Cheap Auto Insurance in Tuscaloosa, Alabama (2024)

Located in the heart of West Alabama, the historic city of Tuscaloosa is home to the University of Alabama. With about 38,000 students enrolled, it’s not surprising that Tuscaloosa residents pay slightly higher car insurance rates than the Alabama average.^[1]

Drivers in Tuscaloosa pay an average of $181 per month for full-coverage auto insurance, and $67 for liability-only coverage. Those rates are in line with the state averages of $166 and $63, respectively.

Comparing car insurance quotes from multiple companies could help Tuscaloosa drivers find even cheaper rates. Here's what to know about car insurance in Tuscaloosa.

Best car insurance companies in Tuscaloosa

Tuscaloosa drivers have no shortage of affordable and highly rated auto insurance companies to choose from. When identifying the best insurance companies in Tuscaloosa, Insurify specifically looked for insurers that offered excellent coverage at an affordable rate, as well as at factors such as customer satisfaction, claims processes, Insurify Quality (IQ) scores, and more.

Best insurer overall: State Farm

Best insurer for military members: USAA

Best insurer for discounts: GEICO

How to get the cheapest car insurance in Tuscaloosa

Alabama drivers already enjoy insurance premiums that are lower than the national average, but you have ways to save even more money on car insurance.

One of the most important ways to save money on insurance is to shop around. Insurance premiums can vary significantly from one insurer to the next, even for the same driver. Similarly, the cheapest company for one person may not be the cheapest for another. An insurance-comparison website can help you shop for rates from multiple insurers at once.

Other ways to save money on insurance include:^[3]

• Bundle your auto insurance with your home insurance or renters insurance.

• Take advantage of the discounts insurers offer. Talk to your insurance agent to see what discounts you might be eligible for.

• Boost your credit score.

• Reduce your insurance coverage limits.

• Raise your insurance deductible.

Cheapest liability-only car insurance in Tuscaloosa: Auto-Owners

Liability car insurance is the cheapest type of policy you can buy. When you buy this type of auto insurance policy, you’ll only have two coverages: bodily injury liability and property damage liability. These coverages will pay for injuries to others or damage to other people’s property when you’re at fault for an accident. However, liability insurance won’t cover any of your injuries or damage to your vehicle.

Cheapest full-coverage car insurance in Tuscaloosa: Auto-Owners

If you want more coverage than liability insurance can provide, you probably want full-coverage insurance. A full-coverage policy includes liability insurance but also includes coverages like collision and comprehensive, which pay for damage to your own vehicle. Full coverage can also include uninsured motorist coverage, medical payments, and more.

Car insurance requirements in Alabama

Nearly every state, including Alabama, requires drivers to have a certain amount of liability insurance. Under Alabama law, the driver who’s at fault for an accident is also financially responsible for any damages, both to people and property.

Alabama drivers must have the following auto insurance coverage:^[4]

In addition to the insurance coverages Alabama drivers are required to have, many types of optional insurance coverage are also available, including:

• 

  Comprehensive

  This covers damage that doesn’t result from a car accident, such as theft and weather-related events.

• 

  Collision

  This pays for damages to your car if you collide with another car or object, even if you’re at fault.

• 

  Uninsured/underinsured motorist

  If you’re in an accident with someone who has no insurance, or who doesn’t have enough insurance, this will help cover the costs.

• 

  Medical payments (MedPay)

  This optional add-on can help pay for medical expenses, funeral expenses, and more for you and your passengers if you’re injured in an accident, even if you’re at fault.

• 

  Gap insurance

  If you total your car but still owe money on it, gap insurance will cover the difference between your outstanding loan balance and what insurance pays you for your car.

• 

  Roadside assistance

  Roadside assistance generally covers towing, jump-starts, flat-tire changes, and more, though exact coverage varies by insurer.

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an incident

Your driving history is an important factor insurance companies consider when setting rates. Having a clean driving history can help you get lower insurance premiums. On the other hand, any incidents on your driving record, including speeding tickets, at-fault accidents, driving under the influence, and more, can increase your rates.

The amount your rates will increase depends on the severity of the incident and any previous violations on your driving record.

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a speeding ticket: USAA

If you’re caught speeding, your insurance premiums are likely to increase. The number of tickets you have and how much over the speed limit you were driving will both affect how much your rates increase. You can expect a ticket to affect your rates for anywhere from three to five years, but its effect may lessen over time.

Tuscaloosa drivers with speeding tickets pay, on average, 282 per month for full-coverage car insurance and $104 for liability-only policies. The following table shows monthly liability quotes for Tuscaloosa drivers with speeding tickets.

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an at-fault accident: USAA

If you’re involved in a car accident, your insurance premiums may increase. Your rates are most likely to increase if you were the driver at fault for the accident. A more expensive accident may have a greater effect on your premiums. However, you could even see your insurance premiums increase after an accident where someone else was at fault.

An accident pushes average full-coverage car insurance rates to $291 per month for Tuscaloosa drivers. Liability-only policies average $108 per month with an at-fault accident.

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a DUI: USAA

Certain driving offenses have a greater effect on your insurance premiums because of their severity. Driving under the influence generally comes with a larger rate increase than many other violations. Some insurers may deny you coverage altogether. It’s worth noting that if you’re convicted of a DUI in Alabama, you’ll also have your license suspended and could face fines and jail time.^[5]

Tuscaloosa drivers with DUI convictions see average car insurance rates of $327 per month for full coverage and $121 for liability only.

Cheapest car insurance for seniors: Auto-Owners

Car insurance rates tend to fall as a driver ages, but then they begin to increase again once a driver reaches their 70s, as their risk of an accident increases.^[6] To lower insurance rates, seniors can look into pay-per-mile insurance or take a defensive driving course to score a discount.

The average cost of car insurance for senior drivers in Tuscaloosa is $128 per month for full coverage and $47 for liability only. The following table shows monthly quotes from some top insurers for Tuscaloosa seniors.

Cheapest car insurance for teens: COUNTRY Financial

Teens and young drivers pay more for car insurance than any other age group, as they’re at the highest risk of getting into an accident. Teen drivers — especially males — tend to engage in more high-risk driving activities, including distracted driving, speeding, driving without a seat belt, and more. The increased risk results in significantly higher insurance premiums.^[7]

Teens can stay on their parents’ insurance policy and look into good student discounts to bring down their car insurance costs. Tuscaloosa teens with their own car insurance policies see average monthly rates of $334 for full coverage and $123 for minimum coverage.

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Tuscaloosa car insurance quotes by credit tier

Your credit score is another factor that insurance companies use to help set premiums. The higher your credit score, the better your insurance rates are likely to be. On the other hand, a poor credit score is likely to land you higher rates.

Some states have prohibited insurers from using credit scores as a determining factor for car insurance, but Alabama isn’t one of these states.

Is car insurance more expensive in Tuscaloosa?

Tuscaloosa's car insurance costs are comparable to Alabama state average costs, but lower than national averages. The average cost of full-coverage car insurance in Tuscaloosa is $181 per month, while liability-only policies average $67. That's less than the national averages of $213 and $104, respectively.

Rates vary by city based on several factors, including crime rate, ZIP code, the number of car accidents, the percentage of uninsured drivers, and more.

More cities in Alabama

Insurance rates vary across the state of Alabama. Factors like population density, local weather patterns, accident rates, and rates of vehicle theft all affect the cost of car insurance in different cities. The following table illustrates average monthly car insurance rates in some other Alabama cities.

Tuscaloosa car insurance FAQs