Best Cheap Auto Insurance in St. Petersburg, Florida (2023)

At the edge of Tampa Bay, St. Petersburg is home to plenty of cultural and beachfront experiences, plus slightly higher-than-average car insurance premiums. The average cost of car insurance in St. Petersburg is $385 a month for liability-only coverage and $453 for full-coverage insurance, far exceeding the national averages of $106 and $172 for respective coverages. 

The city’s high rates of tourism and 11% annual chance of hurricanes contribute to its comparatively expensive car insurance premiums.^[1] Here’s how you can find affordable car insurance in St. Pete despite its higher-than-average rates.

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Best car insurance companies in St. Petersburg

Selecting the right car insurance company in St. Petersburg requires careful consideration of your individual needs and circumstances. The best car insurance company for you varies based on factors such as your driving history, vehicle make, and preferred coverage options.^[3]

Get insights into a few of the cheapest car insurance companies in St. Petersburg and what makes them stand out from their competitors.

Best insurer for full coverage: State Farm

Best insurer for discounts: GEICO

Best insurer for safe drivers: Allstate

Cheapest liability-only car insurance in St. Petersburg

Liability coverage is often the cheapest car insurance you can purchase while still maintaining Florida car insurance requirements. However, liability coverage in Florida doesn’t pay for damages to your vehicle after an accident.

If you’re in St. Petersburg, take a look at the most affordable liability-only policies.

Cheapest full-coverage car insurance in St. Petersburg

While liability insurance meets Florida’s minimum requirements, it might not be enough coverage for your needs. For more protection against financial losses, consider full-coverage car insurance, which includes comprehensive and collision insurance. This type of auto insurance coverage is particularly beneficial for drivers with high-value vehicles, people in areas with high rates of accidents or car thefts, or anyone who wants more coverage than what liability insurance provides.

If you live in St. Petersburg, Florida, check out the cheapest car insurance companies in the city below.

Car insurance requirements in Florida

All drivers must meet Florida’s car insurance requirements, which means having both personal injury protection (PIP) and property damage liability insurance. PIP insurance covers 80% of medical expenses for covered injuries, up to $10,000, regardless of fault. Property damage liability insurance, on the other hand, takes care of the costs of property damage you cause in an accident.

Below are Florida’s minimum car insurance requirements:^[2]

Florida’s minimum requirements are notably low compared to other state requirements. If you cause an accident with more than $10,000 in damages, you’re on the hook for the excess amounts. So, it’s a good idea to raise policy limits and add more coverage to your auto insurance policy. Consider adding these types of coverages to your auto insurance policy for more protection:

• 

  Collision coverage

  Collision coverage pays for vehicle damages when you collide with a stationary object or another vehicle, even if you’re at fault.

• 

  Comprehensive coverage

  Comprehensive coverage pays for vehicle damages from events other than collisions, including fire, vandalism, theft, falling objects, and natural disasters.

• 

  Gap coverage

  For people financing or leasing their vehicles, gap coverage pays the difference between your auto loan balance and the insurance settlement in the event of a total loss.

• 

  Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage

  If someone driving without insurance — or with policy limits too low to cover damages and injuries — causes an accident, this insurance kicks in to cover your costs.

• 

  Glass coverage

  This covers windshield and glass damage, and some policies even offer no-deductible protection for side windows, rear windows, and glass sunroofs.

Cheapest car insurance for St. Petersburg drivers with an incident

Incidents like speeding tickets, driving under the influence, at-fault accidents, or other moving violations on your driving record can lead to higher insurance premiums for St. Petersburg residents. Marks like these on your record signal to insurers that you’re at a higher risk of filing a claim, so companies raise rates to offset the risk.

However, for people with an imperfect driving record, it’s essential to find affordable car insurance that meets your needs.

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Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a speeding ticket

Speeding tickets can influence your car insurance rates, even if you didn’t cause an accident while speeding. St. Petersburg car insurance companies consider them indicators of risky driving behavior, heightening the likelihood of future accidents and claims.

If you’re searching for the most affordable car insurance companies in St. Petersburg and have a speeding ticket on your record, consult the table below.

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an at-fault accident

Causing an accident can result in a notable spike in your car insurance rates, as insurance companies view at-fault accidents as indicators of heightened risk for future claims. Pinellas County, which includes St. Petersburg and Clearwater, reported more than 16,000 car crashes in 2021, a 15% increase from 2020.^[4] Prioritizing safe driving and avoiding accidents not only protects you and others on the road but also helps you get lower insurance premiums.

The table below shows the cheapest car insurance companies in St. Petersburg for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records.

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a DUI

Having a DUI conviction can lead to much higher car insurance rates. Insurance companies consider DUIs a significant risk factor, pointing to a higher likelihood of accidents and claims. As a result, your insurance premiums are likely to rise significantly after a DUI. Additionally, Florida may require you to purchase FR-44 insurance and keep it on file with the state for three years. Florida FR-44 insurance requires higher insurance limits, which will also increase rates.

The table below shows the cheapest car insurance companies for drivers with a DUI in St. Petersburg.

Cheapest car insurance for St. Petersburg seniors

Auto insurers consider your age when determining your car insurance premiums. As you gain driving experience and reach your mid-30s, rates usually decrease. However, around the age of 75, premiums may increase slightly due to factors such as potential health issues and higher accident risks.^[5] 

Despite these new driving risks, seniors, who make up more than 19% of St. Petersburg’s population, still tend to pay lower average car insurance rates than other age groups.^[6]

Here are the cheapest car insurance companies for seniors in St. Petersburg.

Cheapest car insurance for St. Petersburg teens

Teenagers and young adults typically pay higher rates compared to older drivers, mainly due to their limited experience and higher risk profiles. For instance, drivers ages 15 to 19 accounted for more than 1,600 crashes in Pinellas County in 2021.^[4] Finding affordable car insurance as a teen driver is important, but you can stay on your parents’ policy and take advantage of student-centric discounts to get lower rates.

Here are the cheapest car insurance companies in St. Petersburg for teens and young drivers.

How to get the cheapest car insurance in St. Petersburg

When you’re in search of affordable car insurance coverage in St. Petersburg, remember to follow these helpful tips:

• Ask about discounts. When looking for the best rate, one of the best questions you can ask an insurance agent is if their company offers available discounts, such as those for good driving habits, vehicle safety features, or insuring multiple cars.

• Practice good driving habits. Make safe driving a top priority to maintain a clean record. In addition to adhering to traffic laws, avoid accidents and keep violations to a minimum to pay lower premiums.

• Bundle your insurance policies. Consider combining your car insurance with other insurance products, such as renters insurance, life insurance, business insurance, or homeowners insurance, to potentially qualify for multi-policy discounts.

• Compare your options. It’s a good idea to compare car insurance quotes from various insurance companies in St. Petersburg. Insurers offer different rates to drivers, so comparison shopping is the best way to find the most cost-effective prices, based on your driving profile and coverage needs.

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St. Petersburg car insurance quotes by credit tier

Car insurance companies in Florida can use your credit score when underwriting your auto insurance policy, but they can’t rely solely on it.^[7] Insurers believe that a driver’s credit score correlates to their risk of filing a claim; higher credit scores indicate lower claims risk, and lower scores mean higher risk.

For St. Petersburg drivers, maintaining an excellent or good credit score can often lead to lower premiums, and drivers with poor credit scores may pay higher premiums.

Here’s how much St. Petersburg drivers pay for car insurance, on average, based on credit scores.

Is car insurance more expensive in St. Petersburg?

Car insurance in St. Petersburg is more expensive, on average, compared to the national average and the state average. The average cost of car insurance in the U.S. is $106 a month for liability-only insurance, and full coverage costs $172.

However, St. Petersburg residents face a steep average monthly premium of $453 for full coverage. Keep in mind that car insurance rates can vary widely due to factors like weather conditions, crime rates, and traffic volume within a city and its ZIP codes.^[3]

St. Petersburg and neighboring Tampa have an 11% chance of hurricane weather every year, according to AccuWeather.^[1] Plus, St. Petersburg attracts millions of tourists every year, contributing to more traffic and higher rates of accidents.

Important Information

Florida drivers have the fourth-highest car insurance costs in the U.S., with an average annual premium of $2,412. Damage from Hurricane Ian contributed to record-breaking losses for insurers in 2022. Florida’s no-fault system presents additional challenges for insurance companies. Insurify’s 2023 Mid-Year Auto Report explores the reasons behind rising rates, why major insurers are leaving the state, and how new legislation could affect Florida drivers.

More cities in Florida

While St. Petersburg car insurance rates are higher than the state and national averages, the city still has lower rates than many other Florida areas, including its neighbor, Tampa. Here’s how average car insurance costs in St. Petersburg compare to other cities in the state.

St. Petersburg car insurance FAQs