+120 more){kind=small}
J.J. Starr is an insurance and personal finance expert who has been writing for Compare.com since 2022. Her work has been published across the web, appearing on sites such as Insurify.
Prior to writing for Compare.com, J.J. was a registered banker and life insurance consultant, holding a Series 6, FINRA, and life insurance license. She also earned a master’s degree in writing from New York University.
J.J. has a passion for helping people save money by explaining complex topics like car insurance in a way that is simple and easy to understand.
){kind=small}
3+ years editing insurance content
10+ years in content creation
Lequita's extensive editorial experience spans insurance, personal finance, higher education, and more.
){kind=small}
25+ years teaching risk management and insurance
Managing director, Brantley Risk & Insurance Center
An Appalachian State Univ. professor, David teaches risk management/insurance. He's appeared in the NY Times, CNN, and more.
Updated
Liability-only car insurance costs an average of $101 per month, according to Compare.com data.
NJM, Country Financial, and Auto-Owners offer the lowest average liability premiums nationwide.
Rates vary sharply by driver profile, with teens paying the lowest average rate of $103 and seniors paying $28.
Every auto insurance company uses its own formula to calculate your car insurance rate. Insurers look at a range of risk factors, but some put more weight on certain factors than others. That’s why the cheapest company isn’t the same for every driver.
The companies in the table below offer some of the cheapest average liability insurance rates, according to data from Compare.com.
Company | Average Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| Country Financial | $48 |
| NJM | $48 |
| Auto-Owners | $49 |
| USAA | $54 |
| State Farm | $55 |
| Erie | $68 |
| Mile Auto | $76 |
| Progressive | $77 |
| GEICO | $81 |
| American Family | $85 |
| Safeco | $85 |
| Commonwealth Casualty | $86 |
| The General | $88 |
| National General | $91 |
| Direct Auto | $92 |
| Allstate | $93 |
| GAINSCO | $99 |
| Mercury | $99 |
| Travelers | $101 |
| Dairyland | $104 |
| AssuranceAmerica | $106 |
| Elephant | $106 |
| Farmers | $110 |
| Bristol West | $111 |
| Root | $113 |
| Anchor | $116 |
| Clearcover | $116 |
| Plymouth Rock | $119 |
| Chubb | $123 |
| Liberty Mutual | $131 |
| The Hartford | $135 |
| Shelter | $138 |
| 21st Century | $141 |
| State Auto | $159 |
| CSAA | $163 |
| Amica | $230 |
Compare quotes side by side and lock in cheaper rates.
Car insurance companies consider several personal factors when calculating rates, including your age, marital status, driving record, and gender. Where permitted, insurers can consider your credit history. The cheapest insurer for one type of driver may not be the cheapest for another.
This table shows the cheapest liability car insurance company for each driver type, according to Compare.com data.
Driver Type | Cheapest Company | Cheapest Average Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Good drivers | NJM | $48 |
| Teens | NJM | $103 |
| Seniors | NJM | $28 |
| Recent speeding ticket | NJM | $72 |
| Recent accident | NJM | $73 |
| DUI conviction | NJM | $76 |
| Drivers with excellent credit | NJM | $42 |
| Drivers with poor credit | NJM | $59 |
NJM offers the cheapest liability insurance rates for drivers with a clean record, with insurance premiums starting at $48 per month, according to Compare.com data.
Good drivers have plenty of affordable options. The table below compares the lowest liability insurance rates for drivers with a clean record.
Company | Average Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| Country Financial | $48 |
| NJM | $48 |
| Auto-Owners | $49 |
| USAA | $54 |
| State Farm | $55 |
| Erie | $68 |
| Mile Auto | $76 |
| Progressive | $77 |
| GEICO | $81 |
| American Family | $85 |
| Safeco | $85 |
| Commonwealth Casualty | $86 |
| The General | $88 |
| National General | $91 |
| Direct Auto | $92 |
| Allstate | $93 |
| GAINSCO | $99 |
| Mercury | $99 |
| Travelers | $101 |
| Dairyland | $104 |
| AssuranceAmerica | $106 |
| Elephant | $106 |
| Farmers | $110 |
| Bristol West | $111 |
| Root | $113 |
| Anchor | $116 |
| Clearcover | $116 |
| Plymouth Rock | $119 |
| Chubb | $123 |
| Liberty Mutual | $131 |
| The Hartford | $135 |
| Shelter | $138 |
| 21st Century | $141 |
| State Auto | $159 |
| CSAA | $163 |
| Amica | $230 |
The lowest average liability premium for teen drivers is $103 per month, and NJM, Country Financial, and Auto-Owners offer some of the lowest rates, according to Compare.com data.
Check out the table below to compare the cheapest companies for teens.
Company | Average Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| Country Financial | $62 |
| USAA | $97 |
| NJM | $103 |
| Auto-Owners | $106 |
| State Farm | $111 |
| Erie | $122 |
| Root | $134 |
| GEICO | $144 |
| The General | $156 |
| American Family | $163 |
| GAINSCO | $164 |
| Clearcover | $165 |
| Dairyland | $167 |
| Commonwealth Casualty | $167 |
| Mile Auto | $171 |
| Mercury | $177 |
| Bristol West | $188 |
| Direct Auto | $189 |
| National General | $191 |
| Safeco | $192 |
| Elephant | $194 |
| Plymouth Rock | $202 |
| Liberty Mutual | $217 |
| Anchor | $231 |
| Travelers | $231 |
| Farmers | $235 |
| 21st Century | $239 |
| AssuranceAmerica | $241 |
| Chubb | $273 |
| Shelter | $291 |
| The Hartford | $349 |
| Amica | $422 |
| State Auto | $457 |
| CSAA | $466 |
Senior drivers can find liability coverage for an average of $28 per month from NJM. Country Financial and Auto-Owners also offer some of the lowest rates.
The table below compares the lowest liability insurance rates for senior drivers.
Company | Average Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| NJM | $28 |
| Country Financial | $35 |
| Auto-Owners | $35 |
| State Farm | $39 |
| USAA | $41 |
| Erie | $46 |
| Mile Auto | $53 |
| GEICO | $59 |
| American Family | $62 |
| National General | $64 |
| Commonwealth Casualty | $65 |
| Mercury | $70 |
| Direct Auto | $71 |
| The General | $73 |
| AssuranceAmerica | $74 |
| Travelers | $74 |
| Safeco | $75 |
| The Hartford | $78 |
| Elephant | $79 |
| Farmers | $79 |
| Shelter | $79 |
| Chubb | $79 |
| Anchor | $83 |
| GAINSCO | $84 |
| Dairyland | $86 |
| Bristol West | $89 |
| Plymouth Rock | $94 |
| CSAA | $99 |
| 21st Century | $101 |
| State Auto | $102 |
| Liberty Mutual | $104 |
| Clearcover | $104 |
| Root | $110 |
| Amica | $163 |
Drivers with a recent speeding ticket can find liability coverage for as low as $72 per month, on average. NJM, Country Financial, and Auto-Owners have the lowest average rates for drivers with a speeding ticket.
You can find the lowest liability insurance rates for drivers with a recent speeding ticket in the table below.
Company | Average Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| Auto-Owners | $65 |
| Country Financial | $68 |
| State Farm | $70 |
| USAA | $71 |
| NJM | $72 |
| Mile Auto | $89 |
| Erie | $92 |
| Commonwealth Casualty | $100 |
| GEICO | $111 |
| American Family | $112 |
| National General | $113 |
| GAINSCO | $113 |
| Direct Auto | $116 |
| Safeco | $117 |
| The General | $125 |
| Dairyland | $127 |
| Elephant | $127 |
| Root | $128 |
| Travelers | $134 |
| AssuranceAmerica | $136 |
| Anchor | $141 |
| Bristol West | $141 |
| Farmers | $143 |
| Mercury | $148 |
| Clearcover | $149 |
| Chubb | $159 |
| Plymouth Rock | $163 |
| Liberty Mutual | $169 |
| Shelter | $189 |
| 21st Century | $194 |
| The Hartford | $199 |
| State Auto | $220 |
| CSAA | $244 |
| Amica | $330 |
After an at-fault accident, drivers can find liability coverage averaging $73 per month from NJM. Country Financial and Auto-Owners also offer the most affordable car insurance, according to Compare.com.
See the table below to find the cheapest companies for liability coverage after an accident.
Company | Average Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| Auto-Owners | $66 |
| Country Financial | $68 |
| NJM | $73 |
| State Farm | $74 |
| USAA | $74 |
| Erie | $94 |
| Mile Auto | $105 |
| GEICO | $108 |
| Commonwealth Casualty | $113 |
| American Family | $118 |
| National General | $122 |
| GAINSCO | $123 |
| Safeco | $125 |
| The General | $125 |
| Direct Auto | $130 |
| Plymouth Rock | $131 |
| Root | $134 |
| Dairyland | $136 |
| Elephant | $138 |
| Travelers | $141 |
| AssuranceAmerica | $142 |
| Anchor | $148 |
| Bristol West | $148 |
| Farmers | $151 |
| Mercury | $163 |
| Chubb | $168 |
| Liberty Mutual | $176 |
| Clearcover | $176 |
| Shelter | $196 |
| 21st Century | $201 |
| The Hartford | $202 |
| State Auto | $227 |
| CSAA | $249 |
| Amica | $335 |
At $76 per month, NJM offers the lowest average liability premium after a DUI, followed by Country Financial and Auto-Owners, according to Compare.com data.
The table below highlights the cheapest liability insurance companies for drivers with a DUI.
Company | Average Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| Country Financial | $65 |
| Auto-Owners | $70 |
| NJM | $76 |
| USAA | $77 |
| State Farm | $79 |
| Erie | $96 |
| Mile Auto | $109 |
| American Family | $112 |
| GEICO | $118 |
| The General | $119 |
| Commonwealth Casualty | $122 |
| National General | $131 |
| Direct Auto | $132 |
| GAINSCO | $142 |
| Travelers | $145 |
| Safeco | $147 |
| Dairyland | $149 |
| AssuranceAmerica | $152 |
| Elephant | $152 |
| Clearcover | $155 |
| Farmers | $158 |
| Mercury | $158 |
| Bristol West | $159 |
| Root | $162 |
| Anchor | $165 |
| Chubb | $176 |
| Liberty Mutual | $188 |
| 21st Century | $190 |
| Plymouth Rock | $195 |
| Shelter | $197 |
| The Hartford | $207 |
| State Auto | $210 |
| CSAA | $234 |
| Amica | $345 |
Drivers with excellent credit can pay as little as $42 per month. NJM, Country Financial, and Auto-Owners lead the group in the following table.
Company | Average Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| Auto-Owners | $34 |
| NJM | $42 |
| State Farm | $43 |
| Country Financial | $45 |
| USAA | $47 |
| Erie | $48 |
| GEICO | $62 |
| Mile Auto | $64 |
| American Family | $70 |
| Commonwealth Casualty | $75 |
| The General | $77 |
| Safeco | $77 |
| National General | $80 |
| Mercury | $80 |
| Direct Auto | $81 |
| Travelers | $86 |
| GAINSCO | $87 |
| Farmers | $91 |
| Dairyland | $91 |
| AssuranceAmerica | $93 |
| Elephant | $95 |
| Bristol West | $98 |
| Liberty Mutual | $100 |
| Plymouth Rock | $101 |
| Anchor | $102 |
| Chubb | $102 |
| Root | $103 |
| Clearcover | $109 |
| Shelter | $121 |
| The Hartford | $128 |
| 21st Century | $128 |
| State Auto | $132 |
| CSAA | $148 |
| Amica | $201 |
Drivers with poor credit can find liability coverage from NJM for an average of $59 per month. Country Financial and Auto-Owners offer some of the lowest rates as well. The table below shows the cheapest options for drivers with poor credit.
Company | Average Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| Country Financial | $57 |
| NJM | $59 |
| USAA | $67 |
| Auto-Owners | $87 |
| GEICO | $89 |
| State Farm | $92 |
| Mile Auto | $93 |
| American Family | $101 |
| Safeco | $104 |
| Commonwealth Casualty | $105 |
| The General | $108 |
| National General | $112 |
| Direct Auto | $113 |
| Travelers | $114 |
| Erie | $114 |
| Mercury | $118 |
| GAINSCO | $121 |
| Farmers | $121 |
| Dairyland | $128 |
| AssuranceAmerica | $130 |
| Elephant | $130 |
| Bristol West | $136 |
| Root | $139 |
| Plymouth Rock | $141 |
| Anchor | $142 |
| Clearcover | $142 |
| Liberty Mutual | $150 |
| Shelter | $169 |
| 21st Century | $173 |
| The Hartford | $175 |
| CSAA | $200 |
| State Auto | $201 |
| Chubb | $240 |
| Amica | $282 |
Liability car insurance covers injuries and property damage you cause to other people, up to your policy’s limits. It includes bodily injury liability, which pays for things like medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. The property damage liability coverage helps repair or replace someone else’s property, like a car or fence.[1]
Your liability insurance won’t pay for your medical bills or car repairs. Depending on the type of loss, your policy, and your state’s laws, coverages like collision, comprehensive, medical payments, personal injury protection, or your health insurance may help instead.
Nearly every state requires you to have liability coverage. The states that don’t still require you to prove financial responsibility (meaning you can cover damages if you cause a crash).[2] Minimum coverage requirements vary by state, and any claim costs above your limits are your responsibility.
Liability-only insurance protects other people and their property, not your vehicle. That’s why it’s worth comparing it to full-coverage insurance, which extends protection to your vehicle.
Liability-only coverage provides the protection your state requires. But it doesn’t safeguard your car. Full-coverage car insurance includes liability insurance plus collision, which pays for damage to your vehicle after an accident, and comprehensive coverage, which pays for non-collision events like theft, hail, fire, and vandalism.
If you finance or lease your car, you typically need full coverage because lenders usually require it. It may also be a better fit for newer or higher-value vehicles. Liability-only may make more sense for an older, paid-off car with a lower market value or for drivers who can afford to repair or replace their vehicle out of pocket.
Coverage | What It Covers |
|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability | Other people’s medical expenses, lost wages, and related injury costs if you cause an accident, up to your policy limits |
| Property damage liability | Repairs or replacement for another person’s vehicle or other property you damage |
| Collision | Damage to your vehicle from a crash with another car or object, minus your deductible |
| Comprehensive | Damage to your vehicle from non-collision events such as theft, hail, fire, vandalism, floods, falling objects, or animals, minus your deductible |
If you finance or lease your vehicle, your lender’s agreement almost certainly requires collision and comprehensive coverage. But if you own a lower-value car outright, liability-only insurance may be worth it.
Drivers who could comfortably repair or replace their vehicle out of pocket may also choose liability-only coverage. Young drivers and other high-risk drivers often face higher insurance premiums, making it especially important to compare liability-only and full-coverage costs before choosing a policy.
Get cheaper coverage in minutes by comparing rates from America’s top insurance companies.
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Insurers use personal, geographic, and vehicle-related information to estimate how likely you are to file a claim and how much that claim could cost.[3]
Age: Your age affects what you pay. Younger drivers typically pay more because they have less driving experience.
Driving record: Existing tickets, accidents, and DUIs on your driving record can all push your rates up.
ZIP code and state: Local traffic, claim costs, insurance laws, weather, and theft rates all affect premiums.
Credit history: Insurers may use credit-based insurance scores where state law allows.
Annual mileage: Driving more miles increases your chances of getting into an accident.
Vehicle: Your car’s repair costs, safety features, market value, and theft risk all play a role.
Coverage limits: Higher limits generally result in higher premiums.
Claims history: Previous claims can increase the cost of your next policy.
The cheapest policy isn’t always the best value. Drivers looking for cheap car insurance quotes have several ways to lower their costs. The tips below can help you find affordable liability coverage.
Get several quotes. Compare quotes from multiple insurers with the same liability limits from several insurers to get the lowest rate.
Ask about available discounts. Ask what discounts you qualify for, then look for ways to get more, such as completing a defensive driving course.
Bundle your insurance policies. Buying auto coverage with your renters or homeowners insurance can qualify you for a multi-policy discount on both premiums.
Keep a clean driving record. Tickets and at-fault accidents can raise costs for years. Avoiding them can help you qualify for a safe driver discount and lower rates over time.
Choose the right deductibles. Raise your comprehensive and collision coverage deductibles to lower premiums.
Work on your credit. Resolve errors and work to raise your score, as drivers with better credit pay lower rates.
Shop again before every renewal. Rates and coverage needs change over time, so compare quotes often to make sure you’re getting the best rates.
Below, we answer some questions drivers ask most often when comparing liability-only policies, from finding the lowest rates to choosing the right coverage limits.
If you’re looking for only liability coverage, NJM offers the cheapest liability car insurance, averaging $48 per month, according to Compare.com data. But the cheapest option can change depending on the policy. That’s why GEICO may be the cheapest option for one driver, but State Farm may be the cheapest option for you.
Liability car insurance costs an average of $101 per month, according to Compare.com data. Your actual premium depends on your state, limits, driving history, age, location, and other rating factors.
You need to carry at least your state’s required liability limits. You may want higher limits if the minimum coverage could leave you vulnerable to large out-of-pocket expenses after an at-fault accident. Also consider optional coverage, like roadside assistance, based on your needs.
Property damage liability insurance pays to repair or replace another person’s vehicle or other property you damage in an accident, up to the limit shown on your policy.
Compare quotes from several insurers using the same liability limits, deductibles, and coverage options. Shop again before each renewal because rates and the cheapest companies for your driver profile can change over time.
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.
J.J. Starr is an insurance and personal finance expert who has been writing for Compare.com since 2022. Her work has been published across the web, appearing on sites such as Insurify.
Prior to writing for Compare.com, J.J. was a registered banker and life insurance consultant, holding a Series 6, FINRA, and life insurance license. She also earned a master’s degree in writing from New York University.
J.J. has a passion for helping people save money by explaining complex topics like car insurance in a way that is simple and easy to understand.
3+ years editing insurance content
10+ years in content creation
Lequita's extensive editorial experience spans insurance, personal finance, higher education, and more.
25+ years teaching risk management and insurance
Managing director, Brantley Risk & Insurance Center
An Appalachian State Univ. professor, David teaches risk management/insurance. He's appeared in the NY Times, CNN, and more.
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.
