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Cheapest Full-Coverage Car Insurance Companies

The cheapest full-coverage car insurance companies are USAA, Erie, Nationwide, Geico, and Auto-Owners with rates as low as $88 per month.

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Key Points

  • USAA is often the cheapest provider of full-coverage car insurance, offering plans as low as $1,054. However, it is only available to military members and their families.
  • Other cheap providers for full-coverage auto insurance are Erie Insurance, Nationwide, and Auto-Owners.
  • Drivers with recent accidents and violations typically pay more than those with clean driving records.
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Full coverage isn’t a single type of car insurance. It’s actually a combination of liability, collision and comprehensive coverage (plus other types of insurance in some cases). State minimum insurance only covers injuries and property damage for other drivers and their cars if you’re at fault for an accident, but full coverage protects you and your car in almost any situation.

In this guide, we’ll explain what full coverage is and how even the cheapest full-coverage car insurance can protect you better than liability insurance alone. We’ll also recommend some of the best car insurance companies for affordable full coverage.

Cheapest Full-Coverage Car Insurance Companies

Based on our research, USAA offers the cheapest full-coverage car insurance. The company charges policyholders an average of $88 per month or $1,054 per year. Bear in mind that USAA is only available to active members of the military, veterans, and their families.

If we take USAA out of the equation, regional provider Erie Insurance is the cheapest option, coming in at an average of $103 per month or $1,238 per year. Nationwide tends to be the cheapest option that’s available in most of the country, with monthly rates averaging $107 and yearly rates averaging $1,281.

The table below lists the average monthly and annual full-coverage rates for the top car insurance companies. These averages are based on a married 35-year-old with good credit and a clean driving record.

Car Insurance CompanyAverage Monthly RateAverage Annual Rate
USAA$88$1,054
Erie Insurance$103$1,238
Nationwide$107$1,281
Geico$109$1,308
Auto-Owners Insurance$111$1,337
State Farm$123$1,481
American Family Insurance$128$1,537
Progressive$134$1,611
Travelers$139$1,669
Kemper$167$2,009

In the next sections, we’ll break down the cheapest full-coverage car insurance companies by state and driver age. We’ll also look at the companies with the most affordable car insurance for people with violations on their driving records.

Factors That Affect Auto Insurance Rates

As you shop for car insurance, keep in mind that rates aren’t the same for every driver or type of vehicle. To calculate your auto insurance quote, a provider will usually look at the factors below. But laws in some states don’t allow insurance companies to consider certain information–like your credit history, gender, or marital status–when setting rates.

  • Location: You’ll pay more for coverage if you live in an area with higher rates of property crime and car accidents.
  • Age: Younger and elderly drivers tend to pay more for car insurance. Rates generally begin to decrease after 25 but rise again after 55.
  • Driving record: If you have recent speeding tickets, at-fault accidents, or DUI convictions, your auto insurance will be more expensive.
  • Credit history: The higher your credit score, the lower your insurance premium will likely be.
  • Marital status: Married drivers tend to pay less for insurance than single drivers.
  • Gender: Male drivers are statistically more likely to get into car accidents, so they generally pay more for auto coverage.
  • Vehicle: Luxury vehicles and sports cars are more expensive to repair and replace, so they cost more to insure.

Cheapest Full-Coverage Car Insurance By State

Each state has its own regulations for car insurance, so the average cost of car insurance varies by location. We’ll show average costs from the cheapest provider of full coverage in each state. We used the profile of a married 35-year-old driver with clean driving history and good credit for this section.

Big national insurers often have affordable rates, but you may find that a smaller or regional company has the cheapest coverage in your state. We encourage you to compare many providers to find the best rates and coverage for your needs.

StateCheapest Car Insurance Company¹Average
Monthly Rate
Average
Annual Rate
AlabamaNationwide$92$1,108
AlaskaGeico$90$1,084
ArizonaGeico$89$1,071
ArkansasState Farm$102$1,223
CaliforniaProgressive$122$1,460
ColoradoGeico$93$1,119
ConnecticutGeico$74$891
DelawareState Farm$105$1,265
District of ColumbiaGeico$78$939
FloridaGeico$161$1,937
GeorgiaGeico$103$1,238
HawaiiAllstate$117$1,404
IdahoState Farm$57$679
IllinoisCountry Financial$83$994
IndianaGeico$67$806
IowaState Farm$70$843
KansasNationwide$80$961
KentuckyGeico$94$1,127
LouisianaSouthern Farm Bureau$163$1,960
MaineAuto-Owners Insurance$46$557
MarylandGeico$92$1,100
MassachusettsProgressive$160$1,922
MichiganProgressive$128$1,530
MinnesotaState Farm$102$1,228
MississippiNational General$76$910
MissouriState Farm$112$1,339
MontanaProgressive$83$998
NebraskaFarmers Mutual of Nebraska$105$1,261
NevadaGeico$104$1,243
New HampshireState Farm$71$851
New JerseyGeico$113$1,359
New MexicoGeico$81$973
New YorkProgressive$108$1,300
North CarolinaNationwide$81$968
North DakotaState Farm$92$1,109
OhioGrange Insurance$62$738
OklahomaState Farm$104$1,251
OregonState Farm$83$1,000
PennsylvaniaNationwide$92$1,107
Rhode IslandGeico$119$1,429
South CarolinaAmerican National$57$678
South DakotaAmerican Family Insurance$107$1,288
TennesseeState Farm$87$1,042
TexasTexas Farm Bureau$84$1,013
UtahGeico$82$978
VermontState Farm$63$757
VirginiaErie Insurance$78$941
WashingtonPemco Mutual$99$1,193
West VirginiaNationwide$86$1,031
WisconsinGeico$62$738
WyomingAmerican National$73$877

¹We didn’t include USAA in this table. It’s often the cheapest insurer in most states, but it’s only available to members of the military, veterans, and their spouses and children.

Cheapest Full-Coverage Auto Insurance By Age

Your age plays an important role in the cost of full-coverage car insurance. Younger drivers tend to get into more car accidents, so they often pay much more for auto insurance. Our research shows Geico is typically the national provider with the cheapest full-coverage policies for drivers of almost every age.

For drivers in Washington, D.C., and the 12 states Erie Insurance serves, the company is commonly the cheapest regional provider for ages 16 to 18 and 40 to 65.

AgeCheapest Provider²Average
Monthly Rate
Average
Annual Rate
16State Farm346$4,146
17Geico304$3,646
18Geico263$3,161
19Geico207$2,485
21Geico154$1,844
25Geico118$1,420
30Geico109$1,308
40Geico107$1,282
45Geico108$1,292
50Geico$103$1,235
55Geico$101$1,213
65Geico$102$1,227
75Geico$121$1,457

² Not including USAA

Cheapest Full-Coverage Car Insurance After Accidents And Violations

If you have accidents or speeding tickets or other violations on your driving record, you can expect your car insurance rates to be higher. Depending on where you live, your rates may stay high for three to five years.

The tables below show average full-coverage rates for a 35-year-old male driver after accidents or traffic violations.

If you have a speeding ticket on your record, you’ll likely find the cheapest full-coverage car insurance from USAA ($117 per month or $1,413 annually on average) or Erie ($129 per month or $1,549 per year on average).

These averages apply to tickets issued for speeding 16 to 20 mph over the limit. We found this type of speeding ticket raises rates by an average of $583 per year.

Car Insurance CompanyAverage Monthly RateAverage Annual Rate
USAA$1171,413
Erie Insurance$1291,549
Nationwide$1381,656
State Farm$1491,794
Geico$1541,856
Travelers$1682,023
American Family Insurance$171$2,061
Auto-Owners Insurance$177$2,119
Progressive$192$2,311
Allstate$228$2,746

Cheapest Full Coverage After A Stop-Sign Violation

Running a stop sign is dangerous and can raise your car insurance rate quite a bit if you get a ticket for it. Based on the data we collected, this type of violation can increase your premium by an average of $550 per year. Nationwide is the cheapest mass-market provider for drivers with a stop-sign violation, with average rates of $137 per month or $1,650 per year.

Car Insurance CompanyAverage Monthly RateAverage Annual Rate
USAA$117$1,405
Erie Insurance$128$1,535
Auto-Owners Insurance$132$1,584
Nationwide$137$1,650
Geico$144$1,739
State Farm$145$1,749
Travelers$169$2,032
American Family Insurance$171$2,061
Progressive$206$2,477
Allstate$228$2,738

Cheapest Full Coverage After A DUI

Having a DUI conviction on your record can cause your insurance premium to skyrocket. Our research shows drivers with a DUI pay an average of about $1,547 per year more than people with clean driving history.

Our cost data shows State Farm frequently offers the most affordable full-coverage policies for drivers with a DUI. American Family, Erie, Progressive, and Travelers may also offer high-risk drivers relatively cheap car insurance.

Car Insurance CompanyAverage Monthly RateAverage Annual Rate
State Farm$181$2,180
American Family Insurance$184$2,211
USAA$186$2,236
Erie Insurance$194$2,326
Progressive$194$2,328
Travelers$194$2,332
Nationwide$238$2,867
Auto-Owners Insurance$248$2,971
Farmers$271$3,260
Geico$281$3,376

Cheapest Full Coverage After One Accident

We found that having an at-fault accident on your record can raise rates by about 55 percent on average. In this situation, State Farm tends to be the cheapest national provider, offering average monthly rates of $156 or average annual rates of $1,882.

Car Insurance CompanyAverage Monthly RateAverage Annual Rate
USAA$137$1,647
Erie Insurance$153$1,832
State Farm$156$1,882
American Family Insurance$161$1,935
Auto-Owners Insurance$166$1,995
Nationwide$171$2,063
Travelers$182$2,193
Geico$197$2,364
Progressive$235$2,822
Farmers$297$3,567

Cheapest Full Coverage After Two Accidents

If you have two at-fault accidents on your record, insurance providers view you as a much higher risk to insure. Drivers with two at-fault accidents tend to pay around twice as much as those with clean records. 

If you’re one of these drivers, you’re likely to find the cheapest full-coverage car insurance with State Farm, American Family, Erie, or USAA.

Car Insurance CompanyAverage Monthly RateAverage Annual Rate
State Farm$173$2,084
American Family Insurance$200$2,408
Erie Insurance$201$2,417
USAA$213$2,565
Auto-Owners Insurance$231$2,777
Nationwide$233$2,797
Travelers$244$2,935
Geico$292$3,509
Progressive$331$3,977
Allstate$393$4,724

Cheapest Full Coverage After Three Accidents

You’ll probably have a difficult time finding cheap full-coverage car insurance if you’ve had three at-fault accidents. State Farm tends to offer the cheapest rates for these drivers, but its average rates of $195 per month or $2,341 per year are about 35 percent more expensive than the average cost for drivers with clean records.

Car Insurance CompanyAverage Monthly RateAverage Annual Rate
State Farm$195$2,341
American Family Insurance$235$2,826
USAA$288$3,465
Erie Insurance$295$3,535
Auto-Owners Insurance$317$3,799
Nationwide$331$3,974
Travelers$340$4,085
Geico$420$5,043
Kemper$520$6,234
Allstate$532$6,395

What Is Full-Coverage Car Insurance?

A full-coverage auto insurance policy is often defined as a combination of liability insurance, collision insurance, and comprehensive insurance. Depending on where you live, full coverage might also include either medical payments coverage (MedPay) or personal injury protection (PIP), as well as uninsured motorist coverage (UM) and underinsured motorist coverage (UIM). 

State minimum policies generally include liability car insurance, which covers injuries and property damage you cause. Full coverage handles those costs, as well as damage to your vehicle or property.

What Does A Full-Coverage Car Insurance Policy Include?

The table below outlines the standard types of insurance you’ll see in a full-coverage policy:

Type of CoverageCoverage DetailsRequired by State Law?
Bodily injury liability insurance (BI)Covers medical expenses for the other driver and their passengers if you’re at fault for a car accidentEvery state except Florida, Virginia, and New Hampshire
Property damage liability insurance (PD)Covers repair costs for the other party’s vehicle or other property if you’re at fault for a car accidentEvery state except Virginia and New Hampshire
Collision coverageCovers repair costs for your vehicle if you’re involved in a collision with another car or a stationary object, like a telephone pole or fenceNot required by law but may be required by a lender or lessor
Comprehensive coverageCovers repair costs for your vehicle when it’s damaged by non-collision issues such as vandalism, theft, fire, or a natural disasterNot required by law but may be required by a lender or lessor
Uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury coverage (UMBI/UIMBI)Covers medical bills for you and your passengers after an accident caused by an uninsured or underinsured driverRequired in 18 states and Washington, D.C.
Uninsured/underinsured motorist property damage coverage (UMPD/UIMPD)Covers repair costs for your vehicle or other property after an accident caused by an uninsured or underinsured driverRequired in five states and Washington, D.C.
Personal injury protection (PIP)Covers your and your passengers’ medical expenses, lost wages, and funeral costs if you’re in an accident, regardless of who’s at faultRequired in 14 states
Medical payments coverage (MedPay)Covers medical expenses for you and your passengers if you’re involved in an accident, regardless of who is at faultRequired in Maine³

³MedPay is required in Pennsylvania for drivers who opt out of PIP. New Hampshire requires MedPay for any driver who chooses to carry auto insurance.

Additional Types Of Auto Insurance

Most auto insurance companies offer optional coverages you can add to your policy. Some of these coverages include:

  • Roadside assistance: This might include towing, lock-out service, tire changes, fuel deliveries, and jump-starts.
  • Rental car reimbursement: This helps cover rental car costs if your vehicle is in the shop for covered repairs.
  • New car replacement: This pays for a replacement vehicle of the same make and model if your car is totaled.
  • Gap insurance: Sometimes referred to as loan/lease insurance, this helps pay the difference between your car’s actual cash value and the remainder of your loan or lease in the event of a total loss.

What Is Minimum Coverage?

Minimum coverage refers to the minimum liability insurance limits your state requires. Virginia and New Hampshire are the only states that don’t require car insurance. To learn what your state’s minimum coverage includes, you can contact an insurance agent in your area or visit the website of your state’s insurance commission or department of motor vehicles.

If you decide to only carry your state’s minimum coverage, you’ll be responsible for any repairs or replacements your vehicle might require after an accident. If you cause an accident, minimum liability insurance won’t cover your injuries or your vehicle’s repairs. It only covers the other party’s property damage and bodily injuries. 

Should I Carry Full-Coverage Car Insurance?

We recommend carrying full-coverage insurance unless your car has a low value and you can afford to repair or replace it. Opting for the state minimum can save you money in the short term, but if your car is seriously damaged or totaled, you could be left in a precarious financial spot.

If you can afford full-coverage insurance and your car is worth more than the cost of the policy, it can be beneficial for both your wallet and your peace of mind.

Full-Coverage Car Insurance Companies: Conclusion

We reviewed the best car insurance providers in the industry to help you find the right coverage. We recommend comparing car insurance quotes from a few companies before committing to a policy. That way, you’re more likely to find the best coverage at the lowest rates.

Recommendations for Full Coverage Auto Insurance

Our team recommends State Farm and USAA as our top two providers for car insurance. We'll break down each company in detail below:

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State Farm: Best Overall Provider

State Farm is the largest auto insurance provider in the country thanks to its reputation for low-cost coverage. The company offers the six standard types of insurance coverage as well as numerous add-on options. State Farm also offers a wide variety of car insurance discounts, including savings for good drivers and for bundling your homeowners or renters insurance with your auto coverage.

USAA: Best For Military Members

Our in-depth review found that, on average, USAA offers the cheapest full-coverage car insurance. The company often provides some of the most affordable coverage for those with spotty driving records. However, USAA insurance coverage is only available to active-duty military members, veterans, and their immediate families.

Cheapest Full-Coverage Car Insurance: FAQ

Below are frequently asked questions about full-coverage car insurance:

What does full coverage mean for car insurance?

In general, a full-coverage car insurance policy combines the minimum liability limits set by your state with collision and comprehensive coverage. Depending on where you live, a full-coverage policy may also include medical payments coverage (MedPay), personal injury protection (PIP), or uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM).

Is full coverage really worth it?

Full coverage is more expensive than state minimum coverage, but if you can afford it, it can be worth it. Liability coverage only protects the other driver and their passengers if you cause an accident, but a full-coverage policy covers you and your vehicle in nearly any situation. 

How long should you keep full-coverage insurance on a car?

You should drop full-coverage car insurance if your car is worth less than your policy costs or you can pay for repairs out of pocket. Generally speaking, if your annual premium is more than what a claim payout would be, full coverage may no longer be financially worth it.

What is the difference between full coverage and comprehensive coverage?

Though the terms sound similar, comprehensive insurance is actually part of a full-coverage policy. Comprehensive coverage protects your car in the event of non-collision damage, such as theft, vandalism, fire, or damage from a natural disaster. Full coverage usually includes state minimum coverage and comprehensive and collision insurance.

How We Rate Insurers

Our review process aims to deliver consistent and unbiased assessments of car insurance providers. While there are multiple qualities that make a car insurance company successful, our review team focuses on those we believe are the most important for consumers:

  • Cost: Cost can be difficult to compare between insurers because so many factors impact annual premiums. The cheapest insurer for one driver may not be the cheapest for another. To determine our cost score, we look at insurance rate estimates generated by Quadrant Information Services, discount opportunities, and consumer reports.
  • Coverage: To determine our coverage score, we look at the number of coverage options available as well as coverage limits and deductible options. Our ratings also take into account additional services and benefits like roadside assistance.
  • Reliability: It’s important that an auto insurer is able to meet its claims obligations. Companies with a strong financial strength rating from AM Best score best in this category. Established insurers with a long history of reliable service also receive positive marks.
  • Service: We comb through customer reviews on sites like the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to learn about customer experiences. Insurers with a low volume of complaints score well in this area. We also consider the claims process, giving higher ratings to car insurance providers that offer easy-to-use claims apps.

*Data accurate at time of publication.