail time depending on the judge

Subsequent DUI convictions within a 10-year period come with additional penalties, including up to $4,000 in fines, a three-year IID installation, up to two years in jail, and mandatory drug or alcohol rehabilitation.

Below are the five cheapest car insurance companies in Connecticut for drivers with a DUI.

State Farm offers the most affordable liability and full-coverage policies for drivers in Connecticut with a single DUI. The company also extends insurance discounts to drivers, regardless of a conviction.

Allstate, Progressive, Travelers, and GEICO are also worth getting a quote from — Allstate offers especially affordable liability coverage compared to the others on this list.

The Cheapest Cities for Car Insurance in Connecticut

Your location also plays a significant role in determining your insurance premiums. The number of car insurance claims in your area, traffic congestion, weather conditions, crime rates, and other local factors collectively influence the amount you pay. This means rates can vary dramatically from one city to the next.

The table below shows the average rates for cities of all sizes across Connecticut.

Connecticut drivers pay the cheapest rates in Vernon Rockville, at $73 per month, while Enfield drivers pay $83 monthly. West Hartford and Windsor have the third-cheapest rates of any city, at $84 per month.

You’ll pay a little more if you’re in one of the three most populous cities, though. Average monthly rates are $146 in the Bridgeport area, rates are $130 in New Haven, and $111 per month in Stamford.

Areas with the highest rates are primarily clustered near the heavily trafficked I-91 and I-95 corridors.

5 Ways to Get Cheap Car Insurance in Connecticut

Getting a cheaper insurance policy is easier than you think. You can lower your rate with your current insurer (or one of their competitors) in several tried-and-true ways. Here are some of our favorite tips to save money on auto insurance:

1. Find discounts: You’ll find a unique set of discounts at every insurer. Uncover which car insurance discounts apply to you and look for a company offering those discounts.
2. Try telematics: Allowing your insurer to monitor your driving habits typically earns a 5–20% discount while encouraging safer driving.
3. Reduce coverage on older cars: If your car is worth less than $5,000, you may want to consider dropping collision and comprehensive coverages.
4. Drive less: Low-mileage drivers generally earn lower rates. Consider pay-per-mile car insurance if you drive less than 7,500 miles per year.
5. Compare car insurance rates at least every six months: Rates change quickly, and switching your car insurance company is usually easy and free.

Cheaper car insurance is great, but remember that it’s not everything. Always keep yourself adequately covered to protect yourself financially in case of an accident. Don’t be afraid to discuss your options with an insurance agent — or two.

Connecticut Auto Insurance Requirements

The Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) requires continuous insurance coverage for every driver on the road. Here’s what you need to have to comply with state laws.

• Bodily injury liability: $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident
• Property damage liability: $25,000 per accident
• Uninsured and underinsured motorist protection: $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident

But be careful — state minimums may not be enough to give you full financial protection. Consider raising your limits and adding other optional coverages to your policy if you think it’s necessary. You should also know that the Connecticut DMV requires insurance companies to report lapses in coverage. These can lead to significant, long-term rate increases, so avoid letting your coverage expire.

Penalties for driving without auto insurance in Connecticut

Driving without insurance puts you at financial risk and is a Class C misdemeanor in Connecticut. You’ll face the following penalties if you don’t have an active policy:

• Fine: $100 to $1,000
• License suspension: One month
• Vehicle registration suspension: One month
• Registration reinstatement fee: $175
• Imprisonment: Up to three months

You must provide proof of insurance to reinstate your license and registration. And if you’re caught driving without insurance again, you’ll face a longer license and registration suspension of no less than six months.

SR-22 auto insurance in Connecticut

The SR-22 form serves as proof of insurance coverage to the Connecticut DMV. If you have committed a serious traffic violation, such as DUI, reckless driving, or driving without insurance, the state may require you to obtain an SR-22. Your insurance company will usually file the SR-22 for you — and they may charge a fee.

Drivers with SR-22s typically face higher insurance rates. To lower your costs, consider the following:

• Avoid lapses in future coverage
• Compare insurance rates regularly
• Increase deductibles (if you can afford the extra cost when filing a claim)

Connecticut Auto Insurance FAQs

If you’re interested in learning more about car insurance in Connecticut, check out these answers to some of the most commonly asked questions from drivers like you.

How much is car insurance in Connecticut?

The average cost for car insurance in Connecticut is $160 per month, or $1,920 annually. Connecticut is the 40th-cheapest state for car insurance — or the 10th most expensive, depending on how you look at it.

Why is car insurance so expensive in Connecticut?

Connecticut car insurance is expensive for a few reasons. The two primary reasons are the state’s dense population and higher minimum insurance requirements.

Who is the cheapest auto insurance company in Connecticut?

GEICO offers the cheapest auto premiums in Connecticut, according to Compare.com data. The average cost of a policy from GEICO is just $73 per month, or$876 annually.

Which city has the cheapest car insurance in Connecticut?

Vernon Rockville is the cheapest city in Connecticut for car insurance, where the average cost is $73 per month.

How much car insurance is required in Connecticut?

Connecticut’s state-minimum car insurance requirements include bodily injury liability ($25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident), property damage liability ($25,000 per accident), and uninsured/underinsured motorist protection.

Methodology

Data scientists at Compare.com analyzed more than 50 million real-time auto insurance rates from more than 75 partner insurance providers in order to compile the quotes 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 quotes listed in this article have been gathered 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 drivers with insight into how auto insurance companies determine their premiums.

Sources:

1. Connecticut Office of Legislative Research, “State Minimum Auto Insurance Requirements,” Accessed August 8, 2023.
2. Connecticut General Assembly, “Penalties For Driving Without Insurance,” Accessed August 8, 2023.
3. Insurance Information Institute, “Facts + Statistics: Uninsured motorists,” Accessed August 18, 2023.
4. Insurance Information Institute, Insurance Handbook, “State by State,” Accessed August 18, 2023.
5. National Association of Insurance Commissioners, “Connecticut Insurance Regulation Key Facts and Market Trends 2021,” Accessed August 18, 2023.