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How to get cheap car insurance
Compare the cheapest car insurance rates to save on coverage.
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Who has the cheapest car insurance?
The cheapest insurance for you depends on what you’re looking for in a policy.
| Driver category | Cheapest insurer |
|---|---|
| Safe drivers | Geico |
| Low-mileage drivers | Metromile |
| Student drivers | Allstate |
| Drivers who want to bundle insurance | Progressive |
| Military members, veterans and family | USAA |
Cheapest car insurance rates
Comparing car insurance quotes can be difficult, especially since every driver will get a unique quote based on his or her driving history, vehicle and state. The cheapest car insurance company for one driver might not be the same one for another. Compare the companies with the best rates for the same driver profile.
| Company | Lowest annual rate | Learn more |
|---|---|---|
| Geico | $394 | Read review |
| USAA | $416 | Read review |
| Progressive | $536 | Read review |
| Mercury | $564 | Read review |
| Esurance | $609 | Read review |
| 21st Century | $651 | Read review |
| Nationwide | $666 | Read review |
| Allstate | $693 | Read review |
| Liberty Mutual | $709 | Read review |
| State Farm | $726 | Read review |
| The Hartford | $727 | Read review |
- Pay by miles driven
- Low base rates
- Drive less, pay less
Cheapest for safe drivers: Metromile
Only pay for how much you drive with the Metromile app. Get rates from $29/month plus pennies per mile.
- Rates from $29/month plus pennies per mile
- Low-mileage drivers could save $611/year
- All miles over 250 a day are free
- Easy app and online claims plus 24/7 support
What’s the best way to get cheap car insurance?
Compare the top 10 ways to save on your car insurance to find out if you could lower your premiums.
- Only pay for the coverage you need. Resist adding optional extras unless you’ve decided you need them. Consider dropping comprehensive on an older car.
- Trade in for a cheaper car. The next time you’re shopping for a new or new-to-you car, look for lower insurance rates on safer cars or cheaper cars.
- Try a higher deductible. Consider raising your deductible, which is the amount you have to pay when making a claim before you get reimbursed. A higher deductible means lower premiums.
- Nominate your drivers. You should see lower premiums by insuring your policy in the oldest or safest driver’s name and nominating drivers with higher risk.
- Be a safe driver. Take a defensive driving course to get a safe driver discount and some new skills, and keep your claims history and tickets to a minimum.
- Park in a safe location. Cars kept in locked garages are cheaper to insure than those parked on the street. Consider installing antitheft or security features for lower premiums.
- Shop around to compare price. Switch car insurance instead of renewing, especially if you’ve been through any big life changes like getting married or moving. You can also use comparison quotes to ask for a price match from your current insurer.
- Reduce your mileage. You could get a low mileage discount if you reduce the miles you drive. Carpool or take public transit if you can, or plan your errands for one trip per day instead of taking lots of little trips.
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How much can I save on car insurance with discounts?
Just about every provider offers discounts, and you could save up to 30-50% with driver and vehicle discounts if you qualify.
- Defensive driver. Take and pass a driver safety class and get a 5-10% discount with some providers. Bonus: If you have a poor driving record, some classes will also erase violation points from your license.
- Anti-theft device. A car alarm will deter would-be thieves, which lessens the insurer’s risk. Today, these alarms come standard on most cars. But don’t forget about other anti-theft devices, like a steering wheel lock bar, an electronic immobilizer or a vehicle tracking system.
- Multiple policies. Bundling your policies can bring big savings. If you and a member of your household both have car insurance, make sure you get both cars on the same policy. You can get even greater savings by bundling other insurance policies like homeowner’s and life insurance.
- Safety devices. A car with safety features or above average safety ratings can save you money. Some safety features that will get you a discount include anti-lock brakes, air bags, lane departure warning and adaptive cruise control.
- Paid in full. If you are financially able to pay your full premium upfront instead of in monthly payments, you are likely to get a discount.
- Homeowner. If you own a home, you can save on insurance, even without bundling it. Insurance providers assume homeowners are more financially stable and are, thus, less of a risk.
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What’s the cheapest type of car insurance?
Price is important, but it’s not everything. The best move is to find the coverage you want first, and then try to reduce your premiums from there.
Start with the bare minimum requirements for your state and add more coverage types from there. Then see how much extra it costs to increase maximum coverage. You can often double your coverage for only a few bucks more a month. For example, if your state requires $15,000 bodily injury liability, bumping that up to $30,000 might only cost an extra $10 a month. A good rule of thumb is that your total coverage amount should be enough to completely replace your car in the event of a total loss.
- State minimum. Get the basic bodily injury and property damage liability insurance coverage and maximums required by your state.
- Liability only. Cheap, liability-only auto insurance is a good starting place for low cost premiums. Add on extra coverage maximums for a slight premium increase.
- Collision. For an extra $25 a month on average, you could get coverage for damage to your car in an at-fault crash.
What kind of coverage can I drop to save money on my policy?
You might be able to drop certain kinds of coverage from your policy to get big savings on the cheapest auto insurance rates. Make sure this option works for you before cutting coverage you do need.
- Comprehensive. Drop comprehensive on an older vehicle to save big.
- Medical payments. Your health insurance might be enough to cover your bills in an accident.
- Gap insurance. After you pay off your car loan, you won’t need gap insurance anymore.
How to balance cheap car insurance with good coverage
The cheapest car insurance you can find won’t necessarily be the best car insurance. When selecting car insurance, you’ll want to weigh cost vs. value to find the right insurance for your needs.
- Accident forgiveness could save you long term. This feature might cost more on the front end, but when your rates go up because of a fender-bender, you could end up paying more in the long run.
- Customer service is worth paying for. Getting great support may be worth the extra couple dollars each month. You might wish you’d factored in customer support when it comes time to file a claim or get help with an issue.
- Less coverage means less protection. Your state’s minimum requirements are a good place to start, but in a major accident, you might be glad you increased your coverage. After your coverage maxes out, you’ll be left footing the bill.
- Free towing is often handy. Included roadside assistance can end up paying for itself when you consider the fees, hassle and time involved in getting help when you’re stranded on the side of the road because your car broke down.
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When it makes sense to buy the cheapest car insurance
Getting only your state’s minimum coverage requirements could give you really cheap car insurance rates, but it could cost you much more money in the long run if you’re involved in an accident. If the cost to fix the damage to your car exceeds your max coverage amount, you’ll be left to make up the difference. That’s why it’s not always advisable to best the absolute cheapest car insurance you can find.
However, there are certain situations where you might want to consider getting minimum coverage. As your financial situation changes, be sure to review your coverage.
- You don’t plan on putting many miles on your car. Does your car sit in the garage most of the time? The less you drive the less risk there is that you might get in an accident. This is a time when minimum coverage might be a good choice.
- Your car isn’t worth much. Are you driving around an old car that would cost more to fix than to replace? More than minimum coverage probably isn’t worth it in this situation. Go ahead and find a budget insurer for your beater car.
- You have little to no income. If you’re living paycheck to paycheck and need your car to simply get to work, the savings that minimum coverage provides might be worth it.
- You have a low net worth and no major assets. You are less likely to be sued if you are at fault in an accident if you don’t have any valuable assets like a home or expensive collectibles. However, you can still have a lien placed against you, or you could lose your license for an inability to pay.
- You’re working to remove points from your license. If a poor driving history has racked up points on your license, you’re likely paying a higher insurance premium. Obtaining minimum coverage in this situation can help to offset the costs.
Bottom line
If you want inexpensive car insurance, you’ll need to compare the options available from a range of insurers. The right policy at the right price is out there, you’ve just got to go and find it. Compare your options to find cheap auto insurance that’s right for you.
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Frequently asked questions about cheap car insurance
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