The Cheapest Car Insurance Companies (March 2026)
American Family has the cheapest car insurance for most drivers, $159 per month for full coverage.
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Best cheap car insurance for you
Cheapest car insurance for... | Monthly rate |
Savings vs. average
| |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full coverage | American Family | $159 | $49 off |
| Liability-only | Auto-Owners | $52 | $24 off |
| Teen drivers | Auto-Owners | $169 | $66 off |
| Speeding tickets | Auto-Owners | $182 | $76 off |
| Accidents | State Farm | $218 | $92 off |
Liability-only policies
- USAA: $41/mo
- Auto-Owners: $52/mo
- Farm Bureau: $60/mo
- American Family: $60/mo
- Geico: $65/mo
- Travelers: $68/mo
- State Farm: $73/mo
- Progressive: $75/mo
- Nationwide: $107/mo
- Farmers: $107/mo
- Allstate: $113/mo
USAA is only available to military members, veterans and their families. Auto-Owners, Farm Bureau and American Family are only available in some states.
Cheapest full coverage auto insurance: American Family
American Family is the best cheap full coverage auto insurance company, at $159 per month.
USAA has even cheaper rates, but they're not available to most people. You can only buy insurance from USAA if you have military ties.
Travelers is the best option that's available nationwide. Many of the cheapest insurance companies are only available in some regions.
Inexpensive full coverage car insurance
Company |
Monthly rate
|
Avg. savings
| |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Family | $159 | $49 off | |
| Auto-Owners | $171 | $37 off | |
| Travelers | $173 | $35 off | |
| Geico | $187 | $21 off | |
| State Farm | $192 | $16 off | |
*USAA is only available to military members, veterans and some of their family members.
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How we found the cheapest car insurance companies
Cheap liability-only car insurance: Auto-Owners
Auto-Owners has the cheapest liability-only insurance rates available nationwide.
At $52 per month, a policy from Auto-Owners costs $24 per month less than the national average.
If you're located outside the states where Auto-Owners sells coverage, Geico is another cheap option, at $65 per month.
USAA offers even cheaper quotes, if you're eligible. But USAA is only available if you have connections to the military.
Low-cost liability car insurance
Company | Monthly rate |
Avg. savings
|
|---|---|---|
| Auto-Owners | $52 | $24 off |
| Farm Bureau | $60 | $16 off |
| American Family | $60 | $16 off |
| Geico | $65 | $11 off |
| Travelers | $68 | $8 off |
*USAA is only available to military members, veterans and some of their family members.
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Liability-only insurance is typically the cheapest coverage you can buy, but it often isn't the best choice.
That's because it only includes the minimum amount of coverage required by your state.
The coverage limits included in a liability-only policy aren't usually high enough to pay the full cost after a serious accident. That's because liability-only insurance typically pays for injuries you cause to another driver or damage to their vehicle.
Liability-only coverage doesn't protect your car. That's why most lenders make you get a full coverage policy with comprehensive and collision coverage if you have a car loan or lease.
You should also consider these coverages if your car is less than eight years old or worth more than $5,000.
Cheaper car insurance companies may have poor customer service reviews. It may be worth it to pay a little more for a company that will take good care of you after a crash.
Companies with a rating of 4 stars or higher from ValuePenguin editors typically offer the best combination of affordable rates and reliable service.
Who has the cheapest car insurance near me?
Geico and Travelers each have the cheapest full coverage car insurance in 12 states.
Insurance prices vary by location, so the most affordable company overall might not offer the cheapest price in your state.
USAA is almost always the cheapest car insurance company in every state. But you can only get it if you're affiliated with the military.
Find Cheap Auto Insurance Quotes in Your Area
Affordable insurance quotes for teens: Farm Bureau
Farm Bureau has the cheapest insurance for teens, at $169 per month for a policy with basic coverage.
Auto-Owners is just a few cents more, also at $169 per month.
Auto-Owners has the best full coverage insurance rates for young drivers, at $445 per month for an 18-year-old.
Geico also has cheap rates for teens, and is available in most states in the country; Farm Bureau and Auto-Owners don't operate everywhere.
Low cost auto insurance for teens
Cheap insurance rates after a speeding ticket: Auto-Owners
Auto-Owners has the best car insurance rates for drivers with a speeding ticket.
A full coverage policy from Auto-Owners costs $182 per month after one ticket. That's $76 per month cheaper than average.
American Family and State Farm also have low prices after a ticket.
Inexpensive car insurance with a speeding ticket
Company | Monthly rate |
Avg. savings
|
|---|---|---|
| Auto-Owners | $182 | $76 off |
| American Family | $189 | $69 off |
| State Farm | $210 | $48 off |
| Travelers | $235 | $23 off |
| Farm Bureau | $244 | $14 off |
One speeding ticket raises your rates by an average of $50 per month.
However, not all companies raise rates by the same amount. For example, State Farm only raises rates by $18 per month, while Travelers' rates go up by $62 per month. So it's important to shop around for auto insurance quotes from multiple companies to find the cheapest rates for you.
Low-cost car insurance after an accident: State Farm
State Farm has the cheapest full coverage rates if you cause an accident, at $218 per month.
That's $92 per month less than the national average. It's also $36 per month less than the second-cheapest national company, Travelers.
Cheap full coverage car insurance after an accident
Company | Monthly rate |
Avg. savings
|
|---|---|---|
| State Farm | $218 | $92 off |
| Auto-Owners | $234 | $76 off |
| Travelers | $254 | $56 off |
| American Family | $257 | $53 off |
| Farm Bureau | $293 | $17 off |
Full coverage rates go up by an average of $102 per month after an at-fault accident.
That's because car insurance companies believe drivers who cause crashes are more likely to file other claims in the future.
Cheap insurance quotes for teens after a ticket or accident: Auto-Owners and Farm Bureau
Auto-Owners has the lowest car insurance rates for teens with bad driving records.
A liability-only policy from Auto-Owners costs $183 per month for an 18-year-old with one speeding ticket. That's $97 per month cheaper than average.
Farm Bureau is the cheapest option after an accident. At $236 per month for liability-only coverage, Farm Bureau costs $84 per month less than average.
Affordable car insurance after a DUI: Progressive
Progressive has the best auto insurance rates for drivers with a DUI.
A full coverage policy from Progressive costs $268 per month after a DUI. That's $123 per month cheaper than the national average.
Low-cost car insurance after a DUI
Company | Monthly rate |
Avg. savings
|
|---|---|---|
| Progressive | $268 | $123 off |
| Travelers | $289 | $102 off |
| American Family | $296 | $95 off |
| Auto-Owners | $346 | $45 off |
| Farm Bureau | $406 | $15 more |
You often need to get an SR-22 after a DUI. This is a document your insurance company sends to the DMV. It proves you have the minimum required insurance in your state.
Insurance companies charge you about $20 to $50 to file an SR-22 form, in addition to a rate increase for the DUI.
Cheap insurance for drivers with poor credit: American Family
American Family has the best car insurance prices for drivers with poor credit.
Full coverage from AmFam costs $263 per month for these drivers, which is $149 per month cheaper than the national average.
Geico is also relatively affordable, at $305 per month.
Affordable car insurance quotes with poor credit
Company | Monthly rate |
Avg. savings
|
|---|---|---|
| American Family | $263 | $149 off |
| Geico | $305 | $107 off |
| Travelers | $321 | $91 off |
| Progressive | $355 | $57 off |
| Farm Bureau | $379 | $33 off |
Insurance companies believe drivers with bad credit are more likely to file an insurance claim. That's why these drivers pay nearly twice as much for car insurance as those with good credit scores.
What are the best and cheapest car insurance companies?
The five best and cheapest car insurance companies are Travelers, State Farm, Nationwide, American Family and USAA.
Cheapest overall: Travelers
-
Editor's rating
- Liability-only: $68/mo
- Full coverage: $173/mo
Pros
-
Cheapest major company
-
Lots of discounts
Cons
-
Limited coverage options
Travelers is the best cheap car insurance company for most drivers.
Travelers is $35 per month cheaper than the average cost nationally, and has the best rates for full coverage in 12 states , if you can't get USAA.
Geico is also the cheapest insurance company in 11 states , though its average price for full coverage is higher than Travelers. Its customer service is also not as reliable.
You'll also find a good selection of coverage options at Travelers, such as roadside assistance and overage for rideshare driving. Travelers also offers extra protection for new cars, which will completely replace your car with a new one if it's destroyed in the first few years you own it.
Cheapest with great service: State Farm
-
Editor's rating
- Liability-only: $73/mo
- Full coverage: $192/mo
Pros
-
Dependable customer service
-
Good prices for most people
Cons
-
Limited coverage options
State Farm is the best blend of affordable rates and great service for most people.
Safe drivers can sign up for State Farm's Drive Safe & Save program. This program gives you a discount for practicing good driving habits. You can also save with an accident-free discount, a bundling discount, an anti-theft device discount and more.
Does State Farm have good customer service?
State Farm customers are typically happy with its fast and easy claims process after an accident.
The company has a good score on J.D. Power's claims satisfaction survey. State Farm also gets fewer complaints than similar companies, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).
Cheapest for low-mileage drivers: Nationwide
-
Editor's rating
- Liability-only: $107/mo
- Full coverage: $265/mo
Pros
-
Cheap rates for people who don't drive often
-
Big discounts for safe drivers
Cons
-
Expensive if you can't get discounts
-
Savings programs not available everywhere
Nationwide has cheap car insurance options for people who work from home, retirees, students living on campus or young drivers with a clean record.
If you drive less than average or are generally a safe driver, Nationwide may have the best car insurance rates for you. The company has both a usage-based and pay-per-mile auto insurance plan to help you save on car insurance.
However, these programs aren't available to everyone. The SmartMiles pay-per-mile program is available in 40 states and Washington, D.C. While SmartRide is more widely available, drivers in New York and California can't get the full 40% discount.
Best car insurance discounts: American Family
-
Editor's rating
- Liability-only: $60/mo
- Full coverage: $159/mo
Pros
-
Offers more discounts than most companies
-
Reliable customer service
Cons
-
Not available in all states
-
Bad for bundling due to pricey home quotes
American Family has great discounts for things like bundling and being a safe driver.
American Family (AmFam) has some of the cheapest car insurance in the country, and lots of discounts to bring its rates down even more. A minimum coverage policy from AmFam costs around $60 per month. Full coverage costs around $159 per month.
AmFam's car insurance rates are more expensive than Travelers'. But you may pay less overall if you can get several of its car insurance discounts.
AmFam helps young drivers save on car insurance by offering discounts for good students and safe teen drivers. You can also save money with AmFam if you:
- Bundle home and auto insurance
- Cover more than one car
- Get a quote seven days before your old policy expires
- Switch to American Family from a competitor
- Have certain safety equipment installed in your car, like air bags
- Take a defensive driving course
- Avoid accidents, tickets and claims
- Drive fewer than 7,500 miles per year
- Sign up for KnowYourDrive telematics, and drive safely
- Pay your balance in full or make automatic payments
Cheapest for drivers with military ties: USAA
-
Editor's rating
- Liability-only: $41/mo
- Full coverage: $125/mo
Pros
-
Cheapest quotes in most states
-
Good customer support
-
Unique military perks
Cons
-
Only available drivers with military ties
-
Long quote process
USAA offers very affordable rates along with excellent customer service.
Only military members, veterans and their families can get car insurance from USAA.
But if you're eligible, it's widely available: USAA is available in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. It serves almost as many drivers as other big names like Progressive and Allstate.
USAA has one of the best customer service reputations in the industry. The company regularly earns one of the highest scores on J.D. Power's Auto Claims Satisfaction Study. That means drivers can expect USAA to help get things back to normal quickly after an accident. However, it takes longer to get a quote from USAA than most major insurance companies. So it may be more work to compare quotes.
Car insurance hacks to get cheaper rates
Compare separate and bundled quotes
In addition, if you work remotely sometimes or have a short commute, you'll usually save for driving less than average. I save a few bucks a month just by changing the default annual mileage when I'm getting quotes."
Pay your bill up front
We always pay for our policy annually, which saves us money. We just set aside money each month in a savings account so we're prepared to make the payment when our car insurance renews."
Choose an annual policy
Every time your policy renews, your company can raise your rates. Having an annual policy means your rate only goes up once each year, unless you make changes like adding a car or changing your coverage."
How to find the best car insurance rates
Car insurance costs could rise by around 0.67% across the country in 2026. But some drivers will see bigger increases than others.
American Family, Travelers and Geico have the cheapest car insurance for most drivers. You could save up to $1,608 per year by switching.
Save up to 40% with multi-policy, safe driving, low mileage and payment discounts.
Erie, Country Financial and Auto-Owners are the cheapest midsize companies. It's likely that at least one of them sells insurance near you.
Check your coverage types and limits so you don't overpay for coverage you don't need.
How to get cheap car insurance with discounts
The biggest discount you can typically get is a home and auto bundle discount.
You can save up to 25% by buying both policies from the same company.
You can also consider signing up for a safe driving program. These programs use your phone or a plug-in device to track your driving habits. If you practice safe habits, you can save up to 40% on your car insurance bill.
Insurance companies typically break car insurance discounts into four categories:
- Driver safety discounts save you money if you don't have any tickets or accidents on your record or you take a defensive driving course.
- Driver discounts save you money based on who you are or things you do. This can include getting good grades in school, owning your home or being old enough to qualify for a senior discount.
- Policy discounts save you money based on the policy you choose and how you pay for coverage. For example, you can save by making automatic payments or paying your annual bill up front.
- Safe car discounts save you money if your car has safety features. This includes anti-theft technology, automatic braking or daytime running lights.
How to get cheaper car insurance by choosing the right coverage
Knowing how much coverage you need is important when shopping for low-cost car insurance.
You don't want to overpay for coverage you don't need. But it's important to buy enough coverage to protect you after a major accident.
Knowing your coverage needs also makes comparison shopping easier. Different insurance companies might recommend different coverage levels by default.
The amount of auto insurance you need depends on your budget, your state's requirements, whether you have a loan or lease and your personal preferences.
Collision and comprehensive coverage
- Do I need it? If you have a car loan or lease, you must have collision and comprehensive.
- Should I get it? You should strongly consider it if your car is worth more than $5,000 or is less than eight years old.
- What deductible should I choose? Choose a deductible you can easily afford to pay after an accident. However, keep in mind a lower deductible typically means your car insurance quotes will be higher. That's because the insurance company will have to pay more money if you're in an accident.
Bodily injury liability
- Do I need it? Every state except Florida and New Hampshire requires bodily injury liability coverage.
- How much should I get? As much as you can afford. Higher limits mean the insurance company will cover more of the other driver's medical bills after a major accident.
Property damage liability
- Do I need it? Every state except New Hampshire requires property damage liability coverage.
- How much should I get? As much as you can afford. Higher limits mean the insurance company will pay more to fix or replace the other driver's car — and any other damage you cause — in a crash.
Uninsured motorist coverage
- Do I need it? 20 states and D.C. require uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM).
-
How much should I get? Most people get the same amount as their bodily injury and property damage limits. However, you might consider lower limits to help lower your auto insurance rates, if it's an option.
For example, if you live in an area with expensive cars, you may choose $50,000 of property damage coverage. But if your own car is only worth $20,000, you may not need $50,000 of uninsured motorist property damage coverage.
Personal injury protection
- Do I need it? 16 states require personal injury protection (PIP).
- Should I get it? You should consider it if you don't have health insurance or you have a high health insurance deductible.
Many companies offer coverage add-ons that can raise both your protection and your bill.
For example, many drivers add roadside assistance to their car insurance policy. However, you may already have this coverage for free from your credit card company or dealership if you have a newer car.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest car insurance?
Travelers has the cheapest full coverage car insurance rates among national companies, at $173 per month. The cheapest midsize company is American Family, at $159 per month.
Who has the cheapest car insurance quotes online?
Travelers, Geico, and USAA are some of the cheapest companies that let you get quotes and buy a policy online. It's often cheaper to buy car insurance online than it is to work with an agent. You might also be able to get a discount for buying online.
How can I save on car insurance?
The best way to save money on car insurance is to compare quotes from multiple companies. Don't just get quotes from big national companies. Midsize companies like Erie, Country Financial, Mercury and Auto-Owners have some of the lowest car insurance rates if you live in a state they serve.
What's the cheapest type of car insurance?
Minimum liability coverage is the cheapest type of car insurance. Liability-only insurance is $132 per month cheaper on average than full coverage. Switching to a liability-only policy could help you save if your car isn't worth much and you don't have a car loan or lease.
Is it a good idea to get the cheapest car insurance?
It's usually not a good idea to get the cheapest insurance. But it depends on what you're giving up in exchange for the cheapest rate.
If you raised your deductible or lowered your coverage, you'll have to pay more after an expensive accident. Or, if you choose a company known for a slow claims process, you could be without a car or have to pay for a rental while you wait for the repair check in the mail.
Methodology: How we got our info
To find the cheapest auto insurance, ValuePenguin collected quotes for thousands of ZIP codes in the U.S. from 56 insurance companies. Rates are for a single 30-year-old man with good credit who owns a 2018 Honda Civic EX and has a clean driving record.
Minimum coverage quotes include the minimum required coverage in each state. Full coverage quotes include higher liability limits, along with comprehensive and collision coverage:
Full coverage limits
- Bodily injury liability: $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident
- Property damage liability: $50,000 per accident
- Uninsured or underinsured motorist bodily injury: $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident
- Personal injury protection: Minimum when required by state
- Comprehensive and collision: $500 deductible
ValuePenguin's analysis used insurance rate data from Quadrant Information Services. These rates were publicly sourced from insurance company filings and should be used for comparative purposes only. Your own quotes may be different.
ValuePenguin found the average amount drivers overpay for car insurance by calculating the difference between the average cost of a minimum coverage policy across all sample companies in each state and the average cost of the cheapest company in that state. These figures were then averaged across all 50 states and Washington, D.C., to find a national average.
About the Author
Senior Writer
Lindsay Bishop is a Senior Writer at ValuePenguin, where she educates readers about home, auto, renters, flood and motorcycle insurance.
Lindsay began her career in the insurance and financial industry in 2010. She was a licensed auto, home, life and health insurance agent and held Series 6 and 63 financial licenses.
After a hiatus from the financial sector, Lindsay returned to the industry as a content writer for ValuePenguin in 2021. She enjoys having the opportunity to help readers make smart decisions about their insurance so they can be prepared for anything life throws their way.
When Lindsay isn't writing about insurance, you can find her spending time with family, enjoying the outdoors on Sunday long runs or riding her Peloton.
How insurance helped Lindsay
As a homeowner for 15 years located in South Carolina, Lindsay has plenty of experience navigating the coastal insurance market and managing the claims process. That includes successfully negotiating a full roof replacement claim.
Expertise
- Home insurance
- Car insurance
- Flood insurance
- Renters insurance
- Motorcycle insurance
Referenced by
- CNBC
- Yahoo Finance
- Miami Herald
Education
- BS/BA Economics, University of Nevada Las Vegas
Editorial Note: The content of this article is based on the author's opinions and recommendations alone. It has not been previewed, commissioned or otherwise endorsed by any of our network partners.
