Updated: March 6, 2026
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Pennsylvania's mix of dense urban areas like Philadelphia and Pittsburgh alongside rural regions creates natural car insurance rate differences. Your premium depends on your age, location, driving record, coverage levels and which insurers you compare.
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Pennsylvania drivers pay car insurance rates below the national average for both coverage levels. Full coverage car insurance costs $117 per month on average, while minimum coverage runs $47 per month.
| Minimum Coverage | $47 | $60 | $568 | $726 |
| Full Coverage | $117 | $124 | $1,407 | $1,493 |
Drivers in Pennsylvania pay $51 less per year than the national average for full coverage and $120 less for minimum coverage. Pennsylvania ranks 29thth out of 51 states for full coverage affordability.
Pennsylvania falls in the middle for car insurance costs, ranking 29th out of 51 states for full coverage affordability. Only 22 states have higher average rates than Pennsylvania.
The state's rates are due to high uninsured motorist rates, dense traffic corridors and a lawsuit-friendly legal environment that increases claims costs.
Philadelphia, the state's largest city, shows how urban density and higher accident rates push up costs across Pennsylvania. Traffic congestion in major metropolitan areas like Pittsburgh and Allentown also contributes to premiums statewide (see rates by city).
Vermont offers the cheapest full coverage at $75 per month, while Florida drivers pay the most at $243 per month. Pennsylvania ranks below Kansas for affordability, but remains more affordable than New York.
| Vermont | $75 | $902 | 1 |
| Kansas | $116 | $1,389 | 28 |
| Pennsylvania | $117 | $1,407 | 29 |
| New York | $120 | $1,435 | 30 |
| Florida | $243 | $2,912 | 51 |
Travelers offers Pennsylvania's most affordable car insurance rates at $70 per month for full coverage and $30 per month for minimum coverage, which is 41% less than the state average. Erie Insurance ranks second among budget-friendly options, while Nationwide comes in third for the most affordable premiums.
Comparing multiple insurers remains the most effective way to get lower rates since each company uses different formulas to calculate premiums. The same driver profile can generate vastly different quotes across insurers, making it worthwhile to shop around for the best deal.
Read more: Cheapest and Best Car Insurance Companies in Pennsylvania
| Travelers | $30 | $70 | $363 | $837 |
| Erie Insurance | $29 | $82 | $349 | $981 |
| Nationwide | $33 | $78 | $401 | $940 |
| Westfield Insurance | $19 | $93 | $232 | $1,120 |
| Donegal Insurance | $40 | $83 | $484 | $995 |
| Chubb | $36 | $120 | $433 | $1,436 |
Your location in Pennsylvania impacts your car insurance costs across the state's major cities. Philadelphia and Allentown drivers pay the highest rates, paying $237 and $132 per month for full coverage respectively. York and Harrisburg offer the most affordable options among the 10 largest cities at $106 and $109 per month.
| Philadelphia | $237 | $98 |
| Allentown | $132 | $56 |
| Reading | $121 | $49 |
| Erie | $120 | $49 |
| Pittsburgh | $120 | $49 |
| Scranton | $119 | $49 |
| Lancaster | $117 | $49 |
| Bethlehem | $116 | $47 |
| Harrisburg | $109 | $45 |
| York | $106 | $43 |
York benefits from lower population density and reduced traffic congestion that keep collision risks minimal compared to Pennsylvania's larger cities. Philadelphia drivers pay higher premiums due to dense urban traffic, elevated vehicle theft rates and the increased accident frequency that comes with over 1.5 million residents. The gap between the most and least expensive of Pennsylvania's 10 most populous cities reaches $131 per month, or $1,572 per year.
Adding a 16-year-old driver to a family policy in Pennsylvania costs $6,713 per year for both males and females. These rates are nearly five times the adult premium in Pennsylvania, reflecting the higher risk insurers assign to teenage drivers. Age and gender affect car insurance rates most during the teen years, with costs dropping steadily through the early 20s and leveling off around age 25.
The table displays average annual premiums when a young driver joins a household policy shared with two 50-year-old parents. You can toggle between male and female rates using the dropdown menu to compare costs by gender. A 16-year-old male purchasing individual coverage pays $8,134 per year compared to $6,713 on a family policy, creating annual savings of $1,421 by staying on the household plan.
| 16 | $6,713 | $8,134 |
| 17 | $6,370 | $6,882 |
| 18 | $5,941 | $6,071 |
| 19 | $5,289 | $4,667 |
| 20 | $4,990 | $4,228 |
| 21 | $4,690 | $3,486 |
| 22 | $4,432 | $3,148 |
| 23 | $4,288 | $2,943 |
| 24 | $4,184 | $2,787 |
| 25 | $3,706 | $2,394 |
A DUI adds $113 per month to full coverage premiums in Pennsylvania, a 105% increase over a clean record. Even a speeding ticket raises rates by 21%, making any violation costly for drivers in Pennsylvania.
| Clean Record | $108 | $1,295 | — |
| Accident (not at fault) | $127 | $1,523 | 18% |
| Speeding | $131 | $1,574 | 21% |
| Texting While Driving | $131 | $1,567 | 21% |
| Accident (at fault) | $134 | $1,610 | 24% |
| DUI | $221 | $2,648 | 105% |
Insurance companies in Pennsylvania evaluate your driving history to determine how likely you are to file a claim, and drivers with violations are classified as riskier to insure. This higher risk category means you'll pay more for car insurance rates as insurers add to premiums to cover the increased chance of future claims.
Drivers with bad credit pay $217 per month for full coverage in Pennsylvania, nearly double the $117 that drivers with good credit pay. Pennsylvania allows insurers to use credit-based insurance scores when setting premiums. This credit-based pricing creates one of the largest rate gaps drivers pay when shopping for coverage.
| Good Credit | $48 | $117 |
| Bad Credit | $103 | $217 |
| Difference | $55 | $100 |
Pennsylvania drivers with poor credit scores can reduce their car insurance premiums by working to improve their credit rating over time. The state allows insurers to use credit-based scoring when setting rates, so low-income Pennsylvania drivers may see savings as their credit score improves.
Upgrading from minimum liability to comprehensive full coverage in Pennsylvania adds $72 per month to your premium. State minimum liability costs $44 per month, while a high-limit 300/500/300 policy with comprehensive and collision coverage runs $116 per month.
| Minimum Liability Only | $44 | $524 |
| Min. liab. + comp/coll ($1,000 ded.) | $57 | $690 |
| Min. liab. + comp/coll ($2,000 ded.) | $78 | $937 |
| 100/300/100 liability + comp/coll ($1,000 ded.) | $108 | $1,295 |
| Min. liab. + comp/coll ($250 ded.) | $111 | $1,326 |
| 50/100/50 liability + comp/coll ($500 ded.) | $114 | $1,364 |
| 300/500/300 liability + comp/coll ($1,500 ded.) | $116 | $1,392 |
| Min. liab. + comp/coll ($0 ded.) | $134 | $1,602 |
Pennsylvania's minimum liability requirements cover $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident for bodily injury, plus $5,000 for property damage; $5,000 MedPay is also required. This baseline coverage pays for damage you cause to others but won't cover repairs to your own vehicle. The table above starts with these state minimum limits and shows how premiums increase as you add higher liability amounts and comprehensive and collision coverage.
Here's what the 50/100/50 liability + comp/coll ($500 ded.) tier includes:
For more on coverage types and limits, read about the types of car insurance coverages and how much car insurance you need.
Car makes and models affect insurance rates in Pennsylvania. A Tesla Model Y costs $273 per month to insure with full coverage, which is 74% more than a Ford F-150 at $157 per month. These models represent some of the best-selling vehicles nationally by sales volume. Your rate will depend on your vehicle and its safety features and repair costs.
| Ford F-150 | $67 | $803 | $157 | $1,889 |
| Honda Civic | $68 | $816 | $160 | $1,917 |
| Honda Accord | $71 | $850 | $166 | $1,996 |
| Toyota Prius | $79 | $943 | $185 | $2,215 |
| Toyota Rav4 | $80 | $960 | $187 | $2,250 |
| Toyota Camry | $83 | $1,000 | $195 | $2,338 |
| Tesla Model 3 | $102 | $1,227 | $237 | $2,841 |
| Tesla Model Y | $117 | $1,407 | $273 | $3,280 |
A Tesla Model Y costs $273 per month for full coverage compared to $157 for a Ford F-150, creating a $116 monthly difference that reflects the higher cost of insuring electric vehicles. EVs cost more to insure because specialized parts, battery replacement expenses and complex repair requirements drive up claim costs when accidents occur. Drivers who want to minimize insurance expenses can choose a Honda Civic or Toyota Camry, which save approximately $95 per month compared to a Model Y.
Pennsylvania's mix of urban centers and rural areas creates wide gaps in car insurance costs across the state. These are the questions drivers ask most when trying to understand their rates.
Pennsylvania car insurance ranges from $47 per month for minimum coverage to $117 for full coverage. Your actual rate depends on your driving record, age, credit score and coverage choices.
Pennsylvania's no-fault insurance system requires drivers to carry Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage, which increases baseline premiums statewide. The state's uninsured driver rate of 8.9% exceeds the national average, forcing insured motorists to pay higher rates for uninsured motorist protection. Dense urban areas like Philadelphia and Pittsburgh generate frequent collision claims, while winter storms and flooding create costly comprehensive coverage payouts.
We used this profile to determine auto insurance costs across all available ZIP codes and cities in the state.
Rate comparisons by age and driving history reflect those driver characteristics while keeping all other profile factors the same.
Minimum coverage represents Pennsylvania's required liability insurance limits. Full coverage includes 100/300/100 liability protection plus comprehensive and collision coverage with a $1,000 deductible.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. He has analyzed the insurance market for over five years, conducting original research for insurance shoppers. His insights have been featured in CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.
Fitzpatrick holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!
He writes about economics and insurance, breaking down complex topics so people know what they're buying.
