How to Get the Cheapest Full-Coverage Car Insurance in 2024

Full-coverage car insurance includes a combination of liability, medical, comprehensive, and collision coverages. It’s not usually required to have all of these, but your lender may require you to purchase full coverage when you finance or lease a car.

Nationwide, full-coverage insurance averages $271 per month. However, GEICO, the cheapest insurer according to Compare.com data, has an average monthly premium of just $97. But GEICO may not be the cheapest option for you. After all, auto insurance prices are based on a wide variety of factors, and every company calculates rates differently.

Whether you’re a first-time driver looking for basic protection or an experienced one on the hunt for more expansive coverage, there are plenty of ways to reduce your auto insurance rate. We’ll show you how to get the cheapest full-coverage car insurance.

Key Takeaways:

• Idaho, Ohio, Massachusetts, and Michigan have the cheapest average rates for full-coverage insurance — between $45 and $54 per month.
• GEICO offers the lowest full-coverage rates for teens, seniors, and drivers with a clean record or speeding ticket. But State Farm offers more affordable car insurance rates for drivers with an accident or DUI.
• You can find cheap full-coverage car insurance by bundling policies, raising your deductible, asking about discounts, and shopping around to compare quotes.

What Full-Coverage Insurance Covers

Full coverage provides a safety net for car owners, protecting against various potential risks and liabilities. Despite its higher cost compared to liability-only insurance, it’s often the go-to choice for drivers who want to ensure they’re fully protected if they get into an accident or file a claim (a tree falling on your vehicle while it’s parked, for example).

While coverage varies by state and policy, full-coverage insurance typically covers damage to your vehicle in addition to the minimum coverage required in your state. Some common coverages include:

• Bodily injury liability: Covers the costs related to injuries to others you’re responsible for.
• Property damage liability: Pays for damages you cause to someone else’s property.
• Medical payments (MedPay) or personal injury protection (PIP): Covers medical expenses for you and your passengers after an accident, regardless of who was at fault.
• Collision coverage: Pays to repair or replace your car in the event of a collision.
• Comprehensive coverage: Protects you against damage from events other than a collision, such as theft, vandalism, or natural disasters.

However, full-coverage insurance has its limitations. Your policy may not cover the following unless you purchase add-on coverage and pay an additional premium:

• Gap insurance: Covers the gap between what your car is worth and how much you owe on your auto loan if your car is totaled.
• Full glass coverage: Rocks, hail, tree branches, and vandalism can damage your car’s windshield. It can cost anywhere from $300 to over $1,000 to replace a windshield, which might be less than your deductible. Some policies allow you to purchase zero-deductible glass coverage, so you won’t have to pay anything out of pocket to replace your windshield (or other auto glass).
• Commercial driving: A personal auto policy typically covers only personal driving, such as commuting, running errands, and taking a road trip. Your policy might not cover you for work- or business-related driving, including driving for rideshare services like Uber or Lyft. However, some insurance companies offer to extend coverage for an additional premium.

Cheapest Full-Coverage Car Insurance Companies

The table below shows the five cheapest car insurance companies for full-coverage car insurance, according to Compare.com data. The companies listed are ranked based on average monthly premiums.

Remember that premiums may vary depending on your driving record, location, and other factors.

GEICO stands out as the cheapest insurer for full-coverage car insurance, with an average monthly premium of just $97. GEICO’s extensive coverage options and reputation for great customer service can protect you and your vehicle while remaining affordable.

How to Find the Cheapest Full-Coverage Car Insurance

Finding the cheapest full-coverage car insurance doesn’t have to feel like an impossible task. You can score discounts and make your insurance more affordable in many ways without sacrificing quality coverage. Here are a few strategies to help you secure the best deal.

1. Bundle policies: If you have a home or renters insurance policy, consider buying it from the same company as your auto insurance — this is known as bundling. Many insurers offer discounts to customers who purchase more than one type of insurance with them.
2. Raise your deductible: Your comprehensive and collision deductibles are the amounts you pay out of pocket before your insurance kicks in. Opting for a higher deductible can lower your premium by 40% or more. Just make sure you can afford the higher out-of-pocket cost if you file a claim.
3. Take advantage of discounts: Many insurance companies offer various discounts for drivers who take a safe driving course or install safety devices in their vehicles. Ask your insurer or insurance agent about any discounts you might qualify for.
4. Compare car insurance quotes: Shopping around and comparing quotes from different insurance companies is the best way to find affordable coverage. Each insurer uses its own formula to calculate premiums, so prices can vary widely from one company to another.

Cheapest Full-Coverage Car Insurance by State

Insurance rates can vary greatly depending on where you live. Each state and city has unique factors and insurance laws influencing car insurance premiums, such as population density, weather conditions, crime rates, and mandatory coverages.

With that in mind, understanding state-by-state trends can be helpful when shopping for car insurance. The table below shows the cheapest full-coverage car insurance by state.

Based on statewide averages for full coverage, Maine offers the lowest monthly rate of $93. New York is the most expensive state, with a monthly rate of $410.

However, monthly rates look dramatically different when comparing insurers’ average rates by state. GEICO in Idaho and Hastings Mutual in Ohio have the cheapest average rates, coming in under $50 per month. In Louisiana and Florida, GEICO is the cheapest company, but its average rates are the most expensive averages in the U.S. — $156 and $120, respectively — according to Compare.com data.

Overall, GEICO is the cheapest option for full coverage in nearly half of all states. So you might want to get a quote from GEICO to see how it compares, no matter where you live.

Cheapest Full-Coverage Car Insurance for Teens: GEICO

Car insurance rates are notoriously high for young drivers — especially teenagers — due to their lack of driving experience and statistically higher accident rates. Because of this, insurance companies perceive teens as high-risk.

For example, the average 18-year-old can expect monthly rates of $530, based on Compare.com data. However, these rates typically decrease by age 25 — when drivers become more experienced and less accident-prone.

The table below compares the cheapest full-coverage car insurance options available to teens.

GEICO has the lowest average premiums for teen drivers — around 49% less than the national average. This may be partially due to the discounts GEICO offers, including those for completing an approved driver education course and maintaining good grades.

Cheapest Full-Coverage Car Insurance for Seniors: GEICO

As drivers enter their retirement years, they may notice a decrease in their car insurance premiums. Not only are older drivers more experienced behind the wheel, but retirees tend to drive less because they’re no longer commuting to work.

However, as drivers age, their car insurance rates may start to climb back up, as insurance companies perceive them as high-risk due to the potential for impaired vision or slower reaction times.

The table below shows the more affordable full-coverage car insurance options available to senior drivers.

Yet again, GEICO takes the top spot here as the cheapest insurer for full coverage. The good news is that if you’re a senior driver and have maintained an accident-free driving record for the past five years, you may qualify for a good driver discount of up to 22% with GEICO.

Cheapest Full-Coverage Car Insurance by Driving Record

Your driving record plays a big part in your car insurance rates. Drivers with clean records pay lower premiums, while those with speeding tickets, at-fault accidents, and DUIs pay higher rates. In the sections below, we’ll look more closely at the cheapest car insurance companies by driving record.

Cheapest full-coverage for drivers with a clean record: GEICO

On average, drivers with clean records pay $125 per month on their car insurance. Insurance companies view drivers with clean records as less risky, resulting in lower premiums.

The table below shows where to find cheap auto insurance for drivers with a clean record.

GEICO is the winner in this category, with an average premium about 22% lower than the national average. Although higher than GEICO, State Farm’s average monthly premium is also less than the national average.

Cheapest full-coverage for drivers with a speeding ticket: GEICO

A single speeding ticket can increase your car insurance rate because insurers view drivers who disregard traffic laws as more likely to get into accidents. Getting a speeding ticket can increase your monthly premium by as much as 37%, according to Compare.com data. But you can still find affordable coverage.

Here are five of the cheapest car insurance companies for drivers with one speeding ticket.

GEICO is the cheapest, but only by a nose. State Farm’s average monthly premiums are just $4 per month higher than GEICO’s.

Cheapest full-coverage for drivers with an at-fault accident: State Farm

If you cause a car accident, your insurance company will likely raise your car insurance rates. The average driver with an at-fault accident on their record pays 44% more for car insurance, according to Compare.com data.

The table below shows the best car insurance companies for drivers with a single at-fault accident.

State Farm is the cheapest in this category, with average rates of just $139 per month. BUt those rates are followed closely followed by Auto-Owners, at $141 per month.

Cheapest full-coverage for drivers with a DUI: State Farm

A DUI is a serious driving offense that can make it tough to find affordable car insurance. Drivers with a DUI can see their rates increase by as much as 94%, according to Compare.com data — and some insurers may even refuse to cover you at all.

Fortunately, some insurance companies offer coverage for drivers with a DUI conviction. The following table shows the cheapest options for full-coverage car insurance for drivers with a DUI.

State Farm tops this category as well, making it a good place to shop for car insurance when your record isn’t blemish-free. Surprisingly, the top four companies in the table offer rates below the national average.

When Is Full-Coverage Right for You?

While full coverage might come with a higher price tag than liability-only coverage, it can provide peace of mind and financial security in various scenarios. Here are three situations when opting for full coverage makes the most sense.

• You finance or lease your vehicle: If you just purchased a new car or are leasing one, your finance or lease contract will require you to have full-coverage auto insurance to protect the financing company’s financial interest in the vehicle.
• You drive an expensive car: Some cars are more expensive to insure than others. If you drive a late-model car or one that’s a bit older but still worth a lot, opting for full coverage is a good idea because your car will be expensive to repair or replace.
• You depend on your vehicle: If you need your vehicle to get to and from school or work, full coverage can ensure you’re not left stranded after an accident or theft. Full-coverage insurance can expedite repairs or replacement, minimizing disruptions to your life. But if your vehicle is worth less than your annual premium, you may be better off saving the extra money.

Full-Coverage Car Insurance FAQs

Navigating your options when shopping for car insurance can be complicated. To make it easier, we’ve compiled a list of frequently asked questions about full-coverage car insurance.

What is the cheapest full-coverage car insurance?

The cheapest full-coverage car insurance varies based on several factors, including your location, driving experience, and vehicle type. However, GEICO offers the cheapest average rates for full coverage in several categories, including for teens, seniors, and drivers with a speeding ticket on their record, according to Compare.com data.

Do you need full-coverage car insurance?

Whether you need full coverage depends on your circumstances. If you finance or lease your car, you might be required to purchase full coverage. But even if not required, full coverage may be a sensible choice if you drive an expensive vehicle or live in an area where weather events, traffic accidents, and thefts are common.

Is an older car cheaper to insure?

Older cars are generally cheaper to insure than newer ones because older ones tend to be worth less, and repairing or replacing them costs less if you get into an accident. Older cars also usually have fewer safety features and electronics, which can decrease repair costs.

Is comprehensive insurance the same as full coverage?

People often refer to full-coverage insurance as being “comprehensive.” However, comprehensive insurance is a name for a specific coverage that applies to damage to your car from events other than a collision — like theft, vandalism, fire, and hail. Full coverage includes comprehensive insurance, but it also includes liability and collision coverages.

How much does full-coverage car insurance cost?

The national average for full-coverage car insurance is $271 per month, according to Compare.com data. However, your actual costs will vary depending on several factors, including your age, driving record, the make and model of your vehicle, and where you live.

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. Insurance Information Institute, “Auto insurance basics—understanding your coverage,” accessed September 26, 2023.
2. Austin Morris, “It May Cost More Than You Think to Replace a Windshield,” Kelley Blue Book, published March 13, 2023, accessed September 26, 2023.
3. Insurance Information Institute, “Nine ways to lower your auto insurance costs,” accessed September 26, 2023.