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On average, Erie is the cheapest insurer in the city for a full-coverage policy in the city, along with the cheapest for state minimum car insurance coverage. Current or former military members can consider getting their car insurance from USAA, which offers the second-cheapest coverage in Pittsburgh, on average.

Car insurance rates in Pittsburgh vary based on the coverage amount and driver profile. If you have a speeding ticket, for instance, Erie still provides the cheapest car insurance coverage, on average. Per the MoneyGeek rating system, the best insurer in the city overall is New Jersey Manufacturers, which best balances customer service and affordable coverage.

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2023

The Cheapest and Best Car Insurance in Pittsburgh

The Cheapest Car Insurance Companies in Pittsburgh

The cheapest average full-coverage car insurance in Pittsburgh comes from the following companies, on average:

  • Erie: $661 per year
  • Travelers: $750 per year

Military members and their families qualify for policies from USAA, which came in at an average annual cost of $694. The highest full-coverage car insurance rate in Pittsburgh is from MetLife, at an average of $1,540 per year.

Full-coverage car insurance policies cost more than the state minimum coverage. These plans provide higher limits in the event of an accident.

Cheapest Car Insurance in Pittsburgh
Full Coverage 100/300/100
  • Company
    100/300/100per year
  • 1.
    Erie
    $661
  • 2.
    USAA
    $694
  • 3.
    Travelers
    $750
  • 4.
    GEICO
    $753
  • 5.
    State Farm
    $763
  • 6.
    Nationwide
    $778
  • 7.
    Allstate
    $937
  • 8.
    Nationwide
    $944
  • 9.
    Esurance
    $1,281
  • 10.
    Progressive
    $1,320
  • 11.
    MetLife
    $1,540

Minimum car insurance policies meet the lowest level of state legal requirements and can cost significantly less than full coverage policies.

A full-coverage policy includes liability coverage, along with the following two types of insurance:

  • Comprehensive Insurance: This coverage provides payment for damage resulting from theft, vandalism and other forms of accidents.
  • Collision Insurance: Collision coverage protects drivers against damage caused by collisions with other cars or objects.

To establish the best auto insurance carriers in Pittsburgh, MoneyGeek collected rates across companies using a 40-year-old sample driver with a full-coverage policy as indicated in our methodology.

For drivers with older cars, the state minimum car insurance or liability-only insurance may be the best option. If you purchase a full-coverage policy for an old car, you may end up paying more for insurance than the car’s worth.

Compare Car Insurance Rates in Pittsburgh

Ensure you're getting the best rate for your car insurance. Compare quotes from the top insurance companies.

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Cheapest Car Insurance in Pittsburgh for Minimum Coverage

In Pittsburgh, the most affordable auto insurance policy is the state minimum coverage. Although prices are significantly lower than full-coverage car insurance, state minimum policies may not cover your costs after an accident, leaving you to pay a significant amount out of pocket.

According to MoneyGeek’s analysis, the companies that provide the most affordable state minimum car insurance in Pittsburgh, on average, are:

  • Erie: $281 per year
  • GEICO: $288 per year

USAA has the lowest average annual rate of $271, but we did not include the company in our rankings. Its policies are only available to military members and their families.

The most expensive insurer for the state minimum car insurance is MetLife, with an average annual cost of $908 per year. Rates vary depending on the coverage limits. Use the table below to compare costs between different coverage amounts.

Cheapest Minimum Liability Car Insurance in Pittsburgh
State Minimum

Minimum coverage only meets the requirements of the state, which are $15,000 of bodily injury coverage, $30,000 coverage per accident and $5,000 property damage coverage.

In case of an accident, you may need to pay any extra costs that are not covered by your state minimum coverage policy. For instance, if the property damage cost is $10,000, your policy only covers $5,000, leaving you to pay $5,000 out of pocket.

Pennsylvania Minimum Liability Requirements

  • Item
    Description
  • Bodily Injury and Property Damage
    $15,000 per person, $30,000 per accident and $5,000 for property damage. A more protective level is 100/300/100.

Cheapest Car Insurance in Pittsburgh if You Have Driving Violations

Car insurance rates depend on various factors, including your driving record. Drivers with a history of violations tend to pay more than individuals with clean records.

In Pittsburgh, the most affordable auto insurance providers for drivers with poor records are:

  • Cheapest After a Ticket: Erie, $688 per year
  • Cheapest After an At-Fault Accident: Erie, $860 per year
  • Cheapest After a DUI: State Farm, $835 per year

If your record improves over time, you will pay less for car insurance in Pittsburgh. Drivers with a bad record due to a DUI or speeding ticket should shop around to compare rates and find the lowest quotes for their circumstances.

Cheapest Car Insurance in Pittsburgh With a Violation
Speeding Ticket

Average Cost of Car Insurance in Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh$973
PA$1,818
U.S.$1,424

When it comes to the average annual cost of car insurance, Pittsburgh is rather inexpensive compared to bigger cities. With a $973 average annual premium, Pittsburgh is much more affordable compared to Philadelphia, which averages $2,134 annually.

Pittsburgh’s average auto insurance cost is 46.5% lower than the state average and 31.7% lower than the national average. Take note that these figures are just the average projected costs, and your premium may vary according to other factors. Drivers who are ready to save on auto insurance should regularly get personalized quotes to compare rates and find the plan that meets their needs.

Personalized Quotes to Get You the Cheapest Car Insurance in Pittsburgh

It is advised to compare personalized car insurance quotes in Pittsburgh because premiums differ from provider to provider. Rates are influenced by a person's age, ZIP code, car type and driving record, among other factors. For example, a young person who has a DUI will likely pay more than someone who is middle-aged and has a clean record. Get personalized quotes and check the rates regularly to find the best plan available.

Compare Car Insurance Rates in Pittsburgh

Ensure you're getting the best rate for your car insurance. Compare quotes from the top insurance companies.

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The Best Car Insurance Companies in Pittsburgh

Overall, the companies with the highest MoneyGeek scores based on affordability and customer service scales are:

  • New Jersey Manufacturers: MoneyGeek score of 98 out of 100
  • GEICO: MoneyGeek score of 93 out of 100

MoneyGeek ranked car insurance companies in Pittsburgh using factors such as financial stability, affordability and customer satisfaction to ensure that you secure the best coverage for your needs.

While USAA had the highest score of 100 out of 100, we did not include the company among the top providers — its policies only apply to military persons and their families.


1
Erie
Score:98

5/5

Affordability

4.7/5

Claims

4.8/5

User Satisfaction

4.5/5

Financial Stability

2
State Farm
Score:93

4.8/5

Affordability

4/5

Claims

4/5

User Satisfaction

5/5

Financial Stability

3
GEICO
Score:88

4.3/5

Affordability

4/5

Claims

4.5/5

User Satisfaction

5/5

Financial Stability

4
Travelers
Score:86

4.2/5

Affordability

5/5

Claims

3.5/5

User Satisfaction

5/5

Financial Stability

5
Nationwide
Score:82

4.1/5

Affordability

4/5

Claims

3.5/5

User Satisfaction

4.5/5

Financial Stability

6
Allstate
Score:80

4/5

Affordability

3.5/5

Claims

3.5/5

User Satisfaction

4.5/5

Financial Stability

7
Esurance
Score:64

2.8/5

Affordability

3.7/5

Claims

4.2/5

User Satisfaction

4.5/5

Financial Stability

8
Progressive
Score:61

2.6/5

Affordability

4/5

Claims

3.5/5

User Satisfaction

4.5/5

Financial Stability

9
MetLife
Score:24

0/5

Affordability

4.1/5

Claims

3.5/5

User Satisfaction

4.5/5

Financial Stability

Average Cost of Car Insurance by Postal Code

The location where you reside impacts how much you pay for your car insurance. For example, if you live in a part of the city where accidents and car theft are rampant, insurers will tag you as high-risk and charge you more.

The ZIP code with the lowest average car insurance rate in Pittsburgh is 15237, at $920 annually. The most expensive would be ZIP code 15221, at $1,009 per year — that’s $89 higher than 15237.

  • Zip Code
    State Minimumper year
  • 15237
    $920
  • 15235
    $990
  • 15221
    $1,009

Factors That Impact Insurance Costs in Pittsburgh

In addition to individual driver needs and history, location-specific factors like personal injury protection coverage requirements and the rate of car thefts also contribute to car insurance rates in Pittsburgh. How Pittsburgh ranks compared to the 300 most populous cities in the United States can have a significant impact on premium costs.

accident2 icon
Most Accidents With Fatalities209th/300
handcuffs2 icon
Most Car Thefts13th/300
uninsured icon
Most Uninsured Motorists by State43rd/50
insurance2 icon
Personal Injury Protection RequiredYes
rain icon
Most Annual Rainfall124th/300
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Most Rainy Days12th/300

About Mark Fitzpatrick


Mark Fitzpatrick headshot

Mark Fitzpatrick is a senior content director at MoneyGeek with over five years of experience analyzing the insurance market, conducting original research and creating content that can be personalized for every buyer. He has been quoted on insurance topics in several publications, including CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.

Mark earned a master’s degree in Economics and International Relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He is passionate about using his economics and insurance knowledge to bring transparency around financial topics and help others feel confident in their money moves.