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Car insurance rates are rising in most areas of the country.[1] Your premiums might increase for a number of reasons. Some, like your driving habits, are under your control. Others, such as accident claims and car thefts in your area, are out of your hands.
Depending on the duration of your policy, your rates could rise annually or even twice a year. Whether your policy is up for renewal or you’re a newer driver with less experience and credit history, comparing car insurance quotes can help you find the most affordable car insurance for your needs.
Here’s what to know about shopping for cheap, good car insurance.
Comparison shopping is the best way to find cheap car insurance that fits your needs and budget.
MetLife has the cheapest car insurance overall, with an average monthly quote of $120.
New drivers may find their best rates with Kemper Preferred, with an average monthly quote of $136.
The biggest risk of cheap car insurance is that you’ll buy less coverage than you actually need.
Car insurance quotes can vary widely from company to company, depending on a number of factors, including:[2]
The type and amount of insurance
The car insurance company
Your driving history
Your credit
The number of miles you drive each year
Your age and gender
The make and model of your car
Insurify’s data scientists analyzed millions of real-time quotes from partner insurance companies to identify the cheapest car insurance rates available for different driver profiles.
Overall, liability-only car insurance — also known as minimum coverage — is the cheapest car insurance available, averaging $85 per month, or $1,020 annually. Most states require drivers to carry at least a minimum level of liability coverage, but depending on your situation, you may choose to carry more coverage.
The following table shows the cheapest monthly car insurance premiums for some common driver profiles and compares those rates to the 2022 national average monthly rate of $148.
| Driver Profile | Insurance Company | Average Monthly Cost | Compared to National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | MetLife | $120 | -19% |
| Clean record | Kemper | $138 | -7% |
| 1+ incidents | Certainly | $141 | -5% |
| With DUI | USAA | $165 | 11% |
| Poor credit | Farmers | $162 | 9% |
| Liability only | Farmers | $85 | -43% |
| New driver | National General | $240 | 7% |
| Low-mileage driver | Mile Auto | $113 | -24% |
| With accident | Kemper Preferred | $153 | 3% |
| With speeding ticket | Erie | $159 | 7% |
| Military members | USAA | $190 | 28% |
| Seniors | Farmers | $137 | -7% |
Insurify data scientists 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 certain insurers are estimates based on Quadrant Information Services’ database of auto insurance rates. With this information, Insurify is able to offer drivers insight into how companies price their car insurance premiums for common coverages, such as liability, comprehensive, collision, and other optional car insurance coverages.
Insurify’s editorial team employs the information provided by our data scientists to further inform our independent research. We rely on verified, reputable sources, such as expert interviews, government authorities, and insurance company representatives, to provide further context to the insights culled from our extensive database of real-time car insurance quotes.
MetLife has the cheapest overall quote, at just $120 per month, or $1,440 per year. This is 19% less than the national average.
MetLife may not be the cheapest option for all driver profiles. However, the company has good customer service reviews and a number of discounts that can lower the cost of car insurance, including safe driver, good student, and safety feature discounts.
The table below compares MetLife’s costs to similar companies that ranked well in our comparison for low rates. Savings estimates are based on comparison to the national average of $1,777 per year.
| Insurance Company | Average Annual Rate | Average Annual Savings |
|---|---|---|
| MetLife | $1,440 | -$337 |
| Kemper Preferred | $1,728 | -$49 |
| Travelers | $2,064 | +$284 |
A good driving record means you have none of the road violations that can commonly raise car insurance rates, including accidents, speeding tickets, or convictions for driving under the influence. Most drivers have good driving records, Insurify data shows.
Generally, good drivers can qualify for the most favorable car insurance rates available to them given other rating factors like age, gender, and location.
Kemper provides cheap car insurance for good drivers, with an average of just $138 per month, or $1,656 for a 12-month policy. Although at least two regional insurers we considered offered lower average monthly quotes than Kemper, the company offers discounts that make it a superior choice for drivers with a clean record, including:
Good student
Bundling
Anti-theft devices
Paid-in-full (for paying the entire premium up front)
However, it’s worth noting that Kemper has a higher number of customer complaints than the industry norm.[3]
The table below compares Kemper’s costs to similar companies that ranked well in our comparison for low rates for good drivers. Savings estimates are based on comparison to the national average of $1,777 per year.
| Insurance Company | Average Annual Rate | Average Annual Savings |
|---|---|---|
| Kemper | $1,656 | $121 |
| Travelers | $2,028 | +$251 |
| Nationwide | $2,076 | +$299 |
Running a stop sign or red light, making an illegal U-turn, failing to yield, tailgating, and failing to show proof of insurance and registration are all common traffic violations. Even a single violation on your record could affect your insurance rates when you apply for a new policy or are ready to renew your existing one.
For drivers with just one minor blemish on their records, the regional insurance company Certainly can be a good choice. Certainly has the lowest average monthly quote for a driver with one or more incidents, at $141. You can quote, buy, and maintain your policy entirely online with Certainly, and the company also offers renters and small-business insurance.
However, Certainly auto insurance is only available in Arizona, Illinois, Ohio, Tennessee, and Wisconsin, so if you live in a different state, you’ll have to consider a different insurer.
The table below compares Certainly’s annual costs to national companies that ranked well in our comparison for low rates for drivers with an incident on their records. Savings estimates are based on comparison to the average monthly premium of $326 for drivers with incidents.
| Insurance Company | Average Annual Rate | Average Annual Savings |
|---|---|---|
| Certainly | $1,728 | -$2,184 |
| Farmers | $2,076 | -$1,836 |
| Clearcover | $2,688 | -$1,224 |
Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is a serious driving violation that can come with legal consequences as well as significantly higher rates for car insurance. USAA offers the cheapest quote for drivers with a DUI on their record — $165 monthly, or $1,980 annually. However, that’s roughly 9% more than USAA customers with a clean driving record might pay for the same coverage.
Generally, drivers with one or more DUIs on their record will see their car insurance premiums increase. Some may struggle to find an insurer willing to issue them a policy. Multiple government studies have shown that drivers with a single DUI are likely to have subsequent violations,[4] [5] and alcohol-related crashes account for nearly a third of all fatal accidents in the U.S.[6]
However, while USAA has the overall lowest quotes for drivers with a DUI, not everyone will be eligible to take advantage of this. USAA only provides policies to members of the military and veterans, their spouses, and children.
The table below compares USAA’s annual costs to similar companies that ranked well in our comparison for low rates for drivers with a DUI. Savings estimates are based on comparison to the average monthly premium of $300 for drivers with a DUI.
| Insurance Company | Average Annual Rate | Average Annual Savings |
|---|---|---|
| USAA | $1,656 | -$1,944 |
| Erie | $1,992 | -$1,608 |
| Travelers | $2,220 | -$1,380 |
Keep Reading: How Long Does a DUI Stay on Your Record?
Drivers with low credit scores tend to have higher car insurance rates than motorists with good credit. Studies and statistics indicate drivers with poor credit pose a higher risk of loss to insurance companies because they’re more likely to file a claim.[7]
Fortunately, your credit is an insurance rating factor that you can control. Improving your credit score may help you qualify for better insurance rates. Meanwhile, Farmers offers the cheapest car insurance quotes for drivers with poor credit, at $162 per month, or $1,944 annually.
In addition to affordable car insurance rates for drivers with poor credit, Farmers offers discounts and perks that could help you lower your costs, including:
Accident forgiveness
Bundling/multi-policy discounts
Safe driver discount
Employee/affinity member programs
Farmers also has a lower-than-expected rate of customer complaints, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).
The table below compares Farmer’s annual costs to similar companies that ranked well in our comparison for low rates for drivers with poor credit. Savings estimates are based on comparison to the average monthly premium of $294 for drivers with poor credit.
| Insurance Company | Annual Average Rate | Annual Average Savings |
|---|---|---|
| Farmers | $1,020 | -$984 |
| Travelers | $1,572 | -$432 |
| Progressive | $1,932 | -$72 |
Keep Reading: What Does Liability Insurance Cover?
New drivers generally pay the highest car insurance premiums of any age group. Younger drivers, such as teenagers and people younger than 25, are more likely to get into an accident. Insurance companies charge younger drivers more due to their higher risk of filing a claim. In fact, the average annual rate for new drivers is about 107% higher than the overall average for car insurance.
National General can be a good choice for young drivers looking for cheap car insurance. Its monthly average rate for drivers younger than 25 is $243. However, National General has a high rate of customer complaints compared to other insurance companies, according to NAIC data.
The table below compares National General’s annual costs to similar companies that ranked well in our comparison for low rates for newer drivers. Savings estimates are based on comparison to the average monthly premium of $307 for car insurance for younger drivers.
| Insurance Company | Annual Average Rate | Annual Average Savings |
|---|---|---|
| National General | $2,916 | -$768 |
| Dairyland | $3,612 | -$72 |
| Liberty Mutual | $5,496 | +1,812 |
Learn More: How to Get Car Insurance for the First Time
Insurance companies consider the number of miles you drive each year when setting your insurance rate. Generally, the lower your annual mileage, the lower your insurance premium will be. Most insurers will reward low-mileage drivers, but pay-per-mile insurers go a step further, charging drivers only for the miles they actually drive in a year.
The concept of pay-per-mile has been around for decades but gained new traction during the pandemic, when more people began working from home and commuting less. Mile Auto stands out for offering the cheapest car insurance for low-mileage drivers, at just $113 per month on average. The company has a rating of 3.8 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot.
Keep in mind, though, that pay-per-mile insurance likely isn’t a good choice for people who drive an average or above-average number of miles every year.
The table below compares Mile Auto’s annual costs to standard companies that offer pay-per-mile insurance and that ranked well in our comparison for low rates for low-mileage drivers. Savings estimates are based on comparison to the average monthly premium of $276 for low-mileage drivers.
| Insurance Company | Annual Average Rate | Annual Average Savings |
|---|---|---|
| Mile Auto | $1,356 | -$1,956 |
| Nationwide | $2,088 | -$1,224 |
| Mercury | $2,748 | -$564 |
Good Read: Pay-Per-Mile Car Insurance: A Guide
Getting into an accident can raise your insurance rates, even if you weren’t at fault for the crash. Generally, an accident claim and the increased premiums that come with it will stay on your driving record for three years.[8] Comparison shopping can be a good way to find a lower insurance premium after an accident.
Kemper Preferred had the cheapest car insurance in our study, averaging $153 per month for car insurance following an accident claim. Kemper Preferred customers with a car accident on their records pay about 8% more than those with clean driving records. If you’re looking for cheaper insurance after an accident, Kemper Preferred might be worth considering. However, the company does have a high rate of customer complaints, according to the NAIC.
The table below compares Kemper Preferred’s annual costs to standard companies that ranked well in our comparison for low rates for drivers with an accident. Savings estimates are based on comparison to the average monthly premium of $324 for low-mileage drivers.
| Insurance Company | Annual Average Rate | Annual Average Savings |
|---|---|---|
| Kemper Preferred | $1,836 | -$2,052 |
| USAA | $2,256 | -$1,632 |
| Allstate | $3,144 | -$744 |
Check Out: How Long Does an Accident Affect Your Insurance Rates?
Most insurers will raise your car insurance rates if you get one or more speeding tickets. Speeding increases your risk of getting into an accident, which will result in a costly car insurance claim at best and serious injuries or even death at worst. Speeding is a factor in about a third of all traffic fatalities, according to the NHTSA.
Erie Insurance offered the lowest rates in our data sample for drivers with speeding violations on their records. The average monthly premium from Erie was $159 — nearly 50% lower than the overall average of $316 for drivers with tickets. Keep in mind, though, that Erie is only available in 12 states and Washington, D.C.
The table below compares Erie’s annual costs to comparable companies that ranked well in our comparison for low rates for drivers with speeding violations. Savings estimates are based on comparison to the average monthly premium of $316 for drivers with speeding tickets.
| Insurance Company | Annual Average Rate | Annual Average Savings |
|---|---|---|
| Erie | $1,908 | -$1,884 |
| Travelers | $2,328 | -$1,464 |
| Safeco | $2,820 | -$972 |
Related Read: How Long Do Speeding Tickets Stay on Your Record?
Military families can have special needs when it comes to car insurance. Reassignment from state to state, potentially long commutes, possible lapses in coverage due to deployment, and other circumstances can make it difficult for enlisted people and their families to find cheap car insurance.
USAA, which exclusively serves members of the military, veterans, their spouses, and children, offers the cheapest car insurance for military families. Its average cost per month is just $189 — 50% lower than the overall average for military families of $405 per month.
While it’s possible some drivers will be able to find lower rates elsewhere, USAA’s focus on military and veteran families — and its broad range of insurance products — make it a standout for cheap car insurance for military families.
The table below compares USAA’s annual costs to comparable companies that ranked well in our comparison for low rates for military families. Savings estimates are based on comparison to the average monthly premium of $405 for military families.
| Insurance Company | Annual Average Rate | Annual Average Savings |
|---|---|---|
| USAA | $2,268 | -$2,592 |
| Farmers | $1,584 | -$3,276 |
| Travelers | $2,378 | -$2,482 |
Senior drivers typically have the lowest car insurance rates of any age group. Multiple factors contribute to lower rates for older drivers, including their years of driving experience and the likelihood they’ll spend less time behind the wheel than drivers who commute to work or school.
However, rates start to climb for senior drivers in their 70s and 80s. Drivers in their 70s or older are more at risk of dying in a crash than younger drivers.[9]
Senior drivers looking for cheap car insurance should consider Farmers; the company’s average monthly rate for older drivers is just $137 per month. The company’s bundling discounts can help seniors save on both their car and homeowners insurance policies.
The table below compares Farmers’ annual costs to comparable companies that ranked well in our comparison for low rates for senior drivers. Savings estimates are based on comparison to the average monthly premium of $226 for older drivers.
| Insurance Company | Annual Average Rate | Annual Average Savings |
|---|---|---|
| Farmers | $1,644 | -$1,068 |
| Liberty Mutual | $2,388 | -$324 |
| Dairyland | $3,576 | +$864 |
Regardless of what type of coverage you need or your driver profile, comparison shopping is the best way to find affordable car insurance rates. Comparing car insurance quotes from multiple companies allows you to weigh the coverages, features, and costs of each plan. You can streamline the process of comparison shopping by using a comparison website like Insurify to get free car insurance quotes. Insurify is a virtual agent licensed in all 50 states.
As you compare quotes, be sure to pay close attention to:
You must buy at least the minimum amount of liability coverage required in your state. But if you have a leased or financed car, a high-value vehicle, or assets to protect, you may want higher liability limits and full coverage. Be sure to request quotes for the same types and amounts of coverage to ensure you’re making an apples-to-apples comparison.
Most car insurance companies offer multiple discounts — such as a good driver discount or low-mileage discount — to help lower your costs. Check what discounts might apply to you, whether the companies you’re considering offer them, and how those discounts affect the car insurance quotes you get.
A deductible is an amount you have to pay out of pocket before your insurance begins to pay for a covered event. Be sure to apply the same deductible amount to each quote, and check how lowering or raising the deductible will affect each quote. Keep in mind, though, that you’ll need to be able to afford the deductible amount in case of a claim.
Check online user reviews to see how well each company does with customer service. Compare how many options each insurer provides for contacting them — email, phone, online chat, etc. You’ll want to pick an insurer that’s convenient for you to communicate with and that has good customer service.
Check industry ratings for each company you consider. Online insurer reviews can make this easy. You’ll want to be sure the company you choose is financially strong and has a good reputation for quality.
If you’re new to driving, new to driving in the U.S., or just getting back into driving after not having done so for a while, chances are you’ll face higher car insurance costs than more experienced drivers. Just as you would shop around before making any big-ticket purchase, comparison shopping for car insurance can help ensure you find affordable coverage.
Additionally, you can take some other steps to ensure you get the lowest rates available to you:
Complete a driver safety course. Some insurers offer discounts for drivers who complete professional driver safety or education training.
Look for discounts. High school or college students with good grades may be able to qualify for a good student discount. Your car may qualify you for a safety equipment discount if it has certain features. You may also save by bundling your car insurance with your renters or homeowners insurance.
Stay on your parents’ insurance. Experienced motorists with good driving records can typically qualify for cheaper car insurance. If you live at home, adding you and your vehicle to your parents’ insurance will probably be cheaper than getting your own policy.
Location is an important factor in car insurance costs. Population density, road and weather conditions, and claims filed by other drivers in your area can all affect your car insurance rate. Rates can vary significantly from state to state, and between different ZIP codes in the same state.
The following table shows the cheapest average monthly car insurance quote in every state and the District of Columbia.
Car insurance is an important investment, so it’s a good idea to research companies carefully and compare quotes before making a decision. To get you started, here are some answers to commonly asked questions about car insurance.
Insurify’s data analysts found that MetLife offers the lowest overall monthly rate for car insurance: $120. Based on Insurify data, Farmers is a good choice for multiple types of drivers, including seniors, those with poor credit, and those with a speeding ticket. Drivers with a clean record may find cheap auto insurance with Kemper, which has a monthly average quote of $138. New drivers may want to consider National General, which offers a monthly quote of $240. And if you have an accident on your record, Travelers’ quotes start at $171 per month.
Comparing car insurance quotes from multiple companies is the best way to find cheap car insurance. You can also improve your chances of getting cheaper rates by:
Maintaining a clean driving record
Looking for discounts
Choosing a higher deductible
Bundling your car and homeowners (or renters) insurance
Car insurance rates typically begin to fall after you pass age 25 and continue to lower until you’re in your 70s — provided you maintain a clean driving record. Insurance rates generally begin to climb again for drivers 70 and older.
Many factors affect how much car insurance coverage you need. You need to buy at least your state’s minimum required amount of liability coverage. Depending on where you live, you may also be required to buy personal injury protection (PIP) or uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.
If you finance or lease your vehicle, your lender or leasing company will require you to carry full-coverage car insurance and will likely specify the amount of comprehensive and collision coverage to buy. And, if you have a high-value vehicle or other high-value assets, you may want to purchase additional coverage.
The biggest risk of looking for cheap car insurance is that you might buy less coverage than you actually need.
For example, your state may require you to only carry $15,000 of bodily injury liability protection, but if you own an expensive home or have valuable assets, you might need to consider buying more. If you carry only the state minimum and are found liable in court for $30,000 in injuries in an at-fault accident, you’d likely be responsible for paying $15,000 out of your own pocket.
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.
Editor-in-Chief, Director of Content
Evelyn Pimplaskar is Insurify’s director of content. With 30-plus years in content creation – including 10 years specializing in personal finance – Evelyn’s done everything from covering volatile local elections as a beat reporter to building fintech content libraries from the ground up.
Prior to joining Insurify, she was editor-in-chief at Credible, where she launched and developed the lending marketplace’s media partnership’s content initiative, and managed the restructuring of the editorial team to enhance content production efficiency. Formerly, as Credit Karma’s tax editor, Evelyn built a library of more than 300 educational articles on federal and state taxes, achieving triple-digit year-over-year growth in e-files from organic search.
Her early career included work as a content marketer, vice president and managing officer of a boutique public relations agency, chief copy editor for 14 weekly Forbes publications, reporting for large and mid-sized daily newspapers, and freelancing for the Associated Press.
Evelyn is passionate about creating personal finance content that distills complex topics into relatable, easy-to-understand stories. She believes great content helps empower readers with the information they need to make important personal finance decisions.
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