Best Cheap Auto Insurance in Lake Charles, Louisiana (2023)

Nestled along the lake it’s named for, and just 30 miles from the Gulf of Mexico, Lake Charles is a haven for anyone who loves water activities. But all that water can cause a great deal of damage to vehicles and homes when a storm arrives, which could be one reason why Lake Charles drivers pay slightly more than the state average for car insurance.

While the average monthly cost of auto insurance in Louisiana is $397, Lake Charles drivers pay an average of $402. But your quote may be higher or lower.

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Cheapest car insurance companies in Lake Charles

While some insurers offer cheaper rates than others, know that the best auto insurance company for you is the one that provides you with the coverage you need for a price you can afford. Compare rates, discounts, and coverage limits as you shop.

Cheapest insurer overall: State Farm

Best insurer for military members and their families: USAA

Cheapest for drivers with a DUI: National General

Cheapest liability-only car insurance in Lake Charles

Most states, including Louisiana, require all drivers to carry a minimum amount of liability insurance, which is designed to pay for damages you cause to people or property in a car accident. Liability-only policies tend to be cheaper than full-coverage policies because of their minimal coverages.

Cheapest full-coverage car insurance in Lake Charles

Full-coverage car insurance differs from liability insurance in that it protects you and your vehicle from injuries or damages, whether you’re at fault or not. Though there’s no exact definition, full-coverage policies tend to include comprehensive and collision insurance along with liability insurance.

Collision coverage pays for damages such as you hitting a pole or curb, while comprehensive coverage pays for things like environmental, animal, and vandalism damage.^[5] Drivers who want thorough protection against unexpected incidents would benefit from full-coverage car insurance.

Car insurance requirements in Louisiana

Louisiana state law requires all drivers to carry a minimum amount of liability insurance, as displayed in the chart below.

Although uninsured/underinsured motorist (UIM) and economic-only coverage are optional, Louisiana’s “No-Pay, No-Play” law allows you to waive your right to make a pain-and-suffering legal claim for those holding economic-only UIM coverage. The law also prohibits an uninsured motorist from collecting certain amounts for property damage and personal injury regardless of driver fault.^[6]

Additional optional coverages you may want to consider include:

Uninsured motorist property damage

Covers damages to your vehicle if you’re involved in an accident with an uninsured or underinsured driver

Medical payments coverage

Covers medical and funeral expenses for you and the passengers in your car

Towing/labor coverage

Covers most towing and labor costs for your disabled vehicle

TNC coverage

Also known as rideshare coverage, this covers you when you have a confirmed customer and are on your way to retrieve them

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an incident

Along with at-fault accidents, incidents like speeding tickets, moving violations, and DUI convictions can raise your rates. These incidents demonstrate an increased risk of being in an accident, and, thus, needing to file a claim. Insurers charge more to drivers with these infractions on their records to account for the increased risk.

For instance, speed is a factor in many car accidents. Insurify’s proprietary data shows that the average monthly price of a liability-only policy can increase anywhere from $51 to $196 with even a single speeding ticket on your driving record.

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Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a speeding ticket

Although speeding doesn’t always result in an accident, speeding tickets can raise your rates, since speed is a contributing factor in many collisions. Louisiana uses both red-light and speed cameras, so you can be ticketed for speeding without even being stopped by a police officer.

Just one speeding ticket can raise your auto rates. According to Insurify data, a speeding ticket increased State Farm liability-only rates by $51 and Bristol West liability-only rates by $196.

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an at-fault accident

Some at-fault accidents might seem unavoidable, but an at-fault accident for any reason will likely raise your car insurance rate.^[7] Some insurers may offer accident forgiveness programs that don’t raise your rates initially or allow your rate to drop over time, but you should drive as responsibly as possible to avoid collisions.

Rates may increase by a small or large percentage depending on your insurer. Insurify data shows that Clearcover, Midvale Home & Auto, and Bristol West have the most expensive policies for Lake Charles drivers with an at-fault accident on their driving record.

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a DUI 

DUIs will substantially increase your auto premium. You’ll also likely lose your driver’s license for a period of time, and your auto insurer may even decide not to renew your policy.^[8]

“Getting a DUI in a country or parish that is ‘dry’ is not a rating factor,” says Mark Friedlander, director of corporate communications at the Insurance Information Institute. No matter where you get a DUI, you’ll likely face severe consequences. The table below highlights just how expensive rates can be for drivers with a DUI.

Cheapest car insurance for seniors 

Despite being long-time policyholders or having clean driving records, senior drivers often see rates increase in their mid-70s. Rates decrease around age 35 but rise in older adults because age-related health impairments cause drivers to have a higher likelihood of getting into an accident than middle-aged drivers.

Below, you’ll see average monthly rates from various insurers for senior drivers in Lake Charles.

Cheapest car insurance for teens 

Unfortunately, teenagers typically pay the most for car insurance of any age group, since they have such little driving experience. Insurers see them as high-risk and charge them more expensive rates because of it.

Teens can get cheaper car insurance through discount programs, such as good student discounts and defensive driving courses. To limit the opportunities for traffic accidents or moving violations, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) recommends young teens engage in graduated licensing programs to reduce their risk.^[9]

How to get the cheapest car insurance in Lake Charles

You have a variety of ways to find cheap auto insurance rates in Lake Charles, Louisiana. But remember that there’s a difference between cheap and affordable insurance. A cheap policy might not provide the extent of coverage you need while an affordable policy should.

Use the following tips to find cheap car insurance in Lake Charles:

• Stick with liability-only insurance. Especially if you have an older car, liability-only coverage allows you to maintain only the legally required minimum insurance for the lowest rate possible.

• Seek out discounts. Most insurers offer at least a few discounts to policyholders. Many are designed for regular drivers, such as accident-free discounts, while others are family-oriented, like good student discounts.

• Comparison shop. Compare quotes from multiple insurers before renewing your policy each year. This will help you identify the insurer that can give you the coverage you need for the cheapest rate in Lake Charles.

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Lake Charles car insurance quotes by credit tier 

The state of Louisiana currently allows insurers to consider your credit score when determining policy premiums. Insurers factor your credit score into an insurance score to assess your risk potential based on your credit history.^[10] In many cases, excellent or good credit scores can lead to a lower rate, while poor credit scores might increase your rate.

Keep in mind that credit scores are just one of many factors influencing a credit-based insurance score.

Is car insurance more expensive in Lake Charles?

The average cost of car insurance in Lake Charles is more expensive than the national average. The average policy in Lake Charles is $402, while the overall national average is $251. Lake Charles is only slightly higher than the Louisiana state average of $397, however.

Larger cities like New Orleans and Baton Rouge are typically more expensive than Lake Charles. But remember that many factors, including rate of car crashes per mile and auto vehicle thefts, can affect car insurance rates in different cities.

More cities in Louisiana 

Full-coverage policies in Lake Charles cost an average of $408 per month. Monroe has the same average rate, while Shreveport is the only city below the average rate, according to Insurify data. Larger cities, including Baton Rouge and New Orleans, exceed Lake Charles’ average by a good amount.

Lake Charles car insurance FAQs