Compare Car Insurance Rates & Quotes

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

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Written by Drew Gula
Lead Writer
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Edited by Ben Moore
Assistant Assigning Editor
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Co-written by Sarah Schlichter
Lead Writer

Hey, we get it — comparing car insurance quotes is about as fun as going to the dentist. But our research shows that average rates can vary by more than $1,000 per year from one company to another. That’s some serious potential savings.

We recommend comparing quotes from at least three companies to make sure you get the best deal. We can’t promise shopping for car insurance will be fun, but this guide will help make it a little easier — while hopefully saving you hundreds of dollars in the process.

  • 36+ 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 to compare car insurance quotes

For a smooth shopping process, follow these five steps when you’re ready to compare car insurance.

1. Gather vehicle and driver information

You’ll need the details below for all the drivers and vehicles in your household:

Drivers

  • Date of birth.

  • Occupation and marital status.

  • Driver's license number.

  • Accidents or traffic violations in the past five years.

Vehicles

  • Year, make and model.

  • Vehicle identification number (VIN).

  • Mileage.

  • Year purchased.

  • Current insurer (if applicable).

If you’re shopping for other policies along with car insurance, like homeowners or renters insurance, make sure you also have information about your home on hand. Learn more about getting home insurance quotes.

2. Know your coverage amounts

The default limits you’ll see in an online car insurance quote may not match the coverage you want to buy, so decide how much coverage you want before you start shopping. You can typically customize your quote by adjusting the liability limits and adding options such as comprehensive and collision coverage.

If you already have a policy you’re happy with, grab your most recent car insurance declaration page and refer to it when choosing the coverage amounts for each quote.

If you’re new to auto insurance or unsure whether your current limits are right for you, check out our guide to how much car insurance coverage you need.

3. Ensure a fair comparison

Once you’ve started entering your information and collecting quotes, make sure all the offers have the same coverage limits and deductibles. Check for optional features, too, such as roadside assistance or accident forgiveness.

4. Research the companies

The last thing you need after an accident is a company that delays your claim or doesn’t respond to calls, so it pays to do your research. Pay particular attention to complaint records and customer satisfaction to make sure the company will be easy to work with if you have a claim. Auto insurance reviews are a good place to find that information.

Also, make sure the companies have the features you care about. For example, if you’d rather file claims online than call an agent, check whether the insurer’s website allows you to do that. Got a side hustle driving for Uber or Lyft? See if the company offers rideshare insurance.

5. Consider the whole package

If you’re shopping for another policy along with your auto insurance, such as a home or renters policy, make sure you’re happy with the price and coverage there, too. Although bundling can offer discounts and convenience, in some cases you may find better prices or coverage by buying your policies from two separate companies.

More Nerdy Perspectives

Why you should compare car insurance quotes

Car insurance costs vary substantially — from one company to the next and from one driver to the next. That’s because each insurer uniquely calculates car insurance rates using many personal factors, like your age, marital status and driving history. You can find the best rate for you by comparing quotes from multiple companies.

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Compare sample car insurance rates

Checking out average auto insurance rates for drivers like you can give you an idea of how much you can expect to pay. Below are a few key factors that may affect your premiums, along with how much each one might change your average cost.

Jump to:

Compare car insurance rates by driving history

Having a DUI or at-fault accident on your record will cause your rates to go up — or even double. But each car insurer prices these incidents a little differently, so it’s worth shopping around for the best rates.

These are average full coverage car insurance rates in the U.S. for a 35-year-old driver:

Clean driving history

$2,296 per year

Recent DUI

$4,218 per year

Recent at-fault accident

$3,389 per year

To show how your driving history affects your car insurance, we compiled average monthly 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.

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.

CompanyClean recordRecent DUI
Allstate$2,915$4,296
American Family$2,131$2,703
Farmers$3,825$7,042
Geico$1,998$4,650
Nationwide$2,640$5,509
Progressive$2,262$2,891
State Farm$2,286$3,458
Travelers$1,722$2,991
USAA*$1,452$2,811

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

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

CompanyClean recordOne at-fault accident
Allstate$2,915$4,564
American Family$2,131$2,912
Farmers$3,825$5,946
Geico$1,998$3,417
Nationwide$2,640$4,251
Progressive$2,262$3,238
State Farm$2,286$2,932
Travelers$1,722$2,395
USAA*$1,452$2,080

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

Compare car insurance rates by credit

You might be surprised to learn that 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.

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.

These are average full coverage car insurance rates in the U.S. for a 35-year-old driver:

Good credit

$2,296 per year

Poor credit

$3,774 per year

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

CompanyGood creditPoor credit
Allstate$2,915$4,411
American Family$2,131$3,436
Farmers$3,825$6,868
Geico$1,998$2,826
Nationwide$2,640$3,693
Progressive$2,262$3,747
State Farm$2,286$8,600
Travelers$1,722$2,949
USAA*$1,452$2,660

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

Compare car insurance rates by age

Your age can have a big impact on your car insurance rates. Teens pay the most, with rates typically decreasing once you hit your 30s and going up again in your 70s.

These are average full coverage car insurance rates in the U.S. for a driver with a clean record and good credit:

Age 20

$4,712 per year

Age 35

$2,296 per year

Age 70

$2,126 per year

CompanyFull coverageMinimum coverage
Allstate$6,949$1,376
American Family$4,128$1,407
Farmers$7,916$2,408
Geico$3,640$948
Nationwide$6,095$2,097
Progressive$4,338$1,169
State Farm$5,161$1,320
Travelers$4,183$1,107
USAA*$3,186$811

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

CompanyFull coverageMinimum coverage
Allstate$2,915$707
American Family$2,131$673
Farmers$3,825$1,104
Geico$1,998$479
Nationwide$2,640$895
Progressive$2,262$622
State Farm$2,286$522
Travelers$1,722$534
USAA*$1,452$368

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

CompanyFull coverageMinimum coverage
Allstate$2,739$707
American Family$2,035$752
Farmers$3,492$1,116
Geico$1,995$534
Nationwide$2,415$877
Progressive$1,898$600
State Farm$2,094$512
Travelers$1,679$594
USAA*$1,239$360

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

Compare car insurance rates by where you live

Because insurance regulations vary from state to state, where you live can have a big impact on your car insurance rates. Click on your state in the map below to see our roundup of the cheapest auto insurance companies there.

StateMedian full coverage rateMedian minimum coverage rate
Alabama$2,036$447
Alaska$1,689$400
Arizona$2,765$856
Arkansas$2,389$516
California$1,948$511
Colorado$2,953$702
Connecticut$2,538$980
Delaware$2,581$1,146
Florida$3,992$953
Georgia$3,026$1,028
Hawaii$1,993$537
Idaho$1,765$378
Illinois$2,333$619
Indiana$2,013$514
Iowa$1,931$332
Kansas$2,528$634
Kentucky$3,278$813
Louisiana$4,000$992
Maine$1,525$451
Maryland$2,698$1,084
Massachusetts$1,753$463
Michigan$3,115$665
Minnesota$2,240$587
Mississippi$2,389$591
Missouri$2,674$635
Montana$2,488$457
Nebraska$1,971$386
Nevada$2,957$966
New Hampshire$1,454$443
New Jersey$3,058$1,138
New Mexico$2,366$528
New York$2,585$932
North Carolina$2,102$685
North Dakota$2,063$429
Ohio$1,610$464
Oklahoma$2,649$618
Oregon$1,978$865
Pennsylvania$2,279$455
Rhode Island$3,502$1,029
South Carolina$3,047$889
South Dakota$2,138$323
Tennessee$2,312$493
Texas$3,580$1,006
Utah$2,042$738
Vermont$1,392$351
Virginia$1,997$683
Washington$2,162$635
Washington, D.C.$3,046$1,286
West Virginia$2,408$672
Wisconsin$2,265$505
Wyoming$1,108$191

» ESTIMATE YOUR COST: Car insurance calculator

3 ways to compare car insurance quotes

There are three main ways to shop for car insurance, each with pros and cons.

Direct car insurance quotes online or by phone

Your first option is to call insurance companies one by one, or visit each of their websites to get individual quotes. Not sure which insurers to check? Start with our lists of the best car insurance and the cheapest car insurance companies.

Pros

You can reach out to as many companies as you’d like, including big-name insurers like State Farm that typically don’t sell their policies through independent agents.

You can often quickly customize your coverage options online to see how they impact your quote.

Cons

Requires making multiple phone calls or entering your information over and over again.

No access to smaller insurers, like Safety or Auto-Owners, that don’t sell directly to consumers.

Car insurance quote comparison sites

Another option is to shop with multiple companies at once using a comparison website. (Fun fact: NerdWallet offers its own comparison tool you can try.)

After you enter some basic information about yourself and your vehicle, the site will match you with one or more car insurance companies. Keep in mind that you may not see a list of personalized rates at this stage — you’ll often need to visit each company’s website individually to provide more information and get your final price.

Pros

Saves you time by shopping with several companies at once.

Ideal for users who want to buy online instead of making phone calls.

Comparison sites generally pass some of your information on to the insurer, so you don’t have to type it all in again.

Cons

Depending on your circumstances, you may not see as many options as you want.

Expect follow-up phone calls or emails, as comparison sites often share your personal information with other insurers and brokers.

May partner with a limited number of carriers.

Independent agents or brokers

A final option is to work with an independent insurance agent or insurance broker. This is often a local professional who will take your information by phone or in person, then shop around for insurance on your behalf. An agent or broker may be a good fit for people with complicated insurance needs — if you have a spotty driving history, for example, or you’re trying to get quotes for multiple cars, a house and an umbrella policy for extra liability coverage.

Pros

Often has access to smaller regional insurers that may not offer online quotes.

Saves you time by comparing rates for you.

Can answer questions and give personalized guidance.

Cons

Generally requires at least one initial phone call.

Your options are limited to insurance companies the agent or broker works with.

Brokers may charge a fee.

Car insurance quote comparison example

Below are three sample auto insurance quotes, along with advice on how to compare them. All three quotes feature the same standard coverage with the following limits and deductibles:

  • Bodily injury liability coverage: $100,000 per person and $300,000 per crash.

  • Property damage liability coverage: $50,000 per crash.

  • Uninsured motorist coverage: $100,000 per person, $300,000 per crash and $50,000 for property damage.

  • Collision and comprehensive coverage, each with a $1,000 deductible.

Company

Coverage included

Quoted price

Standard coverage only.

$2,000 per year.

Standard coverage plus declining deductibles.

$2,025 per year.

Standard coverage plus declining deductibles and accident forgiveness.

$2,250 per year.

These are fictionalized quotes for the purposes of illustration.

Geico has the lowest rate, but Liberty Mutual’s quote includes a “Deductible Fund,” which effectively reduces your collision deductible by $50 every six months. Is that worth an extra $25 to you? Travelers’ rate is the highest of the three, but you might decide that its extra perks are worth the price.

We also recommend comparing the companies themselves, not just the quotes. Here’s a quick look at how the ones above stack up based on NerdWallet’s research:

Geico Auto Insurance
Liberty Mutual Auto Insurance
Travelers Auto Insurance
NerdWallet rating 

4.5

/5
NerdWallet rating 

4.0

/5
NerdWallet rating 

5.0

/5

Complaints to NAIC 

Close to expected

Complaints to NAIC 

More than expected

Complaints to NAIC 

Fewer than expected

Ease of use 

Above average

Ease of use 

Above average

Ease of use 

Above average

Discounts 

Great set of discounts

Discounts 

Great set of discounts

Discounts 

Great set of discounts

Bottom line 

With nationwide availability and a raft of discounts, Geico is a popular, and often affordable, choice for car insurance.

Bottom line 

Liberty Mutual offers a long list of discounts, plus robust digital tools on its website and app.

Bottom line 

Travelers offers a broad range of coverage options and discounts to help you customize your car insurance policy.

Company

NerdWallet star rating

Consumer complaints

Discounts

4.5

NerdWallet rating 

Close to expected

Great set of discounts

4.0

NerdWallet rating 

More than expected

Great set of discounts

5.0

NerdWallet rating 

Fewer than expected

Great set of discounts

All three companies have strong star ratings and lots of discounts, but Travelers has the fewest consumer complaints. If customer service is your top priority, you might consider paying a little more for the Travelers policy. But if you want an affordable price from a solid company and don’t need any extra perks, Geico’s quote is probably the way to go.

What Reddit users say 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.

Frequently asked questions

It’s tempting to stick with the same insurer you’ve had for a decade, but taking time to shop around could save you hundreds of dollars a year. Insurance companies change their rates regularly, so the policy that was the best deal three years ago may no longer be your best option. And because car insurance pricing is unique to each company, the cheapest carrier for your friend or family member may not be the cheapest option for you.

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

You’re more likely to pay higher rates for car insurance if you’ve had a recent at-fault accident or DUI, you live in an urban area or you have poor credit, among other factors. For more information, see Why Is My Car Insurance So High?

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. See how to get the cheapest car insurance rates.

It depends. If you don’t want to do the work yourself, you can contact 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. You can also try using an online comparison site to shop with several insurers at once.

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. Spoiler alert: right now Travelers is the best company overall.

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.