Cheapest Liability-Only Car Insurance


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Key Takeaways

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On average, GEICO, Travelers and Progressive offer the cheapest liability-only car insurance for most drivers in 2024. State Farm may be cheaper for drivers with violations. Nationwide tends to offer lower rates for drivers with bad credit.

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Liability-only insurance only covers damages to others — it doesn’t cover repairing damages to your vehicle in case of accidents, weather, vandalism or theft.

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Although minimum coverage insurance is often the cheapest, it may not be sufficient to cover damages after a claim. For the best financial protection, opt for higher liability limits or full coverage.

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Who Has the Cheapest Liability-Only Car Insurance?

GEICO typically offers the cheapest liability-only coverage for most drivers, at average rates of about $45 per month or $543 per year for state liability coverage.

To find the cheapest liability-only car insurance rates, the MoneyGeek insurance team analyzed 83,056 quotes from 45 companies across 473 ZIP codes. Our analysis was based on data we collected from state insurance departments and the latest rates available from Quadrant Information Services.

Cheapest Liability-Only Car Insurance Quotes

Although GEICO is cheapest for most drivers, the lowest rate available to you depends on your unique situation. We’ve highlighted the lowest average rates for each driver profile below:

SeniorsState Farm$535
OverallGEICO$543
After A Speeding TicketState Farm$650
DUIProgressive$679
After An AccidentState Farm$719
Bad CreditNationwide$865
Young DriversState Farm$2,612

Cheapest Liability-Only Car Insurance Companies

Along with GEICO, Travelers, Progressive, State Farm and Nationwide also offer affordable liability-only coverage. Use the table below to compare average liability-only rates and coverage levels across top insurers.

GEICO$543$755$900
Travelers$550$671$814
Progressive$551$718$817
State Farm$567$736$913
Nationwide$639$682$827
Farmers$715$919$1,124
Allstate$818$1,004$1,170

Cheapest Liability-Only Car Insurance by State

As the table below displays, the state you live in has a significant impact car insurance rates. Here are the companies with the cheapest averages for minimum coverage policies for each state.

AlabamaCincinnati Insurance$825
AlaskaState Farm$1,034
ArizonaRoot Insurance Company$880
ArkansasSouthern Farm Bureau$901
CaliforniaCSAA$510
ColoradoColorado Farm Bureau$712
ConnecticutGEICO$790
DelawareTravelers$950
District of ColumbiaGEICO$1,218
FloridaGEICO$976
GeorgiaCountry Financial$702
HawaiiGEICO$599
IdahoState Farm$473
IllinoisAmerican Family$704
IndianaAmerican Family$672
IowaTravelers$800
KansasAmerican Family$911
KentuckyAuto-Owners Insurance Co$899
LouisianaLouisiana Farm Bureau$759
MaineTravelers$638
MarylandState Farm$1,185
MassachusettsState Farm$458
MichiganGEICO$1,023
MinnesotaWest Bend Mutual$961
MississippiDirect General Insurance$810
MissouriTravelers$938
MontanaState Farm$722
NebraskaAmerican National P&C$587
NevadaMercury$711
New HampshireHanover$492
New JerseyGEICO$858
New MexicoGEICO$741
New YorkKemper$1,029
North CarolinaNorth Carolina Farm Bureau$461
North DakotaAmerican Family$726
OhioAmerican Family$530
OklahomaMercury$915
OregonKemper$743
PennsylvaniaTravelers$708
Rhode IslandState Farm$1,010
South CarolinaAmerican National P&C$651
South DakotaFarmers Mutual of Nebraska$674
TennesseeTravelers$876
TexasTexas Farm Bureau$776
UtahGEICO$844
VermontState Farm$567
VirginiaVirginia Farm Bureau$733
WashingtonPEMCO$636
West VirginiaWestfield$984
WisconsinAAA$598
WyomingState Farm$837

Cheapest Liability-Only Car Insurance for High-Risk Drivers

Drivers with a clean record typically pay less for car insurance than those with a ticket, at-fault accident or DUI on record. That's because insurers perceive drivers with violations as riskier to insure. Rates vary across each major high-risk category.

Cheapest Liability-Only Insurance After a Speeding Ticket

State Farm offers the cheapest liability-only coverage for drivers after a speeding ticket, with average rates of $650 per year or $54 per month. See the table below to compare providers offering liability-only coverage for drivers with a speeding ticket.

State Farm$650$841$1,034
Progressive$675$897$1,065
GEICO$700$994$1,163
Travelers$728$898$1,086
Nationwide$808$864$1,027
Farmers$886$1,141$1,379
Allstate$948$1,169$1,346

Cheapest Liability-Only Insurance After an Accident

With rates averaging $719 per year ($60 per month), State Farm provides the cheapest liability-only coverage for drivers after an at-fault accident. The table below shows a list of major insurers offering affordable coverage for at-fault drivers.

State Farm$719$927$1,135
Travelers$791$972$1,170
Progressive$848$1,151$1,377
GEICO$884$1,245$1,459
Nationwide$994$1,046$1,248
Allstate$1,132$1,414$1,634
Farmers$1,135$1,486$1,799

Cheapest Liability-Only Insurance After a DUI/DWI

For drivers with a DUI or DWI, Progressive offers the cheapest rates for liability-only coverage, averaging $679 per year ($56 per month). Check the table below for a list of insurance providers and their average annual pemiums for drivers with DUIs.

Progressive$679$913$1,080
State Farm$842$1,065$1,287
Travelers$920$1,136$1,374
Farmers$988$1,269$1,539
Allstate$1,203$1,485$1,706
Nationwide$1,348$1,414$1,684
GEICO$1,437$2,019$2,361

Cheapest Liability-Only Car Insurance for Drivers With Bad Credit

Insurers may use a credit-based insurance score to calculate insurance premiums in all states except California, Hawaii, Massachusetts and Michigan. With rates averaging $865 per year, Nationwide is the cheapest company offering minimum liability-only coverage for drivers with poor credit.

Nationwide$865$920$1,104
GEICO$901$1,275$1,504
Travelers$972$1,185$1,429
Progressive$1,007$1,291$1,503
Farmers$1,098$1,462$1,779
Allstate$1,224$1,542$1,805
State Farm$1,537$1,961$2,377

Cheapest Liability-Only Car Insurance by Age

Age is one of the most important considerations when determining the cost of car insurance. Insurers tend to charge higher rates to teens, younger drivers and drivers over 75 due to inexperience or perceived risk. Despite these higher premiums, finding inexpensive car insurance for these age groups is still possible.

Cheapest Liability-Only Insurance for Young Drivers

According to the National Safety Council, 16- to 19-year-olds make up 3.5% of total drivers but they're involved in almost 9% of crashes. Although this contributes to higher auto insurance rates, teens and young drivers can often find the cheapest liability coverage when added to a family policy. Below are the cheapest liability rates available for family policies that include young drivers:

16GEICO$689$57
17GEICO$667$56
18GEICO$557$46
19GEICO$492$41
20Travelers$496$41

Cheapest Liability-Only Car Insurance for Seniors

Although rates tend to decrease as you age, premiums typically rise again for seniors because drivers aged 65 and older account for nearly 10% of crashes. Below are the cheapest average minimum coverage rates for senior drivers.

60GEICO$1,340$112
65State Farm$968$81
70State Farm$1,009$84
75State Farm$1,096$91

Cheapest Liability-Only Insurance by Car Make and Model

The cheapest car to insure with state-minimum liability-only insurance is the Mazda CX-5, which costs $364 per year from Nationwide. The Ford Expedition is the most expensive on the list to insure, costing about $384 per year.

Nationwide$364Mazda CX-5Compact SUV
GEICO$365Audi R8Luxury Sports Car
Nationwide$367Subaru ForesterCompact SUV
GEICO$373Chevrolet CorvetteSports Car
GEICO$374MINI CooperCompact
GEICO$375Subaru BRZSports Car
State Farm$375Honda PassportSUV
GEICO$376Subaru ImprezaSedan
State Farm$376Volvo XC40Luxury SUV
Nationwide$376BMW 1 SeriesLuxury Compact
GEICO$379Audi Q5Luxury SUV
Nationwide$380Honda PilotSUV
GEICO$381Audi A3Compact
Nationwide$382Honda RidgelinePickup Truck
Nationwide$384Ford ExpeditionSUV

How to Get Cheap Liability-Only Insurance

  1. 1
    Compare quotes

    Shop around and get quotes from multiple insurance providers to find the best rates.

  2. 2
    Ask about discounts

    Many insurers offer car insurance discounts for good drivers, students, military members, bundling policies and more. Take advantage of every discount you qualify for to lower your premium.

  3. 3
    Maintain a clean driving record

    Avoid accidents and traffic violations to keep your rates low.

  4. 4
    Consider usage-based insurance

    Some car insurance companies offer discounts for safe driving habits tracked through a mobile app or telematics device.

  5. 5
    Pay annually

    Paying your premium in one lump sum instead of monthly installments can often save you money, sometimes through a “pay-in-full” discount.

  6. 6
    Consider non-owner car insurance

    If you don’t own a car but frequently borrow or rent, non-owner car insurance can provide financial protection at a lower cost.

How Much Should Liability Car Insurance Cost?

Average liability-only car insurance costs range from $615 to $914 per year, depending on several factors. One of the biggest determining factors is the liability limits you choose.

State Minimum Liability Only$615$51
100/300/100 Liability Only$777$65
300/500/300 Liability Only$914$76

How Much Liability Insurance Should I Get?

Estimating how much car insurance you need depends on your state's limits, your car's value and your budget. A policy with 100/300/100 liability limits is popular with most drivers, but industry experts recommend purchasing a policy with the highest limit you can afford. Know that there are significant financial risks with getting the lowest possible amount of coverage — like paying thousands out of pocket after an accident.

How Much Cheaper Is Liability-Only Than Full Coverage Car Insurance?

Regardless of your coverage limits, liability-only car insurance tends to be significantly cheaper than full coverage. This is because full coverage has added comprehensive and collision insurance, which financially protects your vehicle after a covered incident.

Although it's more expensive, experts recommend full coverage insurance to avoid higher out-of-pocket costs for repair. In the table below, we compared average rates for a minimum coverage policy and full coverage policy (with a $1,000 deductible) from different leading companies.

USAA$331$283$614
GEICO$371$424$795
State Farm$377$409$787
Allstate$404$604$1,008
Travelers$432$504$936
Nationwide$439$462$901
Progressive$471$514$985
Farmers$473$572$1,045

Is Liability-Only Insurance Enough?

Liability-only insurance won’t cover your vehicle if you cause an accident or if your vehicle incurs damages outside your control. Adding comprehensive and collision insurance to create a full coverage policy provides additional financial protection against expenses from repairs and replacements resulting from an at-fault or single-car collision.

If you're unsure whether to choose a liability-only policy or full coverage policy, we highlight scenarios below that help you consider the costs, associated risks and when each coverage level is more appropriate.

When To Get Liability-Only Insurance

If you have an old, lower-value car that is worth equal to or less than what you would pay for full coverage, adding comprehensive and collision policies wouldn’t be worth it. You’d be better off buying liability-only insurance.

For example, say your car is worth less than $1,500 and you pay $500 per year for a collision policy that includes a $1,000 deductible. In this scenario, if you got into an accident that resulted in you paying the entire deductible, your $1,500 annual cost would exceed the vehicle's value.

When To Get Full Coverage Car Insurance

If you own a newer, more valuable vehicle that's worth the cost of insuring it, you should consider buying comprehensive and collision insurance in addition to liability insurance. In many cases, your lender may require you to purchase a full coverage policy if you take out a loan or lease.

Although liability-only policies tend to be less expensive on average, most experts will recommend buying full coverage car insurance to ensure adequate financial protection due to the associated risks.

Cheap Liability-Only Car Insurance: Bottom Line

In this guide, we looked at the cheapest minimum liability providers across every major driver segment. Additionally, we provided helpful tips on how to find the cheapest liability-only insurance and when liability-only coverage is and isn't appropriate based on your risk profile.

FAQ: Liability-Only Car Insurance

Below are some frequently asked questions and answers about liability-only car insurance:

Which companies offer the cheapest liability-only car insurance?

What is liability coverage?

What are the risks of liability-only insurance? Should you choose the cheapest option?

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Methodology

MoneyGeek gathered and analyzed rates using a sample driver profile to determine company averages for the cost of liability-only insurance, how liability-only rates compare to full coverage rates and how rates may change for risky driver profiles (drivers with at-fault accidents and tickets).

Data Sources and Depth

We collected data from state insurance departments and Quadrant Information Services and analyzed 83,056 quotes from 46 companies across 473 ZIP codes.

Sample Driver Profile

To determine overall average annual car insurance rates, we used the following sample driver profile:

  • 40-year-old male driver
  • Driving a Toyota Camry LE
  • No on-record violations

We modified this sample profile by age, driving record and car make/model where specified to provide average rates for a variety of drivers.

Coverage Levels Explained

Rates collected were for policies meeting the minimum requirements in a given state or for increased liability coverage. Increased liability coverage refers to a policy with 50/100/50 liability limits, which is shorthand for the following:

  • $50,000 in bodily injury liability per person
  • $100,000 in bodily injury liability per accident
  • $50,000 in property damage liability per accident

You can choose how much liability coverage you want on either a liability-only or full coverage policy. The difference between liability-only and full coverage insurance is the addition of comprehensive and collision coverage. A liability-only policy does not include comprehensive and collision coverage.

About Mark Fitzpatrick


Mark Fitzpatrick headshot

Mark Fitzpatrick is a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer and MoneyGeek's Head of Insurance. He has analyzed the insurance market for over five years, conducting original research and creating personalized content for every kind of buyer. He has been quoted in several insurance-related publications, including CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.

Fitzpatrick earned a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He is passionate about using his knowledge of economics and insurance to bring transparency around financial topics and help others feel confident in their money moves.


sources
  • National Safety Council. "Age of Driver." Accessed October 3, 2024.