The Cheapest Auto Insurance in Tampa in 2024

With championship sports teams, amusement parks, and access to some of the best beaches in the nation — Tampa attracts drivers just as diverse as their driving habits. The city has one of the largest populations in the state and year-round tourists, so drivers should consider adding sufficient auto coverage to protect against accidents and weather damage.

AssuranceAmerica typically has the cheapest car insurance rates in the city, hovering around $140 per month for liability coverage. But other insurers, like Allstate, offer affordable monthly rates for full-coverage insurance, around $220.

We’ll highlight the best car insurance companies in Tampa with the most affordable rates.

Key Takeaways:

• Tampa’s car insurance rates are 28% higher than the rest of Florida.
• AssuranceAmerica has the lowest average auto insurance rate in Tampa, at $137 per month.
• Florida is a no-fault state that only requires drivers to have property damage liability and personal injury protection.

Tampa’s Cheapest Car Insurance Companies

Average insurance policies in Tampa cost $356 per month — about $100 more than the state average. But there are plenty of ways to save, including shopping around and looking for discounts with more affordable insurers in the area.

The table below shows the five cheapest auto insurers in Tampa, according to Compare.com data.

AssuranceAmerica has the overall cheapest rates — $132 less per month than the fifth-cheapest insurer on this list, Mercury — but that doesn’t mean it has the right car insurance policy for every driver.

Different factors, like your age and driving history, will determine your actual car insurance rates. In the sections below, we’ll explore which insurers can better cater to certain drivers.

The Best Car Insurance Companies in Tampa in 2024

Car insurance rates are competitive and depend on your specific needs and budgets, so there’s no single best car insurance company in Tampa.

A resident of one county with good credit may benefit from working with an independent agent, while another person in a different county may find that a family-owned insurer can offer them the most affordable option for military members.

Below are some of the best car insurance companies for different types of Tampa drivers.

AssuranceAmerica: Best for affordable coverage

AssuranceAmerica is a web-based insurance company that sells high-risk (or “non-standard”) auto insurance coverage through independent agents. Including Florida, AssuranceAmerica operates in 10 states.

Customers can purchase basic coverage from the insurer but should inquire with their agent about additional coverage and potential discounts since these aren’t specified on its website. Assurance customers in Tampa pay an average of $137 per month for liability coverage.

Pros

• Cheapest average rates in Tampa
• Pay premiums from the app
• Donates a percentage of profit to charity

Cons

• Must use independent agent
• Can’t initiate claims from the app
• Not the cheapest for full coverage in Tampa

Allstate: Best for full coverage

Allstate is a near-century-old insurance company providing personal auto insurance around the country, as well as other insurance products that consumers can bundle with their vehicle coverage.

The company has a strong financial rating but poor customer reviews, which may mean less-than-ideal customer service. However, its Drivewise program rewards policyholders for safe driving behaviors.

Tampa drivers looking to save on their full-coverage policies may qualify for discounts or reduced premiums through its Drivewise driving habit program. Allstate is the cheapest option for full coverage, at $222 per month.

Pros:

• AM Best rating of A+ (Superior)
• Pay-per-mile coverage available
• Rideshare insurance available

Cons:

• Doesn’t offer the cheapest Tampa liability-only coverage
• Low customer satisfaction scores
• Drivewise app could increase driver premiums

The General: Best for young drivers

The General, owned by American Family Insurance, has been offering coverage since 1963. This insurer offers the best rates for teen drivers and young drivers around age 20. The company is also a good option for high-risk drivers because it provides SR-22 filings — but middle-aged drivers in Tampa can likely find lower average rates with other insurers.

Tampa teens who choose The General pay an average rate of $304 per month, and the average rate for drivers around the age of 20 years is $276 per month.

Pros:

• Provides SR-22 filings
• Caters to high-risk drivers
• Manage policies online or through app

Cons:

• Not the cheapest for drivers with clean records
• Higher number of National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) complaints
• Limited coverage options available

Cheapest Car Insurance Rates for Liability Insurance: AssuranceAmerica

The coverage you choose affects your premiums. Liability-only coverage is designed to meet the state-minimum insurance limits, which means it’s the lowest level of car insurance you can legally have. Liability insurance in Florida includes personal injury protection and property damage liability coverage.

The five companies in the table below offer the cheapest rates for liability-only insurance in Tampa.

AssuranceAmerica offers the best deal when it comes to liability-only coverage — it’s almost $100 cheaper than The General. And the next-cheapest insurers on the list — Mercury and Acceptance — have a difference of only $15 per month.

In the next section, we’ll look at which Tampa car insurance companies offer the best full-coverage policies.

Cheapest Car Insurance Rates for Full-Coverage Insurance: Allstate

A full-coverage policy generally includes a combination of collision and comprehensive insurance in addition to liability coverage.

Full coverage is more expensive than liability-only insurance because it provides additional coverage that pays for damage to your vehicle, whether from an at-fault accident or an unpreventable event, like vandalism or inclement weather.

The table below shows the five cheapest insurers for full-coverage insurance in Tampa.

Allstate comes out on top as the cheapest full-coverage option in Tampa, at almost $100 less per month than the nearest competitor, Mercury. ​​The insurer’s monthly rate is about $160 less than the fifth-cheapest option, Liberty Mutual. All five companies have rates higher than the state average.

Compare Tampa Auto Insurance Rates by Age

Your age is one of the biggest factors that determines the cost of your car insurance. New drivers, like teens, lack the experience that older drivers have, so they typically have some of the highest rates. Fortunately, these rates begin to decrease as you age.

While older drivers face higher crash rates per mile than middle-aged drivers, their rates are often lower than teens’ rates because they’re less likely to be involved in specific types of crashes and tend to limit their driving due to their higher risk.

The table below shows the cheapest insurance companies for each age group.

The General offers the lowest average rates for drivers in their teens, 20s, and 50s. Drivers in these age groups can expect to pay between $216 and $304 per month with the company.

Next, we’ll take a closer look at the cheapest insurers in Tampa for teen drivers and senior drivers.

Cheapest car insurance for Tampa teens: The General

Teenage drivers have a higher fatal crash rate than drivers older than 20, which is why they typically receive the highest rates. In Florida, 18- and 19-year-olds have the highest crash rate, so even as a 15- or 16-year-old gains more driving experience, they may still see high premiums.

The General provides the cheapest auto insurance rates for teen drivers in Tampa, at $304 per month, on average. The insurer offers some of the lowest rates to high-risk drivers, which could help young adults afford automobile insurance despite their driving record.

Other ways to get cheaper rates include adding your teen to a parent’s policy, increasing liability insurance, and raising your deductible.

Cheapest car insurance for Tampa seniors: Mercury

After middle-aged drivers, senior drivers tend to pay some of the lowest car insurance rates. One reason is that drivers over 70 are involved in fewer fatal collisions per capita than in the past. Another reason is that retirees tend to drive less, making them less likely to get into an accident.

Mercury Insurance has the cheapest rates for Tampa seniors — $196 per month — and offers two discounts for older drivers with set incomes: an auto pay discount and a pay-in-full discount. With these discounts, senior drivers don’t have to worry about remembering to pay their auto insurance bill each month.

Compare Tampa Auto Insurance Rates by Driving Record

Auto insurance companies look at your driving history when determining your rates. Getting a traffic violation can lead to high rates, regardless of the infraction.

The table below shows three insurers with the cheapest rates in Tampa based on driving record.

AssuranceAmerica is the more affordable choice if you have a speeding ticket or an at-fault accident on your record. With Hugo, your rate can more than double if you get a speeding ticket.

Since your driving history plays a huge role in finding low-cost car insurance, high-risk drivers should compare rates from different companies, like Hugo and AssuranceAmerica, when searching for the best deal.

Next we’ll look at the cheapest coverage options for drivers with clean records, a speeding ticket, or an at-fault accident.

Cheapest car insurance for good drivers in Tampa: AssuranceAmerica

Good drivers get the best rates for car insurance. Most insurers consider someone a “good” driver if they go years without any accidents, tickets, or DUI convictions on their driving record.

AssuranceAmerica offers cheap car insurance for Tampa Bay area drivers who don’t have a history of accidents or traffic tickets, at $143 per month.

“AssuranceAmerica is a good option because it provides discounts for drivers with clean motor vehicle records,” according to Tommy Caracciola, owner of Family Insurance of Tampa Bay.

Cheapest car insurance in Tampa after a ticket: Hugo

Getting just one speeding ticket can make your auto insurance rates go up — usually around 37%, according to Compare.com data. Several factors influence car accidents, but speeding is the most common — which is why even the cheapest companies may raise your rates significantly after getting a ticket.

Tampa drivers with a speeding ticket can find cheaper average rates with Hugo, whose average rates come in at $364 per month after a ticket.

If you get a ticket, not only will you have a higher premium, but you’ll also need to pay a fine — Hugo has a withdrawal function that allows you to withdraw unspent money from your account through the Hugo site that you could use to cover these unexpected costs.

Cheapest car insurance in Tampa after an accident: Hugo

After a car accident, your auto insurance rates will increase by roughly 44%, according to Compare.com data.

Hugo is the cheapest company for drivers in Tampa with an at-fault accident on their record, at $281 per month, though the insurer’s average rates are $138 higher per month than those for drivers with a clean record.

Hugo offers flexible payment options to help you limit the cost of car insurance. For instance, you can purchase insurance coverage for a set number of days to keep your insurance costs aligned with how often you drive.

The Average Cost for Tampa Car Insurance

On average, Tampa drivers pay $356 per month for auto insurance, but your personal rates will vary based on several factors, such as ZIP code, population density, city crime rates, marital status, and driving history.

How does Tampa compare to other cities in the state? We’ll compare Tampa to nearby cities, like St. Petersburg and Clearwater, in the next section.

Is car insurance more expensive in Tampa?

The table below shows how Tampa’s auto insurance rates compare to average rates in other Florida cities and the national average.

Tampa’s average rates are more expensive than Florida’s — and 149% higher than the national average. Notably, Tampa’s average monthly rates are much higher than rates in nearby cities, like St. Petersburg and Clearwater.

Tampa’s rates are higher than neighboring cities’  for multiple reasons.

“St. Pete has ZIP codes that are just as high as Tampa these days. Tampa historically has been considered the urban portion of our area, but as the suburbs creep out, the urban problems are hitting traditionally scenic/slow-moving areas,” says Caracciola.

Additionally, Caracciola says that Florida’s status as a no-fault state means “clients are required to list all household occupants 15 or older, regardless of driver’s license status or relation, when applying for a car insurance policy.”

Florida Auto Insurance Requirements

Like most states, Florida requires all drivers to meet minimum coverage requirements to legally drive. Florida’s minimum auto insurance requirements are less extensive than some other states — so drivers should consider getting more than the minimum coverage required.

Florida drivers only need $10,000 of personal injury protection insurance (PIP) and $10,000 of property damage liability insurance (PDL). Remember that you must have this insurance coverage prior to and throughout your vehicle registration period.

PIP covers certain medical expenses for covered injuries you and your passengers sustain in a car accident, no matter who’s at fault. PDL covers the damages you cause to someone else’s property with your insured vehicle. PDL also covers the damage another person driving your vehicle may cause.

Tampa Auto Insurance FAQs

Tampa drivers with questions about car insurance in Florida can find answers below.

What is the cheapest auto insurance company in Tampa?

AssuranceAmerica is the cheapest auto insurance company in Tampa, with monthly rates averaging $144, but your insurance quotes may be higher or lower depending on various factors.

What is the average cost of car insurance in Tampa, Florida?

The average cost of car insurance in Tampa is $356 per month, but it’s a good idea to shop around for lower rates.

Why is car insurance so expensive in Tampa?

Tampa’s rates may be more expensive than surrounding cities because it’s considered the urban hub of the area, which means potentially more vehicles on the road. Additional factors for higher auto insurance rates include severe weather events (e.g., hurricanes), a high percentage of uninsured drivers, auto theft rates, and claim filing frequency.

How much car insurance is required in Florida?

You must have at least $10,000 of personal injury protection insurance and $10,000 of property damage liability insurance to drive in Florida.

What happens if you get caught driving without insurance in Tampa?

If you get caught driving in Tampa without insurance, the state may suspend your license and registration, and you may be charged $500 to reinstate them.

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. AM Best, “AM Best Takes Various Credit Rating Actions on The Allstate Corporation and Its Key Subsidiaries,” Accessed October 18, 2023.
2. Trustpilot, “Allstate Reviews,” Accessed October 18, 2023.
3. Sitejabber, “Allstate Reviews,” Accessed October 18, 2023.
4. BBB, “Allstate Insurance Business Profile,” Accessed October 18, 2023.
5. IIHS, “Older Drivers,” Accessed October 18, 2023.
6. CDC, “Teen Drivers and Passengers: Get the Facts,” Accessed October 18, 2023.
7. Teen Safe Driving Coalition, “Florida Teen Driver Fact Sheet – 2022,” Accessed October 18, 2023.
8. FLHSMV, “Florida Insurance Requirements,” Accessed October 18, 2023.