bestauto insuranceBirminghamCompare the Cheapest Car Insurance Quotes in Birmingham, AL
Birmingham drivers pay an average of $1,221 annually for auto insurance, similar to the state average. Among the widely available insurers, GEICO has the most affordable average rate at $827. MoneyGeek studied rates across coverage levels and driver types to find a rate that fits your profile. If you are concerned about quality and cost, MoneyGeek recommended the best options.
REVIEW AUTO INSURANCE RATES
Ensure you're getting the best rate for your auto insurance. Compare quotes from the top insurance companies.
Advertising & Editorial DisclosureLast Updated: 1/10/2023
Edited By |
Katherine Kurtz
Written By |
Mark Fitzpatrick
In Birmingham, GEICO has the most affordable average car insurance at $827 annually, with an average annual state minimum liability premium of $375. Drivers with a speeding ticket should consider Allstate for its coverage at $945 per year on average. For military families, USAA is another less expensive option, especially in certain instances. GEICO is MoneyGeek’s choice for the best auto insurance company in the city, balancing both cost and customer service.
bestauto insuranceBirminghamThe Cheapest and Best Car Insurance in Birmingham
Cheapest Overall - GEICO
Cheapest State Minimum - GEICO
Cheapest With a Driving Violation - Allstate
Best Overall - GEICO
Methodology
MoneyGeek gathered premiums and information from J.D. Power, AM Best and the NAIC to score insurers in Birmingham.
The Cheapest Car Insurance Companies in Birmingham
For most drivers, the insurers offering the cheapest full coverage car insurance in Birmingham are:
- GEICO: $827 per year
- Allstate: $846 per year
Veterans and current military personnel and their families will find USAA car insurance an even more affordable option with an average annual premium of $677.
At $827 a year, GEICO is the cheapest insurance company for most drivers in Birmingham, while Nationwide, at $1,814, is the most expensive. The difference between the annual premiums is 119% or $987.
Full coverage insurance includes comprehensive and collision coverage. Your premium depends on your driver profile and the liability limits you choose.
Cheapest Car Insurance in Birmingham
Full Coverage 100/300/100
- Company100/300/100per year
- 1.$677
- 2.$827
- 3.$846
- 4.$1,033
- 5.$1,059
In our analysis, MoneyGeek used the average annual premiums for a 40-year-old male driver carrying a full coverage policy, as explained in our methodology.
Comprehensive and collision coverage costs more than an insurance policy with only liability coverage. The benefit of full coverage car insurance is that it gives you additional security in the event of an accident by helping cover the costs of any damage to your car.
- Collision insurance: pays to fix damage to your car if you hit another vehicle or a stationary object
- Comprehensive insurance: pays car repair expenses and losses from non-collision damage, such as theft, fire or damage from adverse weather events.
If you own an older car, you may wish to consider getting state minimum or liability-only insurance. That’s because the premiums for full coverage auto insurance may add up to be more than the replacement cost of your vehicle.
Compare Car Insurance Rates in Birmingham
Ensure you're getting the best rate for your car insurance. Compare quotes from the top insurance companies.
Cheapest Car Insurance in Birmingham for Minimum Coverage
The amount of coverage you choose will affect the cost of your auto insurance premium in Birmingham and elsewhere. A state minimum liability-only policy costs $613 on average. Adding roughly $608 will get you a full coverage policy, which has an average rate of $1,221 per year.
Cheapest Minimum Liability Car Insurance in Birmingham
State Minimum
- CompanyState Minimumper year
- 1.$304
- 2.$375
- 3.$494
- 4.$498
- 5.$562
In Alabama, drivers must have 25/50/25 minimum liability insurance. This is Birmingham's cheapest auto insurance; however, although your monthly premium may be lower, your cash outlay may be much higher in the event of an accident.
For example, if you are in an at-fault accident, and the other driver’s medical bills total $50,000, your insurer will only pay up to $25,000. You'll be responsible for the remaining $25,000 in medical expenses.
Alabama Minimum Liability Requirements
- ItemDescription
- Bodily Injury and Property Damage$25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident and $25,000 for property damage. A more protective level is 100/300/100.
Cheapest Car Insurance in Birmingham if You Have Driving Violations
If you’re involved in an at-fault accident or get a speeding ticket or DUI, you may see your premiums go up. Based on your specific violation, the following insurance providers are, on average, the most affordable in Birmingham:
- Cheapest after a ticket: Allstate, $945 per year
- Cheapest after an at-fault accident: Allstate, $1,181 per year
- Cheapest after a DUI: Allstate, $1,150 per year
Whatever your traffic violations, the best course of action is to improve your record over time to reduce your premiums. In the meantime, however, look around for the best cheap car insurance for drivers with bad records. Compare quotes with as many insurance companies as possible to get the most affordable rate.
Cheapest Car Insurance in Birmingham With a Violation
Speeding Ticket
- CompanySpeeding Ticketper year
- 1.$752
- 2.$945
- 3.$986
- 4.$1,253
- 5.$1,345
Average Cost of Car Insurance in Birmingham
Birmingham$1,221
Alabama$1,221
U.S.$1,424
The average annual cost of car insurance in Birmingham is $1,221. This rate is the same as the state average, but less than the U.S. average of $1,424. When compared with the national average, Birmingham’s annual rate is 14.3% less.
Personalized Quotes to Get You the Cheapest Car Insurance in Birmingham
To determine car insurance quotes in Birmingham, providers assess multiple factors, including age, gender, miles driven per year, driving record and more. For example, a provider’s policy for 18-year-old drivers can be more than double the cost for 40-year-old drivers. You should get a quote at regular intervals to check if you qualify for rebates, discounts or other savings as your circumstances change.
Compare Car Insurance Rates in Birmingham
Ensure you're getting the best rate for your car insurance. Compare quotes from the top insurance companies.
The Best Car Insurance Companies in Birmingham
MoneyGeek determined the top car insurance companies in Birmingham, Alabama, based on average premiums, customer satisfaction scores and claims ratings. The companies occupying the top two spots are:
- GEICO: MoneyGeek score of 84 out of 100
- Allstate: MoneyGeek score of 78 out of 100
We excluded USAA from our rankings, despite its overall score of 99 out of 100. USAA is the best car insurance company for current or former military members and their families.
1
GEICO
Score:84
Birmingham’s best auto insurance company is GEICO, with a perfect score for stability and excellent claims and user satisfaction scores. It also ranks first in affordability, with a full coverage policy averaging $827 per year. GEICO offers mechanical breakdown insurance as an add-on coverage, which is rare among insurers.
More About GEICO
With GEICO, you can customize your full coverage car insurance in Birmingham with add-ons to fit your needs and preferences.
One unique add-on is mechanical breakdown insurance, which protects cars less than 15 months old at a more affordable rate than a standard extended warranty. Unlike warranties that only cover specific items, GEICO covers all parts and systems.
You can also purchase accident forgiveness coverage. This prevents your premium from increasing after your first at-fault accident. Drivers over 21 who are accident-free for at least five years can earn it, so you won’t have to pay for this coverage if you meet these criteria.
Read MoneyGeek's GEICO auto Insurance Review2
Allstate
Score:78
According to our rankings for Birmingham, Allstate is the second-cheapest insurer — an annual full coverage policy costs about $846. It ranks high for stability, but below four out of five for claims and user satisfaction. Allstate offers custom parts coverage to help pay for damages to unique carpeting, decals, graphics and more you’ve added to your vehicle.
More About Allstate
Allstate has multiple add-on coverages for its policyholders in Birmingham. For example, drivers who prize their vehicle’s entertainment system will find the portable electronics and media and sound system coverages attractive. The former covers the loss of tapes, CDs or other media used with your vehicle’s sound system. The latter helps you pay for costs if the system itself is damaged. Note that you must carry comprehensive insurance to be eligible for either add-on coverage.
Another option is Allstate’s new car replacement, which applies to cars less than two years old.
Read MoneyGeek's Allstate auto Insurance Review3
Country Financial
Score:75
4
Travelers
Score:67
5
State Farm
Score:65
6
ALFA
Score:57
7
Farmers
Score:54
8
MetLife
Score:50
9
Progressive
Score:36
10
Nationwide
Score:34
Average Cost of Car Insurance by Postal Code
Car insurance providers also consider your ZIP code while calculating your premium. Areas that have higher numbers of accidents and car thefts are more expensive. In Birmingham, the 35215 area has an average annual premium of $1,247. It may be considered more risky — as residents in this locality pay about $52 more per year for their auto insurance coverage — compared with the most affordable ZIP code for car insurance, the 35242 neighborhood.
- Zip CodeState Minimumper year
- 35242$1,195
- 35215$1,247
Factors That Impact Insurance Costs in Birmingham
In addition to individual driver needs and history, location-specific factors like the rate of fatal accidents and the percentage of uninsured motorists also contribute to car insurance rates in Birmingham. How Birmingham ranks compared to the 300 most populous cities in the United States can have a significant impact on premium costs.
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