Cheapest Liability-Only Car Insurance

GEICO offers most drivers the cheapest liability-only car insurance, at average rates of about $66 per month or $792 per year for minimum coverage. Your driving profile may differ, so see the table below to find the cheapest liability car insurance.

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.

Although GEICO is cheapest for most drivers, the lowest rate available to you depends on your situation. Below are the lowest average rates for each driver profile. Filter the table based on your driver profile to find the cheapest liability-only car insurance for you.

Where you live makes a huge difference in what you'll pay for car insurance. National insurers like GEICO and State Farm offer good rates in most states, but regional companies often beat them in their local markets. Here's who offers the lowest liability-only rates in each state.

A ticket, at-fault accident or DUI on your record will increase your liability car insurance cost because your driver profile is riskier for the insurance company. Violations will stay on your record and impact your liability insurance cost for three to five years. Below are drivers' cheapest liability insurance options for each of these violations.

GEICO offers the cheapest liability-only coverage for drivers after a speeding ticket, with average rates of $960 per year or $80 per month. The table below compares providers offering liability-only coverage for drivers with a speeding ticket.

More information: Ranking the Cheapest Car Insurance for High-Risk Drivers With a Ticket

With rates averaging $1,140 per year ($95 per month), GEICO provides the cheapest liability-only coverage for drivers after an at-fault accident. The table below lists major insurers offering affordable coverage for at-fault drivers.

For drivers with a DUI or DWI, AIG offers the cheapest rates for liability-only coverage, averaging $1,344 per year ($112 per month). Check the table below for a list of insurance providers and their average annual cost for drivers with DUIs.

More information: See the Best Cheap Car Insurance With a DUI

With rates averaging $1,104 annually, GEICO is the cheapest company offering minimum liability-only coverage for drivers with poor credit. Filter the table below by several credit levels to find the cheapest liability-only car insurance for you:

More information: Ranking of the Best Cheap Car Insurance if You Have Bad Credit

Age greatly affects car insurance costs, with teens, younger drivers and those over 75 usually facing higher rates due to perceived risk factors. However, affordable car insurance options are still available for these groups. The sections below break down the top liability-only car insurance rates for young drivers and seniors.

Adding teens and young drivers to a family policy costs much less than buying separate coverage — you can save 40% to 60%. Travelers offers the cheapest liability-only car insurance rates on family plans for young drivers aged 16 to 24. Here's what you can expect to pay when adding a young driver to your policy:

Although rates decrease as you age, premiums usually 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.

 See our ranking of the cheapest car insurance for seniors and car insurance discounts for seniors.

"No deposit" liability-only insurance means paying your first month upfront instead of a separate deposit fee. Most insurers work this way, refunding any unused premium if you cancel early. Here are your best options for low first-month payments:

We compared liability-only rates for adult drivers with clean records and good credit nationwide. Using our weighted ranking system, here are the top picks:

Finding the right liability-only coverage depends on your driving record, where you live and what you can afford. Use this guide to pick the best policy and save money.

Liability-only car insurance provides financial protection when you're at fault in an accident. It covers:

1. Bodily injury liability: Medical expenses, lost wages and potentially legal costs for injuries you cause to others in an accident
2. Property damage liability: Damage you cause to other people's property, such as their vehicle, home, fence or other structures

Almost every state except New Hampshire requires drivers to carry at least some level of liability coverage. Florida is the only state that doesn't require bodily injury liability (it requires property damage liability only).

Depending on your state, additional coverages may be required as part of what's considered a "minimum liability" policy:

• Personal injury protection (PIP): In 12 no-fault states (Florida, Hawaii, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Pennsylvania and Utah), drivers must also get PIP coverage. This pays for your medical expenses, lost wages and other injury-related costs after an accident, regardless of who's at fault. In these states, drivers must file bodily injury claims with their own insurance through their PIP coverage first, regardless of who caused the accident.
• Uninsured/Underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM): Many states require this coverage, which protects you if you're in an accident with a driver who has no insurance or insufficient coverage to pay for your damage and injuries.
• Medical payments coverage (MedPay): Some states require this coverage, which helps pay for medical expenses for you and your passengers regardless of fault. It's similar to PIP but more limited in scope.

Liability-only insurance has several gaps in coverage:

1. Your vehicle: It doesn't cover repairs to your own car in accidents, regardless of fault (you need collision coverage for that).
2. Your medical expenses: Your own injuries aren't covered under basic liability (you need MedPay, PIP or health insurance).
3. Natural disasters or weather damage: Damage to your car from hail, floods, fires and other disasters isn't covered (you need comprehensive coverage).
4. Theft or vandalism: If your car is stolen or vandalized, liability-only won't pay for repairs or replacement (comprehensive coverage would).

Estimating how much car insurance you need depends on your state's minimum coverage requirements to provide financial protection in the case of an accident. Liability-only coverage pays for damage you cause to others (bodily injury and property damage), not damage to your own vehicle.  

Here are the various levels of coverage and what they mean for you:

Three Numbers (e.g., 50/100/50):

• First: Bodily injury limit per person (in thousands of dollars)
• Second: Total bodily injury limit per accident (in thousands of dollars)
• Third: Property damage limit per accident (in thousands of dollars)

Minimum Coverage:

• Every state is different; each sets its own requirements
• Example: California requires 15/30/5; Texas requires 30/60/25

Common Coverage Levels:

• 50/100/50: Moderate coverage; higher than many state minimums
• 100/300/100: More robust protection; often recommended
• 250/500/250: High-limit policy; offers substantial financial protection

State minimum liability requirements rarely provide adequate financial protection. Set your liability limits high enough to cover your net worth, including home, savings, investments and other assets, which are at risk in a lawsuit following a serious accident.

With $300,000 in assets but only $50,000 in liability coverage, you'll be personally liable for substantial damage beyond your policy limits. Consider liability limits of at least 100/300/100 or higher, supplemented with an umbrella policy for comprehensive protection.

Liability-only insurance won't cover your car if you cause an accident or if something else damages it. Full coverage adds comprehensive and collision insurance, which pays for fixing or replacing your vehicle after crashes, weather damage or theft.

The choice depends on your car's value. Full coverage costs $800 to $1,200 more per year, but makes sense for newer or expensive cars where repairs run into thousands.

Your car's age and value should drive your coverage decision:

When Liability-Only Makes Sense for Your Vehicle

• Older vehicles: Liability-only coverage is ideal for cars 10+ years old with market values under $3,000 to $4,000. If your comprehensive and collision premiums plus deductible exceed 10% of your car's value annually, liability-only is more cost effective.
• Low-value vehicles: The average cost of collision coverage is $290 annually plus a deductible of $500 to $1,000. If your vehicle is worth $2,000, paying for collision coverage doesn't make mathematical sense.
• Secondary or rarely used vehicles: Cars driven infrequently have lower accident risk, making liability-only coverage a reasonable choice, especially for "backup" vehicles.

When Your Vehicle Needs More Than Liability-Only

• Newer vehicles: Cars under 5 years old usually retain enough value to warrant full coverage protection. The average new car costs $48,000 in 2025, a substantial asset worth protecting.
• Leased or financed vehicles: Lenders usually require full coverage with deductibles of $500 or less until the loan is paid off, making liability-only coverage not an option for these vehicles.
• High-value vehicles: Luxury cars, sports cars and specialized vehicles have higher repair and replacement costs, making comprehensive and collision coverage essential even if they're several years old.

Find out how much you can save with these liability-only insurance discounts from top providers that ranked cheapest in our analysis:

GEICO — Cheapest Liability-Only Overall

• Multi-policy bundle: 15% to 25% savings ($80 to $135 yearly)
• Military discount: 15% average savings ($80 yearly)
• Good student discount: Up to 15% off ($80 yearly)
• Vehicle safety features: 5% to 23% savings ($25 to $125 yearly)
• Defensive driving course: 10% to 15% discount ($55 to $80 yearly)
• Federal employee discount: 8% average savings ($45 yearly)

State Farm — Cheapest for Violations and Seniors

• Drive Safe & Save: Up to 30% savings ($170 yearly)
• Steer Clear program: Up to 15% off for young drivers ($80 yearly)
• Good student discount: Up to 25% savings ($140 yearly)
• Defensive driving course: 10% to 15% discount ($55 to $80 yearly)
• Vehicle safety features: 5% to 15% savings ($25 to $80 yearly)
• Multi-policy bundle: Up to 20% off ($110 yearly)

Progressive — Cheapest for DUI Coverage

• Snapshot program: Average $146 yearly savings
• Multi-policy bundle: Up to 12% discount ($65 yearly)
• Continuous insurance: Up to 15% savings ($80 yearly)
• Paperless billing: 7% average discount ($40 yearly)
• Pay in full discount: 10% average savings ($55 yearly)
• Safe driver discount: Up to 20% off ($110 yearly)

Travelers — Second Cheapest Overall

• Multi-policy bundle: 10% to 12% discount ($55 to $65 yearly)
• EFT & pay in full: 7.5% average savings ($40 yearly)
• Good student discount: 8% average discount ($45 yearly)
• IntelliDrive program: Up to 20% savings ($110 yearly)
• New car discount: 10% average savings ($55 yearly)
• Home ownership discount: 5% average off ($25 yearly)

Nationwide — Cheapest Liability Coverage for Bad Credit

• SmartRide program: Up to 40% savings ($215 yearly)
• Multi-policy bundle: Up to 20% discount ($110 yearly)
• Good student discount: Up to 15% off ($80 yearly)
• Defensive driving course: 10% average savings ($55 yearly)
• Automatic payment: 5% average discount ($25 yearly)
• Safe driver discount: Up to 10% off ($55 yearly)

Note: Actual savings vary based on your driving history, location and personal factors. Discount availability varies by state. Dollar amounts based on average liability-only policy costs.

Regardless of your coverage limits, liability-only car insurance is much cheaper than full coverage because the latter 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 repair costs.

In the table below, we compared average rates for minimum and full coverage policies (with a $1,000 deductible) from leading companies. See our ranking to find cheap full coverage car insurance.

You don't need a big upfront payment to get liability car insurance. Look for insurers offering low first-month rates and flexible payment plans that fit your budget.

Companies With Flexible Payment Options for Liability-Only Car Insurance

• GEICO: The first month's payment is as low as $30, and the payment dates can be flexible to align with your paycheck.
• Progressive: Its Name Your Price® tool helps you find coverage within your budget. First-month payments for liability-only coverage start at around $50.
• State Farm: It offers first-month payment options starting at $54 with no fees for monthly payment plans at many locations.
• Travelers: It provides electronic funds transfer discounts with first payments averaging $47 for liability coverage.
• Nationwide: It features flexible payment scheduling with initial payments starting from $55 for minimum liability policies.

GEICO beats the competition for most drivers at $66 monthly, though the best choice varies by your circumstances. Got violations? State Farm saves you the most. DUI? Progressive gives you better rates. Bad credit? Nationwide offers the lowest rates.

Liability-only coverage works for older cars worth under $4,000. If your car is newer, financed or valuable, get full coverage. Compare quotes, hunt for discounts and pick coverage that matches your car's worth and what you can afford.

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

Cheap Liability-Only Rankings and Quote Data
MoneyGeek collected and analyzed rates using a sample driver profile to find company averages for liability-only insurance costs, compare liability-only to full coverage rates and see how rates change for high-risk drivers (those with accidents and tickets).

Data Sources and Depth

We pulled data from state insurance departments and Quadrant Information Services, analyzing 2,474,515 quotes from 607 companies across 3,523 ZIP codes.

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

We adjusted this profile by age, driving record and car type to get rates for different types of drivers.

Coverage Levels Explained

MoneyGeek collected rates for policies that meet each state's minimum requirements or offer higher liability coverage. 

Higher liability coverage means a 50/100/50 policy, which breaks down as:

• $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 pick your liability limits, whether you get liability-only or full coverage. Full coverage adds comprehensive and collision insurance to your liability policy.