How can you lower car insurance rates?

Try some or all of the tips below to save.

1. Maximize your auto insurance discounts

Car insurance discounts vary by insurance company, but the standard ones are for safety features, low mileage, having more than one car insured with the same company and remaining with the same insurance company over many years. Below we'll highligh some of the more common ones, and our guide to car insurance discounts explains the topic in detail, providing examples of how much you save and how the discounts are applied to your policy.

Low mileage: If you drive less than 7,500 miles per year, you may qualify for a low mileage discount on your auto insurance, typically 5 to 15 percent. And some car insurance companies offer a commuter discount if you use public transportation during the week.

Multi-car: You can get a multi-car discount if you insure more than one car on your policy. Expect 10 to 25% savings off your collision, comprehensive and liability premiums.

Safety features: Car insurance companies offer various discounts for anti-lock brakes, automatic seat belts, and airbags. Similarly, anti-theft devices such as car alarms and tracking systems (e.g., LoJack) may also get you an insurance discount because they reduce the chances of your car being stolen or vandalized. These types of discounts range from 5 to 30%.

2. Take a defensive driving course

If you've got a clean driving record and want to take a traffic class to get a lower car insurance rate, insurers typically offer a 5 to 15% discount on liability and collision coverages for three years.

However, there may be some caveats depending on your state laws and insurance company. For example, only drivers over age 25 may be eligible for the discount, or sometimes all drivers of the insured vehicle must take the course to qualify.

Traffic school courses vary but typically, they're four to six hours, are offered in person, online or both, cost between $25 and $75, and cover a series of lessons about traffic safety.

In most cases, taking a driver safety class will either remove points from your record for minor violations or give you a discount, but not both.

3. Increase your deductible

Increasing your deductible from $200 to $500 can make you eligible for a 15 to 30% premium discount, while raising the deductible to $1,000 can save you up to 40%. This applies only to the comprehensive and collision portions of your policy, not the baseline amount you pay for the entire policy.

Your savings from hiking deductibles will vary widely depending on the state in which you live, the cost of your coverage after taking any other discounts, your driving record and your car's cost to repair or replace.

4. Keep an eye on your credit report

Your credit history is one of many risk factors that most auto insurance companies evaluate when setting rates (in a few states, it's not permissible by law). Paying your bills on time and maintaining a solid credit history will help keep your auto and home insurance rates lower.

If you have poor credit, don’t despair. You can find tips on improving your credit and trim auto insurance costs in our car insurance guide for drivers with bad credit.

5. Drive safely

You may be eligible for a price break on your car insurance policy if you have no accidents or traffic violations for a specified period (usually three years -- but a few companies will look back five years). Even a single speeding ticket can increase your car insurance rates by 11 to 13%, depending on how fast you were going compared to the speed limit and your state laws.

6. Buy a safe car

Cars are rated on a risk scale for auto insurance purposes. Generally, the fewer accident claims people file for a particular car model, the lower the rate to insure it. Insurance companies also take into account the safety features. You can research how well vehicles protect occupants in a crash and see what crash-avoidance safety features vehicles have by visiting the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Vehicle Safety Ratings page.

7. Bundle with home insurance

Homeowners get cheaper rates because insurance companies deem them as lower risk, meaning they file fewer claims, but you can save even more by purchasing your home insurance and auto insurance policies from the same provider.

The nationwide average car insurance discount given for bundling home and auto insurance is 8%. Bundling renters and car insurance also earns a discount, with the nationwide average being around 5%. The nationwide average homeowners insurance discount given for bundling is 20 percent.

8. Paid in full discount

If you pay your car insurance policy premium upfront and in full, you usually get a 5 to 10% discount.

9. Drop comprehensive and collision if you don’t need it

Collision and comprehensive coverages are optional. You may not need the protection if you have an older car that you own outright. If your vehicle is more than 10 years old or worth less than $3,000, consider dropping these coverages.

10. Shop around and compare car insurance quotes

No two car insurance companies will charge the same amount for a policy, so it pays to shop around to get the lowest rates. Each car insurer uses its own formula to set rates, so the price for car insurance can vary by hundreds of dollars. Your current insurer may assess life changes and accidents differently so that you may find a cheaper rate with a different company. That’s why it pays to compare car insurance quotes at least 45 days before your current policy is set to renew, but also at these times:

  • You got married
  • You moved
  • You had an accident
  • You bought a car
  • You’re adding a teen driver to the household

You should always get at least three quotes and be sure to compare the same amount of coverage across the board. You’ll also want to consider the customer service ratings of companies you’re considering.

Why is car insurance so expensive?

Car insurance premiums can be expensive, and many factors determine the cost. From age to driving record, credit history, or even the type of car you drive - insurers consider multiple variables that could potentially increase the risk of you getting into an accident or filing an insurance claim.

Which auto insurance company has the best rates?

What you pay for car insurance will depend on your situation, but below, you'll see what you can expect to pay in your state for full coverage from major companies.

StateCompanyAverage annual rate
AlaskaState Farm$979
AlaskaGeico$1,075
AlaskaProgressive$1,080
AlaskaAllstate$1,304
AlabamaGeico$759
AlabamaMid Century$1,172
AlabamaNationwide$1,197
AlabamaAllstate$1,257
AlabamaState Farm$1,572
AlabamaProgressive$1,840
ArkansasGeico$980
ArkansasState Farm$1,165
ArkansasFarmers$1,176
ArkansasNationwide$1,483
ArkansasProgressive$1,594
ArkansasAllstate$1,821
ArizonaGeico$977
ArizonaProgressive$1,047
ArizonaFarmers$1,195
ArizonaState Farm$1,392
ArizonaNationwide$1,719
ArizonaAllstate$1,807
CaliforniaGeico$944
CaliforniaUnited Financial$1,128
CaliforniaNationwide$1,379
CaliforniaNationwide$1,756
CaliforniaFarmers$1,932
CaliforniaState Farm$1,967
ColoradoGeico$813
ColoradoState Farm$1,241
ColoradoFarmers$1,516
ColoradoProgressive$1,559
ColoradoAllstate$1,889
ConnecticutGeico$946
ConnecticutNationwide$1,254
ConnecticutState Farm$1,463
ConnecticutProgressive$2,026
ConnecticutAllstate$2,462
ConnecticutForemost$2,478
DCGeico$713
DCProgressive$1,496
DCState Farm$1,518
DCNationwide$1,977
DCAllstate$2,913
DelawareGeico$1,134
DelawareProgressive$1,333
DelawareNationwide$1,492
DelawareState Farm$1,872
DelawareAllstate$2,398
FloridaGeico$1,192
FloridaState Farm$1,611
FloridaProgressive$1,754
Florida21st Century Centennial$1,972
FloridaAllstate$2,584
GeorgiaGeico$762
GeorgiaNationwide$1,303
GeorgiaState Farm$1,372
GeorgiaProgressive$1,563
GeorgiaAllstate$1,701
HawaiiGeico$857
HawaiiState Farm$1,023
HawaiiAllstate$1,389
HawaiiProgressive$1,646
HawaiiFarmers$2,376
IowaAmco Ins Co$645
IowaGeico$693
IowaFarmers$933
IowaState Farm$945
IowaProgressive$1,286
IowaAllstate$1,589
IdahoGeico$713
IdahoFarmers$800
IdahoState Farm$845
IdahoProgressive$848
IdahoDepositors Ins Co$863
IdahoAllstate$1,577
IllinoisGeico$590
IllinoisAmco Ins Co$678
IllinoisState Farm$1,011
IllinoisIllinois Farmers$1,170
IllinoisProgressive$1,193
IllinoisAllstate$1,375
IndianaGeico$651
IndianaIllinois Farmers$748
IndianaProgressive$854
IndianaNationwide$866
IndianaState Farm$1,095
IndianaAllstate$1,569
KansasNationwide$814
KansasGeico$823
KansasState Farm$1,166
KansasFarmers$1,249
KansasProgressive$1,682
KansasAllstate$1,718
KentuckyGeico$881
KentuckyNationwide$1,631
KentuckyProgressive$1,693
KentuckyState Farm$1,734
KentuckyAllstate$2,822
LouisianaGeico$1,540
LouisianaState Farm$2,023
LouisianaAllstate$2,316
LouisianaProgressive$2,881
MassachusettsGeico$865
MassachusettsState Farm$884
MassachusettsProgressive$1,272
MassachusettsAllstate$1,742
MarylandProgressive$1,102
MarylandNationwide$1,114
MarylandGeico$1,199
MarylandState Farm$1,357
MarylandAllstate$2,177
MaineGeico$517
MaineState Farm$948
MaineProgressive$1,025
MaineAllstate$1,212
MichiganGeico$1,027
MichiganProgressive$1,714
MichiganTitan$2,177
MichiganAllstate$2,849
MichiganState Farm$3,135
MichiganFarmers$3,999
MinnesotaGeico$935
MinnesotaIllinois Farmers$1,030
MinnesotaAllied$1,188
MinnesotaState Farm$1,190
MinnesotaProgressive$1,295
MinnesotaAllstate$1,483
MissouriAllied$724
MissouriGeico$800
MissouriFarmers$1,051
MissouriState Farm$1,279
MissouriProgressive$1,303
MissouriAllstate$1,769
MississippiGeico$894
MississippiNationwide$1,184
MississippiProgressive Gulf Ins Co$1,268
MississippiState Farm$1,353
MississippiAllstate$1,917
MontanaGeico$848
MontanaProgressive$1,112
MontanaState Farm$1,149
MontanaDepositors$1,238
MontanaMid Century$1,244
MontanaAllstate$1,753
North CarolinaProgressive$622
North CarolinaGeico$704
North CarolinaState Farm$845
North CarolinaFarmers$1,046
North CarolinaNationwide$1,071
North CarolinaNationwide$1,205
North CarolinaAllstate$1,230
North DakotaAllied$753
North DakotaGeico$897
North DakotaProgressive$1,047
North DakotaState Farm$1,132
North DakotaAllstate$1,502
North DakotaMid Century$2,560
NebraskaAllied$711
NebraskaGeico$978
NebraskaState Farm$1,003
NebraskaMid Century$1,192
NebraskaAllstate$1,393
NebraskaProgressive$1,403
New HampshireGeico$550
New HampshireNationwide$867
New HampshireState Farm$1,036
New HampshireProgressive$1,465
New HampshireAllstate$1,588
New Jersey21st Century Centennial$762
New JerseyGeico$1,104
New JerseyProgressive$1,255
New JerseyAllstate NJ$1,761
New JerseyState Farm$1,847
New MexicoGeico$894
New MexicoProgressive$998
New MexicoState Farm$1,177
New MexicoFarmers$1,251
New MexicoAllstate$1,948
NevadaGeico$1,342
NevadaMid Century$1,537
NevadaProgressive$1,663
NevadaState Farm$1,726
NevadaVictoria$1,955
NevadaAllstate$2,256
New YorkGeico$993
New YorkProgressive$1,160
New YorkAllstate$1,587
New YorkState Farm$1,855
New YorkNationwide$2,098
New YorkForemost$2,858
OhioGeico$619
OhioState Farm$881
OhioFarmers$887
OhioProgressive$999
OhioNationwide$1,015
OhioAllstate$1,310
OklahomaGeico$1,050
OklahomaFarmers$1,327
OklahomaState Farm$1,416
OklahomaAllstate$1,918
OklahomaProgressive$2,506
OregonGeico$933
OregonState Farm$1,043
OregonNationwide$1,121
OregonProgressive$1,238
OregonFarmers$1,594
OregonAllstate$1,656
PennsylvaniaGeico$703
PennsylvaniaNationwide$711
PennsylvaniaState Farm$1,284
PennsylvaniaAllstate$1,729
PennsylvaniaProgressive$3,183
Rhode IslandState Farm$1,132
Rhode IslandGeico$1,292
Rhode IslandNationwide$1,678
Rhode IslandProgressive$2,092
Rhode IslandAllstate$2,246
South CarolinaGeico$1,050
South CarolinaAllstate$1,178
South CarolinaNationwide$1,200
South CarolinaProgressive$1,359
South CarolinaState Farm$1,511
South DakotaGeico$708
South DakotaNationwide$938
South DakotaMid Century$982
South DakotaState Farm$1,052
South DakotaProgressive$1,110
South DakotaAllstate$1,562
TennesseeGeico$764
TennesseeNationwide$796
TennesseeState Farm$1,131
TennesseeProgressive$1,223
TennesseeMid Century$1,576
TennesseeAllstate$1,794
TexasFarmers$905
TexasGeico$1,027
TexasColonial$1,247
TexasProgressive$1,328
TexasState Farm$1,348
TexasAllstate$1,949
UtahGeico$684
UtahMid Century$1,016
UtahAllied$1,119
UtahAllstate$1,353
UtahProgressive$1,503
UtahState Farm$1,518
VirginiaNationwide$744
VirginiaGeico$894
VirginiaState Farm$969
VirginiaAllstate$1,102
VirginiaProgressive$1,150
VermontGeico$485
VermontNationwide$789
VermontProgressive$1,103
VermontAllstate$1,183
VermontState Farm$1,255
WashingtonNationwide$1,028
WashingtonGeico$1,075
WashingtonProgressive$1,092
WashingtonState Farm$1,160
WashingtonFarmers$1,335
WashingtonAllstate$1,455
WisconsinGeico$663
WisconsinState Farm$914
WisconsinMid Century$1,021
WisconsinArtisan$1,176
WisconsinAllstate$1,484
WisconsinNationwide$2,851
West VirginiaGeico$1,149
West VirginiaProgressive$1,238
West VirginiaState Farm$1,309
West VirginiaNationwide$1,327
West VirginiaAllstate$1,853
WyomingState Farm$1,128
WyomingGeico$1,287
WyomingFarmers$1,688
WyomingAllstate$1,874

*Rates were fielded by Quadrant Information Services from up to six major insurers in nearly every ZIP code in each state. Driver profile: male, age 40, married, clean record and good credit, driving 2016 Honda Accord.

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