Car Insurance for $50 a Month: What It Takes and Who Can Get It

Yes, you can get car insurance for $50 or less per month. The catch is that it means minimum coverage only, and your state, credit score and driving record determine whether that number is in reach for you. We will show you exactly who gets there and how.

Compare personalized quotes to get insurance for $50 per month.

Written by Mark Fitzpatrick

Updated: April 29, 2026

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Can You Get Car Insurance Under $50?

Under $50 car insurance is one of the more common questions we hear from drivers trying to cut monthly expenses without dropping coverage entirely. The short answer is yes, it is achievable for the right driver. The longer answer is that it requires understanding what you are actually buying and whether your profile makes it realistic.

In our analysis of minimum coverage rates across all 50 states, GEICO comes in at $43 per month for a qualified driver who chooses minimum state liability-only coverage. USAA offers lower priced policies, but is only available to military members. After our analysis, we found that these are the carriers offering minimum state coverage for the lowest rates:

USAA: $28 per month (military members and families only)
GEICO: $43 per month
National General: $48 per month
Travelers: $50 per month

$50 COVERAGE OPTIONS: MINIMUM VS. FULL COVERAGE

To get $50 car insurance you will need to chose minimum coverage only. Minimum coverage includes bodily injury liability and property damage liability, and some states also require personal injury protection (PIP) or uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM). It pays for injuries and damage you cause to others in an accident but will not cover damage to your own vehicle.

If your car is newer or financed, minimum coverage is not an option for you. Lenders require comprehensive and collision protection on financed vehicles, which typically costs twice as much as minimum coverage and will push your monthly rate above $50.

If your car is older and paid off, minimum coverage often makes financial sense. Check whether your car's market value justifies dropping full coverage before you decide.

What It Takes to Get Car Insurance Under $50 a Month

Getting to under $50 a month is about stacking the right conditions. No single factor gets you there on its own. Here is what actually moves the needle and where the limitations are.

1
Choose minimum coverage
This is the only path to under $50 for most drivers. Our analysis didn't find any full coverage options at this price point. Full coverage adds comprehensive and collision protection, which pushes monthly rates well above $50 in almost every state. Minimum coverage meets your state's legal requirements and covers liability to others. It does not cover your own vehicle. For older cars with low market value that tradeoff often makes financial sense. For newer or financed vehicles it does not.
2
Some states make under $50 realistic. Others make it very challenging
Where you live matters more than which insurer you pick. In low rate states minimum coverage starts at $13 to $16 per month and under $50 is easy to hit. In high rate states like Michigan, New York and Louisiana, minimum coverage runs $55 to $70 per month even for clean record drivers. Under $50 may not be available there regardless of what else you do. Most drivers underestimate how much this one factor limits their options before they even start shopping.
3
Your credit score matters more than most drivers expect
In most states insurers use your credit score as a pricing factor. In our research, the difference between good and fair credit on the same minimum coverage policy can be $15 to $25 per month. For a driver targeting $50 that gap is the difference between hitting the number and missing it. Note that California, Hawaii, Massachusetts and Michigan do not allow credit based pricing, which helps lower credit drivers in those states but also means other factors carry more weight.
4
Your driving record may be a limiter for $50 insurance
A clean record is almost a requirement for under $50 rates. A single at-fault accident or major violation will add $20 to $40 per month to your minimum coverage rate depending on the state and insurer. Drivers with recent violations on their record should still shop and compare but should set realistic expectations. Under $50 may not be in reach until the violation ages off, typically three to five years.

Car Insurance Companies With Rates Under $50 per Month

After analyzing our quote data and MoneyGeek ranking scores, these four carriers come up most consistently in our research when drivers are targeting minimum coverage rates under $50 a month.

WHY YOU CAN TRUST MONEYGEEK RATE DATA

Our rate data comes from state insurance filings, not insurer marketing materials. We refresh quotes monthly across thousands of ZIP codes and 70 companies so the numbers you see reflect what insurers are actually charging today, not last year's rates. Every rate on this page has been verified against current filed data before publication.

GEICO: MoneyGeek Score 93/100

In our analysis GEICO leads on minimum coverage pricing in 13 states and averages $43 per month for a qualified driver. It is the most consistent national option for hitting under $50 and offers the most flexible first payment structure of any major carrier.

Progressive: MoneyGeek Score 84/100

Progressive is our top alternative when GEICO is not the cheapest in your state, particularly for drivers with fair credit or a mark on their record. Their Name Your Price tool lets you shop by budget rather than starting from a standard rate.

National General: MoneyGeek Score 72/100

At $48 per month on average, National General is one of the few carriers that consistently competes under $50 for higher risk drivers. If your credit is below average or you have a recent violation, we see National General outperform GEICO and Progressive more often than most drivers expect.

State Farm: MoneyGeek Score 88/100

State Farm leads on minimum coverage pricing in nine states, mostly rural and midwestern markets. It is not the cheapest nationally but if your state is one of the nine, the local agent model gives you payment flexibility that online only carriers cannot match.

*These rates are based on a 40-year-old male driver with a clean driving record and no traffic violations carrying minimum coverage.

Find Car Insurance Under $50 in Your State

State is the single biggest factor we see separating drivers who hit under $50 from those who cannot. Minimum coverage requirements, local risk factors and the number of insurers competing in your market all affect what you pay before your personal profile even comes into play. States with lower requirements and more carriers competing tend to make under $50 much easier to hit.

One thing worth knowing before you look up your state: rates within a state can vary by 20 to 30 percent depending on your zip code, and regional insurers often beat national carriers in states with competitive local markets. If your state runs high, the carriers above are your best starting point for finding the most competitive rate available to you.

Data filtered by:


AIG	$22
Cincinnati Insurance	$25
Auto Owners	$44
Geico	$44
Travelers	$48

*Not all states have minimum coverage options under $50 monthly due to regional pricing differences.

Auto Insurance Under $50: Bottom Line

Under $50 car insurance is real for the right driver. GEICO averages $43 per month and National General $48 for qualified drivers on minimum coverage. Whether you hit that number comes down to your state, your credit score and your driving record.

One thing worth knowing before you shop: the rate you see advertised is based on an ideal profile. Ask each insurer for your specific monthly rate on minimum coverage before you commit. The gap between the advertised rate and your actual rate can be meaningful, and knowing it upfront saves you from surprises when you go to buy.

Under $50 Car Insurance: FAQ

Can I get under $50 car insurance with a DUI or serious violation?

Unlikely in the short term. A DUI typically adds $40 to $80 per month to your minimum coverage rate, putting under $50 out of reach for most drivers. National General and Progressive tend to be the most competitive for higher risk drivers in our research. Most drivers with a serious violation get back under $50 within three to five years as it ages off their record.

Will my rate go up after I buy a minimum coverage policy?

It can. Mid-term increases are uncommon but renewals are where rates move. Insurers reprice based on your credit score, claims history and market conditions at each renewal. Staying claim free and keeping your credit stable are the two most reliable ways to hold your rate under $50.

Can I switch to minimum coverage if I currently have full coverage?

Yes, and it is one of the fastest ways to cut your monthly rate. Most insurers will adjust mid-term with the change taking effect at your next billing cycle. The exception is financed or leased vehicles where your lender requires full coverage regardless.

Is there a penalty for only carrying minimum coverage?

No. Minimum coverage meets your state's legal requirements and insurers treat it as a legitimate choice. There is no surcharge for choosing it over full coverage. The tradeoff is in what you are covered for, not what you pay in fees.

Car Insurance Rates Below $50: Our Methodology

MoneyGeek analyzed 83,056 quotes from 70 companies across 42,345 ZIP codes using data from Quadrant Information Services and state insurance departments.

Our baseline profile is a 40-year-old male driver with a clean record, a 2012 Toyota Camry and 12,000 miles driven annually. From that starting point we adjusted age, location, driving history and credit score to show how each factor affects whether under $50 is realistic for different driver profiles.

When we reference minimum coverage rates we use $100,000 bodily injury liability per person, $300,000 per accident and $100,000 property damage liability. These limits exceed many state minimums but provide more meaningful financial protection than the bare legal requirement in most states.

The honest takeaway from our data is that under $50 usually requires a clean record, good credit and a low rate state. Knowing where you fall on those three factors before you shop saves time and sets realistic expectations.

Learn more about MoneyGeek's methodology.

$50 Car Insurance: Related Articles

About Mark Fitzpatrick

Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty (P&C) Insurance Producer in Connecticut, is MoneyGeek's resident insurance expert. He has analyzed the insurance market for almost a decade, first with LendingTree and now with MoneyGeek, conducting original research on hundreds of insurance companies and millions of insurance rates for insurance shoppers.

He writes about economics and insurance on MoneyGeek, breaking down complex topics so people can have confidence in their purchase. Like all MoneyGeek analysts, Mark collects and analyzes independent cost and consumer experience data on insurance companies to provide objective recommendations in our content that are independent of any of MoneyGeek's insurance company partnerships.

His insights — on products ranging from car, home and renters insurance to health and life insurance — have been featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times and NPR among others.

Mark holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He started his career working in financial risk management at State Street before transitioning to analysis of the personal insurance market. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!

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