Cheapest Car Insurance Companies for 2026

• Rate data from every ZIP code: Our analysis pulls millions of quotes from 70 insurers across every residential ZIP code in the U.S. See our auto insurance methodology for a full breakdown.
• Editorial independence: Our recommendations are independent of our insurance company partnerships. See our editorial standards.
• Written by a licensed agent: Mark Fitzpatrick is a licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer with nearly a decade of insurance market analysis.
• Reviewed by an industry expert: Mark Friedlander of the Insurance Information Institute is among the most cited insurance experts in the country.

Regional insurers are the cheapest option for minimum coverage in 24 of 50 states and Washington, D.C. That's more states than any single national brand covers. Farm Bureau, Westfield and Farmers Mutual of Nebraska each lead multiple states and price 20% to 30% below national carriers in their markets. If you compare only GEICO and State Farm, you'll miss the cheapest option in nearly half of all states. Check your state in the table below before you settle on a shortlist.

State minimum coverage keeps you legal. It wasn't designed to cover most drivers' costs in a serious accident. Most states require only $25,000 to $50,000 in bodily injury liability per person, and a serious accident can exceed those limits. Anything beyond your limit comes out of your pocket.

The step up from state minimums costs less than most drivers expect. A 50/100/50 policy doubles or triples your liability protection for $5 to $10 more a month at most insurers. The 100/300/100 level adds another $10 to $20 a month.

Minimum coverage averages $67 a month nationally and covers only damage and injuries you cause to others. To cover damage to your own car, you need full coverage, which adds collision and comprehensive.

GEICO has the lowest full coverage rate in 14 states, Travelers in nine. Regional carriers take the top spot in 21. NYCM leads New York at $60 a month, 51% below the state average. In Indiana, Grange charges $65 a month. AIG leads Alabama at $72. Drivers who compare only national brands in those states pay more than they need to.

Check your state in the table below.

At 16, a State Farm family policy costs $271 a month for minimum coverage and $529 for full coverage, 22% below the national average. The good student discount saves 15% to 25% for teens with a B average and stacks with Steer Clear, a telematics program for drivers under 25 with no at-fault accidents or violations in the past three years.

National General, GEICO and State Farm are within $12 of each other for minimum coverage at 17. That's narrow enough that your teen's driving record and existing policy relationships matter more than the base rate gap. National General leads at $226 a month, GEICO at $237 and State Farm at $238.

The good student discount at GEICO and State Farm stacks with multi-vehicle savings. Families already insured with either carrier can match National General's base rate through that combination. National General prices more aggressively for teens with a violation or a nonstandard risk profile. Get quotes from all three before assuming your current carrier is the cheapest.

The four cheapest carriers for 18-year-olds are within $7 of each other, the narrowest gap of any age in the teen bracket. GEICO leads at $205 a month for minimum coverage. At that spread, discount eligibility and existing policy relationships matter more than the base rate.

For full coverage, Travelers is the cheapest at $415 a month for a family policy with an 18-year-old driver. Choose Travelers for full coverage if you're financing a vehicle and don't qualify for GEICO's student discounts.

National General is the cheapest choice for any 18-year-old with a violation or a nonstandard risk profile. State Farm's good student and Steer Clear discounts still stack at 18 and can push its $212 base below GEICO's for qualifying drivers.

National General is the cheapest car insurance provider for 19-year-olds at $118 a month for minimum coverage, 29% below the national average. It prices young drivers below most standard carriers at this age.

GEICO costs $147 a month for minimum coverage. Its NAIC complaint index score is lower than National General's, which means fewer complaints per policy written. It also has more discount options, including good student and multi-vehicle savings.

The gap between National General and State Farm is $42 a month at 20, the widest difference of any age in the young adult range. National General leads at $117 a month for minimum coverage, 23% below the national average.

At 20, standard carriers price young drivers more conservatively than at any other age in this range. Nonstandard carriers like National General see their biggest rate advantage here. Clean-record drivers who prioritize price should start with National General. GEICO at $132 is worth the extra cost for drivers who expect to file a claim or want stronger digital tools.

At 21, the $34 gap between National General ($89 a month) and Travelers ($123) is too wide to close with discounts at most carriers. GEICO's good student discount is an exception. It pulls the $101 base rate down to $76 to $81 a month for full-time students with a B average. At that range, GEICO can come in below National General for the first time in the young adult bracket. Full-time students with a B average should quote both before committing to either.

The gap between National General and GEICO has narrowed to $7 at 22, down from $15 at 20 and $12 at 21. National General still leads at $87 a month for minimum coverage. Standard carriers are pricing two clean years of record, and it shows.

GEICO's good student discount ranges from 15% to 25% at age 22. For full-time students with a B average, that pulls the $94 base rate down to $71 to $80 a month. At that range, a qualifying student can pull GEICO's rate below National General's $87.

National General and GEICO are closer at 23 than at any other age in the young adult range, with just $4 separating them. National General leads at $80 a month, GEICO at $84.

State Farm's $113 rate for 23-year-olds matches the national average. Without discount stacking, it has no base rate advantage here. The $4 gap between National General and GEICO is narrow enough that GEICO's good student and multi-vehicle discounts can flip the order for the right profile. Run a GEICO quote alongside National General before committing to either.

At 24, GEICO and National General are tied at $80 a month for minimum coverage. It's the first time a standard carrier has matched National General's rate across the entire young adult range.

National General is the cheapest for full coverage at $160 a month, versus GEICO's $175. Drivers carrying a loan or lease should factor in that $15 gap. Four years of clean driving is what it takes for a standard carrier to match nonstandard pricing. GEICO's discount stack gives it a practical edge for 24-year-olds with multi-vehicle savings or active student status.

State Farm and GEICO are tied at $56 a month for minimum coverage after a speeding ticket, 25% and 24% below the national median. Travelers is cheapest for full coverage at $129 a month, 23% below the median.

A speeding ticket stays on your record and affects your rates for three to five years, depending on your state. At most standard carriers, that adds $20 to $40 a month. State Farm's first-ticket program limits the rate impact and keeps its surcharge below most competitors. Check whether you qualify at your next renewal. The program applies at renewal, not midterm.

State Farm has the cheapest minimum coverage after an at-fault accident at $62 a month, 27% below the national median. Travelers leads in full coverage at $137 a month, 26% below the median. Only $4 separates State Farm and GEICO for minimum coverage. For drivers with a financed vehicle, State Farm is the right call for full coverage after a claim.

An at-fault accident can raise rates for three years or more at most carriers. State Farm puts at-fault drivers into its standard risk pool rather than a high-risk tier. That's why its $62 post-accident rate is lower than what specialty carriers charge. They apply larger surcharges after an at-fault accident. If your current insurer raised rates more than 30% after the accident, compare quotes before your next renewal.

National General has the cheapest car insurance after a DUI at $66 a month for minimum coverage, 29% below the national median. State Farm and Travelers follow at $73 and $78 a month. For full coverage, Travelers is cheapest at $158 a month, 36% below the national median. State Farm is next at $159.

A DUI raises rates 40% to 80% and stays on your driving record for three to 10 years, depending on the state. Many states require an SR-22 after a DUI. It's a certificate your insurer files with the state to confirm you carry the required minimum coverage. SR-22 filing fees run $15 to $50 a year. National General and State Farm both file SR-22s; not all carriers do. GEICO charges $102 a month after a DUI, 55% more than National General's $66. Carrier selection is the single biggest rate lever after a DUI conviction.

GEICO has the cheapest car insurance after a texting-while-driving violation at $55 a month for minimum coverage, 29% below the national median. State Farm charges $58 a month. For full coverage, GEICO leads at $126 a month and State Farm at $132.

Insurers penalize texting violations differently. GEICO and State Farm treat texting violations similarly to speeding tickets. Both hold rates at $55 and $58 a month. Chubb applies the highest surcharge at $71 a month, 29% more than GEICO. Some carriers weigh distracted driving more heavily than moving violations. At those, a texting ticket triggers a bigger surcharge than a speeding ticket would, so shopping can save more.

Nationwide leads for bad-credit drivers at $165 a month for minimum coverage, 29% below the national average. Its full coverage rate is $164 a month, one dollar less. Farmers is next at $179 for minimum and $203 for full. GEICO charges $183 for minimum and $195 for full coverage.