Average cost of car insurance in Pennsylvania for 2024

How much is car insurance in Pennsylvania?

When researching, “How much is car insurance in Pennsylvania?" you’ll find that annual Pennsylvania car insurance rates are slightly higher than the national average for full coverage, but lower for minimum coverage. According to our 2023 rate analysis, the annual average cost of car insurance in Pennsylvania is $2,607 for full coverage, while the national average is $2,314. For minimum coverage, the national average is $644 per year compared to Pennsylvania’s $495 per year. Keep in mind that your rates will vary based on several personal factors. Your ZIP code, age, marital status, credit-based insurance score, driving record, claims history, the insurer you choose and the type of vehicle you insure will all impact your car insurance rates in Pennsylvania.

Key takeaways

• Pennsylvania drivers pay a monthly average of $217 for full coverage and $41 for state-mandated minimum coverage insurance.
• Pennsylvania does not allow insurance companies to use gender as an auto insurance rating factor.
• Having a DUI on your driving record increases your Pennsylvania car insurance rates by an average of 79 percent more, compared to an average of 10 percent more for a speeding ticket.
• Pennsylvania car insurance rates increase by an average of 56 percent more for drivers with poor credit, while those with excellent credit may pay around 13 percent less.

Pennsylvania car insurance rates by city

In Pennsylvania, car insurance rates vary by city. Insurance companies look at population density, theft and vandalism statistics, the likelihood and severity of car accidents, cost of living and medical care to determine rates by ZIP code. To give you an idea of how rates can vary by city, we compared rates for five Pennsylvania cities with some of the largest population. Drivers living in Scranton generally pay close to the average car insurance cost in Pennsylvania for full coverage, but drivers in Erie, Allentown, Reading and Pittsburgh see an average of anywhere from 2 to almost 6 percent savings over the state average.

Average car insurance costs by age and gender in Pennsylvania

Age is another contributing factor to how much car insurance is in Pennsylvania. While most states also use gender as a factor, Pennsylvania, California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Michigan and North Carolina do not due to state regulations. Young drivers under 20 usually pay the most for car insurance as inexperienced drivers. Rates typically drop around 25 and continue to decrease until around age 70, when they begin to increase again.

Cost considerations for young drivers in Pennsylvania

Auto insurance premiums depend on risk assessments made by insurance underwriting. Age and experience are considered key indicators of a driver's risk level. A younger and less experienced driver may be more likely to be involved in an auto accident or traffic violation. As a result, car insurance premiums tend to be higher for younger drivers. One way that young drivers may save on premiums, despite their age, is to remain on a parents' policy even after turning 18. Drivers under 18 cannot have their own policies and must remain on a parent or guardian's policy. The table below shows average rates for young drivers and how much they might save by not getting their own policy at 18:

How does driving record impact the cost of car insurance in Pennsylvania?

Having a clean driving record is one of the best ways to keep your insurance costs down. Tickets, at-fault accidents and DUI convictions are all indications that you could be a high-risk driver, which can significantly raise car insurance rates in Pennsylvania. For instance, a speeding ticket increases rates by 10 percent more, on average, while an at-fault accident shows an average increase of 31 percent more. A DUI can cost a thousand or more dollars a year in higher insurance premiums and fees, and the offense can stay on your driving record for life in Pennsylvania unless it is expunged. Our analysis shows an average annual premium increase of 79 percent more in Pennsylvania after a DUI.

Car insurance rates in Pennsylvania by credit tier

Your credit score can also affect car insurance rates in Pennsylvania. Drivers with a good credit score pay around the average cost of car insurance in Pennsylvania. But if you have a poor credit score, you may pay about 56 percent more than the state average. However, drivers with average excellent credit pay around 13 percent less.

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 in Pennsylvania. Rates vary by make and model because each type of car has different safety features, crash statistics and repair costs. The table below outlines the average annual cost of full coverage premiums for a variety of vehicles to give an idea of how much car insurance might cost.

Estimate your car insurance cost in Pennsylvania

Understanding "normal" rate ranges for auto insurance can help you be a more informed shopper. While requesting personalized quotes from carriers is the only way to know exactly what you will pay for coverage, the calculator tool below provides an estimate based on a few key ratings factors.

How to save on car insurance in Pennsylvania

Car insurance is mandatory if you own a car in Pennsylvania, but it doesn't have to break your budget. Here’s a few tips that could help you save money on car insurance in Pennsylvania:

• Take advantage of telematics programs. Some car insurance companies offer telematics programs as a way for drivers to earn discounts on their car insurance or other rewards for safe driving habits. Tracked behavior can include maintaining a safe speed, braking and accelerating smoothly, hard cornering and more.
• Maximize your discounts. It's become increasingly common for car insurance companies to offer a variety of auto discounts. These discounts can range from paperless billing to claims-free discounts. The more discounts you are eligible for, the more money you might save on your car insurance rates.
• Consider your yearly mileage. Many insurance companies use your annual mileage to determine rates, but if you put fewer than 12,000 miles per year on your car, it may pay to update your mileage with your carrier. Those who drive considerably less, like remote workers, may save even more with pay-per-mile car insurance.
• Improve your credit score. Car insurance companies in Pennsylvania are permitted to use a driver’s credit-based insurance score when determining rates. Improving your score might take time and may not be immediately reflected in your car insurance policy, but it could still be useful in the long-term to help you save money and improve your financial opportunities.

Frequently asked questions

Methodology 

Bankrate utilizes Quadrant Information Services to analyze the latest rates in April 2024 for ZIP codes and carriers in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Rates include the most recent approved rate changes filed by insurance companies that affect our profile. These revised rates are then weighted based on the population density in each geographic region so that policyholders can see the impact rates have in their areas. 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 2022 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.

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. Four states prohibit or limit the use of credit as a rating factor in determining auto insurance rates: California, Hawaii, Massachusetts and Michigan.

Incidents: Rates were calculated by evaluating our base profile with the following incidents applied: clean record (base), at-fault accident, single speeding ticket and single DUI conviction.

Model: To determine cost by vehicle type, we evaluated our base profile with the following vehicles applied: BMW 330i, Ford F-150, Honda Odyssey, Toyota Prius and Toyota Camry (base).

Age: Rates were calculated by evaluating our base profile with the ages 16-70 (base: 40 years) applied. Depending on age, drivers may be a renter or homeowner. Age is not a contributing rating factor in Hawaii and Massachusetts due to state regulations.

Gender: The following states do not use gender as a determining factor in calculating premiums: California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania.

Teens: Rates were determined by adding a 16- or 17-year-old teen to their 40-year-old married parents' policy. The rates displayed reflect the total cost of a driver this age added to their parents’ policy unless otherwise noted.