Compare Car Insurance Rates for October 2024

Shopping for car insurance? Comparing car insurance rates can help you find the best price.

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Get the cheapest car insurance by comparing car insurance rates from multiple companies. Every carrier sets rates differently, which means two different insurers could offer completely different rates for the same driver. By taking the time to compare car insurance rates on NerdWallet, you could uncover substantial savings.

  • 60+ years of combined experience covering insurance.

  • 1.5 billion+ auto insurance rates analyzed by our team of experts.

  • 700+ auto insurance companies analyzed in over 29,000 U.S. cities. (See our top picks.)

NerdWallet writers and editors follow strict editorial guidelines to ensure fairness and accuracy in our writing and data analyses. Read our criteria for evaluating auto insurance companies.

How comparing car insurance gets you the best rates

Shopping around and comparing car insurance rates from multiple insurers could potentially save you hundreds of dollars a year. Why? Each auto insurance company has their own unique way of pricing coverage, so one company could be far more expensive than another for the same driver. Simply put, the policy you have may not be the cheapest option out there, even for the same exact coverage.

While it may be tempting to go with the first insurer you get a quote from, the most effective way to shop is to compare quotes from a minimum of three insurers at least once a year.

How to compare car insurance rates

You can use NerdWallet’s car insurance comparison tool to get matched with car insurance companies in your area. Simply input information like your age, vehicle type and driving history to get matched with insurers. You can also go directly to insurer websites for quotes, or work with an independent agent who can compare car insurance on your behalf. No matter the source, you will need to provide your personal data to get an accurate quote.

Here’s what to do to compare car insurance rates quickly, while still getting the right coverage for you.

1. Gather your information

To quickly and easily compare insurance online, you should have the following on hand:

2. Choose your liability limits

Liability insurance protects you from paying out of pocket for any damage or injuries you cause in a crash, and it’s required to drive in most places. If expenses after a crash go above your liability limits, you’ll be responsible to pay out of pocket. If you don’t have enough cash on hand, you could face a lawsuit. With bills for property damage and injuries easily reaching hundreds of thousands of dollars, NerdWallet recommends you get liability limits high enough to cover your net worth.

Want to learn more? Read NerdWallet’s guide to liability car insurance.

Be sure you understand your state’s requirements

Almost every state requires a minimum amount of car insurance to drive legally. If you work with an agent or comparison shop online, your state’s minimum car insurance requirements should automatically be included in your quote.

While liability insurance is almost always mandatory, some states also require uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, personal injury protection or medical payments coverage. To learn more about what these are, read our guide to the most common types of car insurance.

🤓Nerdy Tip

Minimum coverage car insurance will always be the cheapest option, but you’ll likely be underinsured — especially if you cause a bad accident. In that case, you could be left having to pay (or face a lawsuit) for any damage or injuries you cause. If you’re unsure how much car insurance to get, read our guide on how much car insurance you need.

3. Decide if you need full coverage

Full coverage car insurance is a term used for auto policies that include comprehensive and collision coverage. Combined, comprehensive and collision cover just about any damage to your own car after a wreck, regardless of who caused it, once you pay a deductible. If you have a loan or a lease on your vehicle, full coverage is probably required by your lender.

Full coverage policies are more expensive than simply buying your state’s minimum required policy. If you drive an older, less valuable car, though, it’s possible you don’t need full coverage. That’s because comprehensive and collision coverage only pay out up to your vehicle’s current market value, minus your deductible.

4. Collect and compare car insurance quotes

You should get car insurance quotes from at least three companies — ideally more. To be sure you’re getting the best deal, compare car insurance quotes from smaller, regional companies plus the big names, like Allstate, Geico, Progressive and State Farm.

To accurately compare quotes, ask the agent or company representative to find all discounts you’re eligible for. Plus, make sure you’re using the same coverage limits and deductible amounts for every company you get quotes from.

More Nerdy Perspectives
Frequently asked questions

You can compare car insurance on NerdWallet, going directly to insurer websites or by working with an agent.

Start by reading NerdWallet’s analysis of the cheapest car insurance, and then compare rates online from companies that offer the cheapest rates in your state. You can also work with an independent agent, who can get quotes from a variety of insurers.

The fastest way to compare rates is likely to work with an independent insurance agent. They’ll be able to pull quotes from multiple insurers on your behalf, so you can compare each company to see which is best for you. However, they only work with specific companies and may leave out bigger names.

The best insurance companies offer great customer service, a variety of coverage types to choose from, plus plenty of discounts and perks. You can read NerdWallet’s roundup of the best car insurance in the country to see our top picks.

Compare car insurance rates by age

Key insights 💡

  • 20-year-old drivers have the most expensive car insurance, with an average rate of $3,672 per year for full coverage and $1,055 per year for minimum coverage.

  • The cost of car insurance levels out once a driver reaches 30, with an average of $1,830 a year for full coverage.

  • Geico is the cheapest company for 20-year-olds, while Geico is cheapest for 30-year-olds.

Your age can have a big impact on your car insurance rate. For example, you might already know teen drivers have some of the highest car insurance rates on average, but they aren’t the only ones. Although your rates will likely decrease once you hit your thirties, most drivers tend to see higher rates once they reach their 70s.

Below are the average costs of full and minimum coverage, by age, for drivers with good credit and a clean driving history, according to our October 2024 analysis.

Compare insurance rates for 20-year-olds

Drivers around the age of 20 typically get higher car insurance rates because they are more likely to get into accidents than older drivers, on average. NerdWallet recommends comparing car insurance quotes to find the cheapest option available, even if it may not be as affordable as other age groups.

To get more insight into how your age affects your car insurance, we compiled average annual rates from nine of the 10 largest private passenger auto insurers in the country based on market share data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. Data for Liberty Mutual wasn't available.

Average annual rate for 20-year-olds, by company

Company NameFull coverage rateMinimum coverage rate
Allstate$5,494$1,182
American Family$2,788$1,029
Farmers$6,330$1,979
Geico$2,442$678
Nationwide$4,234$1,788
Progressive$3,383$974
State Farm$4,746$1,235
Travelers$3,314$926
USAA*$2,498$665

*USAA is only available to military, veterans and their families.

Average annual rate for 20-year-olds, by state

StateMedian full coverage rateMedian minimum coverage rate
Alabama$3,972$968
Alaska$2,977$804
Arizona$4,589$1,457
Arkansas$4,058$1,066
California$2,940$801
Colorado$5,400$1,395
Connecticut$4,678$1,959
Delaware$5,418$2,199
Florida$5,755$1,430
Georgia$4,919$1,664
Hawaii$1,610$491
Idaho$2,897$736
Illinois$3,544$1,150
Indiana$3,245$933
Iowa$2,797$640
Kansas$3,687$967
Kentucky$5,682$1,598
Louisiana$6,720$1,827
Maine$3,077$1,033
Maryland$4,804$1,926
Massachusetts$2,702$833
Michigan$4,664$1,143
Minnesota$2,923$869
Mississippi$3,885$1,035
Missouri$4,547$1,085
Montana$4,099$879
Nebraska$2,977$799
Nevada$5,440$1,872
New Hampshire$3,189$914
New Jersey$4,876$1,722
New Mexico$3,742$950
New York$4,090$1,599
North Carolina$2,064$722
North Dakota$3,049$717
Ohio$2,688$796
Oklahoma$4,246$1,136
Oregon$2,812$1,254
Pennsylvania$3,881$794
Rhode Island$6,309$1,997
South Carolina$4,171$1,501
South Dakota$3,027$642
Tennessee$3,773$1,033
Texas$5,768$2,052
Utah$3,463$1,279
Vermont$2,999$730
Virginia$3,347$1,278
Washington$3,569$1,276
Washington, D.C.$3,480$1,680
West Virginia$3,666$1,059
Wisconsin$3,522$889
Wyoming$2,561$465

Compare car insurance rates for 35-year-olds

Because drivers around the age of 35 get in fewer accidents than younger drivers, they typically can get lower car insurance rates than 20-somethings.

Average annual rate for 35-year-olds, by company

Company NameFull coverage rateMinimum coverage rate
Allstate$2,333$633
American Family$1,324$505
Farmers$2,721$896
Geico$1,296$349
Nationwide$1,928$750
Progressive$1,769$512
State Farm$2,128$473
Travelers$1,386$465
USAA*$1,174$306

*USAA is only available to military, veterans and their families.

Average annual rate for 35-year-olds, by state

StateMedian full coverage rateMedian minimum coverage rate
Alabama$1,827$454
Alaska$1,614$355
Arizona$2,269$703
Arkansas$1,874$463
California$1,671$458
Colorado$2,347$542
Connecticut$1,792$789
Delaware$1,973$891
Florida$3,104$798
Georgia$2,167$721
Hawaii$1,610$491
Idaho$1,162$319
Illinois$1,570$472
Indiana$1,484$414
Iowa$1,445$284
Kansas$1,787$479
Kentucky$2,405$669
Louisiana$3,115$892
Maine$1,260$393
Maryland$1,997$875
Massachusetts$1,321$396
Michigan$2,420$596
Minnesota$1,703$473
Mississippi$1,910$503
Missouri$2,081$510
Montana$1,793$425
Nebraska$1,494$355
Nevada$2,257$786
New Hampshire$1,157$369
New Jersey$2,297$854
New Mexico$1,927$440
New York$2,075$804
North Carolina$1,966$660
North Dakota$1,608$371
Ohio$1,237$346
Oklahoma$2,254$514
Oregon$1,373$623
Pennsylvania$1,679$372
Rhode Island$2,360$788
South Carolina$2,135$768
South Dakota$1,650$280
Tennessee$1,828$432
Texas$2,565$813
Utah$1,464$556
Vermont$1,072$299
Virginia$1,605$648
Washington$1,587$546
Washington, D.C.$1,742$848
West Virginia$1,703$525
Wisconsin$1,590$386
Wyoming$970$185

Compare insurance rates by driver history

Key insights 💡

  • Full coverage for a 35-year-old good driver with good credit costs an average of $1,776 a year.

  • A recent DUI increases that cost to an average of $3,253 a year.

  • A recent at-fault accident costs an average of $2,625 a year.

  • Having poor credit costs an average of $2,809 a year for full coverage.

Car insurance companies pay close attention to a variety of factors when determining rates. We’ve analyzed rates for a few of the most common driver "profiles" to give you an idea of how much insurance might cost for each one.

Use these links when comparing auto insurance rates for specific driver histories:

Compare car insurance rates for drivers with a DUI

After a DUI, your auto insurance rate will go up — in some cases, it could even double. But one thing you can control is your choice of insurance company. A DUI can affect car insurance rates for three to 10 years, so it’s a good idea to shop around for the best rates after getting a DUI.

Average annual rate for drivers with a DUI, by company

Below you can compare average car insurance rates from different companies for 35-year-olds before and after a DUI. Keep in mind that not all of these options are available in every state.

Company NameRate for drivers with a clean recordRate for drivers with a DUI
Allstate$2,333$3,486
American Family$1,324$2,089
Farmers$2,721$5,377
Geico$1,296$3,092
Nationwide$1,928$3,935
Progressive$1,769$2,197
State Farm$2,128$3,165
Travelers$1,386$2,324
USAA*$1,174$2,244

*USAA is only available to military, veterans and their families.

Average annual rate for drivers with a DUI, by state

In Florida, the average insurance cost for drivers with a recent DUI is 38% higher, on average, than for similar drivers with no incidents — $1,207 more a year. However, in our analysis, a DUI in North Carolina added $5,848 to the annual cost of full coverage car insurance for 35-year-old drivers.

See below for how your state measures up.

StateRate for drivers with a clean recordRate for drivers with a DUI
Alabama$1,827$3,049
Alaska$1,614$2,490
Arizona$2,269$3,573
Arkansas$1,874$2,966
California$1,671$4,475
Colorado$2,347$3,768
Connecticut$1,792$3,199
Delaware$1,973$3,689
Florida$3,104$4,311
Georgia$2,167$3,343
Hawaii$1,610$3,060
Idaho$1,162$2,358
Illinois$1,570$2,908
Indiana$1,484$3,062
Iowa$1,445$2,660
Kansas$1,787$3,215
Kentucky$2,405$4,442
Louisiana$3,115$4,746
Maine$1,260$2,547
Maryland$1,997$3,187
Massachusetts$1,321$2,496
Michigan$2,420$6,238
Minnesota$1,703$2,680
Mississippi$1,910$2,996
Missouri$2,081$3,380
Montana$1,793$3,074
Nebraska$1,494$2,492
Nevada$2,257$3,563
New Hampshire$1,157$2,104
New Jersey$2,297$4,581
New Mexico$1,927$3,139
New York$2,075$3,845
North Carolina$1,966$7,814
North Dakota$1,608$2,874
Ohio$1,237$2,411
Oklahoma$2,254$3,335
Oregon$1,373$2,467
Pennsylvania$1,679$3,017
Rhode Island$2,360$4,398
South Carolina$2,135$3,453
South Dakota$1,650$2,825
Tennessee$1,828$3,148
Texas$2,565$4,254
Utah$1,464$2,696
Vermont$1,072$2,455
Virginia$1,605$2,711
Washington$1,587$2,559
Washington, D.C.$1,742$3,360
West Virginia$1,703$3,170
Wisconsin$1,590$2,998
Wyoming$970$2,413

While your car insurance rate will almost always increase after a DUI, it’s clear that the amount it increases will depend partially on where you live.

Compare auto insurance rates for drivers with poor credit

Your credit history is one of the largest factors affecting your car insurance rate. In states where it's allowed, carriers use credit history to determine how likely you are to file a claim.

Average annual rate for drivers with poor credit, by company

While rates may double for some drivers with poor credit, know that every company considers credit differently. An insurance company may evaluate your credit differently depending on which state you live in.

Drivers with poor credit insured by Nationwide could pay about 39% more a year, on average, compared with similar drivers with good credit. Meanwhile, the average price for full coverage from State Farm or Farmers rises 96% or more for drivers with poor credit compared with those with good credit.

Below you can compare average full coverage rates for 35-year-old drivers with poor credit by company.

Company NameRate for drivers with good creditRate for drivers with poor credit
Allstate$2,333$3,357
American Family$1,324$2,167
Farmers$2,721$5,360
Geico$1,296$1,857
Nationwide$1,928$2,695
Progressive$1,769$2,922
State Farm$2,128$7,546
Travelers$1,386$2,287
USAA*$1,174$2,023

*USAA is only available to military, veterans and their families.

Average annual rate for drivers with poor credit, by state

Certain states prohibit the use of credit in setting car insurance rates, and how insurers treat credit differs from state to state. For example, state regulators in one state may allow more wiggle room for credit-based pricing than others, which leads to variations by state as well as by company.

Below you can compare average full coverage rates for 35-year-old drivers with poor credit by state.

StateRate for drivers with good creditRate for drivers with poor credit
Alabama$1,827$3,258
Alaska$1,614$2,145
Arizona$2,269$3,394
Arkansas$1,874$3,156
California$1,671*$1,671*
Colorado$2,347$3,979
Connecticut$1,792$2,826
Delaware$1,973$3,595
Florida$3,104$4,669
Georgia$2,167$3,319
Hawaii$1,610*$1,610*
Idaho$1,162$1,862
Illinois$1,570$2,527
Indiana$1,484$2,678
Iowa$1,445$2,158
Kansas$1,787$3,128
Kentucky$2,405$4,422
Louisiana$3,115$5,272
Maine$1,260$1,924
Maryland$1,997$3,343
Massachusetts$1,321*$1,321*
Michigan$2,420$4,396
Minnesota$1,703$3,069
Mississippi$1,910$2,992
Missouri$2,081$3,077
Montana$1,793$2,817
Nebraska$1,494$2,480
Nevada$2,257$3,635
New Hampshire$1,157$1,932
New Jersey$2,297$4,185
New Mexico$1,927$3,097
New York$2,075$3,580
North Carolina$1,966$2,520
North Dakota$1,608$2,497
Ohio$1,237$2,133
Oklahoma$2,254$3,010
Oregon$1,373$2,047
Pennsylvania$1,679$2,946
Rhode Island$2,360$4,008
South Carolina$2,135$3,631
South Dakota$1,650$2,829
Tennessee$1,828$3,087
Texas$2,565$4,556
Utah$1,464$2,635
Vermont$1,072$2,079
Virginia$1,605$2,899
Washington$1,587$2,006
Washington, D.C.$1,742$3,060
West Virginia$1,703$2,472
Wisconsin$1,590$2,308
Wyoming$970$2,576

*Credit is not used to price rates in this state.

California, Hawaii and Massachusetts don't allow insurers to use credit when determining car insurance rates. In Washington, the legal code around this issue is being debated.

Compare insurance rates for drivers with an accident

Your driving history can affect auto insurance rates in different ways from one company to another. It’s a good idea to compare how each insurer’s car insurance rates stack up against the rest if you have a recent accident.

Average annual rate for drivers with an accident, by company

Below you can compare average full coverage rates for 35-year-old drivers with a recent at-fault accident by company.

Company NameRate for drivers with a clean recordRate after one at-fault accident
Allstate$2,333$3,570
American Family$1,324$2,170
Farmers$2,721$4,302
Geico$1,296$2,227
Nationwide$1,928$3,066
Progressive$1,769$2,587
State Farm$2,128$2,678
Travelers$1,386$1,864
USAA*$1,174$1,700

*USAA is only available to military, veterans and their families.

Average annual rate for drivers with an accident, by state

Here are the average full coverage rates for 35-year-old drivers with a recent at-fault accident by state:

StateRate for drivers with a clean recordRate after one at-fault accident
Alabama$1,827$2,563
Alaska$1,614$1,958
Arizona$2,269$3,488
Arkansas$1,874$2,822
California$1,671$3,028
Colorado$2,347$3,505
Connecticut$1,792$2,628
Delaware$1,973$2,848
Florida$3,104$4,562
Georgia$2,167$3,410
Hawaii$1,610$2,190
Idaho$1,162$1,630
Illinois$1,570$2,455
Indiana$1,484$2,239
Iowa$1,445$2,043
Kansas$1,787$2,562
Kentucky$2,405$3,464
Louisiana$3,115$4,578
Maine$1,260$1,909
Maryland$1,997$3,188
Massachusetts$1,321$2,082
Michigan$2,420$3,327
Minnesota$1,703$2,418
Mississippi$1,910$2,741
Missouri$2,081$2,767
Montana$1,793$2,854
Nebraska$1,494$2,316
Nevada$2,257$3,433
New Hampshire$1,157$1,819
New Jersey$2,297$3,483
New Mexico$1,927$2,820
New York$2,075$2,991
North Carolina$1,966$3,076
North Dakota$1,608$2,367
Ohio$1,237$1,733
Oklahoma$2,254$2,908
Oregon$1,373$2,096
Pennsylvania$1,679$2,444
Rhode Island$2,360$2,449
South Carolina$2,135$3,166
South Dakota$1,650$2,364
Tennessee$1,828$2,640
Texas$2,565$4,073
Utah$1,464$2,296
Vermont$1,072$1,638
Virginia$1,605$2,403
Washington$1,587$2,198
Washington, D.C.$1,742$2,676
West Virginia$1,703$2,395
Wisconsin$1,590$2,390
Wyoming$970$1,640

Your rates will probably increase after an at-fault accident, so be sure to include the accident when you compare car insurance rates.

Compare car insurance companies

You can use NerdWallet's reviews to compare car insurance companies and find the best fit for you. NerdWallet has researched policy options, consumer complaint data, customer satisfaction ratings, financial stability and other key factors for all of the country's top auto insurance companies. We also researched many smaller, regional insurers.

What Reddit says about comparing car insurance quotes

Reddit is an online forum where users share their thoughts in “threads” on various topics. The popular site includes plenty of discussion on financial subjects like auto insurance, so we sifted through Reddit forums to get a pulse check on how users feel about comparing car insurance. People post anonymously, so we cannot confirm their individual experiences or circumstances.

Many Redditors are frustrated about the rising cost of insurance around the country. Some drivers shop around regularly to try and find better deals, even using their car insurance quotes as leverage to see if insurers can match or beat another company’s quote. At NerdWallet, we recommend comparing quotes at least once a year for this exact reason.

However, Redditors are equally disappointed with the time and effort that go into getting quotes. People want to find a way to get quotes quickly and reliably, and contacting a handful of insurers to get quotes can certainly feel tedious. You can always use a car insurance comparison tool to save time and effort on this part of the process. (Hint: We’ve got a comparison tool right here.)

Additionally, many Redditors suggest working with a local independent insurance agent. It’s a smart move to take advantage of an insurance expert because they know the industry and how to match drivers with insurers. For example, these agents often direct drivers to smaller regional insurers that may not be well-known but still provide affordable rates.

Methodology

NerdWallet averaged rates based on public filings obtained by pricing analytics company Quadrant Information Services. We examined rates for men and women for all ZIP codes in all of the 50 states and Washington, D.C. Although it’s one of the largest insurers in the country, Liberty Mutual is not included in our rates analysis due to a lack of publicly available information.

In our analysis, “good drivers” had no moving violations on record; a “good driving” discount was included for this profile. Our “good” and “poor” credit rates are based on credit score approximations and do not account for proprietary scoring criteria used by insurance providers.

These are median rates, and your rate will vary based on your personal details, state and insurance provider.

Sample drivers had the following coverage limits:

  • $100,000 bodily injury liability coverage per person.

  • $300,000 bodily injury liability coverage per crash.

  • $50,000 property damage liability coverage per crash.

  • $100,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage per person.

  • $300,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage per crash.

  • Collision coverage with $1,000 deductible.

  • Comprehensive coverage with $1,000 deductible.

In states where required, minimum additional coverages were added. We used the same assumptions for all other driver profiles, with the following exceptions:

  • For drivers with minimum coverage, we adjusted the numbers above to reflect only the minimum coverage required by law in the state.

  • We changed the credit tier from “good” to “poor” as reported to the insurer to see rates for drivers with poor credit. In states where credit isn’t taken into account, we only used rates for “good credit.”

  • For drivers with one at-fault crash, we added a single at-fault crash costing $10,000 in property damage.

  • For drivers with a DUI, we added a single drunken-driving violation.

  • For drivers with a ticket, we added a single speeding violation for driving 16 mph over the speed limit.

We used a 2021 Toyota Camry LE in all cases and assumed 12,000 annual miles driven. We analyzed rates for drivers of the following ages: 20, 30, 35, 40, 50, 60 and 70.

These are rates generated through Quadrant Information Services. Your own rates will be different.