Cheapest Car Insurance in Delaware (September 2024)

Travelers offers the cheapest car insurance for a minimum policy and for most driver profiles. But for other types of drivers, USAA and State Farm might offer better rates.

The best car insurance in Delaware balances cost and quality customer service.

The following companies offer the cheapest car insurance for a minimum coverage policy in Delaware:

• Travelers: $456 per year
• GEICO: $827 per year

Dairyland has the most expensive minimum coverage car insurance policy in Delaware, with an annual premium of $3,193.

A minimum coverage policy includes bodily injury liability, property damage liability and personal injury protection. These cover costs for vehicular damage, medical expenses and injury to other people in case of an accident. Note that coverage amounts vary by category.

A minimum coverage policy covers injuries to other people and damage to their cars. A full coverage policy is a better choice if you want car insurance that covers damage to your vehicle. Full coverage policies include comprehensive and collision insurance for better protection.

The cheapest full coverage car insurance companies in Delaware are:

• Travelers: $858 per year
• GEICO: $1,463 per year

Dairyland offers the most expensive full coverage policy at $4,933 per year. You pay around $402 more per year when you add comprehensive and collision insurance to your Travelers policy. A full coverage policy might be more expensive, but it provides peace of mind.

A full coverage car insurance policy covers on-road and off-road incidents. Whether you incur damages from hitting a tree or through flooding, your insurance protects you.

The amount of car insurance you need will impact your rates. MoneyGeek’s sample full coverage policy has the following liability protections:

• $100,000 in bodily injury liability per person
• $300,000 in bodily injury liability per accident
• $100,000 in property damage liability per accident

Decreasing the liability limits, raising your deductible or removing comprehensive and collision insurance can make your policy more affordable. However, you may run the risk of having insufficient coverage.

Some insurers offer quotes through their online websites or mobile apps. This process can take up to 15 minutes and might require providing personal information. You’ll also want to compare quotes from different insurers to find the policy that best fits your budget.

MoneyGeek's car insurance calculator gives you a quick rate estimate without asking for specific personal information. You can use the information to help you find the cheapest car insurance.

Car insurance rates in Delaware vary widely by age. State Farm has the cheapest prices on average for teens, while Travelers offers the best rates for both young adults and seniors.

The cheapest car insurance companies in Delaware for teens are:

• State Farm: $2,528 per year for female teens and GEICO: $2,930 per year for male teens
• Travelers: $2,765 per year for female teens and State Farm: $3,207 per year for male teens

The most expensive company is Progressive, charging $3,722 per year for male teens and $3,435 for female teens.

All around the U.S., including Delaware, teens enjoy a decreasing car insurance rate with age, with the cheapest rates given to the most senior teens. Delaware's most affordable provider for 19-year-old males is Travelers ($1,722 per year).

These costs are for adding a teen driver to a parent's policy. The average individual premium for teens is $10,450 per year, whereas coverage under a parent's policy costs around $3,359 per year, showing a $7,091 difference.

Insurers enable young drivers to lower their rates through good student, driver education and safe driver discounts. For example, Progressive, Travelers, State Farm, GEICO and Allstate offer discounts for young drivers. Take advantage of these to save money on your car insurance.

The cheapest car insurance companies in Delaware for drivers in their 20s are:

• Travelers: $934 per year
• GEICO: $1,657 per year

Young adults may find that Dairyland offers the most expensive car insurance policies, with an average annual premium of $6,042.

Drivers in their 20s usually pay more for car insurance than middle-aged drivers because the latter tend to be more experienced. A 40-year-old driver pays an average of $441 less than younger drivers for a Travelers policy.

The cheapest car insurance companies in Delaware for senior drivers are:

• Travelers: $821 per year
• State Farm: $1,371 per year

The most expensive company for seniors is Dairyland. The average annual premium for this policy is $4,583.

Depending on your insurer and personal circumstances, rates for senior drivers could be cheaper or more expensive than those for middle-aged drivers. A full coverage policy for middle-aged drivers is more expensive by $125 per year. However, the cost of car insurance could increase as drivers reach their 70s and 80s.

Some insurers offer senior driver discounts, allowing older drivers to save on their premiums. Insurers like Allstate, American Family and GEICO have these discounts. You can also compare rates across different insurers to find the one that best suits your needs and budget.

Travelers is the cheapest car insurance in Delaware after a ticket, with an annual premium of $893. Travelers is also the most affordable provider for drivers after an at-fault accident or a DUI, with premiums at $858 and $1,510, respectively. Travelers offers the lowest rates for people with bad credit, at an annual premium of $1,461, and for sports car owners, with premiums at $1,148.

MoneyGeek found that the cheapest car insurance companies in Delaware for drivers with a speeding ticket are:

• Travelers: $893 per year
• State Farm: $1,733 per year

Dairyland has the most expensive policy for drivers with speeding tickets, with an average premium of $6,011 per year. Drivers with a ticket pay an average of $394 more for car insurance yearly than those with a clean driving history.

The cheapest car insurance companies in Delaware for drivers with an at-fault accident are:

• Travelers: $858 per year
• State Farm: $1,895 per year

Dairyland has the most expensive average premium, at $6,877 per year. Drivers with an at-fault accident on their record pay an average of $879 more than drivers with a clean record.

The cheapest car insurance companies in Delaware for drivers with a DUI are:

• Travelers: $1,510 per year
• State Farm: $1,733 per year

The most expensive company for drivers with a DUI is Dairyland, with an average premium of $5,049 per year. After a DUI, your car insurance premium can increase by as much as $805 annually.

The cheapest car insurance companies in Delaware for drivers with poor credit (below 580) are:

• Travelers: $1,461 per year
• GEICO: $2,146 per year

Dairyland, with an average premium of $6,694, is the most expensive company for drivers with poor credit. A driver with poor credit pays an average of $1,478 more per year than a driver with good credit (above 750).

Insurers charge drivers with lower credit ratings higher rates since they are more likely to file claims. This practice is legal in Delaware, but some states don’t allow it.

You can get better rates by improving your credit score, but this can take time. Comparing rates can help you save money in the meantime. Insurers also provide discounts, like bundling and for having car safety features.

The cheapest car insurance companies for sports car drivers in Delaware are:

• Travelers: $1,148 per year
• GEICO: $1,551 per year

The most expensive car insurance for a sports car is from Dairyland, with an average premium of $4,963 per year. Insuring a sports car is typically more costly. You might pay $151 more for your policy if you have a Ford Mustang than a Toyota Camry.

MoneyGeek used the Ford Mustang as a sample sports car for this analysis. Your insurance rates may vary depending on your car model and insurance provider. Luxury, electric and sports cars tend to cost more to insure because they're more expensive to repair and replace. Nevertheless, rates vary by state.

Delaware's cheapest car insurance company for active duty or military veterans is Travelers, with an average premium of $858 per year.

USAA tailors its insurance policies to members of the military, whether they’re on active duty or veterans. Its services can also extend to eligible family members. USAA's average yearly rate is also competitive at $862.

Delaware drivers must meet the state minimum requirements for car insurance which often includes bodily injury liability and property damage liability. In addition, Delaware requires personal injury protection. Alternatively, you can issue a surety bond, set up securities or become a self-insurer.

The minimum car insurance requirements in Delaware include bodily injury liability, property damage liability and personal injury protection.

Minimum coverage insurance is cheaper than full coverage but has limited protection in case of an accident. We recommend having as much liability coverage as you can afford. It provides added protection and security.

We recommend a policy with coverage limits of $100,000 in bodily injury liability insurance per person, $300,000 in bodily injury liability insurance per accident and $100,000 in property damage insurance per accident.

Car owners who’ve financed their car purchases may need to get comprehensive and collision insurance, depending on their lender. Comprehensive insurance covers damages to your vehicle that are not caused by a collision. Collision insurance pays for the damages incurred from hitting another car or object.

Although comprehensive and collision insurance aren’t required in most cases, they can be beneficial if you have a high-value car.

Instead of having a car insurance policy in Delaware, you can execute a surety bond, make a security deposit or register as a self-insurer. These alternatives prove your financial ability to comply with state laws on motor vehicles.

A surety bond is documentary proof that you have liability insurance. You need to secure two bonds — one from a surety company in Delaware and another with a couple of sureties. The latter needs to have a judicially approved real estate property attached to it, and the equities should be twice the bond amount.

A security deposit allows you to get a certificate from the State Treasurer. Before you can get this, you need a security of at least $40,000. Another requirement is the absence of any negative pending judgment concerning you in your country of residence.

To be a self-insurer, you must have 15 motor vehicles registered in Delaware under your name. You can get a certificate of self-insurance issued by the Secretary of Transportation. A self-insurer should prove their financial capacity to pay for obligations that a standard policy may otherwise cover. These obligations can include liabilities from negligence and basic reparation benefits.

Depending on your circumstances, purchasing a car insurance policy could be the safest option. Your policy can cover a wide range of damages and injuries with little financial risk to you.

MoneyGeek answers common questions from drivers shopping for car insurance in Delaware.