Get Free Car Insurance Quotes Online (November 2024)
You could save $1,080 (or more) per year on car insurance by getting free, instant quotes online.
ValuePenguin works with trusted national car insurance companies to help you find your best rate quickly, simply and easily — for free.
- Save money. Comparison shopping is the best way to find the cheapest quotes.
- It's free and easy. Get car insurance quotes in just a few minutes with no cost or hassle.
- Find an insurance company you trust. We partner with the country's leading companies, so you can be confident you'll be protected when it counts.
- Get customized results. You get more accurate rates when your online quote matches your unique driver profile.
- Shop with confidence. ValuePenguin respects your privacy, and we take extra precautions to ensure your info remains secure.
Our analysis of millions of insurance quotes collected nationwide shows that getting multiple car insurance quotes is the single best way to find affordable rates.
How do I get car insurance quotes?
Most insurance companies let shoppers get free car insurance quotes online.
Your quote is based on the company's prediction of how likely you are to make a claim.
The most common factors used to estimate your quotes are how much coverage you choose, the car you drive and where you live. Companies also look at your credit history, age, gender and marital status.
Car insurance quotes by company
Full coverage car insurance costs $148 per month, on average. State Farm has the cheapest rates for full coverage at $99 per month.
The range of rates is the most important reason to compare auto insurance quotes. For example, a driver could get a quote costing $109 per month from one company. But another company could quote you $196 per month for the same full coverage policy.
Full coverage insurance rates by company
Company | Monthly quote | |
|---|---|---|
| State Farm | $99 |
| Erie | $101 |
| Geico | $140 |
| Progressive | $156 |
| Nationwide | $164 |
USAA is only available to military members, veterans and their families.
How to get free auto insurance quotes online
1. Gather info needed for online car insurance quotes
When requesting a quote or submitting a form for a free quote online, you'll need to have some personal info on hand about you, your car and your driving record.
- Driver's license
- Current insurance company
- Your car's make, model and year
- Driving history (any claims, tickets or accidents)
- Typical annual mileage
2. Choose a policy and coverage limits
The type of auto insurance policy you choose will affect your quote. So it helps to have a general idea if you want minimum or full coverage.
Most drivers should consider purchasing full-coverage car insurance, especially if their car is worth more than $5,000. Some drivers may also need special coverage, like roadside assistance or rideshare insurance.
Car insurance coverage to add to your quote
- Bodily injury liability pays for another driver's medical expenses, lost income and funeral expenses if you cause an accident.
- Property damage liability pays to repair or replace other people's cars and belongings after an accident you cause.
- Collision and comprehensive coverage pays to repair your car in most situations. This includes a crash you cause, weather, vandalism or hitting a deer.
- Personal injury protection (PIP) helps pay for your own medical expenses, regardless of who was at fault in an accident.
- Uninsured and underinsured motorist pays for your expenses if an uninsured or underinsured driver hits you.
3. Compare quotes to find your best rate
After you've gathered your personal and vehicle info and chosen your policy type and coverage selections, you're ready to get a quote.
Many insurance companies offer free online quote tools through their websites. You can also work with an independent agent who can get quotes from multiple companies.
When comparing quotes, make sure to consider the quality of the insurance company, too.
The best car insurance doesn't always cost more. If two companies quote you similar rates, look at which has better customer service.
When shopping for car insurance quotes online, write down the reference number of your quote. This lets you return to it later. Insurance prices change all the time, and if you get a quote a second time, your rate may have gone up.
Car insurance quotes might only last for a few weeks. If you've found a great deal, act fast to be sure you don't miss out.
What factors affect my car insurance rates?
How location affects car insurance quotes
Car insurance is regulated at the state level, so auto insurance quotes vary based on where you live.
State minimum requirements
Nearly every state sets different minimum coverage requirements to legally operate on the road.
Most states require some form of bodily injury and property damage liability insurance, though the actual coverage limits required can differ. The higher the coverage limits required, the more expensive the policy.
Some states also require uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage or personal injury protection (PIP). This increases your protection but also adds to your car insurance costs.
Population density
Insurance companies price quotes based on the average number of claim filings in an area. Typically, dense urban areas with narrow roads and more cars have more car accidents and claims.
That's why drivers in large cities often get higher quotes than people in rural communities. For example, Rhode Island is one of the only states with more than 1,000 residents per square mile. And it has some of the most expensive auto insurance quotes.
Local risk data
Insurance companies all have their own ways of looking at risk and pricing auto insurance quotes. That's why some companies cost more than others, and why some companies aren't available in every state.
Some states may have hurricanes, uninsured drivers or dangerous roads. If a state, city or neighborhood has more accidents and claims, insurance companies will increase quotes based on their own calculations.
How coverage affects auto insurance quotes
The more car insurance coverage you buy, the higher your quotes will be. But you'll also get more protection after a crash.
Coverage type | Monthly rate |
|---|---|
| Minimum coverage | $58 |
| Full coverage | $148 |
A minimum coverage policy meets the minimum legal requirements for car insurance in any given state.
A full coverage policy includes liability coverage and adds comprehensive and collision coverage. Full coverage costs more but pays for damage to your car, even if you're responsible for the crash. Most drivers opt for full coverage, especially if they drive a lot or have a newer car.
How your driving record affects quotes
Car insurance quotes increase by 23% or more after a speeding ticket, an at-fault accident or a DUI.
People with an imperfect driving record tend to have more expensive car insurance quotes. If you've had one driving incident, insurance companies expect that you're more likely to have another in the future.
Full coverage quotes after a driving incident
Driving record | Monthly rate | Increase |
|---|---|---|
| Clean record | $148 | — |
| Speeding ticket | $183 | 23% |
| Accident | $220 | 49% |
| DUI | $272 | 83% |
Serious driving offenses, like a DUI, will increase your rates more than a smaller incident like a ticket. For example, people caught driving under the influence see car insurance quotes go up by 83%, on average. On the other hand, a single speeding ticket will raise your rates by around 23%.
How age affects car insurance quotes
Car insurance quotes tend to be higher for young people than for older drivers with more experience.
Your age is one of the key factors when it comes to how much you'll pay for insurance.
Auto insurance quotes are usually most expensive for younger and new drivers who have less experience on the road. Quotes typically level off around 30 years old and increase slightly after age 60.
How vehicle type affects auto insurance quotes
Car insurance quotes can vary substantially depending on the type of vehicle you drive.
In general, car models that are newer, more expensive, faster and less safe have higher insurance costs. But every insurance company weighs each of these factors differently.
Monthly full coverage quotes by model
Type | Model | Rate | MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minivan | Chrysler Pacifica | $167 | $37,095 |
| Pickup truck | Ford F-150 | $175 | $33,695 |
| SUV | Toyota RAV4 | $177 | $27,575 |
| Crossover | Nissan Rogue | $178 | $27,360 |
| Sedan | Honda Civic | $199 | $24,650 |
Among top-selling cars, which range from pickup trucks and SUVs to sedans, the Chrysler Pacifica and Ford F-150 have some of the cheapest full coverage car insurance rates.
How credit scores impact car insurance quotes
Insurance companies have found that credit scores can predict how likely drivers are to file claims. So a better credit score can mean cheaper rates.
Drivers with good credit have full coverage quotes that are 41% less expensive than rates for those with poor credit.
Credit | Monthly rate |
|---|---|
| Good | $148 |
| Poor | $254 |
Some states, including California, Michigan, Massachusetts and Hawaii, have banned the practice of using credit scores to determine insurance quotes. In these states, your credit score will not influence your auto quote. A few other states are considering adopting similar legislation.
How gender impacts car insurance quotes
Car insurance quotes are typically more expensive for men than women, especially for younger drivers.
Data has shown that young men tend to be riskier drivers than young women. The cost of car insurance for men versus women is virtually the same starting around age 25.
Monthly full coverage quotes by gender
Age | Women | Men | Price gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | $126 | $142 | 13.0% |
| 30 | $72 | $72 | -0.3% |
| 40 | $70 | $69 | -0.2% |
| 50 | $65 | $65 | -0.5% |
| 60 | $63 | $63 | 0.0% |
| 70 | $68 | $69 | 1.2% |
| 80 | $85 | $91 | 7.6% |
The price gap is largely due to how insurance companies evaluate risk. However, some states, including California, Massachusetts and Michigan, prohibit companies from using gender to affect your car insurance rates.
How your marital status affects auto insurance quotes
Married drivers typically pay less for auto insurance than single people.
Insurance companies tend to view married drivers as more financially stable and risk averse. That's why many companies charge you less for insurance if you're married.
Marital status | Monthly full coverage rate |
|---|---|
| Single | $148 |
| Married | $140 |
Single drivers pay about $8 more per month for full-coverage auto insurance than married drivers. Rhode Island has the biggest difference in rates, with single drivers paying $16 more per month than married drivers.
Married people can also generally save on insurance by sharing a policy and qualifying for multicar discounts.
Should I get car insurance quotes online or with an agent?
You can get quotes in person, over the phone or online.
Shopping for car insurance online can be more convenient. But calling up an agent offers a direct point of contact for getting multiple quotes at once.
Whether you get a free quote online or through an agent, get quotes from multiple companies. The more quotes you get, the more options you have.
- Most insurance companies give you the option to compare quotes on their website for free.
- Some companies give you a discount for buying a policy online or for shopping early.
- If you can't get a quote online, try calling an agent at the insurance company you're interested in.
- Independent insurance agents don't work with a single insurance company. That means they can provide you with lots of options to choose from.
Frequently asked questions
What is a car insurance quote?
A car insurance quote is an estimate of how much you'll pay for insurance. It's based on info such as your address, car and driving history. You can get free quotes online or by phone. You can get as many car insurance quotes as you want because there's no obligation to buy a policy.
How do car insurance quotes work?
To get an insurance quote, you'll provide an insurance company with personal info to get a customized price for car insurance. Your quote is based on your car, driving history, where you live and how much coverage you want. Companies will quote you different prices for the same amount of coverage. That's why it's important to compare quotes from a few companies.
What is the cheapest car insurance I can get online?
State Farm, Geico and USAA offer the best rates on average, and they all offer online quotes. But everyone will pay different rates based on where they live, what car they own and their driving history.
How can I pay less for my car insurance?
Comparing quotes from different companies is the best way to save on car insurance. Companies set their rates differently and offer their own discounts.
How much does a car insurance quote cost?
Getting a car insurance quote is free. The average cost of car insurance is $58 per month for minimum coverage and $148 per month for full coverage. Find out how much you'll pay by getting quotes from insurance companies or agents. Or use ValuePenguin's free quote tool to get multiple rates at once.
How long does a car insurance quote take?
When getting an insurance quote online, it usually takes five minutes to enter your info. The quote is displayed instantly. It usually takes about 15 minutes to get a quote by phone. After you get a quote, you can often buy a policy that starts the same day, depending on your state.
Is buying an auto insurance policy online cheaper?
You can sometimes get a discount for shopping for car insurance online. Liberty Mutual offers a discount of up to 12% if you buy your car insurance online. Progressive gives drivers an average of 7% off for getting an online quote, plus a 9% savings for signing up online.
Expert insights to help you make smarter financial decisions
ValuePenguin has assembled an exclusive panel of professionals across various areas of expertise to help you understand complex topics and empower you to make smarter financial decisions.
- Mandatory financial products, like car insurance, allow socioeconomic status and geotargeting by ZIP code to influence the price one consumer gets compared to another. Do you believe these nondriving characteristics should play a role? Why or why not?
- A 2022 study conducted by ValuePenguin highlighted that 92% of policyholders who recently switched auto insurance companies saved money. Despite this, most policyholders (65%) don’t get outside quotes for comparison. Why might these drivers be hesitant to seek additional quotes from other insurers?
- According to a ValuePenguin analysis, quotes for teenagers are three times as expensive as quotes for drivers in their mid-30s and closer to four times the rate for drivers in their mid-50s. Do you believe these prices appropriately reflect their increased risk? Why or why not?
- Electric vehicles are becoming more and more popular by the day. With the rise of EVs comes new risks for insurers to consider such as battery fires and cyber security. How do you think the increasing use of electric vehicles will affect the auto insurance industry and pricing going forward?
- Lars Powell, Ph.D.
- Executive Director of the Alabama Center for Insurance Information and Research
- Read answer
- Lynne McChristian
- Director of the Office of Risk Management & Insurance Research
- Read answer
- Lars Powell, Ph.D.
- Executive Director of the Alabama Center for Insurance Information and Research
- Read answer
- Lynne McChristian
- Director of the Office of Risk Management & Insurance Research
- Read answer
Lars Powell, Ph.D.
Executive Director of the Alabama Center for Insurance Information and Research, University of Alabama
Mandatory financial products, like car insurance, allow socioeconomic status and geotargeting by ZIP code to influence the price one consumer gets compared to another. Do you believe these nondriving characteristics should play a role? Why or why not?
Very few of the variables used to rate and underwrite auto insurance would be considered "driving factors," but all of them are highly correlated with crashing and claims. In fact, because they are all used based on their correlation with claims, they could all reasonably be considered driving factors. I believe they should be used to set insurance rates because they are accurate predictors of claims.
A 2022 study conducted by ValuePenguin highlighted that 92% of policyholders who recently switched auto insurance companies saved money. Despite this, most policyholders (65%) don’t get outside quotes for comparison. Why might these drivers be hesitant to seek additional quotes from other insurers?
People do a lot of things that seem to go against their financial interests. Some people lack knowledge of the insurance market, some people don’t think shopping is worth the trouble, other people like and/or trust their insurance agent and don’t want to find a new one. I expect this behavior to become less frequent as more people buy insurance online.
According to a ValuePenguin analysis, quotes for teenagers are three times as expensive as quotes for drivers in their mid-30s and closer to four times the rate for drivers in their mid-50s. Do you believe these prices appropriately reflect their increased risk? Why or why not?
These prices are still too low in most cases. The average 15-year-old male driver has a 1-in-5 chance of crashing in the first year that they drive. The average 50-year-old driver might have a 1-in-35 chance of crashing. Insurers subsidize youthful driver premiums so that they do not lose the rest of the family as customers.
Electric vehicles are becoming more and more popular by the day. With the rise of EVs comes new risks for insurers to consider such as battery fires and cyber security. How do you think the increasing use of electric vehicles will affect the auto insurance industry and pricing going forward?
Electric vehicles can only increase the cost of insurance. Battery fires could increase homeowners insurance risk, and the cost of repairing EVs increases auto insurance risk.
Lynne McChristian
Director of the Office of Risk Management & Insurance Research at Gies College of Business, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Mandatory financial products, like car insurance, allow socioeconomic status and geotargeting by ZIP code to influence the price one consumer gets compared to another. Do you believe these nondriving characteristics should play a role? Why or why not?
The saying in real estate is that location matters. It matters with driving, too. If one lives in a rural area absent the daily annoyance of rush hour traffic, there are typically fewer car crashes and related injuries. If a ZIP code is in a big city with considerable traffic congestion and a high population, then accidents are more likely. Big city drivers pay more. It’s what happens in that ZIP code that provides a data point that makes insurance pricing reflect the risk. Absent using data that has been consistently proven to correlate to increased insurance claims, those rural drivers would pay more than what is fair based on their risks.
A 2022 study conducted by ValuePenguin highlighted that 92% of policyholders who recently switched auto insurance companies saved money. Despite this, most policyholders (65%) don’t get outside quotes for comparison. Why might these drivers be hesitant to seek additional quotes from other insurers?
I think many policyholders do not shop for coverage because they are satisfied with their current insurance carrier. In fact, auto insurance claims satisfaction is high, and that means people want to stick with the companies they know that have delivered good customer service. Another issue is that many people really don’t take the time to shop around. It could pay off and be educational at the same time. When you shop, however, you want to make sure the insurance protection remains consistent with what you need. Buying what is cheaper could shortchange your protection level.
According to a ValuePenguin analysis, quotes for teenagers are three times as expensive as quotes for drivers in their mid-30s and closer to four times the rate for drivers in their mid-50s. Do you believe these prices appropriately reflect their increased risk? Why or why not?
The cost of insurance reflects the risks. Automobile insurance for teen drivers is three times the cost of mid-aged drivers because teen drivers are three times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash, according to data from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The number of crashes and fatalities is disproportionally higher for drivers between the ages of 16 and 19.
Methodology
Average car insurance quotes are based on rates from all available ZIP codes in the U.S. Quotes are for a 30-year-old man who drives a 2015 Honda Civic EX. He has good credit and a clean driving record.
Full coverage quotes include comprehensive and collision coverage, along with liability 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 |
| Personal injury protection | Minimum when required by state |
To determine car insurance rates by vehicle type, we gathered rates from all available ZIP codes in California.