BestCar InsurancePittsburghThe Best Car Insurance in Pittsburgh, PA, for 2023
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In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Erie ranks as the best overall auto insurance provider. However, the best auto insurance for you depends on your chosen coverage level, age and driving history. In this review, MoneyGeek discusses the best companies for full and minimum coverage, young and older drivers, drivers with violations and military personnel.
Additionally, MoneyGeek also tells you about the cheapest car insurance in Pittsburgh.
BestCar InsurancePittsburghThe Best Car Insurance in Pittsburgh
Overall - Erie
Minimum Coverage - Erie
Young Drivers - Erie
Senior Drivers - Erie
Driving Violations - Erie
Military - USAA
Best Car Insurance Companies in Pittsburgh: Overall
MoneyGeek determined the top auto insurance companies in Pittsburgh based on the claims ratings, customer satisfaction and average premiums for different driver profiles. The best auto insurance providers in Pittsburgh, according to this methodology, are:
- Erie: 98 out of 100
- State Farm: 93 out of 100
USAA received a MoneyGeek score of 98 out of a possible 100, making it the best provider in Pittsburgh. However, it was not included in our rankings because it is only available to military personnel and their families.
The Top Car Insurance Companies in Pittsburgh
1
ErieOverall
Score:98
Erie received high scores for affordability, customer satisfaction and claims. The company also provides rare add-on coverages like better car replacement. An Erie full coverage insurance costs around $661 per year in Pittsburgh.
More About Erie
With Erie's better car replacement coverage, if your new car is wrecked during the first two years of ownership, it will be replaced with the newest model year. If you have owned your automobile for more than two years, you will receive a model that is two years newer. With Erie's accident forgiveness, drivers who have been accident-free with the company for three years will receive no premium surcharge the first time they are found at fault in an accident.
Read MoneyGeek's Erie auto Insurance Review2
State Farm
Score:93
State Farm scored well in customer satisfaction, claims and affordability and received a perfect rating in stability. Its ridesharing insurance coverage is occasionally offered by other insurers. The average yearly cost for a comprehensive State Farm insurance policy is $763.
More About State Farm
State Farm's rideshare insurance may be a good fit for Uber and Lyft drivers who need insurance. You'll get access to benefits like roadside assistance, rental car reimbursement and medical expenditure coverage with this add-on.
Read MoneyGeek's State Farm auto Insurance ReviewRESOURCES ON CAR INSURANCE IN PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA
MoneyGeek also evaluated the cheapest car insurance providers in Pittsburgh, so the city's drivers can maximize their savings. MoneyGeek has assembled the following resources if you want to learn more about auto insurance in Pennsylvania:
Best Cheap Car Insurance for Minimum Coverage in Pittsburgh
All drivers in Pittsburgh are required to have insurance that meets or exceeds Pennsylvania’s minimum coverage requirements. According to MoneyGeek's statistics, the best auto insurance providers for state minimum coverage in Pittsburgh are:
- Erie: 97 out of 100
- GEICO: 93 out of 100
MoneyGeek arrived at this conclusion by studying insurance policies for drivers from various backgrounds, including those with driving violations, young drivers and senior drivers.
MoneyGeek’s Pick: Erie
pros
A minimum coverage policy costs $281 per year.
Offers common discounts for bundling insurance policies and having airbags installed.
Offers discounts for having anti-lock brakes.
MoneyGeek claims ratings of 4.71 and a customer satisfaction rating of 4.79 out of 5.
cons
Does not offer common discounts like pay-in-full, paperless, defensive driving and safe driving.
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
The only common discount offered by Erie is for combining plans. If you insure multiple cars or have various policies with Erie (bundling life insurance or home insurance with auto insurance), you may be eligible for discounts.
Additionally, Erie policyholders may get an anti-lock brakes discount for having anti-lock brakes installed in their cars. You can also get discounts for having airbags or anti-theft systems installed in your vehicle. The company also offers other discounts and coverages, which can be beneficial for various driver types.
Best Car Insurance for Young Drivers in Pittsburgh
MoneyGeek also listed the companies offering the best car insurance in Pittsburgh for teens and young adults. We found that the following companies offer the best car insurance to young drivers in Pittsburgh:
- Erie: 94 out of 100
- State Farm: 91 out of 100
MoneyGeek obtained these findings by analyzing the coverage levels and driving histories of 18-year-old drivers in Pittsburgh. Due to their lack of driving experience, auto insurance for students and car insurance quotes for young drivers are expensive.
MoneyGeek’s Pick: Erie
pros
A full coverage policy for a young driver costs $1,921 per year.
Offers bundling and airbag discounts.
Offers discounts for young and safe drivers.
MoneyGeek claims ratings of 4.71 and a customer satisfaction rating of 4.79 out of 5.
cons
No common discounts like pay-in-full, paperless, defensive driving and safe driving.
No roadside assistance offered
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
The only common discount offered by Erie is for bundling plans. If you insure multiple cars or have various policies with Erie — life insurance, home insurance, auto insurance, etc. — you may be eligible for discounts. Other than that, the company does not offer common discounts, like good student discounts. However, you get accident forgiveness coverage, which can be beneficial for young drivers and teens. By staying claims-free for three years, your first at-fault accident will not accompany a premium surcharge.
However, Erie policyholders that are under 21, unmarried and live with their parents can get discounts for being safe drivers. Its legacy discount is available to unmarried young drivers who have been previously covered under their parents' Erie car insurance policy. Young drivers under the age of 21 who have completed a certified driver education program are also eligible for a discount.
Best Car Insurance for Senior Drivers in Pittsburgh
According to MoneyGeek's research, the best auto insurance companies in Pittsburgh for senior drivers aged 65 or older, are:
- Erie: 98 out of 100
- State Farm: 95 out of 100
MoneyGeek analyzed the various policy coverages and driving records of 70-year-old drivers. In general, premiums for senior driver car insurance are higher than those for middle-aged drivers.
MoneyGeek’s Pick: Erie
pros
A full coverage policy for a 70-year-old driver costs $704 per year.
MoneyGeek claims ratings of 4.71 and customer satisfaction rating of 4.79 out of 5.
cons
No common discounts like pay-in-full, paperless, defensive driving and safe driving.
No special discounts for seniors
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
Although auto insurance policies for seniors are similar to other policies, some insurers charge them higher premiums. Erie has the best rates for senior drivers in Pittsburgh. Erie’s policyholders only get one of the commonly-offered discounts, which is the bundling discount. By bundling other policies like life insurance and home insurance, senior drivers can get discounted premiums on their car insurance policy. However, the company does not offer exclusive discounts to senior drivers, like defensive driving.
Its accident forgiveness coverage might be advantageous for senior drivers, just as it is advantageous for younger drivers. Senior drivers can also get rental car and/or travel reimbursement. This coverage will cover the expenses of renting a car if your car is not drivable due to an accident.
Best Car Insurance With a Driving Violation in Pittsburgh
Finding auto insurance after committing a traffic infraction might be hard. To assist you, MoneyGeek evaluated the best auto insurance providers in Pittsburgh for drivers who have been involved in an at-fault accident and rated the following companies as the best:
- Erie: 97 out of 100
- State Farm: 95 out of 100
These rankings were compiled using various driver ages and coverage levels. Individuals with a bad driving record pay extra for car insurance since they are deemed high-risk by insurance companies.
MoneyGeek’s Pick: Erie
pros
A full coverage policy for a 40-year-old with a bad driving record costs $860 per year.
Offers better car replacement, accident forgiveness and new car replacement coverage
MoneyGeek claims ratings of 4.71 and a customer satisfaction rating of 4.79 out of 5.
cons
Offers only one common discount.
No unique coverages
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
Companies offering relatively affordable plans with certain coverage types can be advantageous for drivers with accidents or violations on their records. Although Erie does not offer unique coverages, its add-on coverages can be beneficial to those with an accident history.
If your new car is less than two years old and is totaled, it will be replaced with the newest model year under the company's new car replacement coverage. If you have owned your automobile for more than two years, you will receive a model that is two years newer with better car replacement coverage. Erie's rental car reimbursement coverage offers policyholders compensation for rental automobile expenses. If you have not filed a claim for three years and are involved in an accident, the accident forgiveness coverage will waive the premium surcharge.
Erie policies have one of the commonly offered discounts. However, by having airbags, anti-lock brake systems and anti-theft systems installed in your vehicle, you can be eligible for discounted premiums. Paying your yearly premiums in full may also make you eligible for discounts.
Best Car Insurance With a Military Background in Pittsburgh
USAA balances cost and customer satisfaction for qualifying service members in Pittsburg. USAA received a MoneyGeek score of 98 out of 100, based on our unique scoring methodology. However, it's important to note that USAA only provides auto insurance to military members and their families.
MoneyGeek calculated this score by weighing various coverage levels and driver profiles, including insurance for younger and older drivers, as well as those with traffic offenses.
MoneyGeek’s Pick: USAA
pros
An affordable full coverage policy costs $694 per year for a 40-year-old driver
Offers five of the most common discounts like safe driving, defensive driving and multiple cars.
MoneyGeek claims rating and user satisfaction rating of 5 out of 5
cons
Only three of the seven common coverages are offered; does not offer better car replacement, gap insurance, new car replacement and deductible modification.
Only offered to current and former military members and their families
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
USAA obtained a perfect 5-star rating for claims and customer satisfaction and a 4.88 out of 5 score for affordability. Its common coverage options include roadside assistance, rental car reimbursement and/or travel reimbursement and accident forgiveness. You don't get other add-on coverages with USAA.
Although USAA only offers five common discounts — bundling, multiple cars, safe driving, good student and defensive driving — it also offers other noteworthy discounts. Its new vehicle discount, which applies to insured vehicles less than three years old, allows individuals to save money. In addition, long-term USAA policyholders may be eligible for the loyalty discount.
Methodology
MoneyGeek gathered rates and data from Pittsburgh's insurance firms in order to evaluate and identify the best insurers in the city. Our analysis was based on ratings from three industry experts: AM Best, J.D. Power and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).
Each category received a maximum score of five points, and an overall score of 100 points was used to generate our composite MoneyGeek score. For Pittsburgh and all other cities in which we rank the best auto insurance, we adjusted the weightings for each of the categories stated below:
- Affordability (70%): MoneyGeek reviewed quotations from Pittsburgh insurers in order to rank companies by the price of their plans. A company received a perfect score of five if it supplied the lowest price in the city.
- Customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction (20%): MoneyGeek used J.D. Power survey results to assess consumer satisfaction with each insurance provider in terms of service and claims. Each category was given a 10% weighting.
- Financial stability (10%): AM Best ratings, which measure an insurance company's capacity to meet financial obligations, were employed to find the companies’ financial stability.
MoneyGeek analyzed various driver profiles and used factors like age, driving record and coverage levels to get the overall affordability rating for each insurance provider. We filtered results based on each driver's profile and compiled a list of suitable insurance providers. MoneyGeek, for instance, utilized a sample profile of an 18-year-old male with a spotless driving record to determine the best insurance provider for young drivers.
For this MoneyGeek's research, auto insurance premiums reflect the cost of a comprehensive policy with the following coverage limits:
- $100,000 bodily injury liability per person
- $300,000 bodily injury liability per accident
- $100,000 property damage liability
- Comprehensive and collision coverage with a $1,000 deductible
MoneyGeek's methodology goes into further depth regarding how and where we gather data for comparisons and rating.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
