The average cost of car insurance in Pennsylvania is $1,476 per year for full coverage, which is 12% less than the national average of $1,674, according to Bankrate’s 2021 study of average quoted premiums from Quadrant Information Services. Our insurance editorial team analyzed 1,308 ZIP codes in the Keystone State to present the most accurate average rates possible.
Pennsylvania drivers pay less than the national average of $1,674 for full coverage, but rates vary based on several factors. Our research can help you understand what you might pay for car insurance in a certain city, with different companies, at different ages and for different vehicles. Understanding the average cost of coverage for drivers in your area could help you know what to expect when shopping for auto coverage in the commonwealth.
How much is car insurance in Pennsylvania?
Full coverage costs an average of $1,476 per year in Pennsylvania, according to our research. However, your rates will vary based on several factors. Your city and ZIP code, the company you choose, age, marital status, credit-based insurance score, any tickets and accidents on your motor vehicle record (MVR), claims history, and the type of vehicle you are insuring will all impact how much you pay for car insurance in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania car insurance rates
| Average annual minimum coverage premium | Average annual full coverage premium |
|---|---|
| $427 | $1,476 |
Pennsylvania car insurance rates by city
No matter what state you live in, car insurance rates vary by city. Larger cities typically have a greater likelihood of crashes due to increased traffic and higher rates of theft and vandalism. Most metropolitan areas also tend to have a higher cost of living, which means the costs for parts and labor are more expensive, as is medical care.
| City | Average annual premium for full coverage | % difference from state average annual premium |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia | $2,787 | 89% |
| Pittsburgh | $1,504 | 2% |
| Erie | $1,461 | -1% |
| Lancaster | $1,276 | -14% |
| Allentown | $1,497 | 1% |
| Reading | $1,439 | -3% |
| York | $1,264 | -14% |
| Bethlehem | $1,438 | -3% |
| West Chester | $1,577 | 7% |
| Harrisburg | $1,258 | -15% |
Pennsylvania car insurance rates by company
Different auto insurance companies have distinct underwriting rating criteria, so premiums vary, often widely. The best car insurance company in Pennsylvania will be the carrier that most closely aligns with your needs. Most insurance experts recommend that you get at least three quotes from different insurance providers to compare price, coverage offerings, discounts and policy features before making your choice. Pennsylvania drivers have a variety of car insurance choices from national and regional companies.
| Car insurance company | Average annual premium for full coverage |
|---|---|
| Allstate | $1,338 |
| American Independent | $3,268 |
| AmTrust Financial | $2,157 |
| Auto-Owners | $1,098 |
| Donegal | $1,279 |
| Erie | $1,079 |
| Geico | $916 |
| Motorists | $3,069 |
| Nationwide | $1,058 |
| Penn National | $971 |
| Progressive | $1,278 |
| QBE | $1,042 |
| State Auto | $1,604 |
| State Farm | $1,143 |
| USAA | $1,126 |
Cost of living in Pennsylvania and car insurance
When shopping for the best car insurance rates in Pennsylvania, you may want to factor in your other expenses so that you’re looking at your total living costs. The graph below shows the average annual cost of living in Pennsylvania, including the average cost of car insurance. Use this graph as a guide to help determine your overall expenses so that you can decide what insurance rates fit in your budget.
Pennsylvania car insurance rates by age
Understanding auto insurance rates by age could help you prepare for both your current premium and how your premium might change over time. Teens tend to pay the highest premiums due to their inexperience and high crash rates, and can add between 50% and 100% to the cost of a family’s auto insurance coverage, according to the Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I). Typically, rates drop as you get older, as long as you maintain a clean driving record. As you reach your 70s, you might start to see your premium increase a bit again due to higher risks of accidents for senior drivers.
| Age | Average annual premium in Pennsylvania |
|---|---|
| Age 16* | $2,372 |
| Age 18* | $4,919 |
| Age 20* | $3,813 |
| Age 25 | $1,961 |
| Age 30 | $1,771 |
| Age 40 | $1,476 |
| Age 50 | $1,558 |
| Age 60 | $1,474 |
| Age 70 | $1,575 |
*16-year-old calculated on parent’s policy; 18- and 20-year-old are renters.
Pennsylvania car insurance rates by gender
In most states, your gender also affects your car insurance premium. Men tend to pay higher premiums than women because they are statistically more likely to engage in risky driving behaviors. However, Pennsylvania bans the use of gender as a car insurance rating factor. If all other rating factors are equal, men and women should pay the same for coverage.
Pennsylvania car insurance by credit score
Credit-based insurance scores impact car insurance rates by predicting the likelihood that you will file a claim. Drivers with poor credit scores are statistically more likely to file claims than drivers with higher scores, so car insurance companies price their policies higher. This is because car insurance premiums are based on risk. If you present a higher risk to the carrier, you’ll likely pay more.
Average annual full coverage rate by credit score
| Poor | Average | Good | |
|---|---|---|---|
| National average | $3,873 | $1,865 | $1,674 |
| Pennsylvania | $2,553 | $1,791 | $1,476 |
Pennsylvania car insurance rates by driving record
Having a clean driving record is one of the best ways to keep your insurance costs down. Tickets, accidents and DUI convictions are all indications that you could be a high-risk driver. Both speeding tickets and at-fault accidents can raise your premiums. DUIs are arguably the most serious offense on a driving record; a DUI can cost thousands of dollars a year in higher insurance premiums and fees and stay on your driving record for life in Pennsylvania, unless it is expunged.
| Driving incident | Average annual premium in Pennsylvania | % increase in average annual premium |
|---|---|---|
| Clean driving record | $1,476 | 0% |
| Speeding ticket | $1,926 | 30% |
| Accident | $2,288 | 55% |
| DUI | $3,143 | 113% |
Pennsylvania car insurance rates by vehicle type
Finally, the make and model of your vehicle plays a significant role in how much you’ll pay for car insurance. Rates vary by make and model because each type of car has different safety features, crash statistics and repair costs.
| Vehicle | Average annual full coverage premium |
|---|---|
| Toyota Camry | $1,476 |
| Ford F-150 | $1,325 |
| Honda Odyssey | $1,374 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the average cost of minimum coverage in Pennsylvania?
Minimum coverage car insurance costs an average of $427 per year in Pennsylvania. The state requires drivers to buy at least the following coverage types and limits to drive legally in the commonwealth:
- $15,000 bodily injury liability per person
- $30,000 bodily injury liability per accident
- $5,000 property damage liability per accident
- $5,000 personal injury protection (called “First-Party Benefits” in Pennsylvania)
Pennsylvania is a no-fault state, so personal injury protection (PIP) is required, although the state refers to it as “First-Party Benefits” or “FPB.” Minimum coverage may come with some of the cheapest rates in Pennsylvania, but it provides very little financial protection. Most insurance professionals recommend you purchase higher liability limits if you can afford to. You might even want to consider full coverage, which includes collision and comprehensive coverages, and will be a requirement if you have a loan or lease on your vehicle.
What is the best car insurance company in Pennsylvania?
There isn’t one company that is best for everyone. Rather, the best car insurance company will be the one that most closely aligns with your needs. If you’re shopping for a policy, make a list of the coverage types, endorsements, discounts and policy features that you are looking for. You can then get quotes from several carriers so you can compare costs and coverages and find the policy that best suits your situation.
What is the cheapest car insurance company in Pennsylvania?
Just like with the best company, the cheapest car insurance company will vary by driver. Rates are personalized based on more than a dozen individual driving factors. While some companies tend to be cheaper than others, no company is always the cheapest for everyone. Based on Bankrate’s research, Penn National, Nationwide and QBE offer cheap average rates in the Keystone State.
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.
Age: Rates were calculated by evaluating our base profile with the ages 18-60 (base: 40 years) applied. Depending on age, drivers may be a renter or homeowner. For teens, rates were determined by adding a 16- or 17-year-old teen to a 40-year-old married couple’s policy. The rates displayed reflect the added cost to the parents’ policy. Based on quoted annual premiums, it does not appear Hawaii uses age as a contributing factor.
Gender: Seven states prohibit insurers from using gender to calculate premiums: California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, North Carolina and Pennsylvania.
Credit-based insurance scores: Rates were calculated based on the following insurance credit tiers assigned to our drivers: “poor, average, good (base) and excellent.” Insurance credit tiers factor in your official credit scores but are not dependent on that variable alone. Five states prohibit the use of credit-based insurance scores as a rating factor in determining auto insurance rates: California, Hawaii, Massachusetts and Michigan.
Incident: Rates were calculated by evaluating our base profile with the following incidents applied: clean record (base), at-fault accident, single speeding ticket, single DUI conviction and lapse in coverage.
Model: To determine cost by vehicle type, we evaluated our base profile with the following vehicles applied: Toyota Camry (base), Ford F-150 and Honda Odyssey.
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