Colorado car insurance quick facts
Minimum liability requirements
25/50/15
Average annual car insurance cost according to the NAIC
$1,290.34
At-fault state
In at fault states, the driver who caused the accident pays for damages.
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Car insurance in Colorado
Get the cheapest car insurance in Colorado for 2021
Colorado drivers pay an average of $1,290.34 per year for car insurance according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), that’s about $107.53 per month. Colorado drivers pay about 8% more than the countrywide national average of $1,189.64.
The NAIC takes into account all car insurance policies within the state such as drivers who select only state minimum coverage, as well as policies that include various levels of comprehensive and collision coverage. Because car insurance rates are influenced by personal factors, you could find yourself paying significantly less.
Colorado state minimum car insurance requirements
Drivers in Colorado are required to carry a minimum amount of liability coverage to legally drive. You may see it written as 25/50/15, but we’ll break down what that means.
Colorado bodily injury liability
- $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
- $50,000 bodily injury per accident
Colorado requires $25,000 in bodily injury liability per person and $50,000 of bodily injury per accident to legally drive. That’s right in line with what most states across the US require for this coverage.
This means $25,000 is the most your insurer will pay for a single person injured by you in an at-fault accident. And $50,000 is the maximum amount your insurer will pay if there is more than one person injured by you in an at-fault accident. Any costs outside of your bodily injury limit are required to come out of your pocket.
Colorado property damage liability
- $15,000 property damage liability
Colorado requires drivers to carry $15,000 of property damage liability to legally drive. This required limit is middle of the road compared to what other states require for property damage liability.
This means $15,000 is the maximum amount your car insurance company will pay towards damages you cause to another person’s car or property, such as repairs to a car, fence or building. You’ll have to pay out of pocket for any costs beyond your property damage liability limit.
Finder tip: State minimum coverage isn’t enough
These state-mandated requirements are the lowest amount of coverage you need to legally drive in Colorado, but may fall short if you’re in a major accident. To avoid high out-of-pocket costs after an accident, consider raising your liability limits by balancing coverage, your budget and what you can afford to pay out of pocket for certain damage.
7 factors that affect car insurance rates in Colorado
Factors are characteristics specific to you that car insurance companies use to set how much you’ll pay for car insurance. The less risky each of your factors is the less you pay, the riskier you are the more you’ll pay. We’ll break down Coloradan’s rating factors to keep in mind.
| Factor | How it affects your rates |
|---|---|
 Age | How old you are is a top factor in determining your car insurance rates. With each passing year, you earn more experience on the road. More experience can equal cheaper rates. Teen drivers pay the most, but rates begin to level off around your 20’s with drivers over 50 paying the least. |
 Gender | Colorado takes gender into account when determining your rates. Our analysis of Quadrant data found that men under 18 pay 17% more for car insurance compared to women of the same age. But, between 31 and 45, women see rates 5% higher than men. After 45, rates differ between men and women by only 1%, with women on the higher end. |
 Location | Where you live affects your rates, including where you park your car. High theft rates, high traffic and a high number of uninsured drivers could mean higher rates. Especially in Colorado, which holds the highest vehicle theft rate across the US of 524.3 vehicle thefts per 100,000 inhabitants, according to the FBI’s most recent report on vehicle theft rates. As for uninsured drivers, 16.3% of Coloradans on the road are uninsured. That’s the 13th highest percentage of uninsured drivers in a state across the US according to Insurance Information Institute. |
 Driving Record | The better your record, the lower your premium. If you’re in an at-fault accident you could see rates increases from 20% to 50%. And DUI’s in Colorado can increase your rate by around 34%. These types of violations typically stay on your record for about three years. |
 Vehicle and mileage | Your car’s make, model and trim directly affect how much you’ll pay for car insurance. Things like its cost, safety ratings, the likelihood of theft and sportiness all help insurers determine its cost to insure. Safer and cheaper vehicles score the lowest rates, with luxury vehicles with higher repair costs resulting in higher premiums. And, the more you’re on the road, the more at-risk you are to get in an accident, which means higher premiums. According to the Bureau of Transportation, Coloradans drive an average of 40.7 miles per day, that’s above the average across the US of 36.1 miles per day. |
 Credit score | Your credit score is included in your credit-based insurance score which insurers use to help calculate rates. According to the Insurance Information Institute, there is a strong correlation between your insurance score and claims filings.A good credit-based insurance score could mean lower rates. Coloradans have many protections under state laws, if you’ve been denied insurance or have a premium increase because of credit information you believe is wrong, you can notify the Credit Bureau to verify your information, and ask your insurer to re-compute your premiums based on an updated credit report. |
 Coverage | The more coverage you get and the higher limits you choose, the more protection you’ll have and the more you’ll pay in monthly premiums. And, if you opt for full coverage car insurance that includes comprehensive and collision, the amount of your deductible weighs into your costs too, higher deductibles mean lower monthly premiums. |
Most popular Colorado auto insurance companies list
| Company | Direct premiums written (billions) | Market share |
|---|---|---|
| State Farm | $922,812 | 18.3% |
| Progressive | $551,300 | 10.9% |
| USAA | $529,385 | 10.5% |
| Geico | $491,025 | 9.8% |
| Allstate | $444,700 | 8.8% |
| American Family | $404,893 | 8.0% |
| Liberty Mutual | $364,933 | 7.2% |
| Farmers | $335,417 | 6.7% |
| Travelers | $160,154 | 3.2% |
| Nationwide | $91,776 | 1.8% |
Which city has the cheapest car insurance in Colorado?
Of Colorado’s largest cities, Greeley has the cheapest rates and Aurora has the most expensive car insurance rates. Aurora drivers could face rates 10 times more than Greeley drivers.
Car insurance quotes in Aurora
| Company | Annual car insurance rate |
|---|---|
| Allstate | $898 |
| American Family | $1533 |
| Farmers | $252 |
| Metromile | $2570 |
| Esurance | $1269 |
Car insurance quotes in Longmont
| Company | Annual car insurance rate |
|---|---|
| Allstate | $798 |
| American Family | $1116 |
| Farmers | $224 |
| Metromile | $1769 |
| Esurance | $869 |
Car insurance quotes in Parker
| Company | Annual car insurance rate |
|---|---|
| Allstate | $843 |
| American Family | $1243 |
| Farmers | $259 |
| Metromile | $1959 |
| Esurance | $883 |
Car insurance quotes in Denver
| Company | Annual car insurance rate |
|---|---|
| Allstate | $918 |
| American Family | $1961 |
| Farmers | $359 |
| Metromile | $2371 |
| Esurance | $1254 |
Car insurance quotes in Greeley
| Company | Annual car insurance rate |
|---|---|
| Allstate | $684 |
| American Family | $899 |
| Farmers | $221 |
| Metromile | $1719 |
| Esurance | $1029 |
Roadside assistance in Colorado
Many insurers offer roadside assistance as an optional extra, and a few offer it free, typically when you buy collision and comprehensive coverage. Colorado’s mountains are lovely to look at but not always great to drive through. Mountain conditions can make driving a nightmare, especially in winter, when you could find yourself navigating potholes, snow and black ice. Roadside help can get you out of a bad situation faster and without the hassle.
Compare car insurance providers in Colorado
Car insurance for high-risk drivers in Colorado
Can’t get covered with a traditional or affordable provider? If you’ve been denied coverage because you’re considered a high-risk driver, you can still find insurance through the Western Association of Automobile Insurance Plans (WAAIP).
WAAIP assigns you an affordable provider in its network of insurance companies. Any extra risks you pose to the insurer are negated by spreading it out across the network of participating companies.
Can I get SR-22 insurance in Colorado?
You might need an SR-22 in Colorado if you’ve gotten a DUI, lost your license or have too many points on your driving record. SR-22 tells the state you have the minimum coverage required to get back behind the wheel. You’ll be notified by your state DMV if you’re required to file an SR-22.
How long should your disability elimination period last?
Bottom line
Minimum car insurance requirements in Colorado can be affordable if you’re willing to shop around and compare providers, policies, discounts and rates. Plus, given Colorado’s substantial consequences for uninsured drivers, it hardly makes sense to go without auto insurance.
Compare your car insurance options, from costs to regulations to little-known discounts and deals, to find the best insurance for you.
Frequently asked questions about car insurance in Colorado
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