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Updated December 21, 2022
In Houston, the most populated city in Texas, the average cost of minimum-coverage car insurance is $263 per month. Houston drivers pay about 11% more for this coverage than the average Texas driver. For comparison, the average minimum-coverage car insurance premium in the state of Texas is $235 per month.
Car insurance is a legal requirement in Houston, and drivers can benefit from having a robust auto insurance policy. Houston experiences severe weather — like hurricanes, floods, and tornadoes — on an annual basis. It’s important to have a policy that provides physical damage coverage for your vehicle, in addition to the required amount of personal liability insurance.
How much does car insurance cost in Houston?
Based on data analyzed by Insurify’s data scientists, car insurance premiums in Houston range from $92 to $482 per month for minimum coverage and $196 to $1,084 per month for full coverage.
The cost of car insurance in Houston can vary widely. Premiums are based on many different factors, including your ZIP code, age, credit score, claim history, driving record, annual mileage, the make and model of your vehicle, and more.
Another factor that can affect the cost of car insurance is the insurance company you choose. To find the most affordable rate for your situation, it can be helpful to compare quotes from a few different insurers.
Here’s a breakdown of the insurance companies in Houston with the cheapest quotes, based on our data collection and analysis:
Mile Auto has the cheapest liability-only insurance in Houston.
Progressive has the cheapest full-coverage insurance in Houston.
Nationwide has the cheapest insurance for new/young drivers in Houston.
Learn More: Cheap Auto Insurance in Texas
Cheapest car insurance in Houston: Travelers
Travelers has the cheapest car insurance in Houston, with an average premium of $209 per month, which accounts for both all liability and all full-coverage auto insurance policies.
However, car insurance premiums are personalized based on factors like your location, age, credit score, and driving record. In the table below, we’ve highlighted some of the cheapest car insurance companies in Houston based on our evaluation of recent rate data.
Insurance Company | Average Liability-Only Rate | Average Full-Coverage Rate |
---|---|---|
Travelers | $165 | $209 |
Progressive | $160 | $196 |
Mile Auto | $92 | $223 |
Safeco | $112 | $222 |
How much car insurance do you need in Houston?
Drivers in Houston are required to carry a minimum amount of car insurance to drive legally. The minimum car insurance requirements include:
$25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury: If you cause an accident, your bodily injury liability insurance compensates the other driver for their medical bills if they get injured in the crash. Because Texas is an at-fault state, the driver who is responsible for the accident is also responsible for paying for the other driver's medical expenses, either through their liability car insurance policy or out of pocket if they don’t have enough coverage.
$10,000 per accident for property damage: When you cause an accident, and it results in damage to public or private property, such as another driver’s vehicle, this coverage pays for the repairs. Additionally, your property damage liability insurance policy will pay for your legal fees if the other driver sues you following the accident.
Texas requires a minimum amount of car insurance to get behind the wheel. But you must also keep valid proof of car insurance in your vehicle at all times. You may need to show it in several situations in Houston, including:
When requested by law enforcement during a traffic stop
At the DMV when renewing your car’s registration
When you get into an accident, even if you weren’t responsible
Texas DMV information
Houston drivers can visit the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to access a variety of services, like driver’s license renewal, purchase or sale of a vehicle, vehicle registration renewal, and more. The Texas DMV website also provides helpful information and resources on getting a copy of your vehicle’s title, changing your address, and calculating your vehicle’s value.
Tips for getting cheap car insurance in Houston
Drivers in Houston pay relatively high rates for car insurance compared to the U.S. national average. But you have plenty of ways to lower your car insurance rate. Here are a few tips for getting cheaper car insurance in Houston:
Bundle your auto policy with your home or renters insurance.
Look for insurance companies that offer discounts.
Pay your annual premium up front and in full, rather than in monthly installments.
Work on improving your credit score.
Raise your deductibles for policies like collision and comprehensive insurance.
Consider dropping coverages you no longer need.
Another way to find the most affordable car insurance in Houston is to comparison shop for car insurance quotes. You can get quotes from individual insurance companies or use a comparison website to simplify the process.
Comparison shopping helps you see how much different insurance companies will charge you for the type and amount of coverage you want. It makes it easy to see which company can give you the best deal for your coverage needs.
How age affects car insurance rates in Houston
Many factors affect car insurance rates, but your age is one of the biggest. In general, teenagers and young adults who are newly licensed pay the highest rates for car insurance because they have a much higher risk of accidents than older drivers.[1]
In the table below, you can see the average car insurance rates in Houston for drivers in various age groups, based on Insurify’s proprietary data:
Age Group | Average Monthly Rate |
---|---|
Teenagers | $861 |
Under 25 | $523 |
25-29 | $360 |
30s | $330 |
40s | $308 |
50s | $248 |
60s | $258 |
70s | $260 |
80+ | $281 |
Read More: Compare Car Insurance by Age and Gender
Cheapest car insurance for young drivers in Houston
The cheapest car insurance company in Houston for young drivers is Nationwide, with an average full-coverage premium of $243 per month.
Young drivers can often save money on car insurance by taking advantage of discounts for students with a high GPA, attending college far from home, and taking a defensive driver course.
Insurance Company | Average Monthly Rate |
---|---|
Nationwide | $243 |
Apparent | $244 |
Travelers | $244 |
Cheapest car insurance for middle-aged drivers in Houston
In Houston, the cheapest car insurance company for middle-aged drivers is Clearcover, which has an average monthly premium of $183 for full coverage. While middle-aged drivers often pay low rates, they have ways to get an even cheaper premium.
For example, middle-aged drivers can improve their credit score, bundle an auto and home insurance policy, or pay their annual premium in full to potentially save money.
Insurance Company | Average Monthly Rate |
---|---|
Clearcover | $183 |
Progressive | $194 |
Apparent | $195 |
Cheapest car insurance for senior drivers in Houston
Progressive is the cheapest car insurance company in Houston for senior drivers, according to Insurify’s data. Progressive’s average premium for senior drivers is $122 per month for a full-coverage policy.
To save money on auto insurance, seniors can look for mature driver discounts or take a defensive driver course. Some insurance companies also offer a discount to seniors with an AARP membership.
Insurance Company | Average Monthly Rate |
---|---|
Progressive | $122 |
Kemper | $128 |
Apparent | $139 |
How credit scores affect cheap car insurance in Houston
Age and location aren’t the only factors that affect car insurance rates. In Houston, insurance companies are legally allowed to use your credit score while calculating your premium. In most cases, drivers with good credit (670 or higher) pay lower rates than drivers with fair credit (580 to 669) and poor credit (579 and below).
In the following table, you can see how credit score affects the average cost of full-coverage car insurance in Houston:
Credit Tier | Average Monthly Quote |
---|---|
Excellent | $288 |
Good | $373 |
Average | $386 |
Poor | $411 |
Check Out: Car Insurance Rates by Credit Tier
The effect of driving habits on car insurance in Houston
Your driving habits have a significant impact on the cost of car insurance in Houston. Drivers who have a clean record, with no accidents or traffic violations, usually pay the cheapest rates. Meanwhile, drivers with a history of at-fault accidents, speeding tickets, and serious infractions, like DUIs, pay much higher rates.
Insurify’s data analysts analyzed data from more than 70 million car insurance quotes to find out how your driving record impacts you car insurance rate. The tables in the sections below show the companies with the lowest rates for each variable.
Keep in mind, when you see a negative difference in a table, it doesn’t mean that particular insurance company lowers rates for drivers with that infraction on their records. Rather, it may mean that our sample size was small — insurers may choose not to offer policies to drivers with that infraction. Your actual rate can vary based on a number of factors other than your driving record.
Cheapest car insurance with an accident in Houston: Progressive
After an at-fault accident, your car insurance premium will likely go up. No-fault accidents can also cause your rate to increase, but usually by a smaller amount. Once the accident is dropped from your record, your premium will return to its normal amount, but this could take a few years.
Insurance Company | Clean Record | With Accident | Difference |
---|---|---|---|
Apparent | $201 | $246 | $45 |
Travelers | $203 | $227 | $24 |
Elephant | $207 | $255 | $48 |
Progressive | $207 | $181 | -$26 |
Safeco | $213 | $234 | $20 |
Nationwide | $216 | $269 | $53 |
Clearcover | $219 | $282 | $64 |
Midvale Home & Auto | $247 | $306 | $59 |
Mercury | $253 | $406 | $153 |
State Auto | $258 | $512 | $254 |
Kemper | $315 | $464 | $150 |
Bristol West | $352 | $424 | $72 |
Liberty Mutual | $356 | $370 | $14 |
Kemper Specialty | $381 | $500 | $119 |
Aspen | $385 | $513 | $128 |
Infinity | $393 | $488 | $95 |
Quantum | $432 | $376 | -$56 |
Aggressive | $442 | $467 | $25 |
The General | $454 | $660 | $206 |
Freedom National | $460 | $605 | $145 |
Commonwealth Casualty | $476 | $579 | $103 |
Alinsco | $506 | $776 | $270 |
Hallmark | $679 | $803 | $124 |
Cheapest car insurance with a DUI in Houston: Safeco
A DUI is one of the most serious traffic violations you can get, so it makes sense that a DUI can have a significant impact on your car insurance premium. It’s also possible that your insurance company may refuse to renew your policy if you have a DUI on your record.
Insurance Company | Clean Record | With DUI | Difference |
---|---|---|---|
Apparent | $201 | $284 | $83 |
Travelers | $203 | $305 | $102 |
Progressive | $207 | $326 | $118 |
Safeco | $213 | $138 | -$75 |
Nationwide | $216 | $443 | $227 |
Midvale Home & Auto | $247 | $216 | -$31 |
Mercury | $253 | $417 | $164 |
Bristol West | $352 | $356 | $4 |
Kemper Specialty | $381 | $392 | $11 |
Infinity | $393 | $392 | -$1 |
Aggressive | $442 | $540 | $98 |
The General | $454 | $507 | $53 |
Freedom National | $460 | $507 | $47 |
Commonwealth Casualty | $476 | $794 | $317 |
Alinsco | $506 | $1,045 | $539 |
Hallmark | $679 | $750 | $71 |
Cheapest car insurance with a speeding ticket in Houston: Clearcover
Drivers with a clean record typically pay the lowest car insurance rates. Even if you have a single speeding ticket on your record, which is often viewed as a minor offense, you can expect your auto insurance premium to increase.
Insurance Company | With Clean Record | With Speeding Ticket | Difference |
---|---|---|---|
Apparent | $201 | $265 | $64 |
Travelers | $203 | $272 | $69 |
Elephant | $207 | $256 | $49 |
Progressive | $207 | $339 | $132 |
Safeco | $213 | $269 | $56 |
Nationwide | $216 | $339 | $124 |
Clearcover | $219 | $204 | -$14 |
Kemper Preferred | $219 | $338 | $119 |
Midvale Home & Auto | $247 | $294 | $47 |
Mercury | $253 | $378 | $125 |
State Auto | $258 | $507 | $249 |
Kemper | $315 | $370 | $56 |
Pronto | $323 | $470 | $147 |
Bristol West | $352 | $455 | $104 |
Liberty Mutual | $356 | $440 | $84 |
Kemper Specialty | $381 | $466 | $85 |
Aspen | $385 | $392 | $7 |
Infinity | $393 | $494 | $101 |
Quantum | $432 | $498 | $66 |
Aggressive | $442 | $442 | $0 |
The General | $454 | $591 | $138 |
Freedom National | $460 | $463 | $3 |
Commonwealth Casualty | $476 | $546 | $70 |
Alinsco | $506 | $634 | $127 |
Hallmark | $679 | $837 | $158 |
Car insurance in other Texas cities
Texas is a big state, with a wide range of communities, neighborhoods, and driving conditions. Car insurance rates can vary significantly from area to area within Texas. Take a look at car insurance rates for some other Texas cities.
Find local Houston agents
Worthy Insurance and Financial Services, Inc.
2506 La Branch Street,
Houston, TX 77004iscential
8220 Jones Road,
Houston, TX 77065Suzanne Brown Agency LLC
6161 Savoy Dr Ste 960,
Houston, TX 77036-3392Texan Insurance
6161 Savoy Dr,
Suite 960, Houston, TX 77036ANCO Insurance Houston
16350 Park 10 Place,
Houston, TX 77084Insurance Offices - Texas
211 HIGHLAND CROSS DRIVE,
Houston, TX 77073Avalon Insurance Agency, LLC
9660 Hillcroft,
Houston, TX 77096Dean & Draper Insurance Agency, LP
3131 W. Alabama,
Houston, TX 77098AAIGOT Insurance Agency Inc
6633 Hillcroft,
Houston, TX 77081Pasadena Insurance Agency Inc
99 Detering St Ste 280,
Houston, TX 77007
Houston car insurance FAQs
Here are answers to some commonly asked questions about car insurance in Houston.
The average cost of car insurance in Houston is $341 per year. The average cost of minimum-coverage car insurance is $263 per month, and the average cost of full-coverage car insurance is $394 per month. These average rates are based on recent data. You might pay more or less for car insurance based on your situation.
Car insurance in Houston can be more expensive compared to other cities and states for a few reasons. First, Houston experiences extreme weather, like floods and tornadoes, which can seriously damage or destroy cars. Houston also has a high rate of vehicle theft, which makes it riskier for insurance companies to insure vehicles in the city. This can lead to higher car insurance rates than usual.
Based on Insurify’s data, Mile Auto and Progressive provide the cheapest car insurance in Houston. Mile Auto has the cheapest liability-only coverage, with an average premium of $92 per month. Progressive is the cheapest company for full coverage, with an average rate of $196. However, your rate might be different depending on your unique driver profile.
Insurify Insights
How Houston 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 Houston, Texas 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 Houston drivers measure up to their fellow motorists across Texas 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.
Toyota Camry
Most Popular Car in Houston
#257
City with the Most Speeding Tickets Rank in Texas
#260
City with the Most Moving Violations Rank in Texas
#188
City with the Most DUIs Rank in Texas
#156
City with the Most Suspended Licenses in Texas
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. Houston drivers rank 218 in the number of car accidents per driver across all cities in Texas.
- Rank within state: #218
- Percent of drivers in Houston with an accident: 7.3%
While driving while intoxicated is never acceptable, it’s a more common offense than many assume. Houston drivers rank 188 in the number of DUI’s per driver across all cities in Texas.
- Rank within state: #188
- Percent of drivers in Houston with a DUI: 0.9%
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. Among all cities in Texas, Houston drivers rank 168 in the number of reckless driving offenses per driver.
- Rank within state: #168
- Percent of drivers in Houston with a reckless driving offense: 0.8%
The Insurify team classifies rude drivers as those who commit the following driving offenses: failure to yield or failure to stop, improper backing, passing where prohibited, tailgating, street racing, or hit-and-runs. Among all cities in Texas, Houston drivers rank 165 in rude driving infractions.
- Rank within state: #165
- Percent of drivers in Houston with a reckless driving violation: 1%
Exceeding the speed limit can endanger others and leave a permanent stain on your driving record. When compared to other cities in Texas, Houston drivers rank 257 in the number of speeding infractions per driver.
- Rank within state: #257
- Percent of drivers in Houston with a speeding ticket: 6.6%
Having a squeaky-clean driving record is an accomplishment to be proud of. Some cities have safer drivers than others; Houston drivers rank 80 in clean driving records across all cities in Texas.
- Rank within state: #80
- Percent of drivers in Houston with clean record: 82.9%
As auto manufacturers increasingly turn towards producing greener car models, more and more motorists are embracing hybrids and EV’s. Houston drivers rank 78 in hybrid and electric vehicle ownership across all cities in Texas.
- Rank within state: #78
- Percent of drivers in Houston with a hybrid/electric vehicle: 1.1%
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
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
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Teen Driver and Passenger Safety." Accessed December 21, 2022