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Written byJ.J. Starr
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J.J. StarrInsurance Writer
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Edited byLequita Westbrooks
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Lequita WestbrooksSenior Editor
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Reviewed byMark Friedlander
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Mark FriedlanderSenior Director, Media Relations | Insurance Information Institute
Senior Director, Media Relations, with Triple-I
30+ years of industry experience
Leadership positions at several trade organizations
Updated
Why You Can Trust Compare.com: At Compare.com, it’s our mission to find simple ways to help our customers save money on the things they need. While we partner with some of the companies and brands we talk about in our articles, all of our content is written and reviewed by our independent editorial team and never influenced by our partnerships. Learn about how we make money, review our editorial standards, and reference our data methodology to learn more about why you can trust Compare.com.
Estimate Your Monthly Costs With Compare.com’s Car Insurance Calculator
Estimated Cost: $186 per month
Category | Price |
|---|---|
| $78 | 3.8% |
| $97 | 5.6% |
| $115 | 6.6% |
| $134 | 7.9% |
| $153 | 8.4% |
| $171 | 7.9% |
| $190 | 8.0% |
| $209 | 7.5% |
| $227 | 6.8% |
| $246 | 5.8% |
| $265 | 5.5% |
| $283 | 4.8% |
| $302 | 4.0% |
| $321 | 3.7% |
| $340 | 3.2% |
| $358 | 2.7% |
| $377 | 2.4% |
| $396 | 2.1% |
| $414 | 1.8% |
| $433 | 1.6% |
40.1% of drivers like you pay less for car insurance. Compare quotes to save up to $1296 per year.
We sourced the figures you see here from Compare.com's database of more than 58 million real-life car insurance quotes. Actual rates may vary based on your unique driver profile.
How Our Car Insurance Calculator Works
Our estimator uses real data from millions of car insurance quotes from the best car insurance companies to estimate what drivers like you typically pay for auto coverage. We analyze patterns from customers with similar profiles, considering everything from your age and location to your vehicle type and driving history to generate realistic estimates.
But an estimate isn’t the same as an actual quote. It’s more of a starting point for understanding what your premiums will look like, which helps set budget expectations before you shop.
Our auto insurance calculator takes just a few minutes and gives you an idea of what you might spend. But you’ll want to get actual quotes from insurers or car insurance comparison sites for a more accurate price.
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How to Use Our Car Insurance Calculator
Think of this calculator as a budgeting tool, not a firm quote. The number you get is a ballpark estimate. Your actual premium depends on the insurer, your driving history, coverage limits, car insurance discounts, and other rating factors.[1]
Follow these steps to get the most useful estimate:
Gather the basics. You’ll need your ZIP code, vehicle make and model, driving record, and current coverage and policy details.
Choose a coverage level. Select your liability limits and coverage options, such as comprehensive and collision coverage.
Test different coverage scenarios. Adjust coverage options to see how changes affect costs.
Adjust your deductible. Raising your deductible usually lowers your premium, but you’ll pay more out of pocket if you file a claim.
Compare real quotes. Use this estimate as a starting point, then compare quotes from several companies.
Information you’ll need before using our calculator
Make sure you have your details ready before you start. You’ll need:
ZIP code
Coverage type
Current premium, if you know it
Optional details such as driver, vehicle, and driving history information
The more accurate and detailed your information, the more accurate your estimates will be.
The Biggest Factors That Affect Your Car Insurance Estimate
Insurance companies use dozens of rating factors, but some tend to affect car insurance rates more than others. The biggest factors include:
Where you live
Your ZIP code can affect rates based on your area’s accident, theft, weather, and repair cost trends.
Age and driving experience
Younger drivers and less experienced drivers usually pay more because insurers consider them a higher risk.
Driving record
A clean driving record can help lower your rates, while tickets, driving under the influence (DUI), and at-fault accidents on your record can increase costs.
Vehicle type
Your vehicle make and model, value, age, safety features, and repair costs can affect the estimated premium.
Coverage level
A liability-only policy usually costs less than a full-coverage policy, but it offers less protection.
Deductible amount
A higher deductible can lower your premium, but you’ll pay more out of pocket if you file a claim.
Credit history
In most U.S. states, insurers can use information from your credit history to calculate a credit-based insurance score, which could affect your rates.[2] Some states prohibit or restrict this practice, including California, Hawaii, and Massachusetts.[3]
Annual mileage
The more you drive, the greater your chances of filing a claim, which can increase your costs.
Claims history
Past claims on your driving record may lead to higher insurance premiums.
Liability vs. Full Coverage: How Coverage Choices Affect Your Estimate
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Liability-only coverage pays for bodily injury and property damage you cause to other people, up to your insurance policy’s liability limits. But it doesn’t pay to repair or replace your own car, making these policies cheaper overall. The average monthly cost of liability-only coverage is $99.
Full coverage typically includes liability insurance, plus collision and comprehensive coverage. Collision insurance helps pay for damage to your car after an accident, while comprehensive coverage helps pay for non-collision damage, such as theft, vandalism, hail, or falling objects.
The average cost of full coverage is $183 per month. Full coverage costs more because your insurance company takes on more financial risk with these policies.
Full coverage usually makes sense — and is often a requirement — if you finance or lease your car, drive a newer vehicle, or can’t afford major repairs out of pocket. State-minimum coverage may be cheaper, but it may not provide enough protection after a serious accident.
Choosing the right deductible
Raising deductibles usually lowers premiums, so many drivers choose to carry high deductibles on collision and comprehensive coverages.[4] Choose a deductible you can afford for an emergency bill.
If you have a rainy day fund of $1,000, for example, you could set your deductible at $1,000 or lower. Be careful not to set it higher than you can afford. You don’t want to delay vehicle repairs due to a lack of funds.
Ways to Lower Your Estimated Car Insurance Premium
Even though you can’t change your age or driving history overnight, most drivers can make use of some tested techniques to lower car insurance premiums:
Raise your deductible. Policies with higher deductibles generally cost less, but just make sure you can afford to cover the cost if you need to file a claim.
Improve your credit. Drivers with poor credit pay 18% to 39% more than drivers with average to excellent credit, based on Compare.com data. That can add up to hundreds of dollars more annually.
Bundle your policies. Bundling auto and homeowners or renters insurance from the same company may qualify you for a multi-policy discount.
Check costs before buying. Some vehicles cost more to insure, so check rates before purchasing a new car.
Comparing Quotes Can Save You Hundreds
Rates for the same driver can vary widely among insurers because every company weighs risk differently. Comparing multiple quotes helps you find the best rate for your situation.
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Common Mistakes Drivers Make When Estimating Insurance Costs
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It’s easy to make a mistake when estimating insurance costs. Here’s what to avoid:
Not reporting tickets: If you don’t include recent driving violations when estimating premiums, your quote may be lower than what you’ll actually pay. Insurers review your driving record, and recent tickets can increase your premium.
Underestimating coverage levels: If you need full coverage, getting quotes for minimum liability coverage will result in inaccurate estimates.
Leaving off a driver: You’ll get a lower estimated premium if you forget to add a spouse, child, or other driver.
Underestimating mileage: Report your annual mileage as accurately as possible. Insurers may verify your mileage through odometer checks, service records, or telematics data. Inaccurate mileage information can affect your premium.
Always review the information you’ve provided carefully throughout the process.
Car Insurance Calculator FAQs
Here are quick answers to the most common questions about estimating car insurance costs.
How do you calculate your car insurance costs?
You can calculate your car insurance costs by using a car insurance calculator. You’ll just need to enter details about your location, vehicle, driving history, and coverage choices. Remember, the estimate you get is only a starting point. Your actual premium will vary by insurer.
Is $300 per month for car insurance bad?
It depends. A $300-per-month car insurance premium can be a good rate if you live in a high-cost area or have multiple tickets on your driving record. Your location, vehicle, driving history, and other factors will influence your final rate. Compare rates from different insurers for drivers with your profile to see whether you’re getting a good price.
How much should you expect to pay for car insurance?
Your age, location, gender, driving record, vehicle, and other factors influence the cost of car insurance. It’s hard to know what to expect without comparing rates from several companies or looking at average rates for drivers like you in your area.
How do insurance companies estimate car insurance costs?
Insurers estimate costs based on the risk associated with your policy details. For example, insurers use local claim and crime rates to determine costs specific to a location.
What do you need to get a car insurance quote online?
For an online quote, you’ll need personal information, like your age, driving record, and marital status. You’ll also need your car’s make, model, year, and annual mileage. It’s also important to know the type of insurance coverage you need, such as collision and comprehensive.
Sources
- Insurance Information Institute. "What determines the price of an auto insurance policy?."
- Naic.org. "Credit-Based Insurance Scores Aren’t the Same as a Credit Score. Understand How Credit and Other Factors Determine Your Premiums."
- Experian.com. "Which States Prohibit or Restrict the Use of Credit-Based Insurance Scores?."
- Triple-I. "How to save money on car insurance."
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J.J. StarrInsurance Writer
Lequita WestbrooksSenior Editor
Mark FriedlanderSenior Director, Media Relations | Insurance Information Institute
Senior Director, Media Relations, with Triple-I
30+ years of industry experience
Leadership positions at several trade organizations