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Compare car insurance rates in September 2024

Updated Sep 01, 2024

Knowing how to compare car insurance quotes can help you find the best deal on your policy — and Bankrate can help you learn how to do it.

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Bankrate’s guide to comparing car insurance rates

According to Bankrate’s analysis, the average cost of car insurance in September 2024 is $2,348 for full coverage and $639 for minimum coverage. However, these are just average figures; the cost of your car insurance policy will likely vary. Car insurance is not a one-size-fits-all product: your coverage limits, policy endorsements, location, driving history, credit score and vehicle type can all play a part in determining what you pay for your policy. As such, car insurance is like a fingerprint — each quote will be different, which is why it’s important to know how to compare them.

Key takeaways

  • Average car insurance rates are $2,314 for full coverage and $644 for minimum coverage.
  • Experts recommend comparing quotes with the same coverage limits from at least three carriers to find the best fit for your risk profile.
  • Drivers under 25 or over 70 and those with violations or accidents tend to pay higher premiums based on insurer risk calculations.
  • To request quotes, you’ll need your driver’s license number and vehicle identification number handy, along with information about your driving habits and any recent tickets.
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Read our full methodology

Bankrate knows car insurance rates can be confusing, so we keep licensed insurance agents on staff to give our readers the information they need to make educated decisions about their policies. Using our specialized knowledge and real-world insurance industry experience, we’ve evaluated insurance companies, both large and small, to help you compare car insurance rates and find the coverage you need at a price you can afford.

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quotes analyzed

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Advertising disclosure
This advertisement is powered by Coverage.com, LLC, a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249) and a corporate affiliate of Bankrate. The offers and links that appear on this advertisement are from companies that compensate Coverage.com in different ways. The compensation received and other factors, such as your location, may impact what offers and links appear, and how, where and in what order they appear. While we seek to provide a wide range of offers, we do not include every product or service that may be available. Our goal is to keep information accurate and timely, but some information may not be current. Your actual offer from an advertiser may be different from the offer on this advertisement. All offers are subject to additional terms and conditions.

Coverage.com, LLC is a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249). Coverage.com services are only available in states where it is licensed. Coverage.com may not offer insurance coverage in all states or scenarios. All insurance products are governed by the terms in the applicable insurance policy, and all related decisions (such as approval for coverage, premiums, commissions and fees) and policy obligations are the sole responsibility of the underwriting insurer. The information on this site does not modify any insurance policy terms in any way.

Compare car insurance rates by age

In all states except Massachusetts and Hawaii, insurers use your age to determine your auto insurance premium. When analyzing car insurance premiums by age, young drivers under the age of 25 typically see higher rates compared to adults. This is because younger drivers have less experience behind the wheel and are more likely to engage in risky driving behavior. According to our analysis, a 21-year-old driver pays an average of 71 percent more for a full coverage car insurance policy compared to a 40-year-old.

Bankrate compiled age-related data from several carriers based on September 2024 rates pulled from Quadrant Information Services to give you an idea of how much you might pay at different points in your life.

Compare car insurance rates for young drivers

Teen drivers are inexperienced, which leads to a greater likelihood of accidents and risky driving. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that teens have a higher crash rate than any other age group. Because of this, teens typically cost more to insure than older drivers. Bankrate found that, depending on your teen’s age, Nationwide, Geico and Farmers tend to have lower average rates for young drivers.

Teens are not the only age group that face higher-than-average rates; drivers from the ages of 20 to 25 also see elevated car insurance prices. This is largely also because of inexperience behind the wheel, but the increase tends to be less dramatic for drivers in their early 20s compared to teen drivers. However, some young adults may find the best car insurance rates by choosing to stay on their parent’s policy as opposed to purchasing one of their own.

Insurance company
Avg. annual full coverage premium age 16*
Avg. annual full coverage premium age 18*
Avg. annual full coverage premium age 20**
$5,163
$4,561
$5,838
$5,807
$5,357
$6,632
$4,114
$3,112
$3,587
$7,392
$6,828
$7,807
$4,382
$3,730
$3,928
$3,702
$3,191
$4,590
$4,603
$4,149
$4,573
$5,443
$4,693
$5,067
$4,093
$3,514
$3,638
$5,066
$3,506
$3,978
*16- and 18-year-old rate reflects the cost of a teen on their married parents’ full coverage policy. **20-year-old rate reflects the cost of being on their own separate policy.

Compare car insurance rates for adult drivers

Drivers typically see some relief in terms of car insurance rates when they turn 25. More driving experience and maintaining a clean record signal to your car insurance company that you are unlikely to file an insurance claim, which is usually rewarded with a lower rate. Car insurance premiums tend to hit a downward trend from ages 25 to 50. With the table below, you can compare car insurance rates from different carriers for a variety of age groups.

Carrier
Avg. annual full coverage premium age 25
Avg. annual full coverage premium age 30
Avg. annual full coverage premium age 40
Avg. annual full coverage premium age 50
$3,533
$2,984
$2,866
$2,726
$3,599
$3,025
$2,894
$2,609
$2,277
$1,785
$1,739
$1,600
$4,121
$3,542
$3,463
$3,012
$2,334
$2,069
$2,031
$1,899
$2,356
$1,997
$1,856
$1,706
$2,801
$2,446
$2,018
$1,944
$3,160
$2,783
$2,591
$2,560
$2,244
$2,044
$1,811
$1,729
$2,658
$2,261
$1,962
$1,918

Compare car insurance rates for senior drivers

Senior drivers, typically defined as age 60 and older, may see their car insurance rates begin to creep back up, although some insurers don’t begin to adjust rates until you reach age 70. That is because senior drivers statistically are at greater risk of being in an accident. Aging-related health factors, like decreased eyesight and slowed reaction time, can impair a driver and increase the risk of accidents.

Based on our analysis, older adults may want to consider getting quotes from USAA, Nationwide, Geico and Auto-Owners for low-cost coverage as these carriers offer some of the best average insurance rates for senior drivers.

Carrier
Avg. annual full coverage premium age 60
Avg. annual full coverage premium age 70
$2,706
$2,824
$2,781
$2,672
$1,581
$1,763
$2,858
$3,235
$1,899
$2,125
$1,645
$1,772
$1,877
$2,056
$2,454
$2,516
$1,698
$1,844
$1,874
$2,115

Car insurance rates by driving history

Keeping a clean motor vehicle record (MVR) is typically one of the best ways to avoid premium increases on your car insurance policy. Because car insurance rates are based on risk, high-risk drivers generally pay more for coverage and may have trouble obtaining coverage from standard auto insurers. Insurers will review the driving history of all drivers on the policy by obtaining MVR and Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange (CLUE) reports (which provide your auto claims history) so providing this information up front will help ensure you receive an accurate quote.

Car insurance rates after a speeding ticket

Speeding tickets are relatively common, but most carriers still see them as an indication of high-risk driver behavior. As such, a speeding ticket on your motor vehicle record causes your average annual payment to be 23 percent more per year. On top of the increased insurance costs, you may need to pay fines and even license and/or vehicle registration reinstatement fees, depending on the severity of your infraction.

Fortunately, most carriers only consider speeding ticket convictions for three to five years when determining rates. Depending on your state, carrier and ticket severity, you will likely see your rates come back down after a few years of infraction-free driving.

Insurance company
Avg. annual premium pre-ticket
Avg. annual premium post-ticket
$2,866
$3,378
$2,894
$3,593
$1,739
$2,037
$3,463
$4,135
$2,031
$2,492
$1,856
$2,756
$2,018
$2,841
$2,591
$3,132
$1,811
$2,605
$1,962
$2,449
Insurance company
Avg. annual premium pre-ticket
Avg. annual premium post-ticket
$840
$1,005
$738
$903
$453
$533
$1,060
$1,373
$550
$689
$645
$937
$627
$845
$819
$1,004
$507
$654
$531
$658

Compare car insurance rates after an at-fault accident

Accidents on your MVR will typically increase your premiums, especially if you were found at fault. Insurers typically see a driver with one or more at-fault accidents as more likely to cause an accident in the future and charge them a higher rate as a result.

The table below shows average rates before and after an at-fault accident from several major car insurance companies. On average, drivers with a single at-fault accident pay 45 percent more annually than drivers with the same coverage and no accidents. Accident forgiveness coverage may prevent a rate increase after your first at-fault accident. However, it is important to note that even if you have this coverage with your current insurer (meaning they won’t raise your rate because of an at-fault accident), that accident will likely affect your quoted rates with other insurers, as it is included on your MVR. Accident forgiveness does not typically transfer between carriers and usually must be earned or purchased with new providers.

Insurance company
Avg. annual premium pre-accident
Avg. annual premium post-accident
$2,866
$3,956
$2,894
$3,481
$1,739
$2,322
$3,463
$5,383
$2,031
$2,874
$1,856
$2,620
$2,018
$3,361
$2,591
$3,457
$1,811
$2,901
$1,962
$2,951
Insurance company
Avg. annual premium pre-accident
Avg. annual premium post-accident
$840
$1,184
$738
$896
$453
$642
$1,060
$1,794
$550
$800
$645
$922
$627
$1,017
$819
$1,132
$507
$744
$531
$802

Car insurance rates after a DUI

DUIs are among the most serious offenses that a driver can commit, and drivers with a DUI conviction pay an average of 95 percent more for coverage compared to drivers with clean records. Depending on your state’s regulations, you may also face a suspended license and registration, numerous fines and other financial and legal penalties. A DUI conviction can stay on your driving record for life in some states. Finding car insurance with a DUI on your MVR may be much more difficult than it is with a clean driving record, as not all insurance companies will agree to insure such risky drivers. If you have a DUI conviction on your record, it may be worth looking into a carrier that specializes in writing policies for high-risk drivers.

Insurance company
Avg. annual premium pre-DUI
Avg. annual premium post-DUI
$2,866
$4,846
$2,894
$8,390
$1,739
$3,742
$3,463
$7,565
$2,031
$4,616
$1,856
$4,386
$2,018
$3,075
$2,591
$4,856
$1,811
$3,674
$1,962
$3,708
Insurance company
Avg. annual premium pre-DUI
Avg. annual premium post-DUI
$840
$1,443
$738
$2,039
$453
$1,115
$1,060
$2,535
$550
$1,340
$645
$1,463
$627
$918
$819
$1,667
$507
$924
$531
$998

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Bankrate’s take: When do I need an SR-22 form?

You will likely need to file an SR-22 (or FR-44, if you’re in Virginia or Florida) after a serious infraction like a DUI, license suspension, reckless driving or if you were caught driving without an insurance policy. An SR-22 is not a car insurance policy; it is a form your insurance company files with your state’s department of motor vehicles that proves you carry at least the minimum amount of car insurance required in your state. Depending on the driving infraction, you may need to carry an SR-22 for one to five years.

Compare car insurance rates by credit tier

In most states, your credit tier will affect your car insurance premium. Generally, drivers with lower credit-based insurance scores tend to file more claims and are thus viewed as a higher risk by carriers. California, Hawaii, Massachusetts and Michigan ban or restrict the use of credit as an auto insurance rating factor.

Insurance company
Avg. annual premium with poor credit
Avg. annual premium with good credit
$4,369
$2,866
$7,752
$2,894
$4,717
$1,739
$6,796
$3,463
$2,958
$2,031
$2,322
$1,856
$3,942
$2,018
$9,242
$2,591
$2,529
$1,811
$3,866
$1,962
Insurance company
Avg. annual premium with poor credit
Avg. annual premium with good credit
$1,291
$840
$1,876
$738
$1,187
$453
$2,133
$1,060
$835
$550
$854
$645
$1,264
$627
$3,124
$819
$698
$507
$948
$531