The average cost of car insurance for Smart cars is around 25% lower than the national average for all vehicles.
Safeco, National General, and Elephant Insurance offer some of the cheapest Smart car policies.
The Smart Fortwo is the cheapest model on the market, while the Fortwo Electric Drive costs more.
The Cheapest Car Insurance Companies for a Smart Car
Every car insurance company uses a different formula to calculate your car insurance rates. It also varies in the discounts it offers and the types of coverage included in a standard policy.
For these reasons, one insurance company may offer you a much better rate on your Smart car insurance than the rest. That’s why it’s best to shop for an auto insurance policy by comparing quotes until you find the cheapest premium you can.
Here are the cheapest car insurance companies for Smart car drivers.
Company | Average Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| Safeco | $78 |
| National General | $95 |
| Elephant | $105 |
| The General | $115 |
| Direct Auto | $125 |
| Liberty Mutual | $135 |
| Mercury | $141 |
Safeco, National General, Elephant, and The General all offer Smart car drivers lower-than-average rates. Next, we’ll suggest the best Smart car auto insurance companies for a variety of situations.
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The Best Insurance Companies for Smart Car Drivers
The best insurance company for your Smart car auto insurance depends on many factors. We present some of our top choices below, taking into account insurance discounts, customer reviews, third-party ratings, our own pricing data for Smart car auto insurance, and more.
| User Reviews | 3.7 |
|---|---|
| Our Rating Compare.com's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The objective formula used in these reviews weighs several important factors to consider when choosing financial products and services, including customer satisfaction ratings, ease of use, and a number of other components. | 4 /5 |
| Liability Only Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages. | $84/mo |
| Full Coverage Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible. | $133/mo |
Safeco Insurance's score | Industry average | |
|---|---|---|
| Coverage options | 4.1 | 3.2 |
| Customer service | 4.3 | 3.6 |
| Discounts | 3.8 | 2.9 |
| Policy transparency | 4.2 | 3.1 |
| Value | 4.0 | 2.9 |
Smart car drivers get consistently affordable car insurance premiums from Safeco. As a part of Liberty Mutual, it has the backing of a reliable AM Best financial strength rating. You’ll have to sign up with an independent agent, but its mobile app is extremely well-rated.
On the downside, Safeco’s customer satisfaction is low. But if cheap rates are your first priority, you’re likely to find what you’re looking for.
Super-cheap rates
Great mobile app
Below-average customer satisfaction
Independent agents only
| User Reviews | 3.2 |
|---|---|
| Our Rating Compare.com's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The objective formula used in these reviews weighs several important factors to consider when choosing financial products and services, including customer satisfaction ratings, ease of use, and a number of other components. | 3.5 /5 |
| Liability Only Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages. | $89/mo |
| Full Coverage Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible. | $172/mo |
National General Insurance's score | Industry average | |
|---|---|---|
| Coverage options | 3.1 | 3.2 |
| Customer service | 3.1 | 3.6 |
| Discounts | 2.8 | 2.9 |
| Policy transparency | 3.0 | 3.1 |
| Value | 3.1 | 2.9 |
Drivers value the affordable initial rates and good coverage but dislike the unexpected price increases and poor customer service.
If you have a speeding ticket, at-fault accident, or even a driving under the influence (DUI) conviction on your driving record, National General is one of the most affordable insurers on the market.
Given the company’s strong financial strength, you can expect it to pay your claims, but customers report low satisfaction with claims overall. That said, with a spotty driving history, cheap premiums can be hard to find.
Great rates for drivers with tickets, accidents, and DUIs
Superior financial strength rating
Poor claims satisfaction
Must work with an independent agent
| User Reviews | 3.1 |
|---|---|
| Our Rating Compare.com's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The objective formula used in these reviews weighs several important factors to consider when choosing financial products and services, including customer satisfaction ratings, ease of use, and a number of other components. | 4.2 /5 |
| Liability Only Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages. | $129/mo |
| Full Coverage Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible. | $204/mo |
Liberty Mutual's score | Industry average | |
|---|---|---|
| Coverage options | 4.0 | 3.2 |
| Customer service | 4.0 | 3.6 |
| Discounts | 3.8 | 2.9 |
| Policy transparency | 4.1 | 3.1 |
| Value | 3.8 | 2.9 |
Customers appreciate the excellent customer service and efficient claim processing but are frustrated with the high and consistently increasing premiums. Some also found the website difficult to navigate.
Liberty Mutual is a huge and reliable insurance company. If you’re looking for a stable company that will keep you happy when it’s time for a claim, Liberty Mutual will keep your Smart car well protected. Just know that you’ll pay a little extra for that service, and customer satisfaction is far from perfect.
But if you normally opt for full coverage, Liberty Mutual is a good choice. Its popular telematics program can help safe, infrequent drivers reduce their rates.
Great telematics program
Top claims satisfaction
Higher rates than average
Below-average customer satisfaction outside of New England
Average Cost of Smart Car Insurance by State
Auto insurance laws vary by state, as do accident rates, population density, and many other factors that determine car insurance premiums.[1] Because of this, the average cost of car insurance can vary quite differently between, for example, Florida and Indiana.
Below, you can see the average cost of Smart car insurance by state. Depending on where you live, the statewide premium could be above or below the national average. Full-coverage policies also cost more than liability-only insurance.
Smart Car Rates by State
State | Average Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $217 |
| Arizona | $85 |
| Arkansas | $225 |
| California | $288 |
| Colorado | $131 |
| Florida | $198 |
| Georgia | $136 |
| Illinois | $100 |
| Indiana | $59 |
| Louisiana | $179 |
| Mississippi | $283 |
| Nebraska | $70 |
| Nevada | $189 |
| Ohio | $55 |
| Oklahoma | $48 |
| Oregon | $100 |
| South Carolina | $179 |
| Tennessee | $64 |
| Texas | $141 |
| Virginia | $83 |
| Washington | $77 |
| West Virginia | $95 |
Average Cost of Smart Car Insurance by Age
Insurance companies consider your age when they set your premiums. Teens and drivers younger than 25 are far more accident-prone because they take more risks and are less experienced. Adult drivers have experience, but they also tend to commute, so their rates are about average. Because senior drivers aren’t only more cautious but also spend less time driving, they receive the lowest auto insurance rates on the market.[2]
This table shows average Smart car insurance rates by age group.
Age Group | Average Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| All drivers | $128 |
| Drivers younger than 25 | $232 |
| Adult drivers | $131 |
| Senior drivers | $122 |
Average Cost of Smart Car Insurance by Driving Record
Car insurance companies check your driving history before offering you a quote. Traffic violations such as speeding tickets, DUIs, and previous at-fault accidents will flag you as a higher-risk driver and raise your rates.
Luckily for Smart car owners, a speeding ticket on your record doesn’t drastically raise rates on average. But an at-fault accident causes average rates to jump, as this table shows, compiled from Compare.com data:
Driving Record | Average Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| Clean record | $123 |
| Speeding ticket | $138 |
| At-fault accident | $199 |
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Other Factors That Affect Smart Car Insurance Rates
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Insurance companies also set rates based on the car make and model that you drive. Good safety ratings can earn cheaper rates, while some cars are more prone to theft or are more costly to repair.
These factors may be affecting your Smart car insurance rates:
Smart car safety ratings
The Smart Fortwo model receives good safety ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.[3] Newer model years have slightly better ratings than older ones. Less information is available for the electric Fortwo model — it has no safety rating from the Federal Highway Administration.
The Fortwo has outstanding recalls from several model years, but none that have pushed its prices too high on average.[4] Safety shouldn’t be a significant factor in raising your insurance rates.
Smart car repair and replacement costs
RepairPal gives the Smart Fortwo an above-average reliability score, meaning that costly, unplanned repairs are less likely compared with competitors. A high repair cost can boost car insurance rates, but with the Fortwo, you should be fine.
Mercedes-Benz owns the Smart brand and still services Smart vehicles, even though they’re no longer sold new in the U.S. As a budget vehicle brand owned by a luxury car manufacturer, there should be no glaring concerns for your Smart car’s replacement or repair costs. And since the newest Smart cars are at least seven years old, their value is low relative to most vehicles, and continues to decline.
Smart car trim levels
Smart’s Fortwo trim levels — Pure, Passion, and Prime — differ mostly in aesthetics and amenities.[5][5]The version that you have shouldn’t make a major difference in insurance rates, though a higher vehicle value tends to result in higher premiums.
Car Insurance Coverages to Consider for Your Smart Car
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These coverage options will be important to look for while you’re shopping for an auto insurance policy for your Smart car:
Liability coverage: The law requires this on every policy and protects you from damage you cause to others, whether property damage or bodily injury, in an accident.
Comprehensive: Covers theft, vandalism, weather damage, and more. A comprehensive policy could be helpful for a small car that might easily sustain damage from branches in a tree-lined neighborhood.
Collision: Covers you in the event of any kind of collision. If you drive your Smart car in icy areas, this may be useful.
Rental reimbursement: If you commute in your Smart car, you may love this additional insurance coverage, which pays for a rental while you’re getting repairs done for a claim.
Smart Car Insurance FAQs
We answer common questions about auto insurance for Smart Car models below.
What’s the cheapest car insurance company for a Smart car?
Safeco is among the cheapest car insurance companies for Smart cars. National General and Elephant also offer market-leading average prices. The cheapest company for you depends on many factors.
How much does car insurance cost for a Smart Fortwo?
On average, an auto insurance policy for a Smart car Fortwo costs $128 per month. Premiums range based on location, driving history, credit score, your deductible, and many other factors.
Are Smart cars more expensive to insure?
Smart Cars are cheaper to insure than the average for other car brands. And as the existing model years get older, Smart Car insurance policies will only become more affordable.
What are the disadvantages of a Smart car?
Electric Smart cars now lag behind in range. The gas-powered models also underwhelmed in terms of mileage. Reviewers also report that it doesn’t handle well.
Sources
- Insurance Information Institute. "Facts + Statistics: Auto insurance."
- Insurance Information Institute. "Senior driving safety and insurance tips."
- Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. "2017 Smart Fortwo."
- Kelley Blue Book. "Smart Recalls."
- Edmunds. "2018 smart fortwo Trims Comparison."
Methodology
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.
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.
- All of Compare.com's content is written and reviewed for accuracy by a team of experienced writers and editors who are experts on the topics they cover.
- None of Compare.com's content is ever influenced by the companies and brands we partner with.
- Compare.com's editorial team operates independently of any of the company's partnership or business development interests. We publish unbiased information strictly for the benefit of our readers.
- All of the content you see on Compare.com is based on comprehensive analysis and all data is gathered and vetted from trustworthy sources.
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