Cheapest and Best Car Insurance in St. Petersburg, FL (July 2024)

In St. Petersburg, Florida, GEICO offers the cheapest minimum coverage car insurance. Travelers is the most affordable for full coverage, while Nationwide is the most cost-effective option for families with teens. Mercury is the best for customer service, and State Farm is the best overall, combining superior value in price and service. The ideal choice varies based on individual preferences and coverage requirements.

MoneyGeek found that GEICO is the cheapest car insurance option in St. Petersburg for minimum coverage policies.

• GEICO: $708 per year
• Travelers: $762 per year

Direct General Insurance has the most expensive minimum coverage policy in St. Petersburg, with an annual premium of $1,708. This $1,000 rate difference from GEICO emphasizes why comparing insurance quotes is essential to finding the best rate.

For all Florida cities, state law sets car insurance minimums. These are the required coverages.

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

With minimum coverage, your policy would cover up to $10,000 for damage to others' property in an accident you're responsible for. You risk paying the balance from your pocket if the costs exceed this. For example, if you’re at fault in a St. Petersburg incident causing $15,000 in vehicle damages, your insurance would cover $10,000, and you'd be responsible for the remaining $5,000.

MoneyGeek found that Travelers offers the cheapest full coverage car insurance in St. Petersburg.

• Travelers: $1,624 per year
• State Farm: $1,703 per year

Direct General Insurance has the most expensive full coverage policy in St. Petersburg, with an annual premium of $3,436 — a difference of $1,812 compared to Travelers. This broad range in pricing highlights why shopping around for the most affordable rates is essential. Full coverage policies are typically more costly than minimum coverage because they provide a more comprehensive financial safety net.

Full coverage policies have higher liability limits. They also include comprehensive and collision insurance.

• Collision Insurance: This insures your vehicle against damage from an impact with another vehicle or a stationary object like a tree or light pole. It also covers rollover accidents and pothole damage.

• Comprehensive Insurance: This type of insurance compensates for damage to your car from a non-collision incident, such as theft, vandalism, fires, natural disasters or being hit by an animal like a deer.

For owners of new vehicles, carrying full coverage insurance is advisable to protect the car's monetary value fully. On the other hand, for older vehicles, the cost of this extensive coverage may outweigh the benefits, as it can add hundreds of dollars to the premium. When determining how much car insurance you need, weigh the higher cost of more comprehensive policies against the risk of inadequate coverage.

MoneyGeek found that State Farm offers the most competitive rates for individuals with a driving infraction in St. Petersburg. Its full coverage policy annual premiums are:

• Speeding Ticket: State Farm ($1,928 per year)
• At-Fault Accident: State Farm ($2,097 per year)
• DUI: State Farm ($1,928 per year)

Nationwide is the most expensive insurer for those with a DUI, with an average annual premium of $5,331. Farmers is the least affordable for drivers caught speeding, charging around $3,880 per year. Mercury is the costliest after an at-fault accident, at $5,478 per year. The severity of a driving offense could significantly impact car insurance rates, but affordable rates are still available, depending on the company.

Insurance rates in St. Petersburg, Florida, increase as the severity of a driving infraction escalates. This reflects the heightened risk and potential for claims associated with serious offenses. For example, the annual premium for drivers with a DUI averages $4,499 per year compared to the $3,920 for those with a speeding ticket. It's essential for individuals with driving infractions to shop around for insurance rates to uncover potential savings and obtain the most favorable policy tailored to their specific circumstances.

MoneyGeek found that Nationwide offers the cheapest car insurance for teens in St. Petersburg.

• Nationwide: $4,114 per year for female teens and $4,633 per year for male teens
• State Farm: $4,976 per year for female teens; GEICO: $5,254 per year for male teens

These rates are for a policy covering two parents and a teenage driver. Progressive has the most expensive teen family policy in St. Petersburg, with an annual premium of $7,342 for male teens and $7,457 for female teens. The enormous difference of $3,343 between the cheapest and most expensive options for female teenagers underscores the importance of comparison shopping, especially when adding high-risk teen drivers to a policy.

In St. Petersburg and other U.S. cities, teenage drivers face steep car insurance premiums. An individual policy has an average annual cost of $11,560, but a joint family plan has a significantly lower rate of $6,149 per year. The higher rates for teens are due to the higher risk that insurers associate with inexperienced teen drivers. Teens may also struggle to secure an individual policy independently due to their lack of credit history and driving experience. Families can significantly cut costs by sharing policies.

MoneyGeek found that Travelers offers the cheapest car insurance for military backgrounds in St. Petersburg. These are the most affordable companies:

• Travelers: $1,624 per year
• State Farm: $1,703 per year

Although USAA is not included in this analysis for St. Petersburg, it typically provides cheaper rates and benefits tailored to the military community on a national level.

Comparing rates in St. Petersburg is essential to save on car insurance costs. However, a thorough comparison of companies can take over an hour.

MoneyGeek's car insurance calculator expedites the process. You'll quickly receive tailored rate estimates by inputting key details such as age, driving history, credit score and desired coverage.

Selecting the right auto insurance depends on how you value factors like service, cost and coverage. MoneyGeek uses distinct scoring systems for various categories to help you find the ideal match in St. Petersburg. Here are the top car insurance providers:

• 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 83 out of 100)

Those seeking a balance of service and affordability might find State Farm the best overall option. Mercury is the leading choice for outstanding customer service and for being notably budget-friendly without compromising on service quality. Each company excels in a particular domain, providing tailored options for consumers with different priorities in their auto insurance needs.

MoneyGeek found that State Farm offers the best car insurance in St. Petersburg, providing motorists with exceptional policy options.

• State Farm: MoneyGeek score of 84 out of 100 ($1,703 per year)
• Mercury: MoneyGeek score of 79 out of 100 ($2,588 per year)

State Farm stands out with its high MoneyGeek score, which reflects strong performance in affordability and satisfaction. Its top ratings demonstrate State Farm's commitment to quality service and economic value in providing a full coverage policy.

MoneyGeek found that Mercury is the best option in St. Petersburg for car insurance based on customer service. This ranking pinpoints Mercury's top rankings in general satisfaction, claims handling and breadth of coverages offered, without considering cost.

• Mercury: MoneyGeek score of 83 out of 100 ($2,588 per year)
• **State Farm: **MoneyGeek score of 75 out of 100 ($1,703 per year)

Mercury distinguishes itself in St. Petersburg with exceptional customer service, which plays a significant role in its leading MoneyGeek score. Factors such as comprehensive claims support and a high general satisfaction rating contribute to Mercury's standout position in the market.

MoneyGeek found that Mercury is the best option in St. Petersburg for individuals seeking affordable and reliable car insurance. While affordability is an essential factor, claims handling and customer satisfaction scores also significantly contribute to the overall rating.

• Mercury: MoneyGeek score of 83 out of 100 ($980 per year)
• State Farm: MoneyGeek score of 82 out of 100 ($888 per year)

Mercury stands out with the highest MoneyGeek score, attributed mainly to its excellent customer satisfaction and claims service. This score reflects the value for a minimum coverage policy, indicating that Mercury offers competitive pricing and reliable service to its policyholders.

In St. Petersburg, Florida, the average car insurance premium is $2,382 per year. Compared to the Florida state average of $2,392, St. Petersburg's premium is slightly lower by $10. However, when compared to the national average premium of $1,781, Florida's average is substantially higher by $611.

Car insurance costs are determined by various factors, with location being a significant determinant in drivers' premiums. Locations with higher traffic volumes, greater accident rates and more frequent insurance claims generally experience higher premiums. This variance is evident when examining the extremes within Florida. Gainesville is the city with the cheapest premium at $1,699 per year, while Hialeah is the most expensive at $3,233 per year. The striking difference of $1,534 between the two cities underscores the impact of location on insurance costs. Less urbanized areas with lower traffic density may have even lower insurance rates.