Best cheap car insurance of 2024
“Verified by an expert” means that this article has been thoroughly reviewed and evaluated for accuracy.
“Verified by an expert” means that this article has been thoroughly reviewed and evaluated for accuracy.
BLUEPRINT
Updated 11:05 a.m. UTC Dec. 21, 2023
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Nationwide is the best cheap car insurance company, based on our expert analysis. USAA car insurance is also worth considering. It also receives 5 stars in our rating.
To help you save money on car insurance in 2024 without sacrificing coverage quality, our car insurance experts analyzed the rates, customer complaints, collision repair scores and customer complaints. If you’re shopping for coverage, check out these top-scoring cheap car insurance companies.
The best cheap car insurance companies
- Nationwide: Best cheap car insurance
- USAA: Best cheap car insurance for military
- Travelers: Great cheap car insurance for young adults
- Erie: Best cheap car insurance for claims
- Progressive: Best cheap car insurance for DUI
- Geico: Best cheap car insurance for bad credit
Why trust our insurance experts
Our team of insurance experts evaluates hundreds of insurance products and analyzes thousands of data points to help you find the best product for your situation. We use a data-driven methodology to determine each rating. Advertisers do not influence our editorial content. You can read more about our methodology below.
- 260 companies analyzed.
- 347 rates reviewed.
- 5 levels of fact-checking.
Find the cheapest car insurance rates
Best cheap car insurance companies of 2024
Nationwide
USAA
Travelers
Erie
Progressive
Geico
Cheapest car insurance comparison
If budget-friendly coverage is on your mind, use the table below to find the best affordable car insurance for you.
Methodology
Our insurance experts evaluated major car insurance companies to determine those that offer the best coverage based on average rates, coverage features, collision claims process and consumer complaints.
Each company was eligible for up to 100 points, based on its performance in the following categories.
Cost: 70 points. We analyzed rates from Quadrant Information Services based on seven driver profiles for a policy with 100/300/100 in liability coverage, uninsured motorist coverage and comprehensive and collision coverage.
- Up to 60 points were awarded for an insurer’s average rate for the following profiles:
- Drivers with bad credit.
- Good drivers.
- Drivers with infractions, such as speeding tickets, an accident or a DUI on their record.
- Up to 10 points were awarded for an insurer’s average rate for teen and senior drivers. Drivers in these categories typically have higher rates compared to other drivers. As such, we separated from the primary driver categories, awarding points separately. Insurers with lower rates for teen and senior drivers received the most points.
Consumer complaints: 10 points. We collected complaint data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, which shows the volume of car insurance consumer complaints against each company. When a consumer lodges a complaint to their state’s department of insurance — often about an insurance company’s claims process, delays, denials or settlements — these complaints are logged and tracked.
Car insurance coverage options and features: 15 points. Car insurance policy features can help make coverage more affordable both before and after an accident or covered incident. We evaluated car insurance policies offered by each insurer and awarded points to insurers that offered these valuable options and features:
- Accident forgiveness (5 points).
- Vanishing deductible (5 points).
- Usage-based car insurance program (5 points).
Collision repairs score: 5 points. Every year the CRASH Network releases an “Insurer Report Card” survey. This annual survey asks repair professionals how well a car insurance company handles claims, specifically when it comes to payment practices, repair quality and customer service.
Each car insurance company receives a grade ranging from A+ to F, based on the survey results. Companies were awarded up to 5 points based on their CRASH Network score, with higher graders receiving the most points. Insurers that received a D+ or lower received 0 points.
Best cheap car insurance for good drivers: USAA and Nationwide
USAA has the cheapest car insurance for good drivers, though only members of the military community and eligible family members qualify for auto insurance with USAA.
Drivers not eligible for coverage with USAA should get quotes from Nationwide, Travelers and Geico. Each offers some of the most affordable car insurance rates for good drivers when compared to the national average.
Cheapest car insurance after an accident with injuries: USAA and Erie
Drivers at fault for a collision that resulted in injuries should consider USAA, which has the cheapest average rates for this driver profile.
If you’re not eligible for coverage through USAA, Erie and Travelers may be your best options, though it can’t hurt to get a quote from Nationwide, which also has highly competitive rates for this demographic.
Cheap car insurance after accident with property damage: USAA and Erie
If you caused an accident that resulted in property damage, consider USAA if you’re eligible for coverage. If not, Erie has the second cheapest rates. Travelers and Nationwide are also worth considering.
Best cheap car insurance for drivers with a DUI: Progressive
If you have a DUI, get a car insurance quote from Progressive. It has the most affordable car insurance after a DUI based on our analysis of the best car insurance companies.
Even though USAA is the next cheapest car insurance company for DUIs, its average rate is nearly $300 more than Progressive. Travelers and Erie aren’t far behind.
Cheap car insurance for drivers with a speeding ticket: USAA and Nationwide
A speeding ticket can raise your car insurance rate, but if you shop around, the financial hit might not be as bad as you think. USAA’s rates for this group are great, but eligibility is limited. If you don’t qualify for USAA, consider Erie and Travelers.
Cheap car insurance for teens on a parent policy: Nationwide
Car insurance for teen drivers is notoriously expensive, so if you plan to add a teen to your policy, it will be a relief to learn that there are several affordable car insurance options. Nationwide offers the cheapest average rates for adding a teen driver to a parent’s policy. USAA and Erie are also more affordable options.
Cheapest car insurance for young adults: USAA and Erie
USAA has the lowest rates for many drivers, including young adults. If you’re shopping for coverage and are 18 to 25 years old, get a quote from USAA. If you’re not an eligible member of the military community, Erie has the second-lowest average rates for young adults.
Best cheap car insurance for seniors: Nationwide
Nationwide is the best car insurance company for seniors and its low rates are a leading reason. USAA’s average car insurance rate for seniors is just over $50 more than Nationwide’s, making it another affordable option for drivers ages 65 to 80.
Cheapest liability car insurance: USAA and Geico
Almost all states require liability insurance for car owners, and it’s an expensive portion of a car insurance policy. If you’re looking for the cheapest liability insurance, consider USAA, which has the cheapest average liability-only rates among the best cheap car insurance companies. Geico and Erie are also competitively priced if you aren’t eligible for coverage through USAA.
Find cheap car insurance
Cheap car insurance in your state
Where you live plays a major role in how much you pay for car insurance, as does the car insurance company you choose. The table below provides the cheapest car insurance companies for good drivers by state.
Note that USAA is often the cheapest car insurance company, but since eligibility is limited to the military community, we’ve listed the cheapest car insurance company available to the general public. If you’re a USAA member, it’s always a good idea to get a quote for USAA car insurance, as you may find a lower rate.
All rates are from Quadrant Information Services. Car insurance rates are based on a 40-year-old female with a good driving record who has full coverage car insurance, including a 100/300/100 liability policy and a $500 deductible for collision and comprehensive coverage. Though USAA may be the cheapest provider, its coverage is limited to eligible members of the military community. As such, we have not included it in the table above.
How much is car insurance?
The average cost of car insurance for a good driver is $2,026, based on our analysis of rates. However, the cost of car insurance varies based on a number of factors. That’s why it’s a good idea to get and compare at least three car insurance quotes while shopping for the cheapest car insurance.
How much you pay for car insurance will depend on the type and amount of coverage you choose. For instance, a liability-only car insurance policy that meets your state minimum requirements will likely be cheaper than a full-coverage policy that includes liability insurance as well as collision and comprehensive coverage.
Other factors that will determine how much you will pay for coverage include:
- Age.
- Gender (except in California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Michigan, North Carolina and Pennsylvania).
- Location.
- Insurance deductible, when applicable.
- Driving history.
- Credit history (except in California, Hawaii, Massachusetts and Michigan).
- Claims history.
- Vehicle make, model and year.
- Special vehicle equipment or features.
How to get cheap car insurance
Looking for the cheapest car insurance? These steps can help you find a policy that meets your needs and a rate that fits your budget.
Shop around
Always get quotes from at least three car insurance companies before you purchase a policy. Doing so can help you determine your average car insurance costs and which insurer has the cheapest coverage.
Check for discounts
Discounts are a great way to get more affordable car insurance. You may be able to unlock a discount for buying your home and auto insurance from the same company or putting all household vehicles on the same policy. When getting quotes, ask about any other discounts the drivers in your household may qualify for, such as a good student discount or vehicle safety feature discount.
Only buy what you need
Figure out which types of car insurance and how much coverage you need before you start getting quotes. Purchasing coverage you don’t need will lead to unnecessarily high rates.
Note that this doesn’t necessarily mean you should only buy the minimum insurance required in your state. Additional coverages like new car replacement might be smart if you own an expensive new car, for example. Similarly, adding gap insurance to your policy may be smart if you loan or lease your vehicle.
Why it's not always a good idea to get the cheapest car insurance
When you’re shopping for car insurance, comparing quotes and finding the most affordable car insurance for your needs is a vital part of the process. But don’t go by rates alone.
The cheapest car insurance may not always provide the amount and type of coverage you need to be fully financially protected in the event of an accident. Take the following instances, for example:
- You are at fault for an accident but only carry the minimum liability insurance required by your state. Unfortunately, if bodily injuries and property damage costs exceed those limits, you’ll need to pay the costs out of pocket.
- Your vehicle is damaged by a falling tree during a storm. If you have comprehensive car insurance, your insurer will cover the cost of repairs, minus your deductible. But if you pass on comprehensive coverage to reduce your car insurance policy premium, you’ll have to pay for repairs on your own.
- You have a vehicle loan and part of the finance agreement requires that you carry full coverage car insurance for the duration of the loan. If you drop coverages like collision and comprehensive car insurance in exchange for a lower premium, you’ll be in breach of your loan agreement.
Before you choose the cheapest car insurance policy, make sure the types and amounts of coverage you have will financially protect you. Not doing so can lead to more significant financial issues down the road, negating the money you may have saved.
Cheapest cars to insure
Some cars are cheaper to insure than others. If your car is equipped with more advanced safety features, you may see cheaper car insurance rates. If your car contains rare or expensive parts that are more costly to replace, you’ll likely see higher car insurance rates.
If finding the cheapest car to insure is a priority for you, check the table below. It includes some of the most popular vehicles with the most affordable average coverage costs.
Rates are based on male and female drivers with a clean driving record shopping for full coverage car insurance, which includes 100/300/100 liability coverage, uninsured motorist coverage and collision and comprehensive insurance with a $500 deductible. Source: Quadrant Information Services.
How much car insurance do you need?
You should buy at least enough car insurance to meet your state’s minimum car insurance requirements.
Most states require, at a minimum, bodily injury liability and property damage liability coverage. These coverage types provide financial compensation to others for injuries, death or physical damage you cause. Liability insurance also pays for your legal defense if you are sued because of an accident, as well as for any settlements or judgments up to your policy limits.
Depending on where you live, you may also be required to carry:
- Uninsured (and sometimes underinsured) motorist coverage.
- Personal injury protection (PIP).
- Medical payments (MedPay) coverage.
Check with your state’s department of motor vehicles to see the required minimum limits for these types of coverage. An insurer licensed in your state will also be able to provide this information.
If your car is leased or you have an outstanding loan, your lender may also require additional coverage, such as collision and comprehensive coverage as well as gap coverage.
After you meet any state or lender insurance requirements, the next thing to consider is your assets. You should carry enough car insurance to protect your assets, or what you could lose in a lawsuit.
You know you need car insurance, but why? Learn how car insurance works.
Overall, USAA has the cheapest car insurance for most drivers. However, its coverage is limited to eligible members of the military community. Nationwide has the cheapest car insurance rates for most drivers who aren’t eligible for USAA coverage.
The cheapest rates for you will depend on several factors, including where you live, your age and your driving record. For instance, drivers with a DUI on their record are likely to find the cheapest coverage with Progressive.
Nationwide and USAA offer the cheapest car insurance for most drivers, according to our analysis of rates. Both also earn 5 stars in our best car insurance companies rating.
You may find that other insurers have cheaper coverage based on your needs, driving record, vehicle and location. Always get at least three car insurance quotes before you choose an insurer.
Expensive car insurance rates can be driven by a variety of factors, including:
- Age.
- Location.
- Driving history.
- Claims history.
- Car insurance history.
If you have multiple traffic violations, are a young or senior driver or have filed multiple claims in the last five years, you’re likely going to see more expensive car insurance rates.
Make sure you get multiple quotes from different car insurance companies and ask if you’re eligible for any car insurance discounts to lower your rates.
The best way to find cheap car insurance for teens is to compare rates, being sure to get a quote from your existing car insurance company in addition to other companies.
It’s typically cheapest to add a teen to a parent’s insurance policy, so make sure you’ve already found the best rates for your household.
While comparing rates, check for discounts that typically often to teen drivers, such as good student and driver education discounts.
Finally, keep in mind that the make, model and year of a vehicle can also impact your rates. If you’re still shopping for a vehicle for your teen, consider getting quotes for different types of vehicles before you purchase one.
The best way to get cheap car insurance is to figure out what type and amount of coverage you need and then compare quotes from a variety of insurers.
Check your state’s laws and your car loan/lease paperwork (if applicable) to figure out the minimum amount of car insurance you need to buy, and don’t skimp on additional coverage if it is beneficial for your situation.
Maintaining a clean driving record and good credit history can also help you to get the lowest car insurance rates.
Auto insurance rates typically start decreasing at age 19, provided the driver maintains a clean record through their teen years. Rates continue to decrease until about age 34, at which point rates tend to stay stable until the senior years.
Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy. The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.
