Lindsay VanSomeren is a freelance personal finance writer living in Suquamish, WA. Her work has appeared with FICO, Credit Karma, The Balance, and more. She enjoys helping people learn how to manage their money better so they can live the life they want.
Danny is an insurance writer at Insurify. Specializing in auto insurance, he works to help drivers navigate the complicated world of insurance to find the best possible policy. He received a bachelor's degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. You can connect with Danny on LinkedIn.
Konstantin has led data science and engineering projects across multiple domains: biology, travel and insurance. He loves finding data nuggets that help people.
Save up to $717 by comparing quotes from the top 70+ insurance companies
Secure. Free. Easy-to-use.
Based on 3,806+ reviews
4.8/5
Advertiser Disclosure
At Insurify, our goal is to help customers compare insurance products and find the best policy for them. We strive to provide open, honest, and unbiased information about the insurance products and services we review. Our hard-working team of data analysts, insurance experts, insurance agents, editors and writers, has put in thousands of hours of research to create the content found on our site.
We do receive compensation when a sale or referral occurs from many of the insurance providers and marketing partners on our site. That may impact which products we display and where they appear on our site. But it does not influence our meticulously researched editorial content, what we write about, or any reviews or recommendations we may make. We do not guarantee favorable reviews or any coverage at all in exchange for compensation.
Why you can trust Insurify: As an independent agent and insurance comparison website, Insurify makes money through commissions from insurance companies. However, our expert insurance writers and editors operate independently of our insurance partners. Learn more.
If you’re looking for car insurance in Tennessee, remember that no particular car insurance company is the best fit for everyone. Rates vary depending on your driving history, credit score, age, and how much coverage you need. Taking time to compare quotes from multiple insurers is the easiest way to find the best car insurance for you.
The average cost of car insurance in Tennessee is $162 per month, $50 less than the national average. If you’re looking for even cheaper car insurance, you can find it by taking advantage of discounts, driving safely, and various other ways. But it starts by choosing the best car insurance company for your coverage needs.
Quick Facts
At $76 per month, State Farm offers the cheapest full coverage in Tennessee.
Drivers in Knoxville pay the cheapest rates in Tennessee, at $155 per month.
Teenagers pay the most of any age group, at an average of $272 per month.
Best car insurance companies in Tennessee
Finding the best car insurance in Tennessee is a matter of knowing what’s important to you in a car insurance company. Each insurer weighs premium factors differently, and some may offer more relevant discounts, so it’s important to compare car insurance quotes from multiple companies before buying a policy.
Find Car Insurance in Tennessee
Secure. Free. Easy-to-use.
Based on 3,806+ reviews
4.8/5
Insurance Company
Best For
Average Monthly Quote: Liability Only
Insurify Quality (IQ) Score
State Farm
Overall
$40
4.4
USAA
Low rates
$47
4.5
GEICO
Best value
$52
4.3
Erie
College students
$58
4.4
Farmers
Families
$78
3.8
Nationwide
Retirees
$130
4.1
Travelers
Commuters
$78
4.3
Midvale Home & Auto
High-risk drivers
$93
3.2
Progressive
Sports car owners
$95
4.1
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Insurify uses an in-house, proprietary method to rate and review the best car insurance companies. The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 crucial criteria, including average premiums, customer satisfaction, discounts, third-party ratings, and more, to calculate a final score for a company.
Criteria are weighted by importance to the consumer — factors such as customer reviews and affordability influence the score more than availability and third-party ratings. With the IQ Score, Insurify is able to provide quantitative ratings for drivers to better compare car insurance companies and make informed decisions to meet their coverage needs.
State Farm is the largest nationwide car insurance company, covering about 17% of all vehicles.[1] It has excellent ratings and reviews for such a large company, with an Insurify Quality (IQ) Score of 4.4 out of 5 and a lower-than-average amount of customer complaints lodged with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).[2]
State Farm is also the cheapest insurer for Tennessee drivers, with an average monthly premium of just $40 for liability coverage.
If you’re a veteran or from a military family, USAA is likely your best option in Tennessee. It consistently receives high ratings from J.D. Power for good customer service, from A.M. Best for financial stability, and from the NAIC for its lower-than-average number of customer complaints.[4][5][2]
USAA has a 4.5 IQ Score and an average liability premium of $47 per month. It’s slightly more expensive than State Farm but provides excellent coverage for people who qualify.
Pros
Affordable premiums
High ratings from J.D. Power and A.M. Best
Military-specific discount program with many goods and services
GEICO also offers some of the cheapest car insurance in Tennessee, costing an average of $52 a month. Although it has an IQ Score of 4.3, the company’s reputation isn’t great in the Tennessee region, where J.D. Power ranks it slightly below average for overall customer satisfaction compared to other options.[4]
GEICO also offers many different types of insurance policies, from bicycle insurance to renters insurance. It’s also one of the few insurers to offer a mechanical breakdown policy.
Tennessee drivers who choose Erie pay an average monthly premium of $58 for liability coverage. For the price, you get a lot of included coverage options, including accident forgiveness and the Rate Lock feature that prevents your rates from rising over time. Erie also earned a 4.4 IQ Score.
Erie offers more discount options for young drivers and students than most other insurance companies. Unfortunately, Erie is available in only 12 states nationwide.
Pros
Plenty of money-saving features available
Lower-than-average volume of NAIC customer complaints[2]
Third-best company in the region for customer satisfaction, according to J.D.Power[4]
Cons
Poorly rated app
Available in only 12 states and Washington, D.C.
Telematics app provides charity donations and gift cards
Farmers offers some excellent discount options for families. Teenagers may qualify for discounts by purchasing their own policy for the first time, and households that share a vehicle can also qualify for a discount.
Farmers’ monthly insurance premiums cost an average of $78 for liability coverage in Tennessee. Unfortunately, it received rather poor ratings for customer service from J.D. Power and earned a lower IQ Score of 3.8.
Pros
Wide range of coverage options available
Discounts for teen drivers, older drivers, and EV/hybrid cars
Fewer-than-average volume of customer complaints lodged with NAIC[2]
Nationwide isn’t the cheapest option, with its liability-only coverage averaging $130 per month. But if you’re a senior who doesn’t drive very often, you might appreciate Nationwide’s mileage-based pricing option. It also offers a discount for seniors taking defensive driver classes and provides a vanishing deductible program as well.
Nationwide earned a 4.1 IQ Score and has fewer than average customer complaints, according to the NAIC.
Pros
Vanishing deductible program
Mileage-based pricing option for low-mileage drivers
Low volume of customer complaints lodged with the NAIC[2]
If you’re a Tennessee commuter who uses public transportation and occasionally drives, Travelers is one of the few companies that offers a nonowner car insurance policy to protect you. If you’re one of the many commuters switching to EVs and hybrids because of the lower fuel costs, you’ll also appreciate the discounts for these cars.
Travelers is relatively affordable, costing an average of $78 per month for liability coverage. It also has the highest possible rating for financial stability from A.M. Best, which is part of the reason for its IQ Score of 4.3.
Finding car insurance after a major driving violation can be challenging and expensive, but Midvale Home & Auto offers affordable rates, with an average monthly liability cost of $93.
Pros
Relatively low premiums
Works with hard-to-insure people
Average number of complaints, according to the NAIC[2]
Cons
IQ Score of 3.2
Not very many coverage options or available discounts
Very little web presence and not much information available
The average monthly premium for Tennessee drivers who choose Progressive is $95 for liability coverage. Your cost may be a bit more if you’re insuring an expensive luxury car, though — especially if you want full coverage — but Progressive is one of the few mainstream insurance companies that cover sports cars, with an upper limit of $150,000.
Progressive received a 4.1 IQ Score. In addition to a wide range of personal insurance options, Progressive also offers car insurance for trips to Mexico.
Pros
Highly rated app
Accident forgiveness included in most plans
Vanishing deductible plan can lower your out-of-pocket cost to $0
Cons
Relatively expensive premiums
Fewer-than-average discount options available
Below-average ranking for customer satisfaction with J.D. Power[4]
How Insurify’s experts used internal proprietary data to rate the top auto insurers
Data scientists at Insurify analyzed more than 40 million real-time auto insurance rates from our partner providers across the United States to compile the car insurance quotes, statistics, and data visualizations displayed on this page. The car insurance data includes coverage analysis and details on drivers’ vehicles, driving records, and demographic information.
Quotes for Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, State Farm, and USAA are estimates based on Quadrant Information Service’s database of auto insurance rates. With these insights, Insurify is able to offer drivers insight into how companies price their car insurance premiums.
How to shop for the best car insurance in Tennessee
Tennessee drivers have several advantages when it comes to shopping for the best car insurance policy.
“Overall, the Tennessee auto market is exceptionally healthy and competitive,” says Kevin Walters, director of communications for the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance. “In fact, we still see some companies are taking less than their fully indicated rates.”
“Ask questions and conduct research before you shop. Different insurance companies charge different rates for the same coverage — and not all insurance companies provide the same level of claims service,” says Walters. “It makes sense to shop around for the best insurance company for your needs.”
Some ways to get the most from your car-insurance shopping experience include:
Start shopping early. Many insurers offer discounts if you purchase a new policy before your current one ends.
Find your declarations page from your current auto insurance company. This has all the information on it you’ll need to get a new quote, including your car’s make, model, VIN, and your current coverage options.
Set aside some time to shop. Shopping for new car insurance can be difficult and time-consuming. Set aside an hour or two to compare options.
Research companies and choose an option. Pick the most affordable quotes, and research those companies more to find the one that best suits you. Consider discounts and bundling options.
Buy a policy. Once you’ve found the right company, you’re ready to make a purchase. Consider paying for the entire premium at once instead of monthly, as many insurers offer a discount for this.
How to get the cheapest car insurance in Tennessee
Although car insurance in Tennessee is relatively affordable compared to the rest of the country, that doesn’t mean everyone can afford it — and the problem is only getting worse, according to Walters.
“There are multiple factors causing the rise in auto insurance costs, including inflation, rising replacement part costs, an increased number of accidents, higher risk pools, and an increased tendency for higher reckless driving rates after COVID and pandemic lockdown,” says Walters.
Here are some ways you can save on your car insurance premiums:
Compare rates from as many car insurance companies as possible.
See whether your coverage options still make sense, and if you can drop any add-ons.
Almost every state requires a minimum level of liability coverage in order to drive legally in the state. Tennessee’s requirements are as follows:[6]
Coverage Type
Amount
Bodily injury liability
$25,000 per person
$50,000 total per accident
Property damage liability
$25,000 per accident
Liability-only vs. full-coverage insurance in Tennessee
If you’re still financing your car in Tennessee, your lender will require you to purchase a full-coverage insurance policy. Full-coverage car insurance includes the state minimum requirements, collision, and comprehensive coverage.
Collision coverage protects your own vehicle from damage if you’re in a car crash, even if you were the one to cause the accident. Comprehensive coverage, on the other hand, protects your car from damage from non-accident causes, such as riots, trees falling on your car, and theft.
Once you’ve paid off your car loan, you’re free to drop your full-coverage policy and switch to a minimum-liability auto insurance policy to save money. However, this won’t protect your car as thoroughly as full coverage.
Each insurance company in Tennessee prices these policies differently. As you can see below, sometimes the gap between the two coverage options is small, and other times it can be quite large.
Insurance Company
Average Monthly Quote: Liability Only
Average Monthly Quote: Full Coverage
State Farm
$40
$76
USAA
$47
$90
GEICO
$52
$99
Auto-Owners
$54
$104
Erie
$58
$111
Allstate
$73
$139
Farmers
$78
$150
Travelers
$78
$133
Direct Auto
$103
$135
Nationwide
$130
$144
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Find Car Insurance in Tennessee
Secure. Free. Easy-to-use.
Based on 3,806+ reviews
4.8/5
Tennessee car insurance rates by driving and accident history
Insurers consider many different factors when setting your rates, and one of the most important is your driving history. In particular, if you have any traffic violations such as speeding tickets, convictions for driving under the influence, or even any at-fault accidents, you may struggle to find an insurance company that’ll cover you. If you do, the costs can be very high.
Insurance Company
Average Monthly Quote
Average Monthly Quote
Average Monthly Quote
Average Monthly Quote
State Farm
$76
$109
$151
$102
USAA
$90
$128
$179
$120
GEICO
$99
$141
$196
$132
Auto-Owners
$104
$148
$207
$139
Erie
$111
$159
$221
$149
Travelers
$133
$190
$265
$178
Direct Auto
$135
$192
$268
$180
Allstate
$139
$199
$277
$187
Nationwide
$144
$206
$287
$193
Farmers
$150
$215
$299
$201
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
SR-22 insurance in Tennessee
If you’ve had your license revoked due to a bad mark on your driving record, Tennessee requires you to file an SR-22 form with the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security as proof that you’re insured. Check that your insurer offers this service before you buy a policy. Some insurance companies charge fees for this service, usually under $25.[7]
Here are a few insurers in Tennessee that offer SR-22 insurance:
Another factor insurers use to determine your rate is your ZIP code. If you live in urban areas like Memphis or Nashville, for example, you’re more likely to pay higher insurance costs.
City
Average Monthly Quote
Compared to State Average
Knoxville
$155
-4%
Cleveland
$143
-11%
Jackson
$140
-13%
Kingsport
$134
-17%
Johnson City
$115
-29%
City
Average Monthly Quote
Compared to State Average
Cordova
$248
53%
Memphis
$220
36%
Clarksville
$187
15%
Antioch
$177
14%
Nashville
$173
10%
Find Car Insurance in Tennessee
Secure. Free. Easy-to-use.
Based on 3,806+ reviews
4.8/5
Tennessee car insurance rates by driver age
If you’re a young driver, you can expect to pay more for car insurance because insurance companies consider you more likely to file a claim. It’s not until the age of 25 that most insurance companies start bringing premium prices down.[9]
You can see a big difference in how age can affect insurance rates for Tennessee drivers below. Tennessee insurers tend to charge the lowest rates for people in their 60s. Teenagers, on the other hand, pay more than twice that rate.
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Tennessee car insurance FAQs
Finding affordable car insurance in Tennessee can be challenging, especially if you’re short on time. Below, you’ll find answers to some commonly asked questions about the best cheap car insurance in Tennessee.
Who has the cheapest car insurance in Tennessee?
The cheapest car insurance companies in Tennessee are State Farm ($40 per month), USAA ($47 per month), and GEICO ($52 per month). These rates are for the liability-only insurance policies required to drive legally and don’t include the cost of covering your car for collision and comprehensive damages.
What’s the required car insurance coverage in Tennessee?
Tennessee requires a similar amount of minimum liability coverage as most other states: $25,000 per person and $50,000 total per accident for bodily injury. If you damage someone else’s property, it’ll pay up to $25,000.[6]
What are the best car insurance companies in Tennessee?
The best car insurance company in Tennessee is State Farm, with an average premium of $40 a month for a minimum-coverage policy and an IQ Score of 4.4. USAA is a good option for military families, with an IQ Score of 4.5 and an average monthly premium of $47 for a minimum-coverage policy. GEICO is also a good choice, with an IQ Score of 4.3 and an average monthly rate of $52 for a liability-only policy.
How does your credit score affect car insurance premiums in Tennessee?
Like most states, Tennessee allows insurers to charge you higher insurance premiums if you have poor credit.[8] Insurers consider drivers with lower credit scores as more likely to file claims, so they charge these drivers more expensive premiums than those with good credit.
Is Tennessee a no-fault state?
No. Tennessee isn’t a no-fault state. It follows a tort liability framework that doesn’t place any limits on accident-related lawsuits. Most other states use this system, and Tennessee is no exception.[10]
Insurify Insights
How Tennessee Drivers Measure Up
While most drivers know that car insurance quotes are determined in part by your personal driving history, many may be unaware that rates are also impacted by the average risk of the drivers around you as well. Check out Insurify's latest analysis of driving records in Tennessee below:
Methodology
Drawing from an internal database of over 4 million car insurance applications, the research team at Insurify analyzes patterns in car ownership and driver behavior - including how Tennessee drivers measure up to their fellow motorists across the United States in areas including speeding, DUIs, and more. Insurify Insights publishes data-driven articles, trend analyses, and national rankings each week on all factors related to cars and those who drive them.
Nissan Altima
Most Popular Car in Tennessee
#16
State with the Most Speeding Tickets Rank
#14
State with the Moving Violations Rank
#30
State with the Most DUIs Rank
#7
State with the most Suspended Licenses
While car accidents are a sadly unavoidable feature of time spent on the road, rates of accidents do vary from city to city and from state to state. Tennessee is the #10 state in the country for drivers with an at-fault accident on their driving record.
Rank among states: #10
Percent of drivers in Tennessee with an accident: 10%
While driving while intoxicated is never acceptable, it’s a more common offense than many assume. Tennessee is the #30 state in the country for drivers with a prior drunk driving conviction.
Rank among states: #30
Percent of drivers in Tennessee with a DUI: 1.2%
Reckless driving refers to a specific traffic violation: when drivers willfully act dangerously in spite of the risks they’re imposing on both themselves and others. Tennessee is the #26 state in the country for drivers with a reckless driving offense on record.
Rank among states: #26
Percent of drivers in Tennessee with a reckless driving offense: 1.3%
The Insurify team classifies rude drivers as those who commit one or more of the following driving offenses: failure to yield or failure to stop, improper backing, passing where prohibited, tailgating, street racing, or hit-and-run. Tennessee is the #25 state in the country for drivers with a rude driving violation on record.
Rank among states: #25
Percent of drivers in Tennessee with a rude driving violation: 1.5%
Exceeding the speed limit can endanger others and have a serious impact on your insurance costs. Tennessee is the #16 state in the country for drivers with a speeding ticket on record.
Rank among states: #16
Percent of drivers in Tennessee with a speeding ticket: 10.1%
Failing to yield the right of way isn’t just frustrating for other drivers; it’s dangerous, too. Tennessee is the #21 state in the country for drivers with a failure to yield violation on record.
Rank among states: #21
Percent of drivers in Tennessee with a failure to yield violation: 0.1%
Insurify Insights
Insurify's team of data scientists and content specialists presents Insurify Insights, a series of automotive, home, and health studies focusing on the topics that impact us all. through expert analysis of over 4 million car insurance applications and an array of top data sources, the Insurify Insights team produces new data-driven articles, trend analyses, regional superlatives, and national rankings every week. See Insurify Insights as featured in Forbes, Fox News, USA Today, NPR, and more.
Methodology
Data scientists at Insurify analyzed more than 40 million real-time auto insurance rates from our partner providers across the United States to compile the car insurance quotes, statistics, and data visualizations displayed on this page. The car insurance data includes coverage analysis and details on drivers' vehicles, driving records, and demographic information. Quotes for Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, State Farm, and USAA are estimates based on Quadrant Information Service's database of auto insurance rates. With these insights, Insurify is able to offer drivers insight into how companies price their car insurance premiums.
Lindsay VanSomeren is a freelance personal finance writer living in Suquamish, WA. Her work has appeared with FICO, Credit Karma, The Balance, and more. She enjoys helping people learn how to manage their money better so they can live the life they want.
Danny is an insurance writer at Insurify. Specializing in auto insurance, he works to help drivers navigate the complicated world of insurance to find the best possible policy. He received a bachelor's degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. You can connect with Danny on LinkedIn.
Konstantin has led data science and engineering projects across multiple domains: biology, travel and insurance. He loves finding data nuggets that help people.