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Cheap Car Insurance in Tennessee (2023)

Drivers in Tennessee pay rates starting at $66/mo. for car insurance.

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Amy Beardsley
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Amy Beardsley
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Written by
Amy Beardsley
Insurance Writer
Amy is a personal finance and technology writer. With a background in the legal field and a bachelor's degree from Ferris State University, she has a talent for transforming complex topics into content that’s easy to understand. Connect with Amy on LinkedIn.
Katie Powers
Edited by
Katie Powers
Photo of an Insurify author
Edited by
Katie Powers
Insurance Writer
Katie Powers is an insurance writer at Insurify with a producer’s license for property and casualty insurance in Massachusetts and expertise in personal finance and auto insurance topics. She strives to help consumers make better financial decisions. Prior to joining Insurify, she completed her undergraduate and graduate degrees at Emerson College. Her work has been published in St. Louis Magazine, the Boston Globe, and elsewhere. Connect with Katie on LinkedIn.
Konstantin Halachev
Data reviewed by
Konstantin Halachev
Headshot of Konstantin Halachev, VP of Engineering at Insurify
Data reviewed by
Konstantin Halachev
VP of Engineering
Konstantin has led data science and engineering projects across multiple domains: biology, travel and insurance. He loves finding data nuggets that help people.

Updated December 7, 2022

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The average working Tennessee resident has an average work commute of just 25 minutes, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.[1] Fewer hours spent driving to their jobs could be contributing to the relatively cheap car insurance Tennesseans enjoy.

Tennessee ranks as the 20th-cheapest state for purchasing auto insurance. The average rate is $178 per month, which is lower than the national average monthly premium of $233. Drivers who want to save even more should compare quotes online to find the most affordable car insurance in their area.

Quick Facts

  • The average cost of car insurance in Tennessee is $178/mo.

  • State Farm is the cheapest provider in Tennessee, with average rates of $66/mo.

  • The easiest way to cut car insurance costs is to compare quotes online.

Best cheap car insurance in Tennessee: State Farm

1
State Farm logo

State Farm

Best Cheap Car Insurance Tennessee
Average Monthly Cost:
$66
Insurify Composite Score:
88

State Farm tops the list for Tennessee’s best and cheapest car insurance. Its policyholders earn an average quote of just $66 per month. Other top Tennessee providers offering rates under $100 per month are USAA and GEICO. Compare quotes from the providers below to find the cheapest premium for your insurance needs.

Car Insurance CompanyInsurify Composite ScoreAverage Monthly Quote
State Farm88$66
USAA96$82
GEICO88$89
Allstate85$124
Travelers80$127
Erie85$98
National General58$117
Direct AutoN/A$129
Farmers85$135
Nationwide89$141
NovoN/A$141
ElephantN/A$145
StillwaterN/A$145
Safeco86$152
American Family89$161
Foremost SignatureN/A$164
Midvale Home & AutoN/A$166
ProgressiveN/A$183
DairylandN/A$216
Liberty Mutual82$217
State Auto76$227
The GeneralN/A$232
Bristol WestN/A$275
Freedom NationalN/A$320
Amica MutualN/A$504
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

Learn More: Best Car Insurance Companies

Insurify Composite Score (ICS)

To calculate the Insurify Composite Score, a proprietary rating, Insurify data scientists weigh multiple factors that reflect the quality, reliability, and health of an insurance company. 

Inputs to the score include J.D. Power ratings, Consumer Reports customer satisfaction surveys and customer complaints, mobile app reviews, user-generated company reviews, and financial strength ratings from A.M. Best, Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s, and Fitch.

Minimum car insurance requirements in Tennessee

All motor vehicles operated or parked on Tennessee roadways are required to be insured. Proof of insurance must be carried in your car at all times and must be available when:

  • Requested by law enforcement

  • Renewing vehicle registration

  • The vehicle is involved in a car accident

The minimum liability insurance requirements for private passenger vehicles in Tennessee are:

  • $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury: As a major part of your liability insurance, bodily injury coverage covers medical bills for people other than the policyholder who are injured during an accident. Tennessee is an at-fault state, meaning the driver who is responsible for the collision is also responsible for paying for any resulting expenses, either through their car insurance provider or out of pocket.

  • $15,000 per accident for property damage: If it’s determined that an insured driver is at fault for an accident, this coverage pays for repairs to the property of the other involved parties. Additionally, property damage coverage can cover legal costs if the insured driver is involved in a lawsuit following the accident.[2]

Tennessee DMV information

The Tennessee Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) provides online access for many DMV tasks in addition to physical locations and self-service kiosks throughout the state. Through the DMV, teen and new drivers can apply for permits and take road tests, seasoned drivers can renew their license and vehicle registration, and new Tennesseans can establish residency.[3]

Public transportation in Tennessee

Every Tennessee county, rural and metro alike, has some form of public transportation. Specific transportation includes fixed-route bus service, local shuttles, ADA-compliant para-transit, express buses, and demand-response service. Ultimately, the state isn’t easy to navigate without a car, because most areas are not easily accessible by walking.[4]

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Tips for getting cheap car insurance in Tennessee

Tennessee isn’t the cheapest state for car insurance rates, but drivers pay around 24% less than the national average cost of $233 per month. You can find affordable coverage from the best car insurance companies in Tennessee by comparing quotes online to find a policy that meets your needs. You can also bundle policies, lower your deductible, and utilize discounts.

Liability-only vs. full-coverage insurance in Tennessee

If you live in Tennessee, you can opt to carry liability-only auto insurance, which pays for expenses related to injuries and damage to the other party’s car if you cause an accident. Each state sets its own minimums for how much liability insurance it requires drivers to carry. Liability-only insurance can make sense if:

  • You have a low-value vehicle.

  • You can afford to repair or replace your car out of your own pocket.

  • Getting the cheapest insurance possible is your top priority.

For a higher level of protection, you can choose full-coverage insurance, which includes basic liability plus collision and comprehensive coverage. Collision coverage pays for damages to your car, even if you’re at fault for an accident. Comprehensive coverage pays for damages caused by events out of your control, like vandalism, weather, and animals. Auto lenders and leasing companies typically require drivers to carry full coverage on a car they’ve financed.

You may also opt for full coverage if:

  • You have a high-value vehicle.

  • You wouldn’t be able to afford to repair or replace your car out of pocket.

  • Your car’s actual cash value (the payout you’d likely get if your car is totaled) exceeds your annual premium to carry full coverage.

Here’s a look at the average monthly quotes for cheapest auto insurance in Tennessee by policy type.

Car Insurance CompanyLiability OnlyFull Coverage
State Farm$36$66
USAA$44$82
GEICO$48$89
Allstate$67$124
Farmers$73$135
Erie$53$98
Safeco$69$152
National General$75$117
Foremost Signature$77$164
Travelers$77$127
American Family$87$161
State Auto$90$227
Midvale Home & Auto$96$166
Progressive$99$183
Direct Auto$101$129
Dairyland$103$216
Novo$105$141
Elephant$115$145
Liberty Mutual$120$217
Nationwide$130$141
Freedom National$133$320
The General$133$232
Bristol West$150$275
Stillwater$160$145
Amica$273$504
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

How your driving record affects Tennessee car insurance rates

Your driving history is the factor that most influences your car insurance costs. Good drivers — whose records are free of serious traffic violations like speeding tickets or reckless driving — tend to get the best car insurance rates in Tennessee. But infractions like driving under the influence or at-fault accidents can significantly increase insurance costs.

Here’s a look at average monthly quotes for the cheapest car insurance in Tennessee based on driving and accident history.

See More: High-Risk Car Insurance Tennessee

Car Insurance CompanyAverage Monthly Cost
USAA$59
State Farm$80
Farmers$88
Allstate$110
GEICO$121
National General$107
Direct Auto$119
Travelers$121
Novo$135
Elephant$136
Nationwide$140
Stillwater$143
American Family$144
Safeco$144
Midvale Home & Auto$149
Progressive$163
Foremost Signature$168
State Auto$191
Dairyland$203
Liberty Mutual$208
The General$210
Bristol West$249
Freedom National$309
Erie$358
Amica$449
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

See More: SR-22 Car Insurance Tennessee

SR-22 insurance in Tennessee

You may need an SR-22 if you have a severe moving violation or multiple traffic incidents within a short time. An SR-22 form is a certificate of financial responsibility for high-risk drivers, and it’s available from the companies listed below, like Allstate, GEICO, Nationwide, and more. In Tennessee, you may need an SR-22 for up to five years.

How credit scores affect Tennessee car insurance quotes

Tennessee allows insurance companies to consider credit scores when deciding your auto rates. Generally, people with excellent or good credit scores can qualify for lower car insurance premiums than people with average or poor credit scores.

Credit TierAverage Monthly Quote
Excellent$134
Good$158
Average$173
Poor$267
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

See More: Bad Credit Car Insurance Tennessee

How your city affects Tennessee insurance quotes

Where you live plays a role in your car insurance rates, as costs can vary by city. Drivers in large cities like Memphis and Nashville pay $232 and $183 per month on average. Franklin prices come in at $156 per month, and Johnson City drivers spend a monthly average of $121. Find other average quotes for the most populated cities in Tennessee in the chart below.

Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

How your age affects your Tennessee car insurance rates

Because insurers generally equate age with experience level, your age will significantly affect how much you pay for car insurance. New drivers, who tend to be teens or people in their early 20s, typically pay more for insurance than drivers 25 and older.

The following table gives a high-level view of how age can affect insurance rates.

Age GroupAverage Monthly Rate
Teenagers$346
Under 25$236
20s$172
30s$155
40s$148
50s$135
60s$116
70s$125
80+$207
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

Quotes for younger drivers

Tennessee residents can get a learner’s permit at 15 years old, but it will be another 10 years before most see their car insurance rates begin to fall. Teenagers generally pay the highest premiums of any age group. The following table provides insight into average monthly rates for teenagers in Tennessee.

Car Insurance CompanyAverage Monthly Cost
Travelers$87
Progressive$131
Liberty Mutual$179
Stillwater$42
Safeco$100
National General$109
Novo$125
Elephant$132
State Auto$132
Midvale Home & Auto$134
Direct Auto$141
Foremost Signature$143
Dairyland$151
Freedom National$178
The General$178
Nationwide$182
Bristol West$206
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

Quotes for middle-aged drivers

Car insurance rates begin to decline for most drivers when they turn 25. By the time you reach 35 or 45, your rates could have fallen significantly, especially if you maintained a clean driving record. However, traffic violations like an at-fault accident or conviction for driving under the influence will significantly increase car insurance rates.

The following table provides data for monthly averages for middle-aged drivers in Tennessee.

Car Insurance Company Average Monthly Cost
Travelers$76
Liberty Mutual$79
Progressive$80
National General$49
StillwaterN/A
Safeco$61
Dairyland$69
Direct Auto$70
Foremost Signature$71
Midvale Home & Auto$73
State Auto$82
Novo$94
Freedom National$104
Elephant$106
The General$108
Bristol West$113
Nationwide$117
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

Quotes for senior drivers

Generally, seniors have the lowest car insurance rates of any age group. However, a traffic violation can push their rates higher. The following table provides sample average monthly rates for Tennessee senior drivers.

Car Insurance CompanyAverage Monthly Cost
Travelers$58
Progressive$64
Liberty Mutual$78
National General$45
Foremost Signature$55
Safeco$58
Dairyland$66
Midvale Home & Auto$69
Direct Auto$72
State Auto$84
Nationwide$94
Elephant$95
Novo$96
Bristol West$101
The General$109
Freedom National$120
Stillwater$273
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

Tennessee car insurance FAQs

  • State Farm has the cheapest car insurance in Tennessee, with average premiums of $66. Other insurance companies that offer cheap rates include USAA, GEICO, and Allstate, as well as smaller companies like Erie and Direct Auto. Your cost depends on your insurance needs and varies based on location, driving history, age, and other factors.

    USAA and State Farm have the lowest rates for Tennessee drivers by coverage level and driving history when age is not a factor. When those same factors are combined with driver age, Travelers consistently ranks as one of the cheapest providers across the board.

  • Your coverage options and driving history affect how much you pay for auto insurance. In Tennessee, more than 18% of drivers have a driving incident on their record. Furthermore, the state ranks 15th for speeding tickets and accidents, 10th for suspended licenses, and 16th for moving violations.

    But the real problem with increasing car insurance rates may be the state’s number of uninsured motorists. Tennessee took third place among states for the number of drivers without insurance, according to the Insurance Information Institute (III), with nearly 24% of motorists falling into this category. This number is much higher than the national average.[5]

  • Drivers pay $178 per month on average for car insurance in Tennessee, much less than the national average of $233 per month. However, the state’s car insurance costs have risen significantly in the past year. According to our data, the average monthly rates that Tennessee drivers paid in July 2022 were 20% higher than average premiums in July 2021.

    Tennessee is the 17th-cheapest state for purchasing car insurance. Coverage in the state is much cheaper than rates in the neighboring states of Georgia and Virginia, where the average monthly premiums are $326 and $234, respectively. In contrast, monthly rates in North Carolina are cheaper, at just $121 per month.

  • The best car insurance company for you provides the coverage you need at a price you can afford. Still, customer service, claims-handling, and financial standing are crucial to choosing a car insurance company. Based on those factors, the top-rated providers in Tennessee are State Farm, USAA, and GEICO.

    These three companies have affordable monthly rates for full coverage, at $66, $82, and $89, respectively, and rank among the best insurers according to our own Insurify Composite Scores (ICS). USAA, the insurer with the highest ICS, ranks above average in overall customer satisfaction despite not being eligible for the J.D. Power 2022 U.S. Auto Insurance Study.[6]

  • Tennessee does not require personal injury protection (PIP) coverage. However, many auto insurance policies have what’s called medical payments coverage, or MedPay, which is often part of your liability coverage.

    In states where PIP insurance is an option, it covers costs of medical bills, compensation for lost wages, funeral costs, and more. Other insurance is required in Tennessee, including bodily injury and property damage liability coverage.

  • Yes, Tennessee requires motorists to have auto insurance coverage. Full coverage is optional under state law, but your policy must include liability coverage for bodily injury and property damage that pays the other driver or pedestrians involved in an accident. Bodily injury liability covers medical bills, and property damage pays for repairs or replacements.

    Tennessee’s minimum limits include $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury and $15,000 per accident for property damage. It’s similar to the minimum coverage requirements of the neighboring states of Georgia and Kentucky.[7]

  • While Tennessee drivers must have car insurance, the policy follows the car, not the driver. It won’t matter if someone else drives your vehicle or if you give them permission to do so. Your liability coverage will kick in if your family member or a family friend drives your car, even if they don’t have their own insurance coverage.

    However, Tennessee is an at-fault state. So, if you’re in an accident and the other driver is at fault, you may be able to recover damages from them and their insurance company. You could find yourself in a difficult situation if the other driver doesn’t have car insurance coverage. In that case, consider adding uninsured motorist coverage to your policy.

  • Full coverage is a collection of insurance policies. It includes the minimum required liability protection as well as comprehensive and collision coverage. Comprehensive and collision can pay to repair your vehicle after damage from a collision or another source of damage. It’s excellent coverage if you can’t afford to pay for those costs on your own.

    Full coverage is often a requirement if you’re financing or leasing a vehicle. Even if it’s paid off, you may want to get full coverage if you drive an expensive car. However, the increased cost of full-coverage car insurance premiums may not be worth it if your vehicle has a low value. For example, it doesn’t usually make good financial sense for vehicles more than 10 years old.

Insurify Insights

How Tennessee Drivers Measure Up

While most drivers know that car insurance quotes are determined in part by your personal driving history, many may be unaware that rates are also impacted by the average risk of the drivers around you as well. Check out Insurify's latest analysis of driving records in Tennessee below:

Methodology

Drawing from an internal database of over 4 million car insurance applications, the research team at Insurify analyzes patterns in car ownership and driver behavior - including how Tennessee drivers measure up to their fellow motorists across the United States in areas including speeding, DUIs, and more.
Insurify Insights publishes data-driven articles, trend analyses, and national rankings each week on all factors related to cars and those who drive them.

nissan

Nissan Altima

Most Popular Car in Tennessee

#16

State with the Most Speeding Tickets Rank

#14

State with the Moving Violations Rank

#30

State with the Most DUIs Rank

#7

State with the most Suspended Licenses

  • While car accidents are a sadly unavoidable feature of time spent on the road, rates of accidents do vary from city to city and from state to state. Tennessee is the #10 state in the country for drivers with an at-fault accident on their driving record.

    • Rank among states: #10
    • Percent of drivers in Tennessee with an accident: 10%
  • While driving while intoxicated is never acceptable, it’s a more common offense than many assume. Tennessee is the #30 state in the country for drivers with a prior drunk driving conviction.

    • Rank among states: #30
    • Percent of drivers in Tennessee with a DUI: 1.2%
  • Reckless driving refers to a specific traffic violation: when drivers willfully act dangerously in spite of the risks they’re imposing on both themselves and others. Tennessee is the #26 state in the country for drivers with a reckless driving offense on record.

    • Rank among states: #26
    • Percent of drivers in Tennessee with a reckless driving offense: 1.3%
  • The Insurify team classifies rude drivers as those who commit one or more of the following driving offenses: failure to yield or failure to stop, improper backing, passing where prohibited, tailgating, street racing, or hit-and-run. Tennessee is the #25 state in the country for drivers with a rude driving violation on record.

    • Rank among states: #25
    • Percent of drivers in Tennessee with a rude driving violation: 1.5%
  • Exceeding the speed limit can endanger others and have a serious impact on your insurance costs. Tennessee is the #16 state in the country for drivers with a speeding ticket on record.

    • Rank among states: #16
    • Percent of drivers in Tennessee with a speeding ticket: 10.1%
  • Failing to yield the right of way isn’t just frustrating for other drivers; it’s dangerous, too. Tennessee is the #21 state in the country for drivers with a failure to yield violation on record.

    • Rank among states: #21
    • Percent of drivers in Tennessee with a failure to yield violation: 0.1%

Insurify Insights

Insurify's team of data scientists and content specialists presents Insurify Insights, a series of automotive, home, and health studies focusing on the topics that impact us all. through expert analysis of over 4 million car insurance applications and an array of top data sources, the Insurify Insights team produces new data-driven articles, trend analyses, regional superlatives, and national rankings every week. See Insurify Insights as featured in Forbes, Fox News, USA Today, NPR, and more.

Compare Car Insurance Quotes Instantly

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  • Data scientists at Insurify analyzed more than 40 million real-time auto insurance rates from our partner providers across the United States to compile the car insurance quotes, statistics, and data visualizations displayed on this page. The car insurance data includes coverage analysis and details on drivers' vehicles, driving records, and demographic information. Quotes for Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, State Farm, and USAA are estimates based on Quadrant Information Service's database of auto insurance rates. With these insights, Insurify is able to offer drivers insight into how companies price their car insurance premiums.

Sources

  1. US Census . "Tennessee Quick Facts ." Accessed December 7, 2022
  2. Tennessee Department of Revenue. "State Minimum Car Insurance Requirements." Accessed December 7, 2022
  3. Tennessee State Government. "Driver Services." Accessed December 7, 2022
  4. Tennessee Department of Transportation. "Public Transit Services." Accessed December 7, 2022
  5. Insurance Information Institute. "Facts + Statistics: Uninsured Motorists." Accessed December 7, 2022
  6. J.D. Power. "Usage-Based Auto Insurance Takes Center Stage as Satisfaction Flatlines, J.D. Power Finds." Accessed December 7, 2022
  7. Insurance Information Institute. "Automobile Financial Responsibility Laws By State." Accessed December 7, 2022
Amy Beardsley
Written by
Amy Beardsley
Linkedin

Insurance Writer

Amy is a personal finance and technology writer. With a background in the legal field and a bachelor's degree from Ferris State University, she has a talent for transforming complex topics into content that’s easy to understand. Connect with Amy on LinkedIn.

Learn More
Katie Powers
Edited by
Katie Powers
Linkedin

Insurance Writer

Photo of an Insurify author
Edited by
Katie Powers
Insurance Writer
Katie Powers is an insurance writer at Insurify with a producer’s license for property and casualty insurance in Massachusetts and expertise in personal finance and auto insurance topics. She strives to help consumers make better financial decisions. Prior to joining Insurify, she completed her undergraduate and graduate degrees at Emerson College. Her work has been published in St. Louis Magazine, the Boston Globe, and elsewhere. Connect with Katie on LinkedIn.
Konstantin Halachev
Data reviewed by
Konstantin Halachev
Linkedin

VP of Engineering

Headshot of Konstantin Halachev, VP of Engineering at Insurify
Data reviewed by
Konstantin Halachev
VP of Engineering
Konstantin has led data science and engineering projects across multiple domains: biology, travel and insurance. He loves finding data nuggets that help people.