Auto-Owners Insurance Co offers Knoxville drivers the cheapest rates for minimum coverage car insurance. USAA is the most affordable for military-affiliated drivers. State Farm is the cheapest for full coverage, drivers with speeding tickets, DUIs and at-fault accidents. Nationwide is the cheapest option for teen drivers. If you want excellent service, Chubb is the ideal option.
Your driver profile and needs may affect which company is the most affordable for you.
Cheapest and Best Car Insurance in Knoxville, TN








Cheapest Minimum Liability Car Insurance in Knoxville
A minimum coverage car insurance policy in Knoxville is cheapest from the following companies:
- Auto-Owners Insurance Co: $224 per year
- State Farm: $252 per year
The most expensive company for minimum coverage is Allstate, with an annual average of $537. Tennessee Farm Bureau offers the most affordable car insurance in Tennessee at $276 annually as of October 2022, making Knoxville slightly more expensive for the company than the state as a whole and demonstrating how location impacts premiums.
Liability limits for minimum coverage insurance are set by state law. In Tennessee, this coverage extends to bodily injury and personal property damage with the following amounts:
- $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
- $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident
- $15,000 property damage liability per accident
Liability-only coverage is designed to cover the costs of damage to other drivers and passengers in case you're at fault in an accident. This insurance policy can help you manage medical expenses, with a coverage limit of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per incident. Any costs above this limit are your responsibility.
Cheapest Full Coverage Car Insurance in Knoxville
The least expensive full coverage car insurance in Knoxville is from the following companies:
- State Farm: approximately $595 annually
- Auto-Owners Insurance Co: $599 per year
Progressive is the most expensive company for full coverage at around $1,237 per year. The cheapest car insurance company for full coverage in Tennessee state is Erie, at an average rate of $768 per year as of October 2022.
Full coverage insurance with State Farm is slightly cheaper in Knoxville than in the rest of the state, demonstrating how location can impact policy costs.
A full coverage policy not only raises the limits of liability insurance but also incorporates comprehensive and collision coverage.
- Collision Insurance: Covers the cost of repairs to your vehicle in case of an accident, regardless of who is at fault.
- Comprehensive Insurance: Covers non-collision damages such as theft, natural disasters and other unexpected events.
For individuals with newer vehicles, full coverage is recommended. However, the added cost of full coverage may not be worth the investment for older vehicles.
Cheapest Car Insurance in Knoxville After a Driving Offense
According to our calculations, these are Knoxville’s cheapest car insurance companies if you have the following driving offenses on your record:
- Speeding ticket: State Farm (approximately $654 per year)
- At-fault accident: State Farm ($713 per year)
- DUI: State Farm (approximately $654 per year)
After an infraction such as a speeding ticket, accident or DUI, car insurance premiums can skyrocket, even for the most affordable providers. Expect to see higher annual rates with Progressive (roughly $1,630), Progressive (around $2,212) and Chubb (approximately $4,622), respectively. Poor driving records can impact rates. The cheapest company’s rates for poor records usually won’t be cheap compared to safe driving costs.
In Knoxville, the cost of car insurance can increase based on the severity of driving offenses. Individuals with a DUI on their record may pay a minimum of $764 more in car insurance premiums, while those with tickets may pay around $178 more.
Finding affordable car insurance with bad driving records is still possible.
Cheapest Car Insurance in Knoxville for Teens and Their Families
For teenage drivers on a family policy, the least expensive auto insurers in Knoxville are:
- Nationwide: approximately $1,136 per year for female teens; $1,286 per year for male teens
- Farmers: approximately $1,606 per year for female teens; $1,702 per year for male teens
The most expensive company for teens is Progressive, where families will pay $2,801 or $3,049 per year to add a female or male teen to a policy. Male teens tend to pay higher car insurance rates than female teens due to the higher perceived risk, as evidenced by the $150 price difference from Nationwide. This difference drops off in early adulthood.
Including a teenage driver on a family car insurance policy is an effective way to lower the cost of coverage, as individual policies for teenagers tend to be more expensive.
In Knoxville, the yearly difference between an individual and family premium for a teen is $2,891. Families can significantly reduce their car insurance costs for teen drivers by comparing quotes and making informed decisions. Take the right steps to find the cheapest auto insurance for teens.
Cheapest Car Insurance in Knoxville for Military Drivers
The cheapest car insurance for current or former military members and their families in Knoxville are:
- USAA: approximately $557 per year
- State Farm: approximately $595 per year
The cheapest insurance companies for minimum coverage are USAA and Auto-Owners Insurance Co. These insurers charge a yearly average premium of $217 and $224, respectively. Auto-Owners Insurance Co bested State Farm for the second spot in affordability for minimum coverage policies.
How to Compare Cheap Knoxville Car Insurance Quotes Online
Finding the right car insurance policy in Knoxville, Tennessee can be tedious. With so many personal details required to receive an accurate quote, it takes 15 minutes or more to complete the process for each insurer.
We've simplified the process for you by creating a car insurance calculator. In just a few clicks, you'll get an estimate for your insurance policy based on factors such as your age, car model, coverage level and driving record.
Auto Insurance Calculator
See how the Average Annual Auto Insurance Rates vary with the options chosen.
Average Annual Auto Insurance Rates
Click the section of the wheel in your price range to see options.
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Click an insurer below to visit their review page or continue to your personalized quote.
Best Car Insurance in Knoxville: Summary
The ideal car insurance policy for you is the one that meets your unique needs and preferences. The best car insurance providers in Knoxville, Tennessee, include:
- Best overall: Auto-Owners Insurance Co (MoneyGeek score of 81 out of 100)
- Best for service: Chubb (MoneyGeek score of 76 out of 100)
- Best cheap: Auto-Owners Insurance Co (MoneyGeek score of 84 out of 100)
Scores vary based on weightings in each category. Eerie is the best car insurance in Tennessee, showing how the best insurer can vary by location.
With a score of 85 out of 100, USAA is also worth considering.
Best Overall Car Insurance in Knoxville
The best overall car insurance companies in Knoxville are:
- Auto-Owners Insurance Co: MoneyGeek score of 81 out of 100 (approximately $599 per year)
- Eerie: MoneyGeek score of 79 out of 100 (approximately $684 per year)
Auto-Owners performed well in coverage and affordability ratings, which are two important factors when determining the best overall insurer in the city.
USAA is also worth considering since it earned a score of 85 out of 100.
How was this MoneyGeek score calculated?

pros
Good coverage score
High affordability ratings
Offers rental car/travel reimbursement, gap insurance and diminished value coverage
cons
Low claims experience rating
No new car replacement coverage
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
Auto-Owners Insurance Co is a reputable insurance company providing top-notch car insurance coverage. This insurer offers rental car/travel reimbursement coverage to help alleviate the financial burden when you cannot use your vehicle due to an accident. This coverage pays for the cost of a rental car and expenses such as lodging and food if you're stranded away from home.
This insurer offers gap insurance that helps protect you in the event of a total loss caused by an accident. If you are still paying off a loan or lease on your vehicle, this endorsement covers the gap between the current value of your car and the amount still owed, ensuring you're not left with outstanding payments on a car you can no longer use.
Its diminished value coverage protects your car investment in case of an accident, compensating you for any reduction in value even after repairs are made.
Best Car Insurance in Knoxville for Customer Service
When cost is excluded from the scoring system, the best companies for customer service in Knoxville are:
- Chubb: MoneyGeek score of 76 out of 100 (approximately $1,133 per year)
- Cincinnati Insurance: MoneyGeek score of 74 out of 100 (approximately $832 per year)
Chubb scored well in satisfaction and claims. Its affordability score is low, indicating that you will pay more for excellent service if you choose this company.
How was this MoneyGeek score calculated?

pros
High claims experience rating
Good customer satisfaction rating
Rental car/travel reimbursement, antique/classic car coverage and original equipment manufacturer (OEM) coverage
cons
Low affordability rating
Doesn’t offer roadside assistance
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
Chubb is a leading global insurance company known for providing high-quality insurance products and exceptional customer service. It scored well in claims experience and customer satisfaction.
With Chubb's rental car reimbursement coverage, you can enjoy a seamless rental experience as it offers you the flexibility to rent a similar car. It offers optional coverage limits of up to $5,000 with no restrictions on daily usage.
This insurer offers antique/classic car coverage that covers vehicles over 30 years old, used for hobby purposes and as part of a collection. These vehicles must be kept in a garage and used for events like car shows, exhibitions, car club activities and parades.
Chubb ensures the use of original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts and procedures for repair, maintaining your vehicle's safety in case of future accidents, unlike many other insurance providers who may opt for non-original parts.
Best Cheap Car Insurance in Knoxville
MoneyGeek analyzed car insurance providers' service quality and affordability that meet Tennessee’s minimum coverage requirements. The best insurance companies in Knoxville are:
- Auto-Owners Insurance Co: MoneyGeek score of 84 out of 100 (approximately $224 per year)
- Cincinnati Insurance: MoneyGeek score of 77 out of 100 (approximately $315 per year)
In Knoxville, policies with minimum coverage provide low insurance rates but limited protection against liability expenses. These policies do not provide protection for damages to your car in case of an accident.
How was this MoneyGeek score calculated?

pros
An affordable minimum coverage policy costs around $224 annually
Good coverage and claims scores
Bundling and honing device discount
cons
Average customer satisfaction rating
No defensive driving discount
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
Auto-Owners Insurance Co offers comprehensive coverage options for drivers in Knoxville. It offers an affordable annual premium with a cost of around $224, a bundling discount and honing device discount.
When you purchase life insurance with this insurer, you’ll qualify for a discount on your auto insurance. The Teen Driver Monitoring Discount offered is based on the use of a Global Positioning System (GPS) device installed in the primary vehicle driven by your teen or if they are enrolled in a qualifying smartphone app.
Among the more unique discounts offered by this insurer is a responsible payment discount. You can receive this discount for consistently paying your premiums each month for 36 months. You can even get a discount for requesting a quote prior to purchasing a policy.
Average Cost of Car Insurance in Knoxville
The average cost of auto insurance in Knoxville for full coverage is $838 per year. This includes $100,000 in bodily injury liability per person, $300,000 in bodily injury liability per accident and $100,000 in property damage liability per accident.
The city’s average car insurance cost is $62 cheaper than the average full coverage cost in Tennessee and around $427 cheaper than the national average as of October 2022. The location where you reside plays a role in determining the cost of your car insurance.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
