Best cheap car insurance in Chattanooga for 2023

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On average, Chattanooga drivers pay $367 annually—$31 a month—for minimum coverage and $1,358 for full coverage, which works out to $113 monthly. With a little work, you can save money on the best car insurance in Chattanooga and may even pay less than the average. We’ve done the research for you: the companies writing the cheapest car insurance in Chattanooga on average include State Farm, Geico, Travelers, Farmers and USAA. These companies offer robust coverage options, excellent customer service and more at a reasonable average price.
Best cheap car insurance companies in Chattanooga
To find the cheapest car insurance companies in Chattanooga, we analyzed information we gathered from Quadrant Information Services to determine average annual rates. Our Bankrate score reflects these average rates on a five point scale, as well as utilizing other variables, including product availability, financial strength ratings, online capabilities and customer and claims support accessibility. We refer to industry experts like AM Best for financial strength and J.D. Power for customer satisfaction ratings from the 2022 U.S. Auto Insurance Study for the Southeast region.
Although the average cost of car insurance in Chattanooga is $1,358 for full coverage and $367 for minimum coverage, many companies offer auto insurance at a lower average rate. State Farm offers the lowest average rate on our list for full coverage, while Geico’s average rate for Chattanooga drivers tops our list for minimum coverage. Travelers also has reasonable average rates, with our other two options not far behind. All our chosen companies have average rates that are below the national averages of $622 and $2,014 per year for minimum and full coverage car insurance, respectively, and most are below the Tennessee state averages of $371 and $1,429 per year.
Based on our research, these are the best car insurance companies in Chattanooga.
Insurance company | Bankrate Score | J.D. Power score (Southeast Region) | Average annual premium for full coverage | Average annual premium for minimum coverage |
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State Farm | 4.2 | 855/1,000 | $883 | $216 |
Geico | 4.4 | 843/1,000 | $979 | $205 |
Travelers | 4.0 | 839/1,000 | $1,131 | $308 |
Farmers | 3.9 | 828/1,000 | $1,161 | $475 |
USAA | 4.3 | 886/1,000 | $1,230 | $313 |
State Farm
Known for its excellent mobile resources, State Farm has 19,000 agents across the country, including more than 20 in the Chattanooga region. State Farm had some of the cheapest rates on our list, making it an excellent choice for those wanting to save money. The company has two feature programs that will help you save: its Drive Safe and Save program as well as the telematics-based Steer Clear discount. There are also discounts for teens, students and safe drivers. Be aware, though, that State Farm does not have 24/7 customer service available for policyholders.
Learn more: State Farm Insurance review
Geico
Geico coverage is well-rounded with the option to add rental reimbursement and mechanical breakdown insurance. Combined with 24/7 customer service, Geico has a top-rated mobile app to assist with your policy anytime. Geico also has some of Chattanooga’s most affordable average rates. The company has an extensive list of potential car insurance discounts, including extra savings when you are accident-free for five years or bundle policies—all of which mean that you should be able to save money on your premium. Its list of available endorsements, or add-ons, is small, however, meaning there are limited opportunities to customize your policy.
Learn more: Geico Insurance review
Travelers
Travelers offers a good handful of both potential discounts and endorsements to policyholders, making it a possibly good choice for those who want to save money as well as those who want to choose optional coverages to add to their policy. Travelers’ average rates are well below the Chattanooga averages, and its telematics program, IntelliDrive, boasts that it can save you up to 30 percent if you are a safe and careful driver. Other possible discounts include multi-policy, new car and several discounts for students. Travelers insurance is available in 42 states and Washington, D.C.
Learn more: Travelers Insurance review
Farmers
Farmers auto insurance is available in most areas of the U.S., with the exception of Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Washington D.C. It might be a good choice for drivers who wish to craft a policy that is unique to their needs, since it features optional coverages such as care replacement, accident forgiveness and more. Although it has a lower Bankrate score than any of our other choices, it still features reasonable rates that are below the Chattanooga average, at least for full coverage. You may be able to save by utilizing some of the many discounts that the company offers, such as good payer, shared family car and a telematics program called Signal.
Learn more: Farmers Insurance review
USAA
USAA is rank-ineligible in J.D. Power rankings, but it still receives top scores for customer satisfaction. However, this provider only sells policies to active members and veterans of the military, as well as qualifying immediate family members. Many coverage options are available, including rideshare coverage, roadside assistance and extended benefits coverage. USAA makes it easy to save with exclusive driver savings. If you maintain a low annual mileage or have recently purchased a new vehicle, you could be eligible for additional discounts. You might also receive cheap insurance for loyalty savings or when a family member has an active USAA policy.
Learn more: USAA Insurance review
How to get and keep the cheapest car insurance in Chattanooga
The best way to get cheap car insurance in Chattanooga is to do your research, gather several quotes, and make your decision based on the price along with other factors such as customer service, financial strength and website and mobile app ease of use. Every company uses slightly different criteria for determining your premium, so don’t be surprised to receive widely varying quotes—which is why it pays to get quotes from more than one company for the same coverage levels.
Once you have found a policy that works for you at the best price, be sure to maintain a clean driving record in order to keep that low rate. Even a single ding on your license can cause an increase in your premium. If your driving skills need work, consider taking a state-mandated defensive driving course. In some states, these courses can be taken easily online, and insurers will often give you a discount for taking them.
Another way to capitalize on your good driving habits is to see if your insurer has a usage-based telematics program. These programs ask you to download an app to your phone which relays real-time information back to your insurer. If you avoid speeding and prove to be a safe driver, you may earn a discount of as much as 30 percent.
Frequently asked questions
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The best car insurance companies vary for everyone based on your specific individual needs. What is best for one driver may be different for another based on things like coverage options, budget, credit score and driver record. To determine which car insurance company is best for you, consider getting quotes from multiple companies for the same coverage levels.
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Chattanooga car insurance costs an average of $367 annually for a minimum coverage policy, while a full coverage policy costs an average of $1,358 per year. Depending on your circumstances, you may be able to find prices that are lower than this from some of the cheap car insurance companies in the region.
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All drivers in Chattanooga are required to carry a minimum amount of car insurance. This includes $25,000 for each injury or death per accident, $50,000 for total injuries or deaths per accident and $25,000 for property damage per accident. Beyond that, it helps to talk to your insurance provider or agent to determine what amount of car insurance is right for you.
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Methodology
Bankrate utilizes Quadrant Information Services to analyze 2023 rates for ZIP codes and carriers in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Rates are weighted based on the population density in each geographic region. 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 2021 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
Our 2023 Bankrate Score considers variables our insurance editorial team determined impacts policyholders’ experiences with an insurance company. These rating factors include a robust assessment of each company’s product availability, financial strength ratings, online capabilities and customer and claims support accessibility. Each factor was added to a category, and these categories were weighted in a tiered approach to analyze how companies perform in key customer-impacting categories.
Like our previous Bankrate Scores, each category was assigned a metric to determine performance, and the weighted sum adds up to a company’s total Bankrate Score — out of 5 points. This year, our 2023 scoring model provides a more comprehensive view, indicating when companies excel across several key areas and better highlighting where they fall short.
- Tier 1 (Cost & ratings): To determine how well auto and home insurance companies satisfy these priorities, 2023 quoted premiums from Quadrant Information Services (if available), as well as any of the latest third-party agency ratings from J.D. Power, AM Best and the NAIC, were analyzed.
- Tier 2 (Coverage & savings): We assessed companies’ coverage options and availability to help policyholders find a provider that balances cost with coverage. Additionally, we evaluated each company’s discount options listed on its website.
- Tier 3 (Support): To encompass the many ways an auto insurance company can support policyholders, we analyzed avenues of customer accessibility along with community support. This analysis incorporated additional financial strength ratings from S&P and Moody’s and factored a company’s corporate sustainability efforts.
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