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The first step to savings is getting multiple quotes. Get started by selecting Compare to review coverage and features from each company side by side.
We update our data regularly, but information can change between updates. Confirm details with the provider you're interested in before making a decision.
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Finder’s car insurance team spends thousands of hours researching policies and analyzing hundreds of thousands of quotes (for real!) from nearly every car insurance company across the US.
The result? You get an unbiased, expert review of each company’s features, benefits and drawbacks complete with sample quotes and our expert ratings to help you compare options.
Ever wonder why insurance policies and quotes are different for every insurer? Make sure you’re comparing equivalent rates to get the strongest insurance quotes.
The average cost of car insurance is $1,300 a year or $108 a month, but rates vary depending on your car car’s make, model and year, driving record, location, age, credit score and other factors. For example, living in a high-claims area, like a big city or an area with a high rate of uninsured drivers, can drive your car insurance rates up.
If lowering your car insurance premium is your main priority, switching car insurance could be one of the best ways to save. Compare how much price differs between insurers with sample auto insurance rates for California drivers.
Company | Average annual rate | Average monthly rate |
---|---|---|
Geico | $394 | $33 |
USAA | $416 | $35 |
Progressive | $536 | $45 |
Grange | $557 | $46 |
Mercury | $564 | $47 |
Esurance | $609 | $51 |
Kemper | $615 | $51 |
21st Century | $651 | $54 |
Allied | $666 | $55 |
Nationwide | $666 | $56 |
Allstate | $666 | $59 |
Liberty Mutual | $709 | $59 |
State Farm | $726 | $61 |
The Hartford | $727 | $61 |
Car insurance rates across the US can vary a lot based on where your address. The national average is $1,300 a year, but drivers in Maine pay only about $864, while drivers in Michigan see premiums averaging $2,394.
To pick the right amount of coverage, start with your state’s minimum requirements for liability coverage, underinsured driver coverage and personal injury protection. Then decide if you should increase your maximums or add any extra coverage you’d like, such as roadside assistance, collision coverage or comprehensive coverage.
Compare car insurance for your state
No one wants to overpay for insurance. And it’s hard to compare policies to get enough coverage at the right price. The best way to save on car insurance is by shopping around.
In most states, each driver needs to have at least liability coverage, and sometimes personal injury protection and uninsured driver coverage. The types and limits of car insurance coverage you need are different for every state. When shopping for car insurance, you might see these limits written like 25/50, which means $25,000 bodily injury liability and $50,000 property damage liability.
Covers costs from injuries you cause another person in an accident.
Covers damage you cause to someone else’s property in an accident.
Covers medical services after an accident, regardless of fault.
Covers costs caused by a driver if their insurance can’t pay enough.
Compare car insurance companies
The biggest mistake I see people make is shopping for price.
When shopping for a car, a house or even a sweater, the average consumer understands they’re going to get what they pay for. If you want a Cadillac, you’re going to have to pay more than you would for a Ford.
If you want a brand-new 2,500-square-foot home, you expect to pay more than you would for a 20-year-old mobile home. When you shop for clothes, you pay more for new than you do at a thrift shop. Insurance is no different!
Your insurance quote comparisons can look quite different across several companies. That’s because insurers use info about you to determine your driving risk and set your quotes, based on factors like whether you park on the street or in a safe neighborhood and how many miles you drive each year.
The 10 biggest factors that affect your rates:
A car insurance quote estimates the monthly rate you might pay with a particular insurer. Your quote may total costs by the month, the year or for every six months. Payment frequency should be listed near the estimated premium.
You might also see your coverage limits written as 50/100/25. These numbers represent the dollar amount of coverage you have for physical damage and bodily injury liability:
Typically insurance companies accept electronic funds transfers, credit card payments and checks. You might be able to score discounts for using an online option and setting up autopay.
You can always sign up online with the best rate you find, or get in touch with an agent or broker for more customized help.
Some insurance companies do not provide coverage for such vehicles as:
There are also some limitations in terms of what the vehicle will be used for. Many insurance companies will not provide coverage or will require a different kind of coverage if the vehicle is used:
Roslyn McKenna is an insurance publisher for Finder, where she's driven to help people get a great deal on insurance to protect their families and finances. Roslyn earned a BA in writing and communications from Maryville College and has written professionally for more than a decade, showing up on Bankrate, MSN and Reader's Digest.
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