Cheapest Liability-Only Car Insurance for You


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Key Takeaways

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GEICO offers the cheapest liability-only car insurance at $66 per month, and National General has the second most affordable at $68.

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Liability-only insurance covers damage and injuries to others but doesn't cover repairing damage to your vehicle in case of accidents, weather, vandalism or theft.

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Although liability-only insurance is often the cheapest, it may not be sufficient to cover damage after a claim, and insurers require full coverage for financed vehicles. Liability-only can make sense for older, low-value cars and allow you to save.

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Which Company Has the 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.

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$66$-37-36%
National General$68$-35-34%
Kemper$78$-25-24%
AIG$93$-9-9%
Nationwide$96$-7-7%
Travelers$98$-5-5%
AAA$99$-4-4%
Amica$103$00%
Progressive$103$00%
Chubb$105$22%

Best Liability-Only Car Insurance Rates

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.

Data filtered by:Results filtered by:
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Gender:Male
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Age Group:Adult Drivers
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Driving Record:Clean
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Credit Alignment:Good
Travelers$50$-17-25%
State Farm$51$-16-24%
Progressive$67$-00%
Nationwide$71$46%
Farmers$78$1116%
Allstate$81$1421%
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Cheapest Liability-Only Car Insurance by State

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.

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State:Alabama
AlabamaCincinnati Insurance$42$-58-58%
AlabamaGeico$75$-25-25%
AlabamaAuto Owners$77$-23-23%
AlabamaCountry Financial$85$-14-15%
AlabamaAIG$89$-11-11%
AlabamaTravelers$107$77%
AlabamaNationwide$110$1010%
AlabamaProgressive$112$1313%
AlabamaSafeway Insurance$117$1717%
AlabamaFarmers$134$3434%
AlabamaAllstate$150$5050%
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STATE MINIMUM COVERAGE REQUIREMENTS

States across the U.S. set different minimum liability-only car insurance requirements, often expressed as three numbers (like 25/50/25) representing thousands of dollars in coverage for bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage.

Cheapest Liability-Only Car Insurance for High-Risk Drivers

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.

Cheapest Liability-Only Insurance After a Speeding Ticket

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.

GEICO$80$-34-30%
Travelers$95$-19-17%
Kemper$100$-14-12%
State Farm$102$-12-10%
AIG$105$-9-8%
Amica$109$-5-4%
Chubb$114$10%
Nationwide$117$43%
Progressive$124$109%
Allstate$129$1614%

Cheapest Liability-Only Insurance After an Accident

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.

GEICO$95$-35-27%
Travelers$103$-28-21%
Kemper$106$-24-19%
Amica$109$-22-17%
State Farm$111$-20-15%
AIG$124$-7-5%
Chubb$124$-7-5%
Nationwide$138$76%
Progressive$144$1310%
Allstate$159$2821%
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ACCIDENT FORGIVENESS COVERAGE OPTIONS

While some providers offer accident forgiveness automatically after a clean driving period, others provide it as a paid add-on. State regulations may limit availability, with California notably prohibiting these programs entirely. Major auto insurers offering accident forgiveness include Allstate, Nationwide, Progressive, Liberty, GEICO, State Farm, Farmers, The Hartford, American Family and USAA.

Cheapest Liability-Only Insurance After a DUI/DWI

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.

AIG$112$-57-34%
Travelers$119$-50-30%
State Farm$120$-48-29%
Progressive$123$-45-27%
Kemper$129$-39-23%
GEICO$147$-21-13%
Nationwide$182$148%
Allstate$186$1710%
Farmers$201$3319%
Chubb$210$4225%

Cheapest Liability-Only Car Insurance for Drivers With Bad Credit

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:

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Credit Alignment:Poor
PoorGEICO$92$-61-40%
PoorTravelers$117$-37-24%
PoorNationwide$120$-34-22%
PoorProgressive$138$-16-10%
PoorAllstate$146$-8-5%
PoorFarmers$156$22%
PoorState Farm$263$10971%
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CREDIT SCORE IMPACT ON INSURANCE RATES

Improving your credit score can result in cheaper liability-only car insurance premiums. The savings usually range from 20% to 45% for liability-only policies, depending on the insurer and state. Insurers may use a credit-based insurance score to calculate insurance premiums in all states except California, Hawaii, Massachusetts and Michigan.

Cheapest Liability-Only Car Insurance by Age

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.

Cheapest Liability-Only Insurance for Young Drivers

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:

Travelers$176$-48-21%
AIG$184$-40-18%
State Farm$216$-9-4%
Amica$219$-5-2%
Kemper$235$115%
Nationwide$238$146%
Allstate$240$157%
Chubb$242$188%
Progressive$269$4420%
Farmers$305$8136%

Cheapest Liability-Only Car Insurance for Seniors

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.

Farmers$144$2117%
Progressive$128$54%
Chubb$119$-4-3%
AIG$116$-7-6%
Nationwide$116$-7-6%
State Farm$114$-8-7%
Travelers$104$-18-15%
Kemper$103$-19-16%
Amica$99$-23-19%
GEICO$81$-42-34%

Cheapest Liability-Only Car Insurance With No Deposit

"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:

Insurance Company
First-Month Payment
Payment Features

GEICO

As low as $30

Flexible payment dates to align with your paycheck

Progressive

Starting Around $50

Name Your Price® tool helps find coverage within your budget

State Farm

Starting at $54

No fees for monthly payment plans at many locations

Travelers

Starting at $47

Electronic funds transfer discounts

Nationwide

Starting at $55

Flexible payment scheduling for minimum liability policies

Best Cheap Liability-Only Car Insurance Companies

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:

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Best Overall for Cheap Liability-Only Coverage

GEICO

GEICO has the cheapest liability-only car insurance at $66 monthly, with rates as low as $30 monthly for some drivers. Its liability policies scale affordably from state minimums to higher protection levels (100/300/100 at $755, 300/500/300 at $900 annually).

GEICO has discounts, including 15% to 25% for multi-policy bundles and up to 23% for safety features. For drivers prioritizing budget-friendly liability protection, GEICO delivers affordability with solid service quality.

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Cheapest for Drivers With Violations and Seniors

State Farm

State Farm policies average just $102 monthly after speeding tickets and $111 after accidents, which is well below many competitor rates. Seniors get the cheapest liability-only rates at $114 monthly.

State Farm offers flexible coverage from state minimums to premium protection (100/300/100 at $736, 300/500/300 at $913). Its Drive Safe & Save program offers additional savings of up to 30%.

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MoneyGeek Top Pick

Progressive

Progressive offers solid liability-only rates for drivers with a DUI at $1,476 yearly or about $123 monthly. You'll pay less here than with most other insurers. Progressive makes getting coverage after a DUI straightforward, with clear terms and no surprises.

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Cheapest Liability for Drivers With Bad Credit

Nationwide

Nationwide has the cheapest liability-only coverage for drivers with poor credit, with rates averaging $112 monthly, lower than many competitors. Its credit-based pricing model shows the smallest premium increase for poor credit versus excellent credit among major insurers, making it a good choice if you have credit issues. Nationwide's SmartRide program offers substantial discounts up to 40% regardless of credit score.

Cheap Liability-Only Car Insurance: Buyer's Guide

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.

How to Get Cheap Liability-Only Car Insurance

Getting cheap liability-only car insurance requires the right strategy. These nine proven methods can help you find the lowest rates and maximize your savings, whether you're a first-time buyer or looking to reduce your current premiums.

  1. 1

    Compare quotes

    Shop around and get quotes from multiple insurance providers to find the best rates. Even for the same coverage levels, prices can vary by 30% to 50% between companies.

  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. Just one ticket can increase your premium by 20% to 30%.

  4. 4

    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 of 5% to 10%.

  5. 5

    Consider increasing your deductible

    Consider raising your deductible to $1,000, saving you 10% to 30% on your liability-only car insurance.

  6. 6

    Improve your credit score

    Higher credit scores usually lead to cheaper liability car insurance rates since providers view you as less of a financial risk. Our analysis shows that drivers with poor credit often pay much more for auto insurance than those with excellent credit, sometimes more than twice as much.

  7. 7

    Estimate mileage accurately

    Many drivers guess too high on their annual mileage, which costs them money. Most insurers offer low-mileage discounts if you drive under 7,500 to 10,000 miles yearly, so get your estimate right.

  8. 8

    Consider usage-based insurance

    Some car insurance companies offer discounts for safe driving habits tracked through a mobile app or telematics device, with potential savings of 15% to 40%.

  9. 9

    Choose a safe, lower-cost vehicle (if it works for your life)

    Cars with excellent safety ratings, lower repair costs and less theft potential have lower insurance costs. Sports cars and luxury vehicles generally cost more to insure.

What Is Liability-Only Car Insurance?

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

State Requirements for Liability-Only Policies

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.

What Liability-Only Car Insurance Doesn't Cover

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).

How Much Liability Insurance Should I Get?

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:

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.

Is Liability-Only Insurance Enough?

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.

When to Get Liability-Only Insurance

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.

Discounts to Help You Get Cheap Liability-Only Car Insurance Rates

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.

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

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.

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

How to Get Cheap Liability Car Insurance With No Deposit

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.

Cheap Liability-Only Car Insurance: Bottom Line

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.

Cheap Liability-Only Car Insurance: FAQ

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

What is liability coverage?

What are the risks of liability-only insurance?

What is the difference between liability-only and full coverage?

Is liability-only car insurance cheaper than full coverage?

Does liability-only cover damage to my car if I'm at fault?

When does choosing liability-only insurance make financial sense?

How do violations like speeding tickets affect liability-only insurance rates?

Can I get cheap liability-only insurance with bad credit?

What liability coverage limits should I choose?

Can I get liability-only insurance if I finance my car?

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Cheapest Liability-Only Car Insurance: Our Review Methodology

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.

About Mark Fitzpatrick


Mark Fitzpatrick headshot

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!

Passionate about economics and insurance, he aims to promote transparency in financial topics and empower others to make confident money decisions.


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