How To Get the Best Free Car Insurance Quotes
What Is the Best Way to Get Free Car Insurance Quotes?
Here are two options for getting free vehicle insurance quotes:
Online. Many automobile insurance firms provide free online car insurance quotations. You can compare quotations by going to the websites of several insurance companies. Use a service that provides quotations from many firms to save time.
On the phone or in person Speak with or visit a local insurance agent who can assist you in obtaining a car insurance quotes and locating affordable car insurance solutions.
There are two sorts of insurance agents in general:
A “captive” agent works exclusively for one insurance company and can only provide you with quotes from that company.
An “independent” insurance agent can offer policies from a variety of insurers and obtain estimates from many insurers.
Both tactics have advantages, and there is no legislation prohibiting you from contacting different insurance agents. It’s not a bad idea to acquire online estimates and talk to an agent who can help you evaluate your coverage needs and create a policy that’s right for you.
To get auto insurance quotes, what information do I need?
It helps to have the following information on hand to make the procedure go as smoothly as possible:
License to drive. You’ll also need the driver’s license information for any additional drivers in your home.
Identifier for the vehicle (VIN). Your VIN is usually printed on a sticker in the driver’s side door or door jamb, or on the dashboard of the car. Ask the seller for the VIN if you haven’t purchased the vehicle yet but know what you want to buy. You may typically acquire a quote with a vehicle brand and model if you haven’t chosen your car yet.
Mileage. Have the odometer reading handy if you own the vehicle.
How much coverage do you require?
You’ll need to determine what types of coverage you want and how much coverage you require. If you’re unsure, talk to an insurance agent who can answer your questions.
Additional information about you will be collected by the auto insurance provider, such as your driving history, previous auto insurance claims, and (in most states) your credit.
What Is the Cheapest Car Insurance?
Our analysis of the best cheap car insurance nationwide found that, on average, USAA has the cheapest car insurance quotes. But USAA auto insurance is only available to active members of the military, veterans and their families.
If you don’t qualify for a policy through USAA, our analysis found that Erie, Geico and State Farm offer competitive rates, based on nationwide averages. It’s still good to get quotes from multiple companies because the cheapest car insurance companies can vary depending on your state, driving record and more.
Compare Car Insurance Rates by Company
Not all car insurance price their policies the same. That’s why it’s so important to compare car insurance quotes from multiple companies. Here’s a look at large insurance companies and the average national rates for drivers with a clean driving record (meaning no traffic violations or at-fault accidents).
| Company | Average national rates for good drivers |
|---|---|
| USAA | $1,141 |
| Geico | $1,182 |
| State Farm | $1,402 |
| Erie | $1,419 |
| Travelers | $1,435 |
| Auto-Owners | $1,532 |
| Nationwide | $1,540 |
| Progressive | $1,892 |
| Allstate | $2,022 |
| Farmers | $2,124 |
Compare Car Insurance Rates by State
| State | Average annual cost of car insurance for good drivers |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $1,546 |
| Alaska | $1,325 |
| Arizona | $1,731 |
| Arkansas | $1,803 |
| California | $2,466 |
| Colorado | $2,034 |
| Connecticut | $1,463 |
| Delaware | $1,767 |
| District of Columbia | $1,574 |
| Florida | $3,158 |
| Georgia | $1,683 |
| Hawaii | $1,157 |
| Idaho | $1,171 |
| Illinois | $1,693 |
| Indiana | $1,296 |
| Iowa | $1,243 |
| Kansas | $1,940 |
| Kentucky | $2,233 |
| Louisiana | $3,544 |
| Maine | $1,022 |
| Maryland | $1,790 |
| Massachusetts | $1,836 |
| Michigan | $2,470 |
| Minnesota | $1,686 |
| Mississippi | $1,655 |
| Missouri | $1,834 |
| Montana | $1,501 |
| Nebraska | $1,718 |
| Nevada | $2,176 |
| New Hampshire | $1,066 |
| New Jersey | $2,332 |
| New Mexico | $1,692 |
| New York | $1,780 |
| North Carolina | $1,275 |
| North Dakota | $1,372 |
| Ohio | $1,171 |
| Oklahoma | $1,840 |
| Oregon | $1,543 |
| Pennsylvania | $1,790 |
| Rhode Island | $1,934 |
| South Carolina | $2,025 |
| South Dakota | $1,889 |
| Tennessee | $1,323 |
| Texas | $1,574 |
| Utah | $1,514 |
| Vermont | $1,174 |
| Virginia | $1,220 |
| Washington | $1,427 |
| West Virginia | $1,582 |
| Wisconsin | $1,299 |
| Wyoming | $1,452 |
| Source: Quadrant Information Services; Average annual rates for a good driver age 30 with $100,000 in bodily injury liability coverage per person, $300,000 per accident and $100,000 in property damage liability, uninsured motorist coverage and any other coverage required in the state. The rate also includes collision and comprehensive with a $500 deductible. |
Compare Auto Insurance Rates by Age and Gender
Your age and gender affects car insurance rates. Young, inexperienced drivers pay the most and can expect their rates to start going down at age 25. Drivers with good driving records will enjoy their best rates in their 50s and 60s. Rates start to increase again around age 65.
| Age | Average national rates for a female driver | Average national rates for a male driver |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | $6,408 | $7,188 |
| 20 | $3,100 | $3,536 |
| 25 | $1,870 | $1,964 |
| 35 | $1,651 | $1,651 |
| 40 | $1,614 | $1,607 |
| 45 | $1,586 | $1,579 |
| 50 | $1,512 | $1,517 |
| 55 | $1,465 | $1,475 |
| 60 | $1,454 | $1,468 |
| 65 | $1,489 | $1,513 |
| 70 | $1,573 | $1,608 |
| 75 | $1,712 | $1,780 |
| 80 | $1,880 | $1,997 |
Compare Car Insurance Rates by Credit Score
Car insurance companies often use an insurance-based credit score to determine your car insurance rates. Drivers with poor credit can expect to pay significantly higher rates compared to drivers with good credit. That’s why it’s crucial to shop around.
READ ALSO : Step by step guide to a classic car insurance
Using insurance-based credit scores for car insurance is banned in California, Hawaii, Massachusetts and Michigan.
The table below shows the average national rate increase for drivers with poor credit compared to good drivers.
| Company | Average annual rates | Average annual rates for drivers with poor credit | Average increase for drivers with poor credit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Geico | $1,221 | $1,750 | 43.30% |
| USAA | $1,111 | $1,865 | 67.90% |
| Nationwide | $1,411 | $1,905 | 35% |
| Travelers | $1,499 | $2,487 | 65.90% |
| Erie | $1,182 | $2,694 | 127.90% |
| Progressive | $1,825 | $3,052 | 67.20% |
| Farmers | $2,073 | $3,409 | 64.40% |
| Allstate | $2,315 | $3,617 | 56.20% |
| State Farm | $1,403 | $3,849 | 174.30% |
| Auto-Owners | $1,520 | $3,970 | 161.20% |
Compare Car Insurance for Drivers with a DUI
A DUI is a costly mistake. Our analysis found that the national average car insurance rate increase for drivers with a DUI is 74%. Here’s a look at rate increases after a DUI among large insurance companies.
| Company | Average annual rates | Average annual rates with one DUI | Average rate increase after a DUI |
|---|---|---|---|
| State Farm | $1,403 | $1,942 | 38% |
| Erie | $1,182 | $2,077 | 76% |
| USAA | $1,111 | $2,138 | 92% |
| Travelers | $1,499 | $2,248 | 50% |
| Progressive | $1,825 | $2,329 | 28% |
| Farmers | $2,073 | $2,865 | 38% |
| Auto-Owners | $1,520 | $2,894 | 90% |
| Nationwide | $1,411 | $2,942 | 109% |
| Geico | $1,221 | $3,129 | 156% |
| Allstate | $2,315 | $3,382 | 46% |
Compare Car Insurance Rates for Drivers with an At-Fault Accident
If you cause a car crash, you can expect your car insurance to go up after an accident. Here’s a look at rate increases for drivers who caused an accident that caused an injury compared to good drivers.
| Company | Average annual rates | Average annual rates with one at-fault accident causing injury | Average rate increase after one at-fault accident causing injury |
|---|---|---|---|
| USAA | $1,111 | $1,676 | 50.90% |
| State Farm | $1,403 | $1,713 | 22.10% |
| Erie | $1,182 | $1,733 | 47% |
| Auto-Owners | $1,520 | $2,089 | 37.40% |
| Travelers | $1,499 | $2,356 | 57.20% |
| Geico | $1,221 | $2,490 | 103.90% |
| Nationwide | $1,411 | $2,651 | 87.90% |
| Progressive | $1,825 | $3,070 | 68.20% |
| Farmers | $2,073 | $3,662 | 76.70% |
| Allstate | $2,315 | $3,973 | 71.60% |
Compare Car Insurance Rates for Drivers with a Speeding Ticket
Drivers with a heavy foot can expect car insurance rates to go up after a speeding ticket. Here’s a look at rate increases for drivers with one speeding ticket.
| Company | Average annual rates | Average annual rates with one speeding ticket | Average rate increase after a speeding ticket |
|---|---|---|---|
| USAA | $1,111 | $1,190 | 7.10% |
| Erie | $1,182 | $1,256 | 6.30% |
| Geico | $1,221 | $1,384 | 13% |
| State Farm | $1,403 | $1,403 | 0% |
| Auto-Owners | $1,520 | $1,520 | 0% |
| Travelers | $1,499 | $1,668 | 11.30% |
| Nationwide | $1,411 | $1,683 | 19.30% |
| Progressive | $1,825 | $2,075 | 13.70% |
| Farmers | $2,073 | $2,563 | 23.60% |
| Allstate | $2,315 | $2,581 | 11.50% |
Compare Car Insurance Rates for Seniors
Geico and USAA have the cheapest car insurance rates for seniors and well below the national annual average for senior drivers of $1,719. The older you get once you hit your senior years, the more you’ll likely pay for car insurance, so it’s vital to get multiple car insurance quotes from other companies to make sure you’re getting the best rates for your coverage.
| Company | Average annual senior rates | Average rates for 65-year-old male | Average rates for 65-year-old female | Average rates for 75-year-old male | Average rates for 75-year-old female |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geico | $1,197 | $1,021 | $1,044 | $1,231 | $1,114 |
| USAA | $1,299 | $1,045 | $1,023 | $1,274 | $1,209 |
| State Farm | $1,423 | $1,252 | $1,252 | $1,400 | $1,400 |
| Travelers | $1,515 | $1,283 | $1,219 | $1,554 | $1,409 |
| Erie | $1,525 | $1,277 | $1,238 | $1,504 | $1,471 |
| Nationwide | $1,611 | $1,363 | $1,333 | $1,674 | $1,531 |
| Auto-Owners | $1,633 | $1,353 | $1,366 | $1,508 | $1,522 |
| Progressive | $1,940 | $1,649 | $1,610 | $2,097 | $1,854 |
| Allstate | $2,244 | $1,938 | $1,898 | $2,157 | $2,112 |
| Farmers | $2,385 | $2,005 | $1,926 | $2,450 | $2,256 |
Compare Car Insurance Rates for Adding a Teen Driver
Here’s a look at the national average car insurance rate increases for a married couple that adds a teen driver to a policy with coverage of 100/300/100 and collision and comprehensive insurance.
| Company | Average national rate increase after adding a teen driver |
|---|---|
| Nationwide | 55% |
| American Family Insurance | 130.40% |
| Geico | 111.70% |
| Allstate | 92.90% |
| Farmers | 73.20% |
| USAA | 168.20% |
| Erie Insurance | 108% |
| State Farm | 104.50% |
| Auto-Owners Insurance | 181.60% |
| Progressive | 147.90% |
| MetLife | 174.10% |
What Factors Influence My Car Insurance Quotes?
There are several factors that play a role in car insurance quotes. Here are some of the most common pricing factors:
Your driving history
Drivers with a clean driving history will pay less than drivers who have traffic violations and at-fault car accidents on their records. Car insurance companies tend to look at the last three to five years of your driving history, depending on your state.
Your vehicle
The type of car you drive impacts your quote. Certain safety features (like air bags and rear backup cameras) and anti-theft features could help reduce your auto insurance quotes.
Your location
Where you live plays a significant role in rates. For instance, drivers in urban areas tend to file more car insurance claims, which usually translates into higher rates.
Your driving experience
Younger and inexperienced drivers (like teens) will pay more than drivers with years of experience under their belts.
Other pricing factors
Car insurance companies also often look at factors, such as gender, age, occupation, marital status, home ownership and credit. State law sometimes dictates that certain factors can’t be used. For example, California, Hawaii, Massachusetts and Michigan ban the use of credit scores in car insurance quotes.
Other drivers on your policy
If you have other drivers in your household, their driving records will impact your rate. For example, if you add a teen driver to your policy, be prepared for a significant bump in car insurance premiums.
How Do I Choose the Right Coverage Types?
The coverage types and the amount of coverage you choose will have a big impact on your auto insurance quote. But don’t get overly focused on price and skimp on necessary coverage. If you don’t buy enough insurance, you’ll have a coverage gap that could cause major financial pain if you get into a car accident.
Your goal is to find the best coverage for your specific situation and at the best price. Here are some common coverage types to consider.
READ ALSO: 3 Insurance Policies that every company should have
Car Liability Insurance
Car liability insurance is an essential coverage that pays others’ medical bills and property damage when you cause a car accident. It also pays for a legal defense in case you’re sued over a car accident.
Every state except for New Hampshire and Virginia require a minimum amount of car liability insurance, but it’s a good idea to buy more than what’s required. That’s because the minimum amounts are often woefully inadequate to cover medical bills and property damage if you cause a major accident.
If your policy limits are too low, you could be stuck paying out of pocket for the rest. A good rule of thumb is to buy enough liability insurance to cover your net worth, or the amount that you could lose in a lawsuit.
A good way to add extra liability coverage to an auto policy is to buy umbrella insurance.
You may have heard the term “full coverage car insurance.” This typically refers to an insurance policy that includes liability, collision and comprehensive insurance.
Collision and Comprehensive Insurance
Collision and comprehensive insurance pay for repairs to your car for a variety of problems, such as car accidents (regardless of fault), car theft, vandalism, fires, floods, falling objects (like tree branches) and collisions with animals.
While collision and comprehensive coverage are often sold together, you can purchase them individually. For example, if you only want coverage for problems like theft and floods, you can get a car insurance quote for comprehensive insurance without collision.
Just keep in mind that buying one without the other can leave you with a significant coverage gap. For example, if you back into a pole, you need collision coverage to pay for repairs.
If you have a car loan or lease, you’re likely required to carry both anyway.
Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage
Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage pays for medical bills and other expenses like lost wages when you are in a car accident caused by someone who doesn’t carry liability insurance, or who does not carry enough liability insurance to cover all your medical bills.
Some states require that car owners have uninsured motorist insurance.
Medical Expenses Coverage
This type of coverage varies by state, but generally it covers medical bills and other types of expenses (such as lost wages) if you or your passengers are injured in a car accident, no matter who caused it.
Some states require personal injury protection insurance (PIP) as part of their “no-fault” auto insurance systems.
Other Car Insurance Coverage Types
You’ll generally find several options beyond the basics when you compare car insurance quotes. These types can help you fill coverage gaps if you want to pay the extra money:
- Gap insurance. If your car is totaled or stolen and the vehicle’s value is less than the amount you own on a car loan or lease, this coverage pays the “gap” between the insurance check and what you owe.
- Rental reimbursement auto insurance. This covers the cost of a rental car while your car is being repaired for an accident insurance claim. But daily limits can be low, so make sure you need it.
- Roadside assistance insurance. If you’re stranded on the side of the road, roadside assistance insurance will pay for a tow, a jump-start for a dead battery, gas for empty tanks and a locksmith if you manage to lock your keys in the car. You may be able to find a better deal on roadside assistance elsewhere, such as an auto club.
How to Compare Car Insurance Quotes
Here are tips for comparing car insurance quotes:
Determine how much coverage you need
Assess whether it makes sense to buy more than your state-mandated minimum liability requirements—in nearly all cases it does as low limits can be exceeded by even minor accidents. Decide if you want comprehensive and collision coverage to cover your own car, and choose a deductible amount.
Research customer service
Review customer satisfaction ratings so you can find an insurance company that will be responsive if you have to file a claim and that can help you identify the best coverage options for your needs.
Check coverage options and discounts
Make sure the companies you’re considering provide coverage options and price breaks that match your driver profile. For example, if you want pet injury coverage included and the option to have a usage-based plan or accident forgiveness, check to see if these are offered. If you have a teen driver and work from home, a company with good student and low-mileage discounts is worth considering.
Shop identical coverage amounts
Compare car insurance quotes for the exact same coverage amount to be sure you’re getting an equitable comparison. Check out multiple insurers for pricing.
Methodology
To determine average national rates, we averaged the rate increase in each state among large insurers for drivers with liability coverage of $100,000 bodily injury per person, $300,000 bodily injury per accident and $100,000 for property damage (100/300/100), and collision and comprehensive insurance. Source: Quadrant Information Services
