Cheapest full coverage auto insurance companies

What is full coverage auto insurance?

Full coverage car insurance doesn’t have a formal definition, but insurers typically use it to refer to policies that include physical damage coverage for your own vehicle — i.e., comprehensive and collision coverage — in addition to the types of insurance required by state laws, such as liability and personal injury protection. The primary advantage of a full coverage policy is the ability to file claims with your own insurer for damage to your vehicle regardless of fault.

Because there’s no industry standard definition of full coverage, this type of policy might include a wide range of coverage types, including medical payments coverage, roadside assistance and rental reimbursement. Check with your insurer or agent to understand what full coverage add-ons you could include to ensure that your car insurance policy covers everything you need it to.

Cheapest full coverage insurance company by state

The cost of car insurance varies by state due to different insurance laws, unique geographic features and the incidence of claims in the area, but you may still be able to find affordable rates no matter where you live. Because car insurance premiums vary between companies, getting quotes from several carriers could help you compare rates and find the cheapest full coverage insurance for your needs.

The following table shows the company that offers the cheapest full coverage premium in each state. Please note that not everyone will qualify for coverage from every company. For example, USAA only serves military members, veterans and members of their immediate families.

Best cheap full coverage car insurance

Bankrate’s insurance editorial team analyzed the best car insurance companies for drivers nationwide seeking the cheapest full coverage insurance. We evaluated each carrier's average prices, customer service ratings, digital tools and financial strength scores along with coverage and discount options. Based on our research, we have assigned a Bankrate Score on a scale of 0.0 to 5.0 to each company. The higher the Bankrate Score, the higher a company ranked in each of the scoring categories.

If you are searching for the best car insurance for full coverage, these companies may be a good place to start. Keep in mind, though, that we focused on carriers with wide multi-regional or national coverage in order to make our recommendations relevant to most drivers. While large insurance companies have significant benefits, if you're comfortable working with a smaller local or regional carrier, you may find competitive options not listed here.

Best cheap full coverage car insurance for your profile

Car insurance rates are highly individualized based on a wide range of rating factors that insurance companies use to estimate a given driver’s level of risk. Primary rating factors for auto insurance include age, driving history and credit ratings. Young drivers, anyone with at-fault accidents or driving violation convictions and drivers with poor credit tend to pay higher rates than the national average.

Elsewhere in this article, we’ve focused on average rates for adult drivers with clean driving records and good credit. In the table below, you’ll see average full coverage premiums for less optimal driver profiles, such as families with teenagers and drivers with violations.

How to find cheap full coverage car insurance

Because you are buying more coverage, full coverage auto insurance will cost more than minimum coverage or liability-only coverage. However, there are steps you can take that might help you save:

• Compare quotes: One of the most recommended ways to find affordable car insurance is to shop around with several auto insurers. You can obtain free quotes from many insurers and then use these to see which could offer you the best rate on the coverage you want. When doing this, it’s important to specify the same types and limits of coverage on each quote.
• Take advantage of discounts: Most insurance companies offer discounts that could help you save money. Taking advantage of the discounts you qualify for generally lowers your premium. In many cases, you may be able to stack discounts from your insurer. In those situations, the more discounts you qualify for, the more you’ll likely save on rates.
• Drive safely: Driving infractions like tickets and accidents can lead to significant premium surcharges. Driving safely may help keep your rates low and may even qualify you for good driver discounts.
• Increase your deductibles: Both comprehensive coverage and collision coverage come with a deductible, which is the amount of money you agree to pay if you file a claim for damage to your vehicle before your coverage kicks in to pay the rest, up to your policy limits. Increasing one or both of your deductibles can lower your premium, but your collision coverage deductible generally has the biggest premium impact. Just be sure to choose a level that you can afford to pay if you file a claim.
• Consider the make and model of your vehicle: If you’re in the market for a new car, it may be a good idea to gather several car insurance quotes before making your purchase. For instance, if you’re on the fence between an SUV and a sporty coupe, your projected car insurance premium might help you decide which vehicle fits best within your budget.

Although price is an important factor when buying car insurance, it is not the only aspect of a company to consider. Customer service, financial strength, available coverage, discount opportunities and policy features are all important to think about, too.

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