The Cheapest Car Insurance in Pennsylvania (November 2023)

American National is the cheapest car insurance company in Pennsylvania for minimum coverage. MoneyGeek also found that Nationwide had the cheapest rates in Pennsylvania for certain types of drivers.

If you are looking for a balance of cost and quality service, you can look up the best car insurance companies in Pennsylvania.

On average, MoneyGeek’s analysis found that the cheapest auto insurance companies for minimum coverage in Pennsylvania are:

• American National: $292 per year
• Auto-Owners: $308 per year

Dairyland is the most expensive provider if you need a minimum coverage policy in Pennsylvania at $888 per year on average, based on the company's MoneyGeek analyzed.

A minimum coverage policy in Pennsylvania only covers bodily injury liability, property damage liability and medical benefits.

Minimum coverage car insurance only covers damage or injuries that you cause others or their property. This means that damage to your car will not be covered. To cover the cost of damages to your own car, you need comprehensive and collision insurance, also known as a full coverage policy.

On average, MoneyGeek’s analysis found that the cheapest full coverage car insurance in Pennsylvania is offered by:

• Nationwide: $651 per year
• American National: $737 per year

The most expensive full coverage policy in Pennsylvania is Dairyland at an average of $2,499 per year.

Adding comprehensive and collision insurance to your policy will increase your premiums. For example, it costs $316 more to get a full coverage policy from Nationwide compared to its minimum coverage policy.

A full coverage policy will protect you during on-road and off-road incidents.

The premium you pay for your policy will largely depend on how much car insurance you need. For this analysis, MoneyGeek used a full coverage policy with the following limits:

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

You can save on costs by opting for lower liability limits, dropping comprehensive and collision insurance or raising your deductible. However, this may leave you with insufficient coverage during an at-fault accident.

Most insurers offer car insurance quotes online, but the process can take up to 15 minutes and requires you to submit personal information. You also have to compare quotes across different websites if you are looking to find the cheapest rates, which takes even longer.

MoneyGeek’s car insurance calculator allows you to get a quick car insurance estimate without requiring specific personal information. This gives you a good starting point for your research by helping you get estimates quickly by comparing rates from different insurers to find the cheapest rates for your profile.

Age is one of the biggest factors affecting car insurance rates in Pennsylvania. MoneyGeek found that Nationwide and Travelers offer the cheapest options on average, depending on what age group you and your family belong to.

According to MoneyGeek’s analysis, the cheapest car insurance companies in Pennsylvania for teens on their parent’s policy are, on average:

• Nationwide: $1,183 per year for both male and female teens
• Travelers: $1,632 per year for both male and female teens

Progressive is the most expensive car insurance for teens in Pennsylvania, at an average of $4,040 per year for both male and female teens.

Car insurance rates become cheaper as teens grow older, making premiums for 19-year-olds the most affordable. Nationwide ($978) provides the cheapest car insurance rate for 19-year-old male drivers in Pennsylvania.

These rates are for teens on their parent’s policy. Teens pay more if they get their own individual policy, and they cannot legally purchase a policy if they are under 18 without a parent or guardian as a co-signer. The average cost of car insurance for a male teen purchasing an individual policy in Pennsylvania is $4,415 versus $2,393 if they are added to a parent’s policy. This means being included in a parent’s policy is cheaper by up to $2,022 yearly.

Families with teen drivers may be eligible for certain student discounts. Allstate, Auto-Owners, Progressive, State Farm and Travelers all offer good student and distant student discounts. GEICO and Nationwide only offer good student discounts.

MoneyGeek analyzed the most affordable car insurance companies for young adults in Pennsylvania and found that the cheapest average providers are:

• Travelers: $789 per year
• Nationwide: $793 per year

Dairyland is the most expensive option for drivers in their 20s at an average of $3,095 per year.

Car insurance costs for drivers in their 20s are typically higher than rates for middle-aged drivers as they are considered higher risk. Travelers's full coverage policy costs up to $50 more for drivers in their 20s compared with the cost for middle-aged drivers.

On average, the cheapest car insurance companies in Pennsylvania for senior drivers are:

• Nationwide: $569 per year
• Travelers: $668 per year

Dairyland is the most expensive company for seniors, at an average cost of $2,185 per year.

Nationwide charges seniors lower rates by up to $82 per year for full coverage car insurance compared with rates for middle-aged drivers. However, once drivers reach their 70s and 80s, car insurance costs tend to increase as their risk factors for accidents rise.

Seniors can save on their car insurance premiums by taking advantage of seniors’ discounts that are available with some insurers. Allstate and GEICO both offer senior driver discounts to help older drivers reduce their premiums.

Car insurance rates typically increase after a driving violation. Auto-Owners offers the cheapest auto insurance for drivers with a ticket, Travelers for those with an at-fault accident and Allstate for the ones with a DUI record.

Nationwide is the cheapest car insurance provider for drivers with poor credit, while Travelers is the cheapest company for those with sports cars.

If you have a speeding ticket in Pennsylvania, the cheapest companies for car insurance are, on average:

• Auto-Owners: $790 per year
• Travelers: $884 per year

Dairyland has the most expensive rates for drivers with tickets, at approximately $3,129 per year.

On average, Pennsylvania drivers with tickets pay up to $284 more for car insurance.

MoneyGeek’s analysis found that the cheapest car insurance companies after an at-fault accident are, on average:

• Travelers: $949 per year
• American National: $1,019 per year

Dairyland has the most expensive car insurance rates after an at-fault accident, at roughly $3,423 per year.

On average, car insurance rates in Pennsylvania increase by up to $528 per year after an at-fault accident.

On average, the most affordable auto insurance companies for drivers with a DUI in Pennsylvania are:

• Allstate: $1,026 per year
• Travelers: $1,031 per year

Westfield is the most expensive option for car insurance with a DUI, at approximately $4,151 per year.

Drivers with a DUI in Pennsylvania pay an average of $890 more for car insurance compared with rates for those with a clean record.

On average, MoneyGeek’s analysis found that the cheapest companies for drivers with poor credit (below 580) in Pennsylvania are:

• Nationwide: $887 per year
• American National: $1,172 per year

GEICO is the most expensive option for drivers with poor credit at approximately $3,603 per year.

On average, Pennsylvania drivers with poor credit pay up to $904 more per year for car insurance compared with those with good credit (a credit score above 750).

A poor credit score may raise your car insurance rates because drivers with poor credit are more likely to file claims. Although using credit history to rate insurance pricing isn't legal in all states, it is in Pennsylvania.

Improving your credit score over time will help you get better rates. In the meantime, comparing quotes and taking advantage of common discounts can help you save.

On average, MoneyGeek’s analysis found that the cheapest car insurance companies in Pennsylvania for drivers with a sports car are:

• Travelers: $651 per year
• Nationwide: $776 per year

Progressive is the most expensive insurer if you have a sports car at an average cost of $2,635 per year.

On average, it costs up to $251 more to insure a sports car in Pennsylvania. This is because sports cars tend to have higher replacement and repair costs, so the risk to the insurer is higher.

For our analysis, MoneyGeek used a Ford Mustang as its sample sports car, but costs can differ depending on your car model. Luxury vehicles, sports cars and electric vehicles are generally more costly to insure. Otherwise, the model may not be a major factor. This can also vary depending on your state.

The cheapest auto insurance company in Pennsylvania for active-duty military members or veterans is Nationwide, at an average cost of $651 per year.

USAA is also a good option for members of the military community at an average rate of $988 per year. USAA tailors its coverage to suit the military and is available in all states.

The cost of car insurance can vary widely depending on where you live in Pennsylvania. In Pittsburgh, Travelers offers the cheapest car insurance rates for full coverage at an average of $768 per year. Travelers is also the cheapest option in Philadelphia, but rates are significantly higher at an average of $1,496 per year since the area is considered a much higher risk by insurers.

Rates for full coverage policies in these three cities differ. This is because location-specific factors, such as incidences of car theft and car accidents, can vary from city to city. These stats make some locations more expensive for car insurance.

You can click below to compare car insurance rates by city.

Most states require drivers to carry bodily injury liability and property damage liability. In Pennsylvania, you will also be required to carry medical benefits coverage. This is not required in most states.

In Pennsylvania, drivers are only required to have minimum liability insurance with bodily injury liability, property damage liability and medical benefits coverage. Buying a state minimum policy is cheaper, but it may not offer sufficient coverage.

MoneyGeek recommends getting additional liability coverage to protect yourself against high out-of-pocket costs in case of an accident.

MoneyGeek recommends getting $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. This will pay for damages to others or their property if you cause an accident.

If you are financing your car purchase or leasing your vehicle, you might be required to purchase comprehensive and collision insurance. This coverage will protect you against damage to your car resulting from both off-road incidents and on-road accidents.

If you have a high-value car, MoneyGeek recommends buying comprehensive and collision coverage, even if it is not required.

In Pennsylvania, drivers can choose to self-insure as an alternative to traditional car insurance. If you go this route, you will be required to file a proposal of self-insurance for approval, which should include an application form for self-insurance and a master self-insurance and security agreement.

When you submit a proposal to self-insure, you will be required to provide financial statements like a balance sheet and income statement as proof of your financial status. A minimum security will be required starting from $50,000 for one vehicle and $10,000 for each additional vehicle.

Security can be provided in the form of escrow deposits, U.S. currency, treasury bills, bonds or any other security approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

Drivers who don’t own a car can opt for non-owner car insurance.

When looking for car insurance, it is common to have questions about costs and quality. MoneyGeek answered some of the most common questions.