Best car insurance in Kentucky for 2023

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.

When you look at Kentucky’s car insurance laws, you’ll see that drivers in the state, like in most others, are required to have minimum coverage. Mandatory insurance in the state includes both bodily injury and property damage liability coverage. Kentucky is a no-fault state, though personal injury protection (PIP) can be declined. Even if you decline PIP for yourself, all policies will still include such coverage for other people riding in your vehicle.

Aside from the legal requirements by the state, you may need to maintain certain policy requirements if you have a loan or lease on your vehicle. In many cases, you will need to have a full coverage policy, which provides you with additional financial protection with comprehensive and collision coverage. Other policies you might want to consider include gap insurance, which can help cover the difference between the cash value of the vehicle and the amount still owed on the loan if the car gets totaled or stolen.

Each driver has unique car insurance needs that should be taken into consideration when shopping for a policy. For example, if you have a teen driver in your household, you might want to look for companies that offer lower average rates for teens as well as teen driver discounts. If you have a few accidents or tickets on your record, you might be considered a high-risk driver, and you might need to look for a company specifically geared toward your situation. Understanding your needs and shopping around could help you find the right company.

Each driver in Kentucky will find a carrier that is better suited to their needs over others. Finding the best car insurance is based on a number of factors that vary from person to person, so there’s not just one option that’s best for all. For instance, some drivers may be considered high-risk based on a DUI conviction, so they’ll need to find a company that offers affordable policies for their circumstances. Or, maybe you have a teen driver on your policy and want to look for a carrier that will offer teen or good student discounts. So, shop around to find which providers offer you the cheapest quotes and meet your unique needs to find the best insurance for you.

According to our research, USAA, Westfield and Kentucky Farm Bureau offer some of the cheapest car insurance in Kentucky for minimum coverage, while State Farm, USAA and Geico offer competitive average rates for full coverage. Keep in mind that rates vary based on a variety of factors, like where you live or the car you drive, so these carriers might not be the cheapest for you. Shopping around and comparing car insurance quotes may be one of the best strategies to find the cheapest rates.

To get car insurance in Kentucky, most insurance professionals recommend starting by getting multiple quotes. You’ll need the names, drivers’ license numbers and dates of birth of every licensed driver in your household. You’ll also need, at minimum, each vehicle’s year, make and model, although a vehicle identification number (VIN) will usually lead to a more accurate quote. Having an idea of the coverage types and limits you’d like to purchase may speed up the quoting process, but you can also work with an agent to determine the appropriate coverage for you.

There are a number of factors that contribute to the higher auto insurance rates in Kentucky compared to other states. Some of the main factors include the greater frequency of extreme weather events that occur in the state, like tornadoes. Plus, higher traffic density and greater risk of auto theft may cause rates to be higher.