Who Has the Best Car Insurance Rates in Denver?

Auto-Owners' rates for minimum coverage average $45 per month. State Farm has the cheapest full coverage policies.

Denver has the largest population of all the cities in Colorado, which translates to higher auto insurance rates. The average cost of car insurance in Denver is $189 per month for full coverage — 13% higher than the state overall.

Cheapest auto insurance in Denver: Auto-Owners

Auto-Owners' average rate is $45 per month for minimum coverage, which is 40% cheaper than the city average. State Farm's average rate is $46 per month.

Eligible drivers should get insurance quotes from USAA. At just $35 per month, the company — which only sells policies to current and former military members, as well as qualifying family members — charges rates that are half as expensive as the city average.

Best cheap liability car insurance in Denver

Many drivers choose minimum liability because it's the most affordable form of auto insurance. However, that affordability means forfeiting any protection of your own car. Minimum liability insurance in Colorado only helps you pay for the other driver's injuries and property damage; it doesn't help you pay for any injuries or damage you sustain.

Cheapest full coverage car insurance in Denver: State Farm

That rate is 27% cheaper than the second-cheapest company, Geico, and 40% cheaper than the city average of $189 per month.

Auto-Owners and Progressive also offer full coverage that is cheaper than the citywide average. Auto-Owners charges $159 per month (18% cheaper than average), and Progressive charges $185 per month (2% cheaper than average).

While the average cost of full coverage car insurance in Colorado is $168 per month, the average cost in Denver is 13% higher.

Unlike minimum coverage, which only protects the other driver, full coverage includes collision and comprehensive coverages, which protect your own car.

Cheap car insurance for drivers with prior incidents

Insurers raise rates for drivers they perceive to be high-risk. A history of incidents on the road, as well as a low credit score, can cause them to view you as high-risk and increase your rates.

Cheapest car insurance for people with a speeding ticket: State Farm

State Farm has the cheapest insurance for Denver drivers who have a speeding ticket. The citywide average for these drivers is $230 per month, but an annual policy from State Farm is just $122 per month. That's only an increase of $9 per month from the rate the company charges before a speeding ticket.

Speeding is one of the less expensive traffic tickets. Rates for full coverage increase by only 21% after a speeding ticket in Denver — far less than the 46% after an at-fault accident and 50% after a DUI citation.

Cheapest car insurance in Denver after an accident: State Farm

State Farm has the cheapest rates for Denver drivers after an at-fault accident, charging $131 per month — an increase of just $18 monthly. Auto-Owners and Progressive, the next-cheapest insurers, charge $233 and $263 per month, respectively.

Insurance rates for full coverage in Denver jump by 46% after an at-fault accident, from $189 per month to $276, on average.

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a DUI: State Farm

State Farm has the most affordable rates for Denver residents who have been caught driving under the influence (DUI). State Farm charges drivers who have a DUI citation an average of $122 per month. That makes State Farm's rates 57% cheaper than the city average for drivers with a DUI, which is $283 per month.

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with poor credit: State Farm

State Farm has the cheapest rates for drivers who have a low credit score, followed by Geico and Nationwide. State Farm's average rate is $220 per month, which is 34% cheaper than the city average.

Having poor credit does not mean you're a bad driver, but insurance companies have found drivers with bad credit tend to file more claims. Drivers with poor credit in Denver pay 76% more than those with good credit.

Cheapest car insurance for young drivers: State Farm

The cheapest rates for young drivers in Denver come from State Farm, both for minimum and full coverage. The company charges an average rate of $159 per month for liability-only coverage and $329 per month for full coverage.

Auto-Owners has the second-cheapest minimum coverage, while American Family is the runner-up for lowest full-coverage rates.

Rates for 18-year-old Denver drivers are three and a half times higher than rates for a 30-year-old driver. This steep increase is not unique to Denver, however; young drivers generally pay more than adult drivers do.

Other strategies for keeping your auto insurance rates low include taking a defensive driving course and getting good grades to score a good student discount.

Best auto insurance companies in Denver, Colorado

USAA has a strong combination of low rates, good customer service and coverage options. The biggest downside is that only members of the U.S. military, veterans and some military family members can get policies.

Other top options in Denver and all of Colorado include Auto-Owners and State Farm.

Average car insurance cost in Denver, by neighborhood

Certain ZIP codes experience higher traffic or crime rates, which can cause insurers to increase prices to account for risk. The difference between Denver's cheapest and most expensive ZIP codes is $44 per month.

Methodology

ValuePenguin collected quotes from the largest insurers in Colorado. Unless otherwise noted, rates are for a 30-year-old man with a 2015 Honda Civic EX and a full coverage policy.

This ValuePenguin study used insurance rate data from Quadrant Information Services. Rates were publicly sourced from insurer filings. They should be used for comparative purposes only, as your own quotes may differ.