120+ more*Quotes generated for Insurify users within the last 10 days. Last updated on August 19, 2026. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer’s unique driver profile.
*Quotes generated for Insurify users within the last 10 days. Last updated on August 19, 2026. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer’s unique driver profile.
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7+ years experience in data analysis
Ph.D. in Computational Biology
Updated
NJM is the cheapest company for full-coverage car insurance, with an average monthly rate of $87, according to Insurify data. This is much more affordable than the nationwide full-coverage average of $187 per month.
Opting for full-coverage car insurance means more robust financial protection. The more extensive policy type covers damage to your vehicle, while a liability-only policy only covers damage and injuries you cause to other people.
Since company availability varies by state, it’s important to compare car insurance quotes and work with the right insurer to find the lowest rates in your area.
A full-coverage car insurance policy includes liability, comprehensive, and collision coverage.
Full-coverage car insurance averages $187 per month but can start as low as $87 per month.
NJM, Auto-Owners, and Country Financial have the cheapest full-coverage car insurance policies, according to Insurify data.
Full-coverage car insurance is typically more expensive than a minimum-coverage policy because full coverage provides greater financial protection for your vehicle. Nationwide, full-coverage car insurance costs an average of $187 per month, or $2,238 per year. You can consider any insurer that quotes you a price below this average as “cheap” for full coverage.
NJM, Auto-Owners, and Country Financial are some of the cheapest full-coverage car insurance companies. Their monthly rates for people with clean driving records average $87, $87, and $89, respectively.
You can see other affordable full-coverage rates from top national insurers in the table below.
7+ years experience in data analysis
Ph.D. in Computational Biology
Insurance Company | Average Monthly Quote |
|---|---|
| Auto-Owners | $87 |
| NJM | $87 |
| Country Financial | $89 |
| USAA | $101 |
| State Farm | $104 |
| Erie | $120 |
| Progressive | $132 |
| Safeco | $136 |
| Mile Auto | $137 |
| GEICO | $144 |
| Allstate | $159 |
| American Family | $160 |
| Direct Auto | $167 |
| Mercury | $169 |
| National General | $173 |
| Elephant | $175 |
| Commonwealth Casualty | $179 |
| Root | $179 |
| AssuranceAmerica | $180 |
| Plymouth Rock | $182 |
| Travelers | $190 |
| Liberty Mutual | $206 |
| Bristol West | $207 |
| Farmers | $209 |
| GAINSCO | $209 |
| The General | $213 |
| Clearcover | $214 |
| Chubb | $224 |
| CSAA | $235 |
| Shelter | $238 |
| The Hartford | $238 |
| Dairyland | $245 |
| Anchor | $248 |
| 21st Century | $255 |
| State Auto | $290 |
| Amica | $412 |
The best car insurance companies offering full-coverage policies have a combination of affordable rates and a high-quality customer experience.
NJM has the cheapest average full-coverage rates, at $87 per month, but it’s not available in every state. State Farm’s average full-coverage rates may be higher for some drivers, but the company is available nationwide.
Below, you can see some of the best full-coverage car insurance companies that also offer affordable rates. Insurify’s editorial team evaluated companies based on factors like customer reviews, affordability, availability, and ratings/rankings from third parties like AM Best and J.D. Power.
| User Reviews | 4.4 |
|---|---|
| IQ Score The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores. | 8.4 /10 |
| Liability Only Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages. | $67/mo |
| Full Coverage Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible. | $120/mo |
Erie Insurance's score | Industry average | |
|---|---|---|
| Coverage options | 4.2 | 3.2 |
| Customer service | 3.8 | 3.6 |
| Discounts | 3.7 | 2.9 |
| Policy transparency | 4.0 | 3.1 |
| Value | 3.7 | 2.9 |
Customers appreciate the insurer’s excellent customer service and quick claim handling but are dissatisfied with the unexpected and unexplained rate increases. Some also found the policy details hard to understand.
Erie Insurance has been selling auto coverage since 1925. The company operates in 12 states and Washington, D.C., and also offers more than two dozen types of insurance, including home, life, and business insurance. AM Best gives Erie superior ratings for financial stability and credit strength. The company has a lower-than-expected number of complaints with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and ranks third in overall customer satisfaction, according to J.D. Power rankings. The company also has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.
Excellent BBB, J.D. Power, and AM Best ratings
Competitive rates for teenagers and drivers with speeding tickets
Offers numerous optional auto coverages
Available in only 12 states
Customers can’t buy a policy or file a claim online
Offers fewer discounts than competitors
| User Reviews | 4.1 |
|---|---|
| IQ Score The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores. | 9.3 /10 |
| Liability Only Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages. | $52/mo |
| Full Coverage Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible. | $104/mo |
State Farm's score | Industry average | |
|---|---|---|
| Coverage options | 4.1 | 3.2 |
| Customer service | 4.3 | 3.6 |
| Discounts | 3.9 | 2.9 |
| Policy transparency | 3.9 | 3.1 |
| Value | 3.7 | 2.9 |
Customers appreciate the insurer’s excellent customer service and personal attention but dislike the high prices and frequent rate increases. They also express frustration with the claims process.
State Farm is the largest U.S. auto insurer by market share and has operated for more than 100 years. Available in all 50 states, State Farm stands out for its customer service, extensive discounts, and optional coverages. The insurer ranked fifth for overall customer satisfaction in the 2023 J.D. Power U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study. Safe drivers can enjoy many State Farm discounts, including ones for young motorists who complete an approved driver training course, for having a vehicle with certain safety equipment, and for going three years or longer without violations or at-fault accidents.
High rates of customer satisfaction
Rideshare insurance available
Savings for bundling auto with home, renters, condo, or life insurance
No gap insurance offering
May not be the cheapest choice for drivers with violations
Accident forgiveness limited to longtime customers with clean driving records
| User Reviews | 4.9 |
|---|---|
| IQ Score The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores. | 9.1 /10 |
| Liability Only Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages. | $51/mo |
| Full Coverage Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible. | $101/mo |
USAA's score | Industry average | |
|---|---|---|
| Coverage options | 4.9 | 3.2 |
| Customer service | 4.9 | 3.6 |
| Discounts | 4.9 | 2.9 |
| Policy transparency | 4.9 | 3.1 |
| Value | 4.9 | 2.9 |
Customers appreciate the insurer’s reliable customer service and claim handling but express concerns about high rates and frequent price increases. Some also find the insurer’s security protocols and communication methods frustrating.
USAA exclusively serves current and former members of the military and their immediate families and is still the seventh-largest insurance company in the U.S. by market share. USAA offers banking, investing, and retirement services in addition to numerous insurance products, including auto, homeowners, renters, and more. Auto policyholders can qualify for discounts for bundling, insuring multiple vehicles, and living on a military base. AM Best gives USAA an A++ (Superior) financial strength rating, and the insurer ranked best in most regions in J.D. Power’s Overall Customer Satisfaction Index.
High customer satisfaction
Low premiums
SafePilot program rewards good driving with up to 30% discount
Only available to active-duty military, veterans, military spouses, or children of service members or veterans
No 24/7 customer phone support
Customer reviews are mixed for service and claims processing
The cost of a full-coverage car insurance policy varies by insurer. Each insurance company has its own underwriting method for determining premiums. With that, the only way to find competitive rates for your unique situation is to shop around.
In the table below, you can see the cheapest insurance company for drivers in different categories, along with their average monthly full-coverage rates.
Driver or Coverage Type | Cheapest Insurance Company | Cheapest Full-Coverage Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Full coverage (overall) | NJM | $87 |
| Teens | NJM | $0 |
| Seniors | NJM | $0 |
| Drivers with a speeding ticket | NJM | $0 |
| Drivers with an at-fault accident | NJM | $0 |
| Drivers with a DUI | NJM | $0 |
| Drivers with excellent credit | NJM | $0 |
| Drivers with poor credit | NJM | $0 |
In the table below, you can see the cheapest full-coverage car insurance companies overall, according to Insurify data.
7+ years experience in data analysis
Ph.D. in Computational Biology
Insurance Company | Average Monthly Quote: Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Auto-Owners | $87 |
| NJM | $87 |
| Country Financial | $89 |
| USAA | $101 |
| State Farm | $104 |
| Erie | $120 |
| Progressive | $132 |
| Safeco | $136 |
| Mile Auto | $137 |
| GEICO | $144 |
| Allstate | $159 |
| American Family | $160 |
| Direct Auto | $167 |
| Mercury | $169 |
| National General | $173 |
| Elephant | $175 |
| Commonwealth Casualty | $179 |
| Root | $179 |
| AssuranceAmerica | $180 |
| Plymouth Rock | $182 |
| Travelers | $190 |
| Liberty Mutual | $206 |
| Bristol West | $207 |
| Farmers | $209 |
| GAINSCO | $209 |
| The General | $213 |
| Clearcover | $214 |
| Chubb | $224 |
| CSAA | $235 |
| Shelter | $238 |
| The Hartford | $238 |
| Dairyland | $245 |
| Anchor | $248 |
| 21st Century | $255 |
| State Auto | $290 |
| Amica | $412 |
Your age significantly affects your cost of car insurance, with teen drivers facing the highest premiums. Full-coverage policies cost an average of $347 per month for teen drivers, Insurify data shows.
Rates of fatal accidents for 16- and 17-year-olds are four times higher than for drivers 20 and older, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
Most insurers offer good student discounts to young drivers with good grades. Driver education and volunteer discounts can also help offset the higher insurance costs for young drivers.
In the table below, you can see the cheapest full-coverage car insurance companies for teen drivers.
7+ years experience in data analysis
Ph.D. in Computational Biology
Insurance Company | Average Monthly Quote: Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Country Financial | $120 |
| USAA | $185 |
| Auto-Owners | $191 |
| State Farm | $212 |
| Root | $213 |
| Erie | $219 |
| GEICO | $258 |
| Safeco | $305 |
| Mercury | $307 |
| Clearcover | $309 |
| American Family | $309 |
| Mile Auto | $312 |
| Elephant | $316 |
| Plymouth Rock | $323 |
| Liberty Mutual | $344 |
| Direct Auto | $345 |
| Commonwealth Casualty | $348 |
| GAINSCO | $351 |
| Bristol West | $353 |
| National General | $369 |
| The General | $380 |
| Dairyland | $401 |
| AssuranceAmerica | $414 |
| Travelers | $438 |
| 21st Century | $442 |
| Farmers | $450 |
| Anchor | $499 |
| Chubb | $505 |
| Shelter | $508 |
| The Hartford | $629 |
| CSAA | $702 |
| Amica | $765 |
| State Auto | $854 |
Senior drivers pay some of the lowest car insurance rates because they have more driving experience. Full-coverage policies for senior drivers cost $163 per month, on average.
Check out the cheapest full-coverage car insurance companies for senior drivers in the table below.
7+ years experience in data analysis
Ph.D. in Computational Biology
Insurance Company | Average Monthly Quote: Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Auto-Owners | $62 |
| Country Financial | $64 |
| State Farm | $74 |
| USAA | $76 |
| Erie | $81 |
| Mile Auto | $96 |
| GEICO | $104 |
| American Family | $118 |
| Safeco | $119 |
| Mercury | $120 |
| National General | $122 |
| AssuranceAmerica | $126 |
| Direct Auto | $129 |
| Elephant | $131 |
| Commonwealth Casualty | $135 |
| Shelter | $136 |
| The Hartford | $137 |
| Travelers | $140 |
| Plymouth Rock | $144 |
| Chubb | $145 |
| CSAA | $146 |
| Farmers | $151 |
| Liberty Mutual | $164 |
| Bristol West | $166 |
| Root | $175 |
| GAINSCO | $178 |
| The General | $178 |
| 21st Century | $182 |
| Anchor | $182 |
| State Auto | $188 |
| Clearcover | $193 |
| Dairyland | $204 |
| Amica | $291 |
Drivers with a speeding ticket pay a monthly average of $243 for full-coverage insurance. See how much insurers charge for coverage for drivers with a speeding ticket on their records.
7+ years experience in data analysis
Ph.D. in Computational Biology
Insurance Company | Average Monthly Quote: Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Auto-Owners | $117 |
| Country Financial | $127 |
| State Farm | $133 |
| USAA | $134 |
| Mile Auto | $161 |
| Erie | $165 |
| Safeco | $187 |
| GEICO | $197 |
| Root | $202 |
| Commonwealth Casualty | $204 |
| Elephant | $208 |
| Direct Auto | $211 |
| American Family | $213 |
| National General | $215 |
| AssuranceAmerica | $234 |
| GAINSCO | $240 |
| Plymouth Rock | $253 |
| Travelers | $254 |
| Mercury | $255 |
| Bristol West | $264 |
| Liberty Mutual | $268 |
| Farmers | $273 |
| Clearcover | $276 |
| Chubb | $290 |
| Dairyland | $300 |
| Anchor | $301 |
| The General | $304 |
| CSAA | $319 |
| Shelter | $331 |
| 21st Century | $352 |
| The Hartford | $357 |
| State Auto | $405 |
| Amica | $600 |
If you’ve been in an at-fault accident, insurers will likely raise your rates. Drivers with an accident pay a monthly average of $251 for full coverage.
In the table below, you can see the cheapest full-coverage car insurance companies for drivers with an accident on their records.
7+ years experience in data analysis
Ph.D. in Computational Biology
Insurance Company | Average Monthly Quote: Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Auto-Owners | $117 |
| Country Financial | $127 |
| USAA | $139 |
| State Farm | $140 |
| Erie | $165 |
| Mile Auto | $189 |
| GEICO | $192 |
| Safeco | $198 |
| Root | $213 |
| American Family | $221 |
| Elephant | $228 |
| National General | $232 |
| Direct Auto | $235 |
| Commonwealth Casualty | $237 |
| AssuranceAmerica | $241 |
| Plymouth Rock | $244 |
| GAINSCO | $259 |
| Travelers | $264 |
| Bristol West | $276 |
| Liberty Mutual | $276 |
| Mercury | $281 |
| Farmers | $286 |
| Chubb | $305 |
| The General | $305 |
| Anchor | $317 |
| Dairyland | $323 |
| Clearcover | $326 |
| Shelter | $338 |
| The Hartford | $355 |
| CSAA | $357 |
| 21st Century | $362 |
| State Auto | $414 |
| Amica | $598 |
If you’ve been convicted of a DUI, you’ll see your premiums increase because insurance companies will view you as a high-risk driver. Full-coverage policies for drivers with a DUI cost $267 per month, on average.
The table below shows how much insurers charge for full-coverage policies for drivers with a DUI on their records.
7+ years experience in data analysis
Ph.D. in Computational Biology
Insurance Company | Average Monthly Quote: Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Auto-Owners | $113 |
| Country Financial | $121 |
| USAA | $144 |
| State Farm | $148 |
| Erie | $172 |
| Mile Auto | $195 |
| GEICO | $207 |
| American Family | $210 |
| Safeco | $232 |
| Direct Auto | $238 |
| National General | $247 |
| Elephant | $249 |
| Commonwealth Casualty | $251 |
| Root | $255 |
| AssuranceAmerica | $257 |
| Travelers | $271 |
| Mercury | $272 |
| Clearcover | $283 |
| Plymouth Rock | $287 |
| The General | $289 |
| Liberty Mutual | $294 |
| Bristol West | $295 |
| Farmers | $298 |
| GAINSCO | $298 |
| Chubb | $319 |
| CSAA | $335 |
| 21st Century | $342 |
| Shelter | $346 |
| Dairyland | $349 |
| Anchor | $352 |
| The Hartford | $370 |
| State Auto | $385 |
| Amica | $625 |
People with high credit scores typically pay the lowest car insurance rates. Full-coverage policies average $164 per month for drivers with good to excellent credit.
7+ years experience in data analysis
Ph.D. in Computational Biology
Insurance Company | Average Monthly Quote: Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Auto-Owners | $61 |
| State Farm | $82 |
| Country Financial | $83 |
| Erie | $84 |
| USAA | $88 |
| GEICO | $111 |
| Mile Auto | $114 |
| Safeco | $123 |
| American Family | $133 |
| Mercury | $138 |
| Direct Auto | $148 |
| National General | $152 |
| Liberty Mutual | $156 |
| Commonwealth Casualty | $157 |
| Plymouth Rock | $157 |
| AssuranceAmerica | $158 |
| Elephant | $158 |
| Travelers | $162 |
| Root | $163 |
| Farmers | $174 |
| GAINSCO | $183 |
| Bristol West | $184 |
| The General | $187 |
| Chubb | $187 |
| Clearcover | $202 |
| Shelter | $210 |
| Dairyland | $215 |
| CSAA | $216 |
| Anchor | $217 |
| The Hartford | $225 |
| 21st Century | $232 |
| State Auto | $241 |
| Amica | $356 |
Insurers often charge higher rates to drivers with bad credit because they’re statistically more likely to file a claim. People with lower credit scores pay a monthly average of $230 for full-coverage policies, according to Insurify data.
7+ years experience in data analysis
Ph.D. in Computational Biology
Insurance Company | Average Monthly Quote: Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Country Financial | $105 |
| USAA | $124 |
| Auto-Owners | $153 |
| Safeco | $167 |
| Mile Auto | $168 |
| State Farm | $171 |
| GEICO | $177 |
| American Family | $187 |
| Mercury | $202 |
| Erie | $202 |
| Direct Auto | $205 |
| Travelers | $211 |
| Plymouth Rock | $212 |
| National General | $212 |
| Elephant | $215 |
| Commonwealth Casualty | $220 |
| Root | $220 |
| AssuranceAmerica | $221 |
| Liberty Mutual | $235 |
| Bristol West | $254 |
| Farmers | $257 |
| GAINSCO | $257 |
| The General | $262 |
| Clearcover | $263 |
| CSAA | $289 |
| Shelter | $292 |
| Dairyland | $301 |
| Anchor | $305 |
| The Hartford | $313 |
| 21st Century | $313 |
| State Auto | $361 |
| Chubb | $433 |
| Amica | $506 |
Insurify partners with top companies to show you the most reliable quotes
The state you call home — and even your ZIP code — has a big effect on your car insurance rates. A few reasons for varying rates include the frequency of litigation, medical care costs, car repair costs, weather trends, and the prevalence of auto insurance fraud.[1]
New Hampshire currently has the cheapest full-coverage car insurance, with an average annual rate of $956, according to Insurify’s Auto Insurance Report.
The chart below gives a breakdown of the cheapest average full-coverage quotes based on your state:
State | Cheapest monthly cost | Cheapest insurer |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $91 | National General |
| Arizona | $85 | Auto-Owners |
| Arkansas | $74 | State Farm |
| California | $122 | Aspire General |
| Colorado | $122 | State Farm |
| Connecticut | $114 | State Farm |
| Delaware | $114 | USAA |
| Florida | $128 | State Farm |
| Georgia | $134 | Auto-Owners |
| Idaho | $44 | Auto-Owners |
| Illinois | $74 | Auto-Owners |
| Indiana | $64 | Auto-Owners |
| Iowa | $47 | State Farm |
| Kansas | $92 | State Farm |
| Kentucky | $103 | Progressive |
| Louisiana | $118 | State Farm |
| Maine | $71 | USAA |
| Maryland | $183 | USAA |
| Massachusetts | $72 | State Farm |
| Michigan | $117 | Auto-Owners |
| Minnesota | $89 | State Farm |
| Mississippi | $87 | State Farm |
| Montana | $53 | State Farm |
| Missouri | $85 | Progressive |
| North Dakota | $31 | Auto-Owners |
| Nebraska | $82 | Auto-Owners |
| New Hampshire | $74 | Safeco |
| Nevada | $77 | Country Financial |
| New Jersey | $147 | NJM |
| New Mexico | $85 | Progressive |
| New York | $98 | Erie |
| North Carolina | $88 | Allstate |
| Ohio | $57 | Mile Auto |
| Oklahoma | $80 | State Farm |
| Oregon | $81 | Mile Auto |
| Pennsylvania | $82 | State Farm |
| South Carolina | $119 | USAA |
| South Dakota | $81 | State Farm |
| Tennessee | $75 | Mile Auto |
| Texas | $87 | State Farm |
| Utah | $76 | USAA |
| Virginia | $99 | Auto-Owners |
| Washington | $114 | State Farm |
| District of Columbia | $217 | CSAA |
| Vermont | $38 | State Farm |
| West Virginia | $77 | State Farm |
| Wisconsin | $58 | USAA |
| Wyoming | $40 | USAA |
“Full coverage” isn’t a state-defined or standardized term. Generally, full-coverage car insurance is one policy that combines liability, collision, and comprehensive coverages. A full-coverage policy protects your car, other drivers, and their cars.
If you opt for a full-coverage policy, your insurer will reimburse you after an accident or other event that damages your vehicle. For example, if you hit a light pole, your collision coverage would pay for repairs. If someone steals your car, your comprehensive coverage would come into play.
Full-coverage insurance includes multiple layers of protection. Here’s a closer look at what it covers:
Bodily injury liability covers injuries you cause to someone else. A full-coverage policy includes at least the state-minimum amount of bodily injury liability coverage, and you can purchase additional coverage.
Property damage liability covers damage you cause to someone else’s property. That’s usually their vehicle, but it also includes damage to buildings, fences, telephone poles, etc.
Some states require this coverage, which pays for injuries to you and your passengers. It can include medical payments, lost wages, and more.
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage reimburses you if a driver hits you and they don’t have enough insurance to cover your injuries or damages. Some states require it, but you can purchase it as an add-on.
Collision insurance provides reimbursement after an accident with another vehicle or an object, like a tree or fence. If you get in an accident, the policy will help you repair or replace your vehicle.
Comprehensive insurance protects you financially in a non-collision event. For example, you can file a claim after a fallen tree or hailstorm damages your vehicle, or following theft, vandalism, flood, or fire.
Full-coverage insurance isn’t a catch-all coverage. While you’ll find more protection than a liability-only policy, your coverage will still have a few gaps. Full coverage doesn’t cover a few things, including:
Commercial usage: If you’re a rideshare driver or deliver items from a grocery store or pharmacy with your vehicle, a standard full-coverage policy won’t offer protection. You’d need to purchase a rideshare insurance policy.
Vehicle upgrades: A standard full-coverage policy doesn’t cover a fancy sound system or premium rims. But you can buy supplemental insurance to protect your after-market upgrades.
Gap insurance: The insurance company will pay out the fair market value of your vehicle after a total loss but not the gap between the value of your vehicle and what you owe on your auto loan or lease. You can purchase gap insurance to cover the difference.[2]
Your medical bills: Because your full-coverage policy includes liability coverage, it’ll pay for the other driver’s medical expenses in an accident you cause. To get coverage for your own medical expenses, you’d need to add personal injury protection or medical payments (MedPay) coverage.
A rental car: If your car is in the shop for repairs after a covered accident, your full-coverage policy won’t pay for a rental car unless you’ve bought separate rental car reimbursement coverage.
Roadside assistance: Unless you add roadside assistance coverage, a full-coverage policy won’t pay to call a tow truck if your car breaks down on the road.
If you aren’t sure what your policy covers, look at your policy declaration page. It’s better to find any coverage gaps before you run into an issue.
Liability coverage protects other drivers on the road and others’ property from damage or injuries you cause. It won’t help you pay to repair or replace your vehicle.
Each state sets different minimum liability insurance requirements, usually broken down into bodily injury liability and property damage liability. Every state except New Hampshire legally requires drivers to carry liability coverage.[3]
Full coverage includes comprehensive and collision insurance, in addition to liability insurance. It also typically has higher liability limits. When an accident or another incident damages your vehicle, full coverage will help you repair or replace it. This coverage will typically pay out the fair market value of your vehicle.
Full-coverage policies cost more than liability-only policies, but they offer more protection. Learn more about how they compare in the table below.
Coverage Feature | Full Coverage | Liability Only |
|---|---|---|
| Average monthly cost | Higher | Lower |
| Pays for damage to your vehicle | Yes | No |
| Covers theft and vandalism | Yes | No |
| Required by law | No | Yes (every state except NH) |
| Required by lenders and leasing companies | Yes | Yes |
| Covers weather damage | Yes | No |
| Covers hit-and-run accidents | Yes | No |
| Covers damage if you cause an accident | Yes | Yes, but only to the other parties and their vehicles |
| Meets state minimum requirements | Yes | Yes |
| Best for | Newer, financed/leased, or high-value vehicles | Older, paid-off cars |
Car insurance is an unavoidable expense, as it’s illegal to drive without a minimum amount of insurance in every state except New Hampshire. It’s possible to find cheap auto insurance, and you don’t have to overpay for a policy.
Here are a few strategies to help you reduce your full-coverage car insurance costs:[4]
Shop around. Compare quotes from multiple insurance companies to find the best cheap car insurance. An online quote-comparison tool can simplify this task by showing you multiple quotes side by side.
Keep a clean driving record. If you have a clean driving record and haven’t filed any claims, it can keep your full-coverage insurance costs down. And some insurers offer discounts to good drivers that can save you around 22%.
Look for discounts. Insurers offer a wide range of discounts, which can lower the price of your policy. Popular discounts are available for bundling policies, insuring multiple vehicles, and being a safe driver.
Bundle policies. Many insurers offer discounts for bundling multiple policies with them, such as home and auto insurance. Bundling can save you 7%–25%.
Consider telematics programs. With telematics insurance, insurers use a device or smartphone app to monitor your driving behavior, such as your speed, mileage, location, and braking. If you demonstrate safe driving habits, you could see a reduced rate. In fact, telematics can save you up to 30%.
Drop unnecessary add-ons. Review your current coverage to see if you can remove anything that no longer makes sense for your situation. For example, if your car is paid off, you can probably drop gap insurance from your policy.
Build your credit. Drivers with good credit histories pay less for insurance than drivers with poor credit histories. If possible, improve your credit to tap into lower rates.
Increase your deductible. Increasing your deductible, say from $500 to $1,000, will lower your monthly premiums. Just make sure you’re comfortable paying a higher deductible amount if you need to file a claim.
Expert’s insight
“It’s not just people with financed or leased cars who need full-coverage car insurance. Anyone with a high-value vehicle or a newer vehicle should consider full coverage, even if their car is paid off. Ask yourself how hard it would be to pay to repair or replace your vehicle if you cause an accident. Full coverage can protect you from significant financial hardship.”
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If you’re shopping for full-coverage car insurance, the additional information below can help as you research your coverage options.
Nationwide, full-coverage car insurance averages $187 per month, or $2,238 per year. Anything lower than this could be considered a good price for a full-coverage policy.
You can find affordable full-coverage car insurance by comparing quotes from multiple insurers, asking what discounts you qualify for, bundling your insurance policies, and increasing your deductible.
NJM has the cheapest full-coverage insurance, Insurify data shows. Its average monthly rate is $87 for a full-coverage policy.
Erie, State Farm, and USAA offer some of the best full-coverage insurance on the market. As a driver, you’ll need to determine which auto insurance company best suits your individual needs by comparing quotes.
If you financed a vehicle, you may have to maintain full coverage until you pay it off. After that point, you have the choice to maintain or drop collision and comprehensive coverage. If the cost of repairing your vehicle meets or exceeds the value of your vehicle, dropping full coverage could be the right move.
In most cases, lenders require drivers to maintain full coverage on a vehicle until you pay it off. If you finance or lease your vehicle, read the details of your contract to determine whether or not full coverage is required.
When you purchase collision and comprehensive insurance, your insurance company will help you repair or replace your vehicle after a covered incident. But the policy often only covers the market value of your vehicle.
Since cars depreciate in value, you might find a gap between what you need to buy another car and your insurance coverage. In this case, you might want to consider supplemental gap insurance coverage.
Full-coverage insurance provides more financial protection. In some cases, it’s worth it to opt for this additional coverage. But in other cases, it can make more financial sense to skip full coverage.
For example, if you drive an older vehicle with a value less than what it would cost to repair, it might not be worth carrying full coverage. But if you have a new vehicle, replacing or fixing the bumper after a fender bender can range from $100 to $1,000, which could make the cost of a full-coverage policy worth it.
If you have a ticket or accident on your record, your insurance company will likely increase your premiums when your policy renews. You can compare quotes from several different insurers to see whether any of them offer cheaper full-coverage rates to drivers with an incident on their record.
If you drive an older car and it would cost more to repair it than its current value, full coverage might not be worth it. But if the added coverage would give you peace of mind, you might consider maintaining full coverage on your car.
Probably. Most lenders or leasing companies will require you to have a full-coverage policy if you’ve financed or leased your vehicle so that they can protect their investment.
Insurify data scientists analyzed more than 250 million quotes served to car insurance applicants in Insurify’s proprietary database to calculate the premium averages displayed on this page. These premiums are real quotes that come directly from Insurify’s 500+ partner insurance companies in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Quote averages represent the median price for a quote across the given coverage level, driver subset, and geographic area.
Unless otherwise specified, quoted rates reflect the average cost for drivers between 20 and 70 years old with a clean driving record and average or better credit (a credit score of 600 or higher).
Liability-only premium averages correspond to policies with the following coverage limits:
Quotes for Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, State Farm, and USAA are estimates based on Quadrant Information Services’ database of auto insurance rates.
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