Cheapest and Best Car Insurance in Lakeland, FL (July 2024)

Choosing the best car insurance in Lakeland, Florida, depends on your coverage needs, preferences and driver details. GEICO has the lowest rates for minimum coverage, while State Farm offers the most affordable full coverage. Nationwide charges competitive rates to families with teens. State Farm provides the best overall value, balancing cost and service. Mercury excels in customer service.

MoneyGeek found that GEICO provides the cheapest car insurance in Lakeland.

• GEICO: $608 per year
• State Farm: $642 per year

Farmers offers the most expensive minimum coverage at $1,509 per year, $901 more than GEICO. This highlights the importance of comparing rates to find the best deal and save on car insurance.

State law requires these car insurance coverage minimums in Lakeland:

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

If you're at fault in an accident causing injury to someone, the minimum coverage won't apply since Florida law doesn't require bodily injury liability. If costs exceed your policy's property damage limit, you must pay the difference out of pocket. These are just the minimums – it's wise to consider additional coverage for better protection.

MoneyGeek found that State Farm offers the cheapest full coverage car insurance in Lakeland, followed by Travelers:

• State Farm: $1,320 per year
• Travelers: $1,447 per year

Farmers offers the most expensive full coverage policy at $3,005 annually, $1,685 more than State Farm. This hefty difference highlights the importance of shopping around for the best rates. Full coverage policies cost more because they provide greater financial protection through comprehensive and collision insurance.

When upgrading to full coverage, the liability limits are raised to $100,000 for bodily injury per person, $300,000 per accident and $100,000 for property damage per accident, commonly referred to as a 100/300/100 policy.

Full coverage policies include:

• Collision insurance: Covers damage to your car caused by an impact with another vehicle or object, such as a light pole or tree, rollover accidents or pothole damage.
• Comprehensive insurance: Covers vehicle loss due to theft or damage from natural disasters, vandalism, fires and hitting animals like deer.

Full coverage is typically required if you lease or have a car loan. If you have a new car, full coverage protects your investment. However, the added cost may not be justified for older vehicles with lower value. Choosing the right amount of car insurance means balancing paying higher premiums for more coverage and the risk of being underinsured.

MoneyGeek found that State Farm offers the cheapest rates in Lakeland across these driving offenses. Here are the lowest rates per offense:

• Speeding Ticket: $1,486 per year
• At-Fault Accident: $1,612 per year
• DUI: $1,486 per year

Farmers has the highest annual premiums for at-fault accidents at $4,592 and speeding tickets at $3,798. The $794 difference highlights how the severity of the offense affects costs.

In Lakeland, insurance rates increase with the seriousness of driver violations due to their higher risk. For example, drivers with a DUI pay an average of $3,717 annually, while those with a speeding ticket pay about $3,283. This difference highlights the need for drivers with offenses to compare rates meticulously to save money.

MoneyGeek found that Nationwide offers the cheapest car insurance for teens in Lakeland. Here are the two most affordable options for a policy covering two parents and a teenager:

• Nationwide: $3,219 per year for female teens and $3,625 per year for male teens
• State Farm: $3,553 per year for female teens and $4,308 per year for male teens

Farmers charges the highest rates for family policies, at $6,184 annually for female teens and $6,270 for male teens. This highlights the importance of comparing rates, especially when adding a higher-risk teen driver can lead to higher premiums.

Teenage drivers across the U.S. face much higher car insurance costs. Individual policies cost $9,377 annually, while adding teen drivers to a family policy averages $4,996. This $4,000+ difference is because insurers see teen drivers as higher risk, making it challenging for them to get individual policies without an adult's driving history. Opting for a family insurance plan saves money and raises their likelihood of approval.

MoneyGeek found that State Farm offers Lakeland's cheapest car insurance for military backgrounds. For the best rates, consider these providers.

• State Farm: $1,320 per year
• Travelers: $1,447 per year

Although this dataset doesn't include USAA, it's widely known nationwide for providing tailored service at the most affordable rates for active-duty military personnel.

Comparing rates is crucial to saving on car insurance in Lakeland, but it can be time-consuming. Spending 15 minutes per insurer adds up quickly, often taking over an hour for just a few quotes. MoneyGeek's car insurance calculator simplifies this process. Enter your age, driving history, credit score and coverage preferences to get a personalized estimate instantly.

Choosing the right auto insurance involves considering priorities like service, cost and coverage. MoneyGeek's scoring system evaluates these factors to identify the top providers in Lakeland:

• Best overall: State Farm (MoneyGeek score 85 out of 100)
• Best for service: Mercury (MoneyGeek score 83 out of 100)
• Best cheap: State Farm (MoneyGeek score 86 out of 100)

State Farm excels in service quality and affordability, making it the top choice for budget-conscious drivers. Mercury is the highest-rated insurer for exceptional service and offers a top-tier customer experience.

MoneyGeek found that State Farm offers the best car insurance in Lakeland.

• State Farm: MoneyGeek score of 85 out of 100 ($1,320 per year)
• Mercury: MoneyGeek score of 80 out of 100 ($2,131 per year)

State Farm stands out in Lakeland for its exceptional client satisfaction and affordability, leading to its top MoneyGeek score. This makes it a preferred choice for comprehensive protection at a reasonable cost.

MoneyGeek found that Mercury provides the best customer service for car insurance in Lakeland.

• Mercury: MoneyGeek score of 83 out of 100 ($2,131 per year)
• State Farm: MoneyGeek score of 75 out of 100 ($1,320 per year)

Mercury earns impressive satisfaction and claims processing ratings, highlighting its exceptional service.

MoneyGeek found that State Farm offers Lakeland's most affordable and reliable car insurance, balancing cost and quality service.

• State Farm: MoneyGeek score of 86 out of 100 ($642 per year)
• Mercury: MoneyGeek score of 84 out of 100 ($812 per year)

State Farm's high MoneyGeek score reflects its ability to provide value and efficiently handle claims, making it an excellent choice for minimum and full coverage policies.

In Lakeland, the average cost of car insurance is $2,015, less than the state average of $2,392. Florida's average exceeds the national average of $1,781 by $611.

Various factors, primarily location, affect premiums. Insurers consider how often policyholders make claims in an area, which is linked to traffic and theft or damage risk. For example, in Florida, Hialeah has the highest premiums at $3,233, while Gainesville has the lowest at $1,699. This $1,534 difference shows how much location impacts insurance rates, with lower-density areas often having cheaper premiums.