Updated: December 15, 2025
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Donegal: Most affordable for diverse driver types at $36 monthly for minimum coverage and $75 for full coverage. Drivers save 10% compared to Pittsburgh's average rates.
Erie: Runner-up for affordability with $30 minimum and $84 full coverage monthly rates. It's competitive for young drivers, those with an accident or speeding ticket.
Travelers: Cheapest for young and senior drivers in Pittsburgh.
Cheapest Monthly Rates by Coverage and Driver Profile in Pittsburgh:
Pittsburgh drivers can find substantial savings on car insurance by comparing full coverage and minimum protection plans. Donegal charges $75 monthly for full coverage, 36% below Pittsburgh's average. Travelers offers competitive full coverage at $79 per month, saving drivers 34%.
For minimum coverage, Westfield leads at $19 monthly, 32% less than the city average. Erie provides another budget-friendly minimum option at $30 per month, still 34% below typical Pittsburgh rates.
Your ZIP code and driving record influence your premium, so compare quotes from multiple insurers.
| Westfield Insurance | $20 | $99 | -32% |
| Erie Insurance | $30 | $85 | -34% |
| Travelers | $35 | $80 | -34% |
| Nationwide | $36 | $84 | -31% |
| Donegal Insurance | $36 | $75 | -36% |
Not in Pittsburgh? Read more about the cheapest car insurance or the best provider in Pennsylvania.
Young drivers pay higher insurance rates in Pittsburgh due to their inexperience. Adding a teen to a parent's policy costs hundreds less monthly than buying separate coverage. Teens needing their own policy find the best rates with Travelers at $166 monthly. Erie charges $174, while Westfield Insurance offers coverage at $183 per month.
Defensive driving courses unlock discounts of 5% to 15% from most insurers, further reducing costs for young drivers.
| Travelers | $166 | $1,998 | -41% |
| Erie Insurance | $174 | $2,092 | -39% |
| Westfield Insurance | $184 | $2,207 | -35% |
| Donegal Insurance | $212 | $2,544 | -25% |
| Nationwide | $236 | $2,837 | -17% |
Pittsburgh seniors find affordable car insurance through multiple providers. Nationwide charges $89 monthly for the lowest rates, followed by Travelers at $101 and Donegal at $108.
Seniors reduce premiums further through defensive driving courses, which save up to 10% for three years. Most insurers offer accident forgiveness programs for drivers 65 and older, protecting rates after minor incidents.
| Nationwide | $90 | $1,079 | -39% |
| Travelers | $102 | $1,221 | -32% |
| Donegal Insurance | $108 | $1,302 | -27% |
| Erie Insurance | $116 | $1,397 | -22% |
| Westfield Insurance | $122 | $1,463 | -18% |
Traffic violations increase Pittsburgh insurance rates, though some insurers price infractions more favorably than others. Drivers with at-fault accidents pay the lowest rates through Westfield at $24 monthly for minimum coverage. Erie charges $34 monthly for the same coverage. After a DUI, State Farm offers the cheapest rates at $41 per month, with Travelers at $46 monthly. Westfield leads for speeding tickets at $21 monthly versus Erie's $34.
Compare quotes after any violation since insurers price violations differently. Speeding tickets affect rates for three to five years, while DUIs impact premiums for up to 10 years.
| At-Fault Accident | Westfield Insurance | $25 | -59% |
| At-Fault Accident | Erie Insurance | $34 | -44% |
| DUI | State Farm | $41 | -60% |
| DUI | Travelers | $47 | -55% |
| Speeding Ticket | Westfield Insurance | $21 | -65% |
| Speeding Ticket | Erie Insurance | $34 | -44% |
ZIP codes influence Pittsburgh car insurance rates more than neighborhood names. Drivers in 15221 pay the highest costs at $146 monthly for full coverage, while 15243 residents pay $110 per month, a $36 difference.
Location-specific factors drive these variations: crime rates, traffic congestion, and accident frequency. Moving a few miles across Pittsburgh changes your premium, making ZIP code one of the top pricing factors insurers use.
| 15221 | $146 |
| 15214 | $144 |
| 15206 | $141 |
| 15272 | $125 |
| 15290 | $125 |
| 15282 | $125 |
| 15289 | $124 |
| 15261 | $123 |
| 15235 | $123 |
| 15212 | $123 |
| 15243 | $110 |
| 15228 | $111 |
| 15205 | $111 |
| 15237 | $112 |
| 15229 | $112 |
| 15220 | $112 |
| 15209 | $112 |
| 15216 | $112 |
| 15225 | $114 |
| 15275 | $116 |
Erie leads Pittsburgh auto insurance with a 98 MoneyGeek score out of 100. The local insurer combines affordable premiums, top customer service ratings, and comprehensive coverage options.
Travelers, Chubb, Nationwide, and Westfield complete Pittsburgh's top five carriers. These insurers provide reliable coverage and competitive rates for city drivers.
| Erie Insurance | 98 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Travelers | 96 | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| Chubb | 89 | 7 | 3 | 6 |
| Nationwide | 89 | 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Westfield Insurance | 86 | 4 | 9 | 7 |
Dedicated claims handler manages your case
Rate Lock prevents premium increases between policy changes
Local Pennsylvania agents know regional driving conditions
No online quotes
No rideshare coverage for Uber drivers
Limited digital self-service tools
Erie provides personalized customer service through local agents familiar with Pittsburgh's winter snow, river flooding, and above-average auto theft rates. The insurer offers competitive rates for young drivers and includes Rate Lock, which prevents premium increases unless you modify your policy. Erie's diminishing deductible reduces by $100 each claim-free year.
The company's 24/7 support and Direct Repair Program handle weather-related damage efficiently, important given Pittsburgh's unpredictable climate.
Fast online claims reporting and tracking
IntelliDrive program rewards safe driving
Forgives accidents and violations every 36 months
Fewer discount options than competitors
Customer complaints about claims experience
Less coverage flexibility than top providers
Travelers provides strong customer service and quick claims processing, valuable during Pittsburgh's winter when icy roads and heavy snow cause frequent accidents. The insurer charges the lowest rates for young drivers with full coverage and offers competitive pricing for seniors.
Travelers' 24/7 digital tools enable online claim reporting during severe weather. Comprehensive coverage addresses Pittsburgh's high vehicle theft rates, while optional flood protection covers summer flash flooding.
Pittsburgh drivers pay high insurance costs, but multiple strategies reduce premiums.
Combine auto with home or renters insurance for 15% to 25% savings. Add multi-car discounts (10% to 25% per vehicle) with good driver and paperless billing discounts. Pittsburgh drivers save 30% to 40% total through strategic discount combinations.
Raising your deductible from $500 to $1,000 cuts annual premiums by 10% to 15%. This works best when you have emergency savings covering the higher out-of-pocket cost after accidents.
Insurance companies adjust rates based on Pittsburgh's changing risk factors and claims data. Your driving record improves after three years, qualifying you for better rates with different insurers.
Pittsburgh car insurance averages $120 monthly for full coverage, less than Philadelphia's $237 monthly average but higher than Boalsburg's $38 rate. This places Pittsburgh in the middle range for Pennsylvania drivers.
Finding affordable car insurance in Pittsburgh starts with understanding how insurers price policies across the city. Traffic congestion, theft risk and Pennsylvania’s insurance requirements all shape your premium. Even within city limits, drivers in ZIP code 15221 often pay much more than those in 15243.
We partnered with the Pennsylvania Insurance Department and Quadrant Information Services to analyze hundreds of thousands of quotes from 12 insurers across every Pittsburgh ZIP code.
Our ratings for the best car insurance in Pittsburgh are calculated by a weighted score incorporating affordability (60%), customer experience (30%) and coverage options (10%).
Read more about our methodology, which shows which insurers maintain competitive rates across Pittsburgh neighborhoods and driver categories while delivering reliable claims service, not just advertised rates for perfect-record drivers.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. With over five years of experience analyzing the insurance market, he conducts original research and creates tailored content for all types of buyers. His insights have been featured in publications like CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.
Fitzpatrick holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!
He writes about economics and insurance, breaking down complex topics so people know what they're buying.
