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Amy Beardsley is a seasoned insurance expert who’s been writing for Compare.com since 2023. She has more than 12 years of industry knowledge and expertise in auto, home, life, commercial, and other insurance products. Amy’s work has been published by Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance, Legal & General, NerdWallet, Robinhood, Insurify, NEXT Insurance, and more.
Amy worked as a court administrator before becoming a content marketing writer. Her legal background has equipped her with the ability to simplify complex technical language into easy-to-understand content.
She graduated magna cum laude from Ferris State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Legal Studies.
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Lequita Westbrooks is an insurance editor at Compare.com. Her writing and editing experiences span several industries, including insurance, personal finance, higher education, and more. She excels at explaining complex topics like auto insurance in simple, easy-to-understand language and is passionate about helping readers save money. Lequita graduated from the University of South Florida, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in English.
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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.
At $108 per month, Tennessee drivers pay less than the national average for car insurance. Tennessee’s lower rates may be partly due to its moderate population density and mostly rural land.[1]
Still, comparing insurance companies uncovers several options with premiums well below the statewide average. Mile Auto, State Farm, and USAA offer some of the cheapest Tennessee car insurance rates, with liability coverage starting as low as $43.
We’ll cover the cheapest companies for different drivers, how to choose the right one, and smart ways to save.
Mile Auto typically offers the lowest rates in Tennessee, starting around $43 per month.
Basic liability car insurance in Tennessee runs about $73 per month, while drivers pay around $143 per month for full coverage.
Tennessee requires drivers to have at least 25/50/25 in liability car insurance.[2]
Tennessee’s insurance market might have its quirks, but you can still find some serious savings if you look at car insurance comparison sites. Several of the best car insurance companies offer rates below what most drivers pay across the state.
Here’s a look at the cheapest insurers in Tennessee, according to our Compare.com data.
Company  | Average Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| Mile Auto | $43 |
| State Farm | $45 |
| USAA | $54 |
| Progressive | $60 |
| Direct Auto | $61 |
| Travelers | $62 |
| Auto-Owners | $62 |
| Erie | $66 |
| GEICO | $73 |
| Safeco | $80 |
| Allstate | $83 |
| Dairyland | $86 |
| The General | $89 |
| Farmers | $90 |
| Root | $97 |
| GAINSCO | $100 |
| Elephant | $102 |
| National General | $106 |
| Nationwide | $111 |
| Bristol West | $114 |
| Chubb | $129 |
| Liberty Mutual | $130 |
| Foremost | $154 |
| State Auto | $172 |
Mile Auto has the lowest rates in Tennessee, averaging $43 per month. Coming up, we’ll break down which companies offer the best premiums for different coverages and drivers.
While these companies give a good starting point, your age, driving profile, location, and coverage levels are a few of the factors that can affect what you’ll pay. The table below shows the most affordable companies for a variety of driver backgrounds and car insurance policy types, according to our data.
Driver/Coverage Type | Cheapest Insurer | Insurer’s Average Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|
| State-minimum coverage | Mile Auto | $43 |
| Full coverage | Mile Auto | $75 |
| Teens | State Farm | $90 |
| Seniors | Mile Auto | $32 |
| Drivers with a speeding ticket | Mile Auto | $51 |
| Drivers with an at-fault accident | Mile Auto | $56 |
| Drivers with a DUI | Mile Auto | $58 |
| Drivers with excellent credit | Mile Auto | $34 |
| Drivers with poor credit | Mile Auto | $53 |
We have more detailed info for each driver and coverage type in the sections below, so you can zero in on the best company for your situation.
Comparing quotes can save you up to $867.†
You need to buy a minimum amount of liability insurance to drive legally in Tennessee, but most experts suggest buying more than that. Tennessee’s minimum requirements might not cover all the damage if you’re in a serious accident.[3]
The average cost for state-minimum coverage across Tennessee runs about $73 per month. If you need to stick with basic coverage for now, here are the five cheapest options, according to our research.
You need to buy a minimum amount of liability insurance to drive legally in Tennessee, but most experts suggest buying more than that. Tennessee’s minimum requirements might not cover all the damage if you’re in a serious accident.[3]
The average cost for state-minimum coverage across Tennessee runs about $73 per month. If you need to stick with basic coverage for now, here are the five cheapest options, according to our research.
Teens can expect to pay more for car insurance than most other drivers. Data shows that drivers ages 16–19 have the most car accidents, which means insurance companies see them as a bigger risk.[4]
Young drivers in Tennessee pay around $222 per month, on average, according to our data. But if you shop around, you can still find solid rates. We pulled the numbers, and these five companies offer the lowest car insurance for teen drivers in Tennessee.
Drivers in their golden years typically have the lowest car insurance premiums. Insurance companies reward their decades of driving history and tendency to be more careful behind the wheel.
Tennessee senior drivers pay an average of $87 per month, according to our data. Even with these already low car insurance quotes, you can probably find an even better deal. The chart below shows the five cheapest options for seniors in Tennessee, according to Compare.com data.
If an officer catches you speeding on Interstate 40 or running a red light in downtown Chattanooga, for example, your wallet will likely take a hit. Our research shows that even one speeding ticket causes average prices to jump by 37% nationwide.
In Tennessee, drivers pay around $137 per month, according to our data. But don’t panic. Several companies offer competitive prices if you’ve got a recent ding on your record.
Here are the five insurers offering the best rates for Tennessee drivers with a recent ticket, according to Compare.com data.
Car accidents, like rear-ending someone during Nashville rush-hour traffic or sliding into another car on an icy Memphis morning, can lead to insurance rate increases. Accidents are expensive for insurance companies to handle, which means they’ll become expensive for you, too. A single at-fault accident causes premiums to spike by 41% nationwide, according to our research.
Tennessee drivers with a recent accident on their record pay an average of 141 per month. To save on car insurance, we recommend checking out these five insurers below.
A DUI hits your car insurance harder than any other driving mistake you make. Our research found that rates increase by an average of 61% nationwide after a DUI conviction — a massive jump that can hurt your budget.
Tennessee drivers with a DUI pay an average of $135 per month for coverage. The chart below breaks down the five most affordable options for Tennessee drivers after a DUI, according to Compare.com data.
Many insurance companies peek at your credit history when calculating your cost. Insurance companies view drivers with poor credit as a higher risk to insure, so they charge more to offset the higher risk.[5] In fact, drivers with poor credit end up paying about 20% more than drivers with excellent credit, according to our research.
If your credit needs some work, your Tennessee car insurance bill can average $135 per month. But not every company uses credit to set your car insurance rates. We found these five companies with the best prices on car insurance if you’re a driver in Tennessee with less-than-perfect credit.
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The concept of a single best option doesn’t apply to car insurance. What’s perfect for someone in Knoxville could be a bust in Chattanooga.
We picked the companies below based on what matters most to Tennessee drivers: typical rates across the state, available car insurance discount programs, customer satisfaction, and coverage options available in Tennessee.
Compare.com Rating: 5.00 out of 5
Average full-coverage premium: $75 per month
Agents in 75 Tennessee cities
High customer satisfaction[6]
Flexible bundling discounts
Gap insurance not available
Accident forgiveness not available
Few options to customize coverage
State Farm has a huge network of local agents. Whether you’re in Clarksville, Oak Ridge, or rural Tennessee, you can probably find one within a few miles of your house. The company is also good at keeping customers happy, especially when it comes to handling claims.[7]
Be sure to take advantage of savings like Drive Safe & Save, Steer Clear, and bundling discounts to help keep costs down.
Compare.com Rating: 4.81 out of 5
Average full-coverage premium: $89 per month
Top-notch customer care
Specific discounts for veterans
AM Best financial strength rating of A++ (Superior)[8]
Available only to military members, veterans, and their families
No physical locations
Limited customer service hours
USAA is one of the best car insurance companies if you’re military, a veteran, or part of a military family in Tennessee. You can get discounts for storing your car during deployment, and signing up for the SafePilot program can help you save based on how you drive. Plus, shopping discounts at popular retailers can help you save on everyday purchases.
Compare.com Rating: 4.81 out of 5
Average full-coverage premium: $224 per month
Great digital tools
Accident forgiveness available
Plenty of coverage add-ons and discounts
Below-average customer service ratings
Many negative online reviews on Trustpilot
Not as many in-person agents
Liberty Mutual has flexible auto insurance policy offerings for Tennessee drivers. Customizable options include new car replacement coverage, gap insurance, diminishing deductible, and policies specific to teachers. Discounts for homeowners, military, good students, safe drivers, and signing up for the RightTrack program can help keep your prices in check.
Local rates start as low as $43 per month.
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Like most states in the country, Tennessee requires you to have car insurance to drive legally. You can’t just hop in your car and cruise down Main Street in Franklin or take a scenic drive through the Smokies without proper auto insurance coverage.
Here’s exactly what Tennessee state insurance requirements say you need to have for bodily injury and property damage liability coverage:
$25,000 for bodily injury per person
$50,000 for bodily injury per accident
$25,000 for property damage per accident
Your coverage automatically includes uninsured motorist coverage, unless you specifically reject it in writing.[9] If you’re not sure what coverage you have, you can check your car insurance policy through Tennessee’s online verification system.
Experts usually recommend going beyond the lowest coverage level, since those insurance limits often won’t cover a serious accident. Think about it this way: If you rear-end a brand new pickup truck on I-65, damages could easily be more than the $25,000 Tennessee requires for property damage.
That leaves you on the hook to pay the remaining amount out of your own pocket. Keep in mind that if you lease your car or have a car loan, your lender will likely require you to have comprehensive and collision coverage.
Here are answers to the questions we get all the time about car insurance in Tennessee.
Tennessee drivers pay an average monthly premium of $108, according to Compare.com data. Liability insurance costs around $73 per month, while full coverage averages $143 per month.
Our data shows that drivers typically find the cheapest car insurance with Mile Auto. It offers the lowest average rates in Tennessee, with premiums averaging $43 per month.
No. Your car insurance bill depends on several factors, including where you live, your driving history, age, and more. For context, the average Tennessee car insurance price is $108 per month, compared to the national average rate of $149, according to our data.
Tennessee law says you need to have liability insurance with limits of $25,000 for each injury or death per person, $50,000 for total injuries or deaths per accident, and $25,000 for property damage per accident. The state also requires uninsured motorist coverage unless you opt out in writing.
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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Amy Beardsley is a seasoned insurance expert who’s been writing for Compare.com since 2023. She has more than 12 years of industry knowledge and expertise in auto, home, life, commercial, and other insurance products. Amy’s work has been published by Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance, Legal & General, NerdWallet, Robinhood, Insurify, NEXT Insurance, and more.
Amy worked as a court administrator before becoming a content marketing writer. Her legal background has equipped her with the ability to simplify complex technical language into easy-to-understand content.
She graduated magna cum laude from Ferris State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Legal Studies.
Lequita Westbrooks is an insurance editor at Compare.com. Her writing and editing experiences span several industries, including insurance, personal finance, higher education, and more. She excels at explaining complex topics like auto insurance in simple, easy-to-understand language and is passionate about helping readers save money. Lequita graduated from the University of South Florida, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in English.
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