In a nutshell...

  • There are hundreds of options when choosing a car insurance company
  • Not all policies are equal, so you should ensure you get the right coverage for your situation
  • Comparison shopping enables you to save money on rates without sacrificing coverage

Finding the right car insurance can be a headache. There are hundreds of car insurance companies in the U.S., and not all are equal. When searching for a car insurance company that offers the coverage you want at affordable rates, you need to compare quotes.

You can get a range of rates by comparing quotes from multiple car insurance companies. With this range, you can discover which company offers the car insurance policy you need at rates you can afford. It’s crucial to get insurance, but having the right policy doesn’t need to be expensive. Comparison shopping can find you the right coverage that won’t break the bank.

Compare Car Insurance Companies

There are countless car insurance companies available, though your options for car insurance may vary depending on where you live. While you may be able to work with a national car insurance company, a local option might also suit your needs.

Most car insurance companies offer comparable coverage options. Depending on which company you decide to work with, your rates vary significantly.

Here’s a look at the national average rates for the top car insurance companies in the United States:

Average Monthly Full Coverage Car Insurance Rates by Company

CompaniesMonthly Full Coverage Car Insurance Rates
Allstate$318
American Family$224
Farmers$288
Geico$179
Liberty Mutual$398
Nationwide$229
Progressive$283
State Farm$235
Travelers$287
USAA$161
**Average**$260

Compare RatesStart Now →

As you can see, rates vary significantly across different companies. It’s important not to choose your policy based only on rates. Coverage that works for one person might not suit your situation, so you must understand what policy type you need.

Compare Car Insurance Policies

When choosing a car insurance company, you should determine what kind of policy you need. Certain drivers may need particular policies to suit their needs.

Perhaps you have an expensive collector car that would benefit from a specialty policy, or maybe you have a history of reckless driving and need a car insurance company that works with SR-22 filing requirements.

Depending on your situation, different policies might suit your needs. Several individual factors contribute to car insurance rates, including:

  • Age
  • Gender
  • Driving history
  • Vehicle
  • Mileage
  • Credit score
  • Location

This list does not include everything that impacts your car insurance rates. Everyone’s situation is unique, so you should conduct thorough research.

To help you get started, here are the average car insurance rates for different types of drivers.

Average Car Insurance Rates Based on Driving Record

Average Annual Auto Insurance Rates by Driving Record

CompaniesClean Driving RecordOne Speeding CitationOne AccidentOne DUI
Geico$1,412.77$1,740.86$2,353.00$3,276.21
USAA$1,450.28$1,612.57$1,830.96$2,720.40
Nationwide$1,704.30$1,872.03$2,187.15$2,749.35
Allstate$2,647.26$3,019.61$3,493.62$3,601.03
Liberty Mutual$3,184.72$3,442.90$3,811.97$4,044.73
State Farm$3,987.31$4,382.83$4,778.37$4,382.83
Progressive$4,397.96$5,167.34$6,363.51$4,939.75

Compare RatesStart Now →

If you have a clean driving record, you could look into one of these cheaper companies when seeking coverage.

Average Car Insurance Rates for Drivers With an At-Fault Accident

Average Increase of Annual Car Insurance Rates with One Accident on Driving Record

CompaniesAverage Rates with Clean RecordAverage Rates with 1 AccidentRate Increase Percentage
USAA$1,933.68$2,516.2430%
Geico$2,145.96$3,192.7749%
American Family$2,693.61$3,722.7538%
Nationwide$2,746.18$3,396.9524%
State Farm$2,821.18$3,396.0120%
Progressive$3,393.09$4,777.0441%
Travelers$3,447.69$4,289.7424%
Farmers$3,460.60$4,518.7331%
Allstate$3,819.90$4,987.6831%
Liberty Mutual$4,774.30$6,204.7830%

Compare RatesStart Now →

Being involved in a collision increases your car insurance rates. If you have an accident on your record, you might look into one of these cheaper options for car insurance.

Average Car Insurance Rates for Drivers With a DUI

Car Insurance Rates with a DUI

Car insurance companyAverage monthly rate with a clean recordAverage monthly rate with one DUI
Allstate$318$522
American Family$224$361
Farmers$288$393
Geico$179$406
Liberty Mutual$398$634
Nationwide$229$379
Progressive$283$331
State Farm$235$303
Travelers$287$478
USAA$161$292

Compare RatesStart Now →

A DUI conviction raises your rates significantly. Drunk driving is risky behavior, and the state may require you to file an SR-22 form if convicted. If you have a DUI conviction, you should start your search with one of these less expensive options before settling on a policy.

Average Car Insurance Rates for Teen Drivers

Average Annual Teen Car Insurance Rates by Company

CompanySingle 17-year-old femaleSingle 17-year-old male
USAA$4,808$5,386
Geico$5,654$6,279
Nationwide$5,756$7,175
State Farm$5,954$7,324
American Family$5,997$8,131
Farmers$8,522$9,144
Progressive$8,690$9,625
Allstate$9,282$10,643
Travelers$9,307$12,851
Liberty Mutual$11,621$13,719

Compare RatesStart Now →

Since driving history plays a role in car insurance rates, younger drivers will pay more because they don’t have a driving record. Until drivers can prove they can safely operate a motor vehicle, they likely will pay higher rates. Car insurance rates typically level out around age 25, once a driver has significant experience behind them.

Average Car Insurance Rates by Credit Score

Average Monthly Full Coverage Rates by Credit History and Company

CompaniesGood Credit HistoryFair Credit HistoryBad Credit History
Allstate$322$382$541
American Family$224$264$372
Farmers$306$325$405
Geico$203$249$355
Liberty Mutual$366$467$734
Nationwide$244$271$340
Progressive$302$330$395
State Farm$181$238$413
Travelers$338$362$430
USAA$152$185$308
*National Average$264$307$429

Compare RatesStart Now →

It may be surprising that credit rating affects your rates for car insurance. Not every state allows credit-based pricing. If you have poor credit and do not live in California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, or Michigan, you will likely need to pay higher rates. Your credit score has very little to do with your driving behavior. Still, insurance companies believe that this score reflects the type of driver you are.

Compare Car Insurance Discounts

If you want to save more money on your car insurance, you could look into some common discount options. Leading national insurance companies and local companies offer various discounts to bring your insurance rates down.

You may not be eligible for all of these discounts, but you should still explore these options if you’re looking to save money. Below are a few standard car insurance discounts.

  • Safe driver discounts offer lower rates or rebates for safe driving behavior.
  • Good student discounts reduce rates for teen drivers who perform well in school.
  • Discounts for optional safety technology — such as anti-theft devices and lane-change sensors — can save you money.
  • Bundling discounts allow you to save money on car insurance by purchasing other coverage — such as renters insurance — through the same company.

If you are unsure about the many discounts available, it doesn’t hurt to speak with an agent. You can discuss your options with a car insurance agent by calling the company’s customer service number.

Compare Car Insurance Coverage

Not every car insurance policy is the same. You may have heard of minimum liability coverage, the basic coverage required by law. There’s also collision and comprehensive coverage, which offer additional protection. Let’s look at these coverage types to see what is best for you.

Minimum Liability Coverage

Minimum liability is the most basic car insurance and covers others from the insured driver’s actions, including bodily injury and personal property. This insurance pays to repair the other individual’s car in a collision, but not the insured’s car.

Collision Coverage

Collision coverage is a step above liability and pays out claims to repair or replace your vehicle after an accident. Be mindful when setting your deductible since it impacts the rates you pay. Even if a high deductible yields lower rates, you will still be responsible for covering the difference out of pocket if you need to file a claim.

Comprehensive Coverage

Comprehensive coverage fills in the gaps left by liability and collision. Whereas collision coverage pays to protect your car in a two-party accident, comprehensive goes further. If your vehicle suffers other damage that doesn’t result from a collision, comprehensive coverage pays to repair or replace it.

Such instances could include hitting a deer, damage from a natural disaster, theft, etc.

You have full coverage car insurance when you have all three of these coverages. Full coverage car insurance isn’t necessary, but we advise you carry it.

When you have full coverage car insurance, you pay higher rates, but you can rest assured that you have protection and financial security.

Compare Car Insurance Quotes

When shopping for the right coverage, don’t just go with the first company to accept your application. Consider every factor influencing car insurance rates to save the most money on your policy.

If you are ready to shop for the right coverage, you should compare quotes. By comparing quotes from multiple car insurance companies, you can understand which company offers the coverage you need at rates you can afford.