Compare Car Insurance Quotes & Rates for 2021

Comparing car insurance quotes from multiple insurance providers will help you get the best car insurance rates and coverage. Insurers use many factors to calculate the cost of your insurance including your zip code, age and driving record. It’s only when you compare prices across insurers that you’ll discover which one charges the least for you.

The MoneyGeek team analyzed over 400,000 quotes from the best car insurance providers to help you compare sample rates and see how different companies stack up. And if you’re ready to start comparing quotes, we’ve provided guidance on all the steps you should take to ensure a fair comparison.

Comparing car insurance quotes side-by-side is important because every car insurance company calculates rates differently. Certain characteristics about you could make one option much more affordable than another, and switching car insurance could save you hundreds of dollars per year.

For example, all insurers tend to charge higher rates for young drivers than others, but certain insurers charge particularly expensive rates for teens, making them a poor choice for young drivers looking for savings. Age is one of many factors used to calculate rates, and these factors can alter your quote by thousands of dollars per year. We’ve highlighted how much rates can change between the cheapest and most expensive insurer for some of the most important of these factors.

• Age: The difference between the most expensive and cheapest quote for a young driver is over $4,000 per year.
• Vehicle Model: For certain car models, we found a difference of $3,600 per year between individual companies.
• Credit Score: Drivers with poor credit who shop around could save up to $2,700 per year.
• Driving Record: A driver with an accident on their record could save over $1,700 per year by getting a quite with the cheapest insurer.

You should also use our resources for comparing quotes in your state. Prices at a national level are a good guide, but certain insurers will offer much cheaper quotes in some states than in others.

Finally, MoneyGeek has tools for you to compare quotes instantly. If you want to see how a combination of age, location, vehicle type, driving record and other factors combine to make a unique quote, you can use MoneyGeek's car insurance calculator below.

To get an idea of the average car insurance quote with different companies in each state, MoneyGeek did research using a general quote based on the same driver information. The driver used for this quote example is a 40-year-old person who owns a Toyota Camry with no accidents on his driving record.

The MoneyGeek study analyzed hundreds of cities in all 50 states to get an average car insurance rate for the average driver. Use the table below to get a general idea of what rates are among the most common insurance companies.

Two age groups are the most expensive to insure: younger, inexperienced teen drivers and senior drivers. These two groups have the highest accident rates compared to other age groups.

MoneyGeek found that:

• The average 40-year-old driver would pay $1,336 per year for auto insurance.
• The average 70-year-old driver would pay $1,390 per year for auto insurance.
• The average 18-year-old would pay $4,868 per year on car insurance.

You can also look at the average annual premiums in the table below and compare each of the nine common car insurance companies with each age group.

According to data compiled by the AAA Foundation, drivers aged 16 to 17 are three times more likely to be involved in a car accident than drivers 60 or older. The data shows that drivers aged 60 to 69 have the lowest instance of vehicle crashes, with almost double the chance of being involved in a car accident once the driver is 80 or older.

For younger drivers, it may seem like a lot of money to put toward insurance. You might debate whether you need your own insurance, or you can stay on a parent's plan. Whichever you decide, consider doing some research on the best car insurance for students so you can budget your money accordingly.

Same for senior drivers. There are also options to obtain the best auto insurance for seniors that fit your needs.

Just like household details, the type of vehicle you drive can affect your car insurance rates. The more expensive a car is to repair, the more it costs to insure. Several factors will affect the cost of insuring a particular model including its repair costs, its safety ratings, the likelihood it will be stolen and whether it is the type of car, such as a sports car, in which drivers are less likely to drive safely.

MoneyGeek found that, depending on the model, the cost to insure a car can change by almost $1,800 per year. For our sample driver, the cheapest car model to insure was a Jeep Patriot, at a cost of $1,085 per year, while the most expensive was a Tesla Model Y, which cost $2,878 to insure.

When car shopping, it’s always a good idea to get several car insurance quotes to compare, especially if you’re looking at more than one option. Take a look at the chart below to see the average annual premium for over 50 car models.

The best way to keep car insurance rates low is for all household drivers to maintain a clean driving record. Any ticket or accident has the potential to increase car insurance rates, meaning it's harder to find cheap car insurance with a poor record.

MoneyGeek found that:

• A ticket increases car insurance rates by an average of 29%.
• An accident increases car insurance prices by an average of 50%.

We’ve broken out the rate increases by individual insurers, as some companies will charge more than others after a driving violation.

Using the study data, MoneyGeek determined the average rate increase one can expect if an accident occurs or a ticket is found on the driving record. According to the data, one ticket can increase car insurance rates by an overall average of 29%. You can compare each of the insurance companies below.

The same data was used to see how an accident would affect the rates on a car insurance policy. Auto accidents usually have more of a negative effect on car insurance rates than a ticket. The data supports this as it shows the average car insurance rate increase due to an accident is 50% when you take into account all average annual premiums below. You can also review the table below for each of the common car insurance companies.

Most car insurance companies use the applicant's credit score as a factor to help determine the insurance rate. Your credit score can significantly impact your car insurance rate, with good or better credit getting the best rates.

Our data shows that:

• A driver with good credit would pay an overall average of $1,379 per year for car insurance.
• The same driver with fair credit would pay an average of 16% more per year.
• An identical driver with poor credit will pay an average of 63% more than a driver with fair credit and 88% more than a person with good credit.

Even if you don't have a good credit score, you can still find affordable car insurance with bad credit. Take a look at the table below to see how each insurer compares across the different credit score grades.

Every state has different car insurance requirements that drivers have to meet. Not all coverages are required, which can influence car insurance rates. For example, some states require personal injury protection (PIP) and uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM) coverages on all car insurance policies, while others offer this as optional coverage.

MoneyGeek's data analysis shows that Maine is 89% less expensive than the most expensive state, Michigan. On average, you can expect to pay $577 per year on car insurance in Maine, while those who live in Michigan should expect to pay an average of $5,182 for the same coverage.

Location matters when it comes to car insurance rates. What makes one state unique or special may also help contribute to higher or lower rates, especially when it comes to weather and population. Location can affect car insurance rates in the following ways:

• Severe Weather: In states with a greater risk of severe weather conditions like hurricanes, tornadoes and flooding, expect to pay higher insurance rates, especially for comprehensive coverage.
• Thefts: States that are more prone to vehicle thefts could see a higher rate for car insurance, especially comprehensive coverage, compared to others with fewer auto thefts.
• State Insurance Requirements: Meeting state insurance requirements, like higher liability limits, could cause car insurance rates to be more expensive compared to other states with lesser limit requirements.
• Number of Claims in the Area: Certain areas in states with higher than average claims could also see car insurance rates increase for everyone, not just those who submit claims.

Finding the best rates in your state likely means comparing quotes from multiple insurers. While one company may be the cheapest on average in your state, you may find lower rates for your situation with a different company. Take a look below to see what the average quote is based on a particular city or state. It includes only companies that offer coverage in at least 30 states.

The prices provided are an estimate and do not reflect actual costs in each state and city. However, these rates can be used to get a general idea of the cheapest car insurance companies in a particular state or city.

There are four main steps you’ll have to take to ensure you’re comparing car insurance quotes properly: collect your personal information, decide on appropriate coverage levels, apply all discounts and compare prices.

With so many car insurance companies vying for your business, it’s crucial to compare quotes early and often to ensure you’re getting the most for your money. Get answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about comparing quotes.

MoneyGeek’s car insurance rates are estimated premiums for 100/300/100 comprehensive collision coverage with a $1,000 deductible. Unless otherwise stated, rates are based on a 40-year-old male driver with a Toyota Camry LE who has no record of tickets or accidents. Learn more about MoneyGeek’s methodology.