Vermont car insurance quick facts
Minimum liability requirements
25/50/10
Average annual car insurance cost according to the NAIC
$854.27
At-fault state
In at-fault states, the driver who caused the accident pays for damages.
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Compare car insurance in Vermont
Get the cheapest car insurance in Vermont for 2022
Vermont drivers pay an average of $854.27 per year for car insurance according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), that’s about $71.19 per month. Vermont drivers pay about 28% less 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.
Vermont state minimum car insurance requirements
Drivers in Vermont are required to carry a minimum amount of liability coverage to legally drive. You may see it written as 25/50/10, but we’ll break down what that means.
Vermont bodily injury liability
- $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
- $50,000 bodily injury per accident
Vermont requires $25,000 in bodily injury liability per person and $50,000 of bodily injury per accident. That’s right in line with what most states 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.
Vermont property damage liability
- $10,000 property damage liability
Massachusetts requires drivers to carry $10,000 of property damage liability to legally drive. This limit is on the lower end of requirements across the US for this coverage, though not uncommon.
This means $10,000 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.
Vermont uninsured motorist
- $50,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person
- $100,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident
- $10,000 uninsured motorist property damage
Vermont requires all drivers to carry $50,000 of uninsured motorist bodily injury per person, $100,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident and $10,000 in uninsured motorist property damage to legally drive. Where most states require you to carry uninsured motorist coverage equal to your liability requirements, this state requires double your bodily injury liability limits in uninsured coverage.
This coverage protects you if you get hit by an uninsured or underinsured driver. It pays for your car’s damage or medical bills to you and your passengers.
Finder tip: Vermont state minimum coverage isn’t enough
These state-mandated requirements are the lowest amount of coverage you need to legally drive in Vermont, 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 your car insurance premium in Vermont
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. And the riskier you are, the more you’ll pay. We’ll break down Vermont’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 20s with drivers over 50 paying the least. |
 Gender | Vermont takes gender into account when determining your rates. On average, men in Vermont pay more for car insurance than women. The average annual premium across all age categories for men is $1,027, nearly $20 more per year than women, who pay an average of $1,008. |
 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. When it comes to vehicle theft, Vermont has the lowest average in the country. For every 100,000 inhabitants, approximately 42.4 vehicles were stolen, according to Statista. The national average across the US is 246 cars for every 100,000 inhabitants. As for uninsured drivers, 8.8% of Vermonters on the road are uninsured. That ranks the state 37th out of 50 states for uninsured drivers, according to Insurance Information Institute. |
 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, Vermonters drive around 30.5 miles per day, which is under the national average 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. Vermont insurers charge the highest coverage rates for drivers with poor credit histories. Drivers with good credit scores could see an annual insurance rate of about $1,063. These rates rise to about $1,280 with a fair credit score and approximately $1,861 for those with poor credit. |
 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. 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. Low coverage costs in Vermont average to about $869 yearly, whereas high coverage can be anywhere around $1,077 on average. |
 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%. A DUI in Vermont can increase your rate by an average of 73%. These types of violations typically stay on your record for about five years. Vermont drivers with a clean driving record pay approximately $1,063 annually — or $139 less per year on average — than Vermont drivers with one speeding violation. |
What happens if I need an SR-22 in Vermont?
You’ll need to file an SR-22 with the Vermont DMV for at least three years from the violation. An SR-22 is a proof of insurance form, showing that you can take financial responsibility for any accidents you cause. In Vermont, you’re required to file an SR-22 after major violations that lead to a suspended license, like a DUI or driving without insurance.
Coverage that we recommend in Vermont
Driving across the mountains and open plains in Vermont means taking on different driving conditions and hazards on the road. While Vermont’s required insurance is a solid starting place for protection, think about these add-ons to cover all the possibilities.
More liability protection to cover high expenses
When you get in a car accident, you can’t control the seriousness of the damage or injuries to other people. While Vermont’s liability limits should take care of minor damage, it may not protect you from major accidents, especially if someone takes you to court. Legal expenses and medical bills can easily total tens of thousands of dollars.
To make sure you have plenty of liability coverage, talk with your insurance agent about the amount of protection you need.
Collision coverage for peace of mind about your car
No matter where you drive, you have the chance of getting in an accident with another driver. If you’re considered the one at fault, you’ll need collision coverage if you want your insurance to pay for your car repairs.
Keep in mind that some accidents like rearend collisions can be deemed your fault even if you tried to stop them from happening. Collision coverage can bring you that extra peace of mind that you can take care of your car no matter the situation.
Consider this coverage if . . .
- You drive a lot and rely on your car.
- Your car loan requires it.
- You can’t pay for major car repairs on your own.
- You don’t have the funds to buy another car.
Comprehensive coverage because of Vermont’s icy roads
In Vermont, you navigate icy roads, snow and heavy rain throughout the year, along with other normal road hazards. If you wreck your car because of weather, you could pay for your repairs through comprehensive coverage. It kicks in for many damages outside of colliding with another car, including theft, damage from a falling tree branch or rock cracking your windshield. The optional coverage is worth considering because it protects against many different scenarios.
Consider this coverage if . . .
- Your auto loan requires it.
- You can’t pay for car repairs out of pocket.
- You live in rural Vermont where there’s large wildlife.
- You expect harsh weather in your area.
Top 10 auto insurance companies in USA that serve Vermont
We’ve pulled the top 10 companies by market share that offer coverage in Vermont, according to S&P Global. Compare top companies by three major rating agencies along with our overall score.
- Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating measures how a business interacts with its customers, with the highest rating being A++.
- J.D. Power determines customers’ overall satisfaction with their car insurer’s price, billing, claims and customer support. The higher the J.D. Power score out of 1,000, the better.
- NAIC complaint index shows how a company’s number of complaints compares to similar companies of its size. Scores lower than 1.00 show the company receives less than the average number of complaints, and scores above 1.00 show more complaints than average.
- Finder’s score shows you an overall look at the company by taking into account scores from each of these agencies as well as the coverage and discounts each company offers.
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Which city has the cheapest car insurance in Vermont?
Of Vermont’s largest cities, Rutland has the cheapest rates and Essex Junction has the most expensive car insurance rates. Essex Junction drivers could face rates 3 times more than Rutland drivers.
Car insurance quotes in Essex Junction
| Company | Annual car insurance rate |
|---|---|
| Allstate | $2834 |
| Progressive | $2008 |
| Liberty Mutual | $2093 |
| Geico | $998 |
| InsureMyTesla | $2093 |
Car insurance quotes in Rutland
| Company | Annual car insurance rate |
|---|---|
| Allstate | $2588 |
| Progressive | $2032 |
| Liberty Mutual | $2342 |
| Geico | $957 |
| InsureMyTesla | $2342 |
Car insurance quotes in Burlington
| Company | Annual car insurance rate |
|---|---|
| Allstate | $2578 |
| Progressive | $2042 |
| Liberty Mutual | $2093 |
| Geico | $998 |
| InsureMyTesla | $2093 |
Car insurance quotes in South Burlington
| Company | Annual car insurance rate |
|---|---|
| Allstate | $2578 |
| Progressive | $1995 |
| Liberty Mutual | $2093 |
| Geico | $998 |
| InsureMyTesla | $2093 |
Car insurance quotes in Colchester
| Company | Annual car insurance rate |
|---|---|
| Allstate | $2578 |
| Progressive | $1995 |
| Liberty Mutual | $2097 |
| Geico | $1000 |
| InsureMyTesla | $2097 |
Compare car insurance providers in Vermont
In Vermont, the driver at fault pays for damage
Vermont is an at-fault state, which means that the driver who caused the car accident pays for the damage. Your insurance company and legal authorities will figure out who’s at fault, based on the accident details.
However, Vermont also looks at whether both drivers are partially at fault under a modified comparative fault law, according to the legal website Nolo. Under this law, both drivers are assigned a percentage of fault. Drivers who are less than 50% at fault can get paid for damage caused by other drivers.
For example, if you’re 80% responsible for an accident, your insurance will pay 80% of the other driver’s damages. However, since you’re over 50% at fault, the other driver isn’t required to pay for your damages.
Bottom line
Car insurance helps to protect you, your vehicle and everyone else on the road, and it’s legally required to get behind the wheel in the scenic state of Vermont. Vermont’s auto insurance rates are relatively low compared to national averages, but you could find ways to save even more if you’re willing to shop around and compare offerings from multiple providers.
To learn more about insurance regulations, discounts, policy extras and more, read our comprehensive guide to car insurance.
- Average Premiums and Expenditures, NAIC, 2018
- Automobile Financial Responsibility Limits By State, III, October 2021
- Vermont Car Accident Laws, Nolo
- Motor vehicle theft rate in the United States in 2020, by state, Statista, 08 October 2021
- Top 10 Highest And Lowest States By Estimated Percentage Of Uninsured Motorists, 2019, III
- State Transportation by the Numbers, BTS
- Largest private auto insurers posted combined ratios under 100% in 2020, Spglobal, May 4 2021
Frequently asked questions about Vermont car insurance
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