GEICO offers the least expensive rate for a liability-only car insurance policy, while Travelers and National General offer the same type of coverage for just $7 more per month. Travelers is an affordable option for customers who want to buy insurance through an agent, while National General can be a good option for higher-risk drivers.
Cheapest Liability-Only Car Insurance of 2026
Updated: August 19, 2026
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Why You Can Trust MoneyGeek for Car Insurance
We analyzed 2,474,515 liability car insurance quotes from 607 insurance providers across 3,523 ZIP codes to create our cheapest liability-only car insurance rankings. Mark Fitzpatrick, a licensed insurance professional and industry analyst, reviewed our methodology. We update our liability car insurance data and rankings monthly to keep them current.
Key Takeaways
GEICO’s liability-only car insurance rate is 35% lower than the national average. Overall, the difference between the cheapest and most expensive insurer for this level of coverage is $216 per year.
A liability-only policy is the lowest-priced car insurance option, but it does not cover damage to your own vehicle after a covered claim. It might make sense for drivers on a very tight budget or for people with vehicles that are worth less than $5,000.
Cheapest Liability-Only Car Insurance: Geico
Data filtered by:
Male
Adult Drivers
Clean
Good
| Geico | $43 | $522 | 35% |
| Travelers | $50 | $601 | 25% |
| National General | $50 | $605 | 25% |
| State Farm | $51 | $616 | 24% |
| Amica | $56 | $669 | 17% |
| Chubb | $61 | $728 | 10% |
| Kemper | $62 | $744 | 8% |
Cheapest Liability-Only Insurance for Young Drivers
National General is the lowest-priced insurer for drivers aged 16-24 at $101 per month, 37% below the national average for this age group. GEICO's monthly rate is a few dollars more at $105.
Staying on a parent's policy is almost always the right call for drivers under 25 as long as you live at the same address. The overall savings can be up to 60%.
| National General | $101 | $1,211 | 37% |
| Geico | $105 | $1,265 | 34% |
| Travelers | $116 | $1,391 | 27% |
| State Farm | $117 | $1,407 | 26% |
| Amica | $133 | $1,594 | 17% |
*Rates are based on adding a teen or young adult (Age 16–24) to a parent's established policy.
Cheapest Liability-Only Car Insurance for Seniors
GEICO’s rates for senior drivers at this coverage level average $56 monthly, 35% below the nationwide senior average of $87. Amica and State Farm, both $62 per month, are good options as well.
Car insurance rates rise after age 65 due to higher accident frequency, but drivers in this category can offset those increases by maintaining a clean record and taking advantage of senior discounts.
| Geico | $56 | $673 | 35% |
| Amica | $62 | $744 | 28% |
| State Farm | $62 | $746 | 28% |
| National General | $67 | $807 | 22% |
| Travelers | $70 | $838 | 19% |
Cheapest Liability-Only Car Insurance by State
GEICO offers the least expensive liability-only auto coverage in 12 states at an average cost of $35 per month. At $30, State Farm has the lowest average monthly cost in eight states. Regional car insurers offer the cheapest rates in most of the remaining states.
| Alabama | AIG | $22 | $268 | 60% |
| Alaska | Geico | $40 | $481 | 14% |
| Arizona | Travelers | $45 | $546 | 34% |
| Arkansas | Farm Bureau | $32 | $383 | 34% |
| California | Geico | $39 | $465 | 43% |
| Colorado | American National | $27 | $326 | 54% |
| Connecticut | Geico | $35 | $419 | 60% |
| Delaware | Travelers | $46 | $551 | 57% |
| District of Columbia | Chubb | $29 | $352 | 70% |
| Florida | Travelers | $51 | $617 | 46% |
| Georgia | Geico | $42 | $498 | 48% |
| Hawaii | Geico | $24 | $292 | 32% |
| Idaho | State Farm | $18 | $210 | 52% |
| Illinois | Geico | $31 | $368 | 40% |
| Indiana | Hastings Insurance | $30 | $364 | 27% |
| Iowa | State Farm | $19 | $231 | 42% |
| Kansas | Geico | $26 | $309 | 45% |
| Kentucky | Travelers | $47 | $560 | 40% |
| Louisiana | Geico | $55 | $659 | 48% |
| Maine | MMG Insurance | $27 | $330 | 29% |
| Maryland | Geico | $49 | $586 | 45% |
| Massachusetts | Plymouth Rock Insurance | $22 | $267 | 51% |
| Michigan | Travelers | $23 | $277 | 64% |
| Minnesota | Westfield Insurance | $19 | $231 | 57% |
| Mississippi | Farm Bureau | $33 | $402 | 42% |
| Missouri | Auto Owners | $34 | $402 | 47% |
| Montana | State Farm | $18 | $220 | 63% |
| Nebraska | Farmers Mutual Ins Co of NE | $18 | $216 | 55% |
| Nevada | Travelers | $57 | $686 | 31% |
| New Hampshire | Safety Insurance | $31 | $371 | 31% |
| New Jersey | Plymouth Rock Insurance | $67 | $806 | 34% |
| New Mexico | Central Insurance | $31 | $368 | 40% |
| New York | NYCM Insurance | $25 | $305 | 60% |
| North Carolina | State Farm | $24 | $289 | 52% |
| North Dakota | North Star Insurance | $25 | $295 | 40% |
| Ohio | Auto Owners | $27 | $318 | 38% |
| Oklahoma | Progressive | $28 | $331 | 50% |
| Oregon | State Farm | $38 | $455 | 32% |
| Pennsylvania | Westfield Insurance | $20 | $234 | 61% |
| Rhode Island | State Farm | $42 | $500 | 43% |
| South Carolina | American National | $34 | $413 | 50% |
| South Dakota | Farmers Mutual Ins Co of NE | $13 | $157 | 60% |
| Tennessee | Farm Bureau | $27 | $319 | 45% |
| Texas | State Farm | $41 | $489 | 41% |
| Utah | Geico | $48 | $573 | 33% |
| Vermont | Co-operative Insurance | $16 | $189 | 48% |
| Virginia | Travelers | $30 | $365 | 43% |
| Washington | State Farm | $37 | $442 | 30% |
| West Virginia | Westfield Insurance | $30 | $362 | 47% |
| Wisconsin | Geico | $21 | $249 | 44% |
| Wyoming | Geico | $14 | $169 | 47% |
Here are our guides for deeper research on the cheapest liability car insurance rates in your state:
Cheapest Liability-Only Car Insurance After a Driving Violation
Getting a driving violation will likely lead to an increase of your insurance premium. Because insurers set their rates differently, however, it’s worth it to shop around after you’re hit with a surcharge to see if there’s a better rate available.
According to our analysis, State Farm has the lowest rates for drivers with most violations, while GEICO tends to have cheaper rates for distracted driving infractions and after accidents in which the other driver is at fault. Here is what our data shows per violation:
- At-fault accident: State Farm offers the most affordable liability coverage after an at-fault accident at $62 per month, 34% below the high-risk average. Most at-fault accidents stay on your record for three to five years.
- Speeding ticket: State Farm also has the cheapest rates after a speeding ticket at $56 per month. Most moving violations impact your rate for three to five years.
- Texting while driving: GEICO is the most affordable option after a distracted driving ticket at $55 per month. Our research shows that insurers vary more on how they price texting violations than almost any other incident type.
- DUI conviction: State Farm offers the lowest rates after a DUI at $73 per month. DUI offenses stay on your record for three to 10 years and often require an SR-22 filing. Drivers with a suspended license and no vehicle may need non-owner car insurance.
- Not-at-fault accident: GEICO is cheapest at $45 per month. Most insurers still raise rates after a not-at-fault accident and GEICO keeps that increase lower than most competitors.
Cheapest Liability Car Insurance for Drivers With Bad Credit
Having poor credit raises liability premiums by 34% or more in most states, making it one of the largest rate factors outside of a DUI. California, Hawaii and Massachusetts prohibit the use of credit scores to determine pricing. In the rest of the country, moving from poor to good credit can cut monthly premiums by $20 to $50. National General ($61) and GEICO ($62) offer the lowest monthly rates for drivers with bad credit.
Data filtered by:
Adult Drivers
Clean
Fair
| National General | $61 | $736 | 34% |
| Geico | $62 | $740 | 34% |
| Travelers | $75 | $895 | 20% |
| Kemper | $75 | $905 | 19% |
| Amica | $87 | $1,046 | 6% |
Cheapest Liability Car Insurance for Military Members
USAA has the lowest rates for active duty members of the military, veterans, and their eligible family members at $28 per month, which is almost 50% below the national average.
| USAA | $28 | $335 | 47% |
| National General | $48 | $580 | 15% |
| Travelers | $50 | $597 | 21% |
| Amica | $57 | $683 | 6% |
How to Get Cheaper Liability-Only Car Insurance
In our analysis of liability rate factors, these five strategies produce the most consistent savings on liability-only policies.
- 1Match your profile to the right insurer
GEICO, Travelers and National General offer the least expensive liability-only rates at the national level, but the cheapest option for you may be different depending on your specific driver profile. Obtain quotes from at least three insurers, including regional carriers that serve your state. Use our car insurance calculator to estimate costs before requesting formal quotes and our insurer reviews to evaluate service quality alongside price.
- 2Understand what state minimum liability actually covers
Most states require only $25,000 to $50,000 in bodily injury liability per person. A single serious accident can exceed that in medical bills alone, leaving you personally responsible for the difference. Before choosing state minimums, consider your assets. If you own a home or have savings worth protecting, carrying higher limits can cost as little as $5 to $20 more per month and can offer better protection for your assets. See our guide to how much car insurance you need.
- 3Stack every discount where you qualify
Take advantage of every discount you qualify for. These directly lower your final premium:
- Bundle Discounts: Combine auto with renters or home insurance for savings up to 25%.
- Safe Driver Rewards: Maintain a clean driving record to qualify for discounts and eliminate accident/violation surcharges.
- Low Mileage: Qualify for reduced rates if your annual driving is low (under 7,500 miles).
- Affinity Discounts: Check for membership savings if you belong to a military, professional or alumni organization.
- Pay in Full: Pay your entire premium upfront (annually or semi-annually) for a 5% to 10% discount.
- Multi-car insurance: Insuring more than one vehicle on your policy can lead to savings.
- 4Improve your credit score
Having poor credit can raise your car insurance premium by more than 30%. Improving your score is one of the most effective long-term ways to lower your rate without changing your coverage or carrier.
- 5Enroll in a telematics program
GEICO's DriveEasy and Progressive's Snapshot track your driving through an app and reward safe behavior with discounts of 15% to 40%. Both offer an immediate discount just for enrolling. DriveEasy works best for low-mileage drivers. Snapshot is the stronger option for drivers with a prior violation who want a concrete path to lower rates over time. Neither program penalizes you for occasional hard braking, but aggressive driving can raise your rate at renewal.
Is Liability-Only Car Insurance the Right Choice?
Car insurance can be expensive, and lowering your coverage to liability-only is an easy way to save money on your premium. Here are the main differences between liability-only coverage and full coverage:
Covers injuries you cause to others | ✓ | ✓ |
Covers damage you cause to others' property | ✓ | ✓ |
Covers damage to your own vehicle | — | ✓ |
Covers theft of your vehicle | — | ✓ |
Covers weather, fire, vandalism | — | ✓ |
Required by lenders on financed vehicles | — | ✓ |
Average monthly cost | $43–$68 | $97–$196 |
As Mark Friedlander of the Insurance Information Institute puts it: "Liability-only coverage leaves drivers financially responsible when it comes to their own vehicle. If you cause an accident and cannot afford to repair or replace your car out of pocket, full coverage is worth the extra cost."
If you are financing or leasing, liability-only is not an option. Your lender requires full coverage and if you drop it they will force-place insurance at two to three times the cost.
Here is the comparison of liability-only cost vs full coverage.
Cheap Liability-Only Car Insurance: FAQ
No. Liability only covers damage and injuries you cause to others. If another driver hits you and they are uninsured or underinsured, you have no coverage for your own vehicle or injuries unless you carry uninsured motorist coverage. This is one of the most common gaps we see in liability only policies and one of the strongest arguments for adding uninsured motorist coverage even if your state does not require it.
Yes. Every state allows liability only coverage as long as it meets the state minimum requirements. New Hampshire and Virginia are the only states that do not require drivers to carry insurance at all, though financial responsibility is still required if you cause an accident.
Some states require coverage beyond standard Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability to ensure financial protection for you and your passengers:
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP): Required in "no-fault" states (e.g., Florida, New York) to cover your own medical bills and lost wages, regardless of who caused the crash.
- Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM): Required in about half of states to protect you if an at-fault driver has no insurance or insufficient insurance limits to cover your damages.
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Our Methodology
We designed this research to identify the most accessible liability coverage options without sacrificing accuracy.
Data Collection
Our team gathered 2,474,515 quotes from 607 insurance companies in 3,523 ZIP codes nationwide. We got this information directly from state insurance departments and Quadrant Information Services, then compared the actual prices people pay.
Sample Driver Profile
We calculated average annual car insurance rates using this sample driver profile:
- 40-year-old male driver
- Driving a Toyota Camry LE
- No on-record violations
- Good credit score
- Clean driving record with no claims history
We adjusted this profile by age, driving record, credit score and car type to get rates for different driver types, including high-risk profiles with violations and drivers with poor credit. See our full methodology.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick, a licensed Property and Casualty (P&C) Insurance Producer in Connecticut, is MoneyGeek's resident expert in insurance and economics. He has spent nearly a decade covering the insurance market at LendingTree and MoneyGeek. There, he has analyzed hundreds of carriers and millions of rates across auto, home, renters, health and life insurance.
His work has appeared in The Washington Post, The New York Times and NPR. He draws on independent cost and consumer experience data, and no insurance company partnerships affect his recommendations.
Mark studied at Boston College and later earned a master's in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University. He worked in financial risk management at State Street before joining MoneyGeek. He's also a five-time “Jeopardy!” champion.