Who Has the Cheapest Car Insurance Quotes in Tennessee? (2023)
State Farm has the best cheap car insurance quote in Tennessee, at $22 per month, or $267 per year, for minimum liability coverage.
Best cheap car insurance in Tennessee
To find the best cheap auto insurance in Tennessee, our editorial team gathered quotes from some of the largest car insurance companies across every ZIP code in the state.
Quotes for minimum coverage meet TN state minimum requirements of $25,000 in bodily injury liability coverage per person and $50,000 per accident, plus $15,000 in property damage coverage. Full-coverage quotes include collision and comprehensive coverage, plus higher liability limits than state minimums.
In addition, we ranked the best Tennessee car insurance companies based on affordability for different drivers, convenience, customer service reviews and coverage availability.
Cheapest car insurance quotes in Tennessee: State Farm
State Farm has the cheapest minimum-coverage car insurance in Tennessee. At $22 per month, a minimum-coverage policy with State Farm costs 40% less than the state average.
The average cost of car insurance in Tennessee is $37 per month, or $446 per year, for minimum liability.
Find Cheap Auto Insurance Quotes in Tennessee
Cheapest TN car insurance companies
Company | Monthly rate | |
|---|---|---|
| State Farm | $22 |
| Farm Bureau | $33 |
| Geico | $35 |
| Erie | $36 |
| Progressive | $41 |
USAA is only available to current and former military members and their families.
Farm Bureau, Geico and Erie also have affordable minimum-coverage quotes at less than $40 per month.
Minimum liability policies are the cheapest car insurance in Tennessee because they provide the lowest level of coverage you can legally have in the state. Cheap rates might make liability only auto insurance seem like the best option, but if you're involved in an accident, you could end up paying more in the long run.
A minimum-coverage policy only covers the other driver's injuries and property damage. It does not pay for damage to your vehicle or injuries to you and your passengers.
That's why most drivers should get full-coverage auto insurance quotes rather than a minimum-coverage policy, especially if they have a long commute or a newer car.
Cheapest full-coverage car insurance in Tennessee: State Farm
State Farm offers Tennessee drivers the most affordable full-coverage insurance. At $64 per month, State Farm's quote is 44% cheaper than average and $39 per month less than the rate from the second-cheapest company, Geico.
Full-coverage auto insurance costs $1,352 per year on average in Tennessee — $906 more than a minimum-coverage policy.
Cheapest full coverage car insurance quotes
Company | Monthly rate |
|---|---|
| State Farm | $64 |
| Geico | $103 |
| Erie | $104 |
| Travelers | $122 |
| Farm Bureau | $137 |
USAA is only available to current and former military members and their families.
Tennessee drivers who are veterans or belong to a military family can get cheap car insurance from USAA. A full-coverage policy from USAA costs $73 per month — 35% cheaper than the state average.
A full-coverage car insurance quote includes comprehensive and collision coverages in addition to liability coverage. Comprehensive coverage pays for damage to your car after incidents beyond your control, like theft and weather, while collision coverage pays for damage to your car after an at-fault accident. If you have a car loan or lease, your lender will typically require you to have full coverage.
Cheap car insurance for Tennessee drivers with prior incidents
State Farm is the cheapest car insurance option for drivers in Tennessee with a speeding ticket, at-fault accident or DUI on their driving record.
The cost of car insurance is almost always more expensive for drivers without a clean driving record. Insurance companies see incidents like at-fault accidents, traffic violations and DUIs as signs of a risky driver, so these incidents typically result in a rate increase.
Find Cheap Auto Insurance Quotes in Tennessee
Cheapest car insurance after a speeding ticket: State Farm
State Farm has the best quote for Tennessee drivers with a recent speeding ticket, at $69 per month for full coverage. That's $61 per month cheaper than the state average of $130 per month. Tennessee drivers can expect to pay 15% more for auto insurance after a speeding ticket.
Company | Monthly rate |
|---|---|
| State Farm | $69 |
| Erie | $107 |
| Geico | $120 |
| Farm Bureau | $137 |
| Travelers | $157 |
Cheapest TN car insurance quotes after an accident: State Farm
Tennessee drivers with an at-fault accident on their record can find affordable auto insurance from State Farm. While the average rate for drivers with an at-fault accident is $157 per month for full coverage, State Farm rates are 53% less — just $75 monthly.
Company | Monthly rate |
|---|---|
| State Farm | $75 |
| Erie | $133 |
| Farm Bureau | $137 |
| Travelers | $172 |
| Geico | $188 |
Average rates in Tennessee increase by 40% after an at-fault accident. However, each insurance company takes a different approach to an at-fault accident, and your rates may also depend on whether you have accident forgiveness or not.
For instance, Farm Bureau might not raise rates at all: The company offers the same rate of $137 per month both before and after an at-fault accident. In contrast, Geico raises rates by 82% after an at-fault accident, from $103 per month to $188.
The wide range in cost between insurance companies is why it's so important to shop around to find the best rates, especially after your driving record has changed.
Cheapest car insurance quotes in Tennessee after a DUI: State Farm
State Farm has the best rates for drivers in Tennessee who have a DUI. A full-coverage policy from State Farm costs $69 per month, which is 58% cheaper than the state average of $166.
Company | Monthly rate |
|---|---|
| State Farm | $69 |
| Progressive | $158 |
| Erie | $159 |
| Travelers | $180 |
| Geico | $188 |
Driving under the influence in Tennessee can raise your rates more than any other driving offense. Average rates increase by 47% after a DUI, compared to 15% after a speeding ticket and 40% after an at-fault accident.
Cheapest car insurance for TN drivers with poor credit: Geico
Tennessee drivers with poor credit can find the best car insurance rates from Geico. The company offers full-coverage insurance for $157 per month, which is 22% cheaper than the state average. Farm Bureau is also a cheap company, at only $20 more per year than Geico.
Company | Monthly rate |
|---|---|
| Geico | $157 |
| Farm Bureau | $158 |
| State Farm | $200 |
| Travelers | $215 |
| Progressive | $239 |
The average cost of car insurance is 77% more expensive for Tennessee drivers with bad credit versus those with good credit. Having poor credit can result in higher car insurance costs because insurance companies say drivers with lower credit scores are statistically more likely to file a claim.
Cheapest car insurance quotes for young drivers in Tennessee: State Farm
State Farm offers the cheapest auto insurance rates for teen drivers in Tennessee. A minimum-coverage policy with State Farm costs $77 per month — 38% cheaper than the state average. State Farm also has the most affordable full-coverage policy, at $193 per month.
Geico and Erie also have affordable car insurance rates for 18-year-old drivers, with minimum-coverage quotes less than $100 per month.
Cheapest TN car insurance for teens
Company | Liability only | Full coverage |
|---|---|---|
| State Farm | $77 | $193 |
| Geico | $83 | $228 |
| Erie | $84 | $239 |
| Farm Bureau | $109 | $391 |
| Travelers | $131 | $333 |
The average cost of minimum-coverage car insurance for 18-year-old drivers is $124 per month — over three times more expensive than the cost for 30-year-old drivers.
Young drivers are statistically more likely to get into accidents than older drivers, making their insurance rates more expensive.
Younger drivers should share a policy with a parent or an older driver if they can, as this often results in more affordable rates. Good student and driver safety course discounts can also help young drivers save on car insurance.
Cheapest car insurance for teen drivers after a ticket: State Farm
State Farm has the most affordable rates in Tennessee for young drivers with a speeding ticket. Its average rate is $85 per month for minimum coverage, which is 39% cheaper than the state average.
Company | Monthly rate |
|---|---|
| State Farm | $85 |
| Geico | $95 |
| Erie | $99 |
| Farm Bureau | $109 |
| Travelers | $166 |
Young drivers in Tennessee can expect their rates to go up by 13% after a speeding ticket. However, the amount that your quote increases can vary by company.
Farm Bureau may not increase rates for young drivers after a single speeding ticket. On the other hand, drivers insured with Travelers pay 27% more for minimum coverage after a ticket.
Cheapest quotes for teen drivers in Tennessee after an accident: State Farm
State Farm also has the best auto insurance rate for young drivers involved in an at-fault accident — $94 per month for minimum coverage. That's $63 cheaper than the state average.
Company | Monthly rate |
|---|---|
| State Farm | $94 |
| Erie | $110 |
| Farm Bureau | $121 |
| Geico | $141 |
| Travelers | $188 |
An at-fault accident may cause young drivers' rates to increase by 27%, on average. Geico has the highest rate increase after an at-fault accident — 69%. Although young drivers with Farm Bureau only see an 11% rate increase, its minimum-coverage rates are still $27 per month more expensive than State Farm's.
Cheapest car insurance for married drivers: State Farm
State Farm has the best auto insurance quotes for married couples in Tennessee. Married drivers pay $64 per month for a full-coverage policy from State Farm — 39% cheaper than the state average. Progressive gives married drivers a 25% discount, the highest in the state.
Company | Monthly rate per car |
|---|---|
| State Farm | $64 |
| Erie | $95 |
| Progressive | $105 |
| Geico | $110 |
| Farm Bureau | $122 |
Married drivers usually pay cheaper rates for car insurance than unmarried drivers because they're statistically less likely to be in car accidents. In Tennessee, married drivers pay an average of $105 per month, which is 7% less than single drivers.
Best car insurance companies in Tennessee
Erie has the best car insurance for Tennessee drivers, thanks to cheap quotes and highly rated support.
If customer service is your top priority, consider buying car insurance from Erie. Erie has consistently high customer satisfaction scores, which means you can expect a smooth experience if you need to contact support or make a claim. State Farm is another good company for great support and affordable quotes.
Best TN car insurance
Company |
Editor's rating
|
J.D. Power
|
AM Best
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Erie | 870 | A+ | |
| State Farm | 842 | A++ | |
| Farm Bureau | NR | A | |
| USAA | 881 | A++ | |
| Geico | 835 | A++ |
Average car insurance quotes in Tennessee by city
Memphis has the highest average car insurance rate, with residents paying $146 per month for full coverage. Bristol residents pay the cheapest average rate, at $95 a month.
Where you live can impact your car insurance rates as much as your driving habits. Full-coverage rates in Tennessee vary by about $51 a month between the most and least expensive cities.
Average cost of car insurance by city in TN
City | Monthly cost | % from average |
|---|---|---|
| Adams | $116 | 3% |
| Adamsville | $112 | -1% |
| Afton | $104 | -7% |
| Alamo | $114 | 1% |
| Alcoa | $106 | -6% |
Minimum requirements for auto insurance coverage in Tennessee
In Tennessee, state-minimum car insurance includes bodily injury liability coverage, which pays for the other driver's injuries, and property damage liability coverage, which pays for the other driver's repairs. The TN requirements are often written out as 25/50/15.
Coverage | Limit |
|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability (BI) | $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident |
| Property damage liability (PD) | $15,000 per accident |
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest car insurance company in Tennessee?
State Farm is the cheapest insurance company for most drivers in Tennessee, with rates averaging $22 per month for a minimum liability insurance policy.
How much does insurance cost in Tennessee?
The average price of insurance for a state-minimum policy is $37 per month, or $446 per year. The average cost for full-coverage insurance is $113 per month, or $1,352 per year.
Does Tennessee require auto insurance?
Yes, Tennessee requires drivers to have bodily injury liability coverage of at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident, plus a minimum of $15,000 of property damage liability coverage.
Is car insurance expensive in Tennessee?
Car insurance rates in Tennessee are much cheaper compared to most other states thanks to low minimum insurance requirements and low traffic congestion. There are only six states that have a cheaper average rate for a full-coverage policy. However, some of the bigger cities have much higher rates. For example, the cost of car insurance in Memphis is 30% higher than the state's average.
How much does car insurance cost in Memphis versus Nashville?
Drivers in Memphis pay the highest rate in the state for full-coverage auto insurance — $146 per month. Insurance for Nashville drivers is less expensive, at $121 per month, but rates are still 7% higher than average.
Methodology
We collected thousands of rates from ZIP codes across Tennessee for the largest insurance companies in the state. Rates are quotes for a 30-year-old man with a 2015 Honda Civic EX and good credit.
Unless otherwise noted, rates for for a full-coverage policy with liability, collision and comprehensive coverage:
Coverage | Limit |
|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability | $50,000 per person/$100,000 per accident |
| Property damage liability | $25,000 per accident |
| Uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury | $50,000 per person/$100,000 per accident |
| Comprehensive and collision | $500 deductible |
ValuePenguin's analysis used insurance rate data from Quadrant Information Services. These rates were publicly sourced from insurer filings and should be used for comparative purposes only — your own quotes may be different.