Cheapest and Best Car Insurance in Clearwater, FL (June 2024)

In Clearwater, Florida, Travelers offers the cheapest minimum and full coverage policies. Nationwide is best for families with teens. Mercury excels in customer service and offers the best cheap car insurance. State Farm provides the best overall value, balancing price and service. Your ideal choice depends on personal preferences and coverage requirements.

MoneyGeek found that Travelers offers Clearwater's most affordable minimum coverage car insurance.

• Travelers: $770 per year
• GEICO: $772 per year

Farmers provides the most expensive minimum coverage policy in Clearwater at $1,542 per year. The cost difference between the most and least affordable options is $772. This considerable variance in pricing underscores the benefit of shopping around for the cheapest car insurance to find the best rates.

Florida state law mandates the following limits for minimum coverage car insurance:

• $10,000 property damage liability per accident
• $10,000 personal injury protection (PIP) per person

If you hold a minimum coverage policy and are at fault in an accident, insurance would cover up to $10,000 for the other vehicle's damage. But should the cost of injury or damages surpass these limits, you'd need to manage the excess out of pocket. Drive responsibly and know your coverages for greater financial protection.

MoneyGeek found that Travelers is the cheapest full coverage car insurance option in Clearwater. These are the top providers for full coverage for motorists seeking affordability and comprehensive protection:

• Travelers: $1,579 per year
• State Farm: $1,606 per year

Farmers presents the most expensive full coverage policy in Clearwater at $3,060 annually. The $1,481 difference between Travelers and Farmers illustrates the importance of shopping around for the best deal. Consider that full coverage policies include additional protections like comprehensive and collision, which accounts for their higher costs than minimum coverage.

For individuals seeking robust protection, full coverage policies have greater liability coverage: $100,000 for bodily injury per individual, $300,000 for bodily injury per accident and $100,000 for property damage per accident. This type of policy is referred to as 100/300/100.

Full coverage policies also incorporate comprehensive and collision coverage for a complete insurance package.

• Collision Insurance: This is designed to cover the repairs to your car in the event of an impact with another vehicle or object, such as a tree or light pole. It also covers rollover accidents and pothole damage.

• Comprehensive Insurance: This provides financial protection against non-collision-related incidents that might damage your car, such as theft, extreme weather conditions, vandalism, fires or being hit by an animal.

Opting for full coverage insurance for brand-new vehicles is a prudent decision to protect your investment. However, this level of coverage may not be as cost-effective for older vehicles due to the relatively higher premiums that do not always justify the extra expense. Deciding how much car insurance you need involves evaluating the trade-off between the security of extensive coverage and the potential for higher premiums. Ultimately, your choice should align with the value of your vehicle and personal risk preferences.

MoneyGeek found that State Farm is the cheapest car insurance option for drivers with a poor record in Clearwater.

• Speeding Ticket: State Farm ($1,818 per year)
• At-fault Accident: State Farm ($1,979 per year)
• DUI: State Farm ($1,818 per year)

Nationwide is the most costly after a DUI at $5,094 per year. Farmers is the most expensive for at-fault accidents at $4,701 per year, while GEICO costs the most for speeding tickets at $4,077 per year. Note that certain companies can offer consistently competitive rates regardless of the offense's severity.

In Clearwater, as in other cities, insurance premiums increase with the severity of driving offenses to account for the heightened risk insurers take on. Drivers with a speeding ticket on their record can expect to pay an average annual premium of $3,693, while those with a DUI face a significantly higher average rate of around $4,205. Given these substantial differences, individuals with traffic violations should compare insurance quotes to secure the most affordable rates.

MoneyGeek found that Nationwide offers the cheapest car insurance for teens looking for full coverage policies in Clearwater.

• Nationwide: $3,966 per year for female teens and $4,467 per year for male teens
• State Farm: $4,424 per year for female teens and $5,364 per year for male teens

These rates are for a policy covering two parents and a teenager. In Clearwater, Progressive offers the most expensive policy for insuring a family with teens, costing $7,203 per year for females. The stark difference of $3,237 between the cheapest and most expensive options underscores the importance of comparing quotes, especially when adding higher-risk teenage drivers to your policy.

In Clearwater and similar cities, teenage drivers seeking car insurance face a higher average annual premium for an individual policy at $11,209. Including a teen in a family plan averages much lower at $5,993 per year. Insurers typically charge higher rates for teens due to their lack of driving experience and higher risk profile. Teens might also struggle to obtain an individual policy as insurance companies perceive them as high-risk clients without the backing of a responsible adult on the policy. Opting for a family plan can provide financial savings and increase the chances of approval.

MoneyGeek found that Travelers is the cheapest option in Clearwater for those with military backgrounds searching for full coverage car insurance.

• Travelers: $1,579 per year
• State Farm: $1,606 per year

Although USAA is not included in the study, it is well-known nationally for its competitive rates and specializes in insurance for military members. USAA provides service in Florida and is considered one of the more affordable insurers for the military community.

Finding the best car insurance rates in Clearwater can lead to significant savings. However, evaluating three or more providers can take upwards of an hour.

MoneyGeek's car insurance calculator streamlines the process. You can receive instant rate estimates by inputting key data such as age, driving history, credit score and desired coverage levels.

Selecting the best auto insurance is a personalized decision that depends on what you value most in terms of service, cost, coverage and other factors. MoneyGeek's research identified which providers excel in various categories so you can find your ideal match in Clearwater.

• Best overall: State Farm (MoneyGeek score 84 out of 100)
• Best for service: Mercury (MoneyGeek score 83 out of 100)
• Best cheap: Mercury (MoneyGeek score 89 out of 100)

State Farm is the overall best provider in Clearwater, providing a balance of quality service and affordability. Mercury leads for customer service and offers the best cheap car insurance, which is ideal if you prioritize exceptional customer care and affordability.

MoneyGeek found that State Farm is the top company offering the best car insurance in Clearwater.

• State Farm: MoneyGeek score of 84 out of 100 ($1,606 per year)
• Mercury: MoneyGeek score of 84 out of 100 ($2,033 per year)

State Farm has the highest MoneyGeek score for a full coverage policy, showcasing a strong balance between customer satisfaction and affordability, which are the largest contributors to its top ranking.

MoneyGeek found that Mercury is the best option in Clearwater for top-notch car insurance customer service, regardless of rates.

• Mercury: MoneyGeek score of 83 out of 100 ($2,033 per year)
• State Farm: MoneyGeek score of 75 out of 100 ($1,606 per year)

Mercury's top ratings in customer satisfaction and claims handling drive its high MoneyGeek score. Its commitment to client satisfaction and efficient claims process is reflected in the positive experiences reported by its customers.

Mercury is the best option in Clearwater for drivers seeking affordable car insurance.

• Mercury: MoneyGeek score of 89 out of 100 ($803 per year)
• State Farm: MoneyGeek score of 84 out of 100 ($841 per year)

Mercury leads with a balance of the lowest annual premiums and high scores in claims processing and customer satisfaction. Mercury's MoneyGeek score of 89 reflects its commitment to affordable minimum coverage policies and quality service.

Knowing the average car insurance cost is essential for budgeting and financial planning. The average cost in Clearwater, Florida, is $2,200. This premium is slightly less than the average car insurance cost in Florida, which is $2,307, indicating a statewide pattern. Comparing these state figures to the national average of $1,720 shows that Florida residents pay significantly more for car insurance, with a difference of $587.

Various factors influence car insurance premiums, including age, driving history and vehicle type. Location is a particularly significant factor, as rates can vary greatly from one city to another within the same state. Hialeah is the city with the highest insurance premium in Florida at $3,126 per year, while Gainesville has the cheapest premium at $1,642. There is a notable cost difference of $1,484 between the cities. Such disparities highlight location's impact on insurance costs. Rates may even be lower in areas outside major cities with lower traffic density.