How much you pay for car insurance will depend on a number of factors, including your age, claims history and driving record. The company that offers the cheapest car insurance for you can vary depending on the class of driver you fall into.
The Cheapest Car Insurance for Good Drivers: Nationwide
Nationwide is the cheapest company for good drivers that is available to the general public. USAA auto insurance is a bit cheaper but only available to those with a military connection.
We found that the national average for good drivers is $2,026 a year. The cheapest companies come in hundreds of dollars below that.
*Average rates are based on good drivers with a clean driving record, meaning no at-fault accidents or traffic violations.
*USAA is available only to the military, veterans and their families.
The Cheapest Car Insurance After a Speeding Ticket: Nationwide
Our analysis found that Nationwide offers the cheapest car insurance after a speeding ticket, followed by Erie, Travelers and Geico. USAA is a top choice for people who qualify.
Our analysis found that having a speeding ticket on your driving record means an average insurance increase of 26%.
*USAA is available only to the military, veterans and their families.
The Cheapest Car Insurance After an Accident Causing Injury: Erie
Erie and Travelers have the cheapest rates if you have caused an accident that injured someone else. Erie is a regional insurer that serves 12 states in the East and Midwest. USAA offers excellent rates to military members and veterans.
Nationally, the average increase after an accident is 49% compared to a driver with a clean record.
*USAA auto insurance is available only to the military, veterans and their families.
The Cheapest Car Insurance After a DUI: Progressive
Progressive has the cheapest rates in our analysis for drivers with a DUI, with USAA a good option for military members and veterans who qualify. A DUI conviction leads to an average increase of 71%.
Car insurance companies usually request motor vehicle records before your policy renewal time to check for tickets and convictions such as DUIs.
*USAA is available only to the military, veterans and their families.
The Cheapest Car Insurance for People With Bad Credit: Nationwide
Nationwide and Geico have relatively cheap car insurance for drivers with bad credit, among the companies we analyzed. USAA is a good bet for military members and veterans.
Poor credit can cause higher auto insurance rates than having a DUI or at-fault accident on your record. Average auto insurance costs go up 94% for drivers with poor credit compared to those with good credit.
*USAA auto insurance is available only to the military, veterans and their families.
The Cheapest Car Insurance for Seniors: Nationwide
Nationwide has the best rates for senior drivers ages 65 and 80, according to our analysis. The best car insurance for seniors will vary based on where you live and your personal details, such as your driving record.
We found that senior drivers see an average increase of 6% from age 60 to 70. By age 80, your rates may have increased 23% above the rate you were paying at age 70 and 31% more than your car insurance cost at age 60.
*USAA is only available to military members, veterans and their families.
The Cheapest Car Insurance for Young Drivers: Erie
Erie, Travelers, Geico and Nationwide are the cheapest car insurance companies for young drivers buying their own policies. USAA is also usually a top choice if you qualify.
It’s typically cheaper for a young new driver to remain on a parent’s policy if they’re still living at home, whether they’re an 18-year-old or 25-year-old.
*USAA is only available to military members, veterans and their families.
The Cheapest Car Insurance After Adding a Teen Driver: Nationwide
We found that Nationwide has the lowest rates after a teen driver is added to a parent’s policy. Other cheap companies include Erie, Progressive and Geico. USAA also has low rates for adding a teen if you’re eligible.
It can be hard to find cheap car insurance for teens because young new drivers pose a considerable risk to insurers. We found that adding a teenage driver to a parent’s policy costs $4,362 a year on average.
Adding a teen driver typically doubles the parent’s auto insurance bill. But it’s usually less expensive to add a teenager to a parent’s auto policy than to have the teen driver buy their own.
*USAA is only available to military members, veterans and their families.