Best cheap car insurance in Atlanta
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The company with the cheapest car insurance in Atlanta is USAA, according to Bankrate’s 2021 study of quoted annual premiums. The average cost of car insurance in Atlanta is $2,325 per year for full coverage, or around $194 per month. For minimum coverage, Atlanta drivers pay an average annual rate of $1,013.
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Compare auto insurance rates
Save on auto insurance with quotes from trusted providers like:
Drivers switch & save an average of $750+/year
Are you overpaying for auto insurance?
Safe drivers choose Allstate®
Coverage.com, LLC is a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249). Coverage.com services are only available in states where it is licensed. Coverage.com may not offer insurance coverage in all states or scenarios. All insurance products are governed by the terms in the applicable insurance policy, and all related decisions (such as approval for coverage, premiums, commissions and fees) and policy obligations are the sole responsibility of the underwriting insurer. The information on this site does not modify any insurance policy terms in any way.
Though minimum coverage tends to offer the cheapest rates, insurance agents typically recommend higher liability limits for greater financial protection. If you cause an accident with injuries or property damage, you may have to pay out of pocket if your liability exceeds your insurance coverage limits. Consider these best cheap car insurance companies in Atlanta when purchasing or shopping for auto insurance coverage.
Best cheap car insurance companies in Atlanta
The best cheap car insurance companies in Atlanta are USAA, State Farm, Auto-Owners, Allstate and Geico, according to Bankrate’s study of quoted annual premiums from Quadrant Information Services. We selected the companies based on several criteria, including price, available coverage, discounts, financial strength, customer satisfaction and mobile accessibility.
These factors are used to calculate a Bankrate Score for each carrier based on a five-point scale. The companies highlighted below with the highest Bankrate Score excel in all or most areas, while those with lower Bankrate Scores struggle in some areas. Auto insurance shoppers can use Bankrate Scores to help find the cheapest car insurance companies in Georgia and Metro Atlanta with the criteria most important to them.
| Insurance company | Bankrate Score | J.D. Power score (Southeast) | Average annual premium for full coverage | Average annual premium for minimum coverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USAA* | 5 | 890/1,000 | $1,641 | $682 |
| State Farm | 4.7 | 859/1,000 | $1,672 | $657 |
| Auto-Owners | 4.5 | 849/1,000 | $1,853 | $739 |
| Allstate | 4 | 838/1,000 | $2,064 | $879 |
| Geico | 4.7 | 843/1,000 | $2,094 | $720 |
*Not officially ranked with J.D. Power due to eligibility restrictions
USAA
Of all the insurance companies in Atlanta included on our list, USAA offers the most affordable rates for full coverage on average. Besides the typical common car insurance coverage types, USAA drivers may also add roadside assistance and rental car reimbursement to their policy. Those who practice safe driving habits can also earn premium discounts for safe driving and if they participate in the carrier’s SafePilot program.
Although it is rank-ineligible because its products are restricted to members of the military community, USAA, the fifth-largest auto insurer in the country based on market share data from the Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I), receives the highest customer satisfaction score in the Southeast region 2021 J.D. Power Auto Insurance Study, with 890 out of 1,000 points. With high rankings, affordable rates and other positive factors, USAA receives the highest Bankrate Score of 5.0.
Learn more: USAA Insurance review
State Farm
With the next-highest Bankrate Score on our list at 4.7, State Farm, the largest U.S. auto insurer, also costs just a few dollars more in premium compared to USAA for full coverage. Drivers could supplement their coverage with valuable add-ons like emergency road service, car rental and travel expenses and rideshare coverage.
State Farm performs above average with 859 points in the Southeast region. However, State Farm does not have as many discount opportunities as some other carriers, which may prevent some drivers from accessing the cheapest rates with this insurer. The company, which is rated A++ (Superior) by AM Best, has a network of exclusive agents throughout Metro Atlanta.
Learn more: State Farm Insurance review
Auto-Owners
While Auto-Owners does not have the cheapest average rates, it still boasts premiums well below the Atlanta average. Drivers can also personalize their auto coverage in multiple ways with Auto-Owners. For instance, there is its exclusive Personal Auto Plus package, which provides 10 different coverage types for one low price, including lock rekeying, physical damage coverage for trailers, trip interruption and ID theft expense.
Auto-Owners performed well with 849 customer satisfaction points in the J.D. Power Auto Insurance Study, a couple of points above the industry average. With several ways to personalize your auto insurance policy and Auto-Owners’ favorable third-party customer satisfaction scores, the company earns a respectable 4.5 Bankrate Score.
Learn more: Auto-Owners Insurance review
Allstate
Though Allstate has higher average premiums in the Atlanta area, drivers might be able to lower their cost of car insurance with stackable discounts. Allstate may extend discounts to insureds when they pay their bill in full, drive safely, sign policy documents early and go paperless. Those who insure more than one car and have more than one policy with Allstate could also save.
One drawback is the provider’s below-average J.D. Power customer satisfaction score. This, combined with higher rates, are two reasons Allstate receives the lowest Bankrate Score — 4 — on our list of cheap car insurance companies in Atlanta.
Learn more: Allstate Insurance review
Geico
Although Geico, the second-largest U.S. auto insurer, advertises some of the cheapest rates, Bankrate found the insurer has the highest average premiums on our list of companies offering the best, cheap car insurance in Atlanta. Drivers can add on features to their policy like rental reimbursement or mechanical breakdown insurance. The insurer also has one of the longest lists of discounts, which may help drivers get more affordable rates.
Despite a lower-than-average J.D. Power auto insurance customer satisfaction score in the Southeast region, Geico still earns a 4.7 Bankrate Score — likely due to its long list of discounts and digital policy management options.
Learn more: Geico Insurance review
How to get and keep the cheapest car insurance in Atlanta
To get and keep the cheapest car insurance, Atlanta and Metro Atlanta drivers should consider the cost of purchasing at least minimum coverage and weigh the impact of their insurable risk. Maintaining a clean driving record and practicing safe driving habits can go a long way in reducing premiums over time. Insurance providers typically reward these behaviors with lower rates, whether you are a new or existing customer.
Consider these other ways to get and keep the cheapest car insurance in Atlanta:
- Know your coverage requirements. When searching for affordable rates, know what coverage is required and what is optional. While you won’t be able to purchase less than the state-required minimum, knowing how much coverage you need can help you estimate how much you’ll pay. Remember to review your policy when you make changes or your policy renews, so you can adjust your coverage as needed and only pay for what you need.
- Limit your claims exposure. To keep affordable rates, avoid driving habits that could increase your chances of being cited for a moving violation or causing an at-fault accident. Blemishing your clean driving record can cause you to lose discounts and incur surcharges on your policy that increase your cost of car insurance.
Frequently asked questions
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The best car insurance company in Atlanta for you will offer the cheapest rates for the coverage you need. Comparing quotes from various insurance providers can help you find the best car insurance in Atlanta, whether it is with one carrier on Bankrate’s list above or with a different insurer.
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The cost of car insurance in Atlanta is unique to each driver, as driver and household characteristics help determine your premium. Based on data from Quadrant Information Services, the average Atlanta driver pays $2,325 for full coverage and $1,013 for minimum coverage.
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How much car insurance you need in Atlanta varies by your specific situation. For instance, you may need full coverage to satisfy lender or lease requirements for a new or used vehicle. Or, if you do not have access to another car while yours is being repaired after a covered claim, you may want to consider adding rental car reimbursement coverage as an option.
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Methodology
Bankrate utilizes Quadrant Information Services to analyze 2021 rates for all ZIP codes and carriers in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Quoted rates are based on a 40-year-old male and female driver with a clean driving record, good credit and the following full coverage limits:
- $100,000 bodily injury liability per person
- $300,000 bodily injury liability per accident
- $50,000 property damage liability per accident
- $100,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person
- $300,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident
- $500 collision deductible
- $500 comprehensive deductible
To determine minimum coverage limits, Bankrate used minimum coverage that meets each state’s requirements. Our base profile drivers own a 2019 Toyota Camry, commute five days a week and drive 12,000 miles annually.
These are sample rates and should only be used for comparative purposes.
Bankrate Score
Bankrate Scores primarily reflect a weighted rank of industry-standard ratings for financial strength and customer experience in addition to analysis of quoted annual premiums from Quadrant Information Services, spanning all 50 states and Washington, D.C. We know it is important for drivers to be confident their financial protection covers the likeliest risks, is priced competitively and is provided by a financially-sound company with a history of positive customer support.
To determine how well the best car insurance companies satisfy these priorities, third-party agency ratings from J.D. Power, AM Best, S&P, NAIC, and Moodys had the most impact on the companies’ Bankrate Scores. As price is a common consideration for drivers, we analyzed quoted premiums based on 40-year-old male and female drivers with a 2019 Toyota Camry. This profile, assessed across more than 35,000 ZIP codes in the U.S., provided a basis on which drivers may compare each provider.
While coverage options, insurer availability, affordability and customer experience are often the top priorities, Bankrate also analyzed each insurer’s online and mobile resources for policy management and claims handling. Insurance is rapidly evolving to keep pace with our digital world, so these aspects also carried weight in determining Bankrate Scores.
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