Fact CheckedNerdy takeaways
GEICO has the cheapest car insurance in the country among large insurers, with an average rate of $41 per month and $492 per year for minimum coverage.
For a stronger policy, Travelers has the cheapest full coverage car insurance among large insurers. On average, full coverage from Travelers costs $138 per month and $1,652 per year.
We can give you an up-to-date idea of what the cheapest car insurance may be for different driving profiles, but you’ll need to compare rates from a few insurers to find your best price.
Cheap car insurance companies for October 2026, at a glance
These are median rates from NerdWallet's October 2026 analysis, but your rate will vary based on your personal information, location and insurance provider. Not all companies offer policies in every state.
NerdWallet found the cheapest car insurance companies by analyzing 500 million rates from pricing analytics company Quadrant Information Services. Our pricing analysis draws on rates for multiple driving profiles and is organized by coverage amount, age, driving record and credit score.
You can trust our prices because our data analysts have eliminated outliers and inaccuracies in our pricing data. To make it easy for you to see how changes to a person’s age, driving history or other factor will affect the price for car insurance, we change just one variable at a time when comparing rates.
While Liberty Mutual is one of the largest insurance companies in the country, it’s not included in this analysis because of a lack of publicly available rates data about the company.
For more detailed information about how we found the cheapest car insurance companies, please check our full methodology at the bottom of this page.
We, NerdWallet’s writers and editors, have spent tens of thousands of hours fine-tuning our library of auto insurance advice and reviews. We built this library to provide you and other readers with accurate, clear, useful information that you can rely on when making important financial decisions.
Here’s why you can trust our advice and company ratings:
We follow strict guidelines to ensure fairness. When we make our “best” picks or give advice, we want to provide information that's balanced and complete. We follow a rigorous fact-checking process every step of the way, and none of our advice, recommendations or ratings are ever influenced by business relationships with insurers. We recommend companies because we really believe that they’re the best and would give the same advice to our own friends and family.
Our picks are backed up by an enormous amount of data. We rate each car insurance company using more than 20 factors related to financial stability, customer experience, online and digital features, and affordability. Our cheap picks are based on our latest monthly analysis of 500 million rates and years of pricing data going all the way back to 2022.
We review car insurance companies of all sizes. Our team has rated more than 130 car insurance companies from around the U.S., including large, medium and small regional carriers. We believe that focusing our reviews on more than just the 10 biggest carriers gives us a clearer picture of the insurance market than other comparison sites. Ultimately, this allows us to give you a better recommendation based on your unique needs.
Our team knows its stuff. Collectively, the members of our team have been writing about car insurance and working with data for decades. We’ve written hundreds of articles related to auto insurance and other financial products, and nearly half of our team of writers and editors have professional insurance licenses to prove they know what they’re talking about.
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What to know about cheap car insurance
New to car insurance? Start here. States require a minimum amount of car insurance. Many people need what’s called “full coverage” — the state’s minimums plus comprehensive and collision coverage — because this coverage is usually required by their auto loans.
Are insurers really that different? Insurers have different prices, financial stability, customer service and coverage offerings. But companies usually offer many of the same types of insurance. You should be able to shop around for the coverage you need from at least a couple insurers.
What’s on this page? This page can tell you which large insurer in our rates analysis has the cheapest rates for different driving profiles. It also has basic, need-to-know info about how car insurance works. And finally, we’ll share a few tips that could help you lower your insurance costs.
Cheapest car insurance for minimum coverage: GEICO
GEICO is the cheapest large auto insurance company in the nation for minimum coverage, which includes only liability insurance and other types of coverage your state requires. Minimum coverage from GEICO costs $41 a month or $492 a year, on average, according to NerdWallet's October 2026 analysis.
What it does. After a crash your liability car insurance, a part of a policy with minimum coverage, would help pay for the injuries and property damage you cause to others. If you’re injured or your car is totaled in a crash that’s your fault, you would have to cover those costs yourself. A liability-only policy won’t pay anything for those bills.
Do you need it? Every state requires a minimum amount of insurance. Most drivers need more than the minimum amount of coverage. In fact, basic insurance requirements can be so low that damage from a serious accident could easily leave you swamped with the expenses.
| Company | Median annual rate | Median monthly rate |
|---|---|---|
| GEICO | $492 | $41 |
| Travelers | $530 | $44 |
| State Farm | $561 | $47 |
| USAA* | $352 | $29 |
| Progressive | $645 | $54 |
*USAA is available only to military families, veterans and some federal employees.
More Nerdy Perspective
Most of the time we think that you should carry more than the minimum amount of car insurance because this type of policy likely won’t provide enough protection after a crash. But in some cases, minimum coverage can be a fit if you have limited income and only want the bare minimum you need to legally drive. It’s better to have some insurance than to drive uninsured and risk big fines or get stuck paying thousands of dollars after a crash.
Most of the time we think that you should carry more than the minimum amount of car insurance because this type of policy likely won’t provide enough protection after a crash. But in some cases, minimum coverage can be a fit if you have limited income and only want the bare minimum you need to legally drive. It’s better to have some insurance than to drive uninsured and risk big fines or get stuck paying thousands of dollars after a crash.
Andrew HurstLead Writer & Licensed Insurance SpecialistCheapest car insurance for full coverage: Travelers
Travelers is the cheapest large auto insurance company in the nation for full coverage. The average cost of this policy from Travelers is $138 a month or $1,652 a year, according to NerdWallet's October 2026 analysis.
What it does. Full coverage protects your car from most types of damage that minimum coverage wouldn’t pay for — even damage that’s your fault. For this reason, it’s a good choice for many drivers, even if you don’t have to carry it.
Do you need it? You may be required to have full coverage if you lease your car or have a loan. (Lenders might also require another add-on called gap coverage, which helps cover the gap between what you owe on a totaled car and its current value.) You may want full coverage if you own a new car, drive a car you couldn’t afford to replace or live in an area with extreme weather.
| Company | Median annual rate | Median monthly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Travelers | $1,652 | $138 |
| State Farm | $1,985 | $165 |
| GEICO | $2,020 | $168 |
| USAA* | $1,587 | $132 |
| Progressive | $2,277 | $190 |
*USAA is available only to military families, veterans and some federal employees.
INSIGHTS FROM A LICENSED AGENT
12-month policies can allow you to lock up rates for longer.
"I always tell people who have a six-month policy to try to lock into a 12-month policy if they’re able. If you can lock in a good rate for 12 months, you get an additional six months of savings instead of facing potentially higher rates in half a year when your policy is up for renewal."
—Jesus Gonzales, Licensed insurance agent, NerdWallet Insurance Experts
How can you tell if a car insurance company is actually cheap?
The cost and availability of car insurance changes from person to person, which makes it impossible to say that a cheap insurer will have the same low rates for everyone. Instead, you’ll need to check that the company offers cheap coverage for you in your area.
You can use the calculator below to estimate car insurance rates in your exact ZIP code. Once you know what you might expect to pay, you’ll be in a better spot to decide if the price that an auto insurance company offers you — or the rate you’re paying for your current policy — is actually a good deal.
Estimate your car insurance costs
Enter your ZIP code and adjust the filters to see average rates for drivers like you.
Cheapest car insurance among top-rated companies
Each of these top insurance companies earned at least a 4.5-star rating from NerdWallet for customer service, financial stability, online experience and discount offerings. Not all insurance companies are available in every state, however.
Travelers has the cheapest car insurance rates among the best companies.
| Company | NerdWallet rating | Median monthly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Travelers | 4.9/5 | $138 |
| State Farm | 4.8/5 | $165 |
| GEICO | 5.0/5 | $168 |
| Progressive | 4.8/5 | $190 |
| Nationwide | 4.8/5 | $222 |
| USAA* | 4.7/5 | $132 |
*USAA is available only to military families, veterans and some federal employees.
Cheapest car insurance rates in your state
Location is one of many factors that affects the cost of car insurance. For example, the average rate for car insurance is $263 per month in Georgia for full coverage. But drivers might only pay $153 per month, on average, for the same coverage in Alaska.
To help you get an idea of what you might pay, we found the cheapest car insurance company for full coverage in each state.
Use our auto insurance calculator to get an estimate for the average cost of insurance in your ZIP code, then see what you could pay for coverage.
Estimate full coverage rates by ZIP codeEnter your ZIP code to find the average monthly car insurance rate for your area. Rates are for policies that include full coverage for a 35-year-old driver with good credit and a clean driving record.
Average monthly car insurance rate in your ZIP code:
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Cheapest car insurance rates by age
Age is another important factor in determining how much you'll pay for car insurance. For example, a 20-year-old driver would pay $284 a month, on average, for the same coverage that costs a 35-year-old driver $138, according to our October 2026 analysis.
As you age and gain driving experience, your car insurance rates start to drop closer to the national average. But this means that the cheapest company for you may also change. For this reason, it’s worth comparing rates regularly to find your cheapest car insurance at your current age.
Travelers is the cheapest for young drivers
Travelers is the cheapest large auto insurance company in the nation for 20-year-old drivers who get their own policies, with an average rate of $284 a month or $3,411 a year for full coverage, according to NerdWallet's October 2026 analysis.
The cost of car insurance for young drivers is much more expensive than average, since auto insurance companies view inexperienced drivers as riskier to insure. If you're a young driver and live with your family, it may be cheapest to stay on the family policy until you have more experience behind the wheel.
Below are the cheapest rates for full and liability coverage for 20-year-old drivers.
Company Median annual rate Median monthly rate Travelers $3,411 $284 GEICO $3,778 $315 Progressive $3,833 $319 State Farm $4,378 $365 USAA* $3,439 $287 *USAA is available only to military families, veterans and some federal employees.
Company Median annual rate Median monthly rate GEICO $979 $82 Travelers $1,058 $88 Progressive $1,067 $89 State Farm $1,316 $110 USAA* $747 $62 *USAA is available only to military families, veterans and some federal employees.
Rates refreshed October 2026.
Progressive is the cheapest for young drivers who join an existing policy
Progressive is the cheapest large auto insurance company in the country for 20-year-old drivers who join their parents' existing policy. Progressive has an average rate of $329 a month or $3,944 a year for a full coverage policy insuring the new driver and their two parents, according to a separate rates analysis we did in May 2026.
While it’s usually much cheaper for a newly licensed driver to join a parent or guardian’s policy, the total cost depends on whether the young driver has their own car (and, if so, how old that car is) or shares a family car. On average, separate cars cost more to insure.
Company
Median monthly rate
Monthly increase from two-adult policy
USAA*
$314
$115
Progressive
$329
$80
Travelers
$338
$130
GEICO
$399
$70
State Farm
$422
$133
Nationwide
$503
$159
American Family
$514
$142
Allstate
$636
$273
Farmers
$777
$235
*USAA is available only to military families, veterans and some federal employees.
This table shows insurance rates for drivers who share a car with their parents. For comparison, the average cost to insure two adults is $3,595 per year, according to our analysis of full coverage rates for a 50-year-old male driver and 45-year-old female driver sharing one policy.
Travelers is the cheapest for millennial drivers
Travelers is the cheapest large auto insurer for 40-year-old drivers, with an average rate of $131 a month or $1,572 a year for full coverage, according to NerdWallet's October 2026 analysis.
While car insurance rates vary by age and gender, drivers in their 30s and 40s can often get affordable insurance rates from most companies. Small and regional insurers may have even cheaper rates than some larger competitors.
Below are the average rates for full and liability coverage for 40-year-old drivers.
Company Median annual rate Median monthly rate Travelers $1,572 $131 State Farm $1,964 $164 USAA* $1,495 $125 GEICO $2,001 $167 Progressive $2,140 $178 *USAA is available only to military families, veterans and some federal employees.
Company Median annual rate Median monthly rate GEICO $490 $41 Travelers $514 $43 State Farm $567 $47 Progressive $625 $52 USAA* $340 $28 *USAA is available only to military families, veterans and some federal employees.
Rates refreshed October 2026.
Travelers is the cheapest for Gen X drivers
Travelers is the cheapest large auto insurer for 50-year-old drivers, with an average rate of $124 a month or $1,486 a year for full coverage, according to NerdWallet's October 2026 analysis.
Once you’re in your 50s, car insurance usually costs much less than it does for younger drivers. At this age, your car insurance needs might have changed in your favor. For example, if you own an older car that’s worth less than what it costs to insure, you could drop full coverage and lower your rates even more.
Below are the average rates for full and liability coverage for 50-year-old drivers.
Company Median annual rate Median monthly rate Travelers $1,486 $124 GEICO $1,889 $157 State Farm $1,892 $158 Progressive $1,923 $160 USAA* $1,397 $116 *USAA is available only to military families, veterans and some federal employees.
Company Median annual rate Median monthly rate GEICO $479 $40 Travelers $493 $41 State Farm $547 $46 Progressive $599 $50 USAA* $325 $27 *USAA is available only to military families, veterans and some federal employees.
Rates refreshed October 2026.
And Travelers is the cheapest for senior drivers
Travelers is the cheapest large auto insurer for 70-year-old drivers, with an average rate of $130 a month or $1,559 a year for full coverage, according to NerdWallet's October 2026 analysis.
Our analysis shows that older drivers with a good credit score and clean driving history enjoy some of the cheapest auto insurance rates. However, car insurance rates for senior drivers start to creep up again once you reach your 70s.
Below are the average rates for full and liability coverage for 70-year-old drivers.
Company Median annual rate Median monthly rate Travelers $1,559 $130 State Farm $1,816 $151 Progressive $1,881 $157 GEICO $2,067 $172 USAA* $1,315 $110 *USAA is available only to military families, veterans and some federal employees.
Company Median annual rate Median monthly rate GEICO $536 $45 State Farm $537 $45 USAA* $344 $29 Travelers $564 $47 Progressive $631 $53 *USAA is available only to military families, veterans and some federal employees.
Rates refreshed October 2026.
Cheapest auto insurance after a driving violation
Your driving history can have a big effect on how much you pay for car insurance. A 35-year-old with a clean driving record who chooses the cheapest company would pay $138 a month for full coverage, on average. Meanwhile, the cheapest rate for a driver with a single accident is $190, on average.
Travelers is the cheapest after a speeding ticket
Travelers is the cheapest large auto insurer for drivers with a speeding ticket, with an average rate of $177 a month or $2,127 a year for full coverage, according to NerdWallet's October 2026 analysis.
Insurance companies calculate rates differently. Some won’t raise rates after your first ticket, but others will. If a speeding ticket affects your insurance rates, you may still be able to get cheaper coverage if you shop around.
Company Median annual rate Median monthly rate Travelers $2,127 $177 State Farm $2,266 $189 USAA* $1,924 $160 GEICO $2,751 $229 Progressive $3,007 $251 *USAA is available only to military families, veterans and some federal employees.
Company Median annual rate Median monthly rate GEICO $656 $55 Travelers $668 $56 State Farm $679 $57 Progressive $831 $69 USAA* $423 $35 *USAA is available only to military families, veterans and some federal employees.
Rates refreshed October 2026.
Travelers is the cheapest after an at-fault crash
Travelers is the cheapest large auto insurer for drivers with an accident, with an average rate of $190 a month or $2,274 a year for full coverage, according to NerdWallet's October 2026 analysis.
An accident can drive up your car insurance costs for three years or more, depending on your location and your insurer. But it can be hard to predict how much insurance will go up after a crash. You might be able to find a cheaper option by shopping around.
Company Median annual rate Median monthly rate Travelers $2,274 $190 State Farm $2,565 $214 USAA* $2,258 $188 Progressive $3,416 $285 GEICO $3,510 $293 *USAA is available only to military families, veterans and some federal employees.
Company Median annual rate Median monthly rate Travelers $693 $58 State Farm $762 $64 GEICO $845 $70 Progressive $928 $77 USAA* $518 $43 *USAA is available only to military families, veterans and some federal employees.
Rates refreshed October 2026.
Travelers is the cheapest after a DUI
Travelers is the cheapest large auto insurer for drivers with a recent DUI, with an average rate of $232 a month or $2,783 a year for full coverage, according to NerdWallet's October 2026 analysis.
A DUI on your driving record can significantly increase your insurance rates. Your policy may not be renewed after a DUI. And, depending on your state, you may have to file a special form called SR22 or FR44 to prove you have the legal amount of insurance.
Company Median annual rate Median monthly rate Travelers $2,783 $232 Progressive $3,122 $260 State Farm $3,147 $262 American Family $3,690 $308 USAA* $3,056 $255 *USAA is available only to military families, veterans and some federal employees.
Company Median annual rate Median monthly rate Travelers $853 $71 Progressive $855 $71 State Farm $1,014 $84 American Family $1,120 $93 USAA* $680 $57 *USAA is available only to military families, veterans and some federal employees.
Rates refreshed October 2026.
Cheapest car insurance by credit score
Many insurers use credit-based insurance scores to help calculate car insurance rates. However, California, Hawaii and Massachusetts don't allow insurers to use credit when determining car insurance rates.
Travelers is the cheapest for drivers with poor credit
Travelers is the cheapest large auto insurance company for drivers with poor credit, with an average rate of $232 a month and $2,786 a year for full coverage, according to NerdWallet's October 2026 analysis.
Poor credit can have a big impact on auto insurance costs in most other states. Our analysis shows that drivers with poor credit can expect to pay an average of 67% more for full coverage than those with good credit.
Company Median annual rate Median monthly rate Travelers $2,786 $232 GEICO $2,910 $243 USAA* $2,868 $239 Progressive $3,822 $319 Nationwide $3,992 $333 *USAA is available only to military families, veterans and some federal employees.
Company Median annual rate Median monthly rate GEICO $700 $58 Travelers $860 $72 Progressive $959 $80 Allstate $1,035 $86 USAA* $581 $48 *USAA is available only to military families, veterans and some federal employees.
Rates refreshed October 2026.
How to get the cheapest car insurance quotes
We know a handful of reliable ways you can try to get cheaper car insurance, and we recommend them instead of riskier “hacks” you might read about online. For example, skimping on your coverage, lying to an insurer by not mentioning drivers in your house or fudging your driving record all could get you into trouble and cause you to lose your coverage. That’s arguably worse than paying an extra $15 a month.
Shop around for car insurance.
We recommend comparing car insurance quotes from at least three companies. It’s also smart to shop around before your policy renews. That way, you’re more likely to avoid overpaying.
Consider dropping coverage you no longer need.
You won’t always need the same amount of car insurance, and carrying too much could inflate your insurance costs. It might be time to drop collision coverage once you could afford to repair or replace your vehicle on your own.
Watch for easy-to-get discounts.
Most car insurance companies offer drivers ways to lower their rates. Some common auto insurance discounts are easier to get than others — like discounts for shopping online or signing up for electronic policy documents.
Ask about savings opportunities after a life change.
Many of life’s biggest changes line up with different discounts, though you might not know it. Moving into a new house, getting a new job that shortens your commute and having a young driver move out of your home are just a few changes that insurers may reward with cheaper rates.
Keep a safe driving record — or work toward one.
Accidents and driving violations raise rates at first, but often return closer to average after three to five years.
In the meantime, you might earn a discount for taking a defensive driving class or signing up for usage-based car insurance. If you opt into one of these programs, you could earn a discount for sharing detailed information about your driving via an app or plug-in device.
Increase your deductible.
You can usually lower your car insurance costs by committing to pay more out of pocket to make a future claim. Insurers call this raising your policy’s deductible. Be careful though: A higher deductible means you’ll only get payouts for serious damage. You can use the tool below to see how raising deductibles affects car insurance costs.
INSIGHTS FROM A LICENSED AGENT
A high deductible can help lower insurance rates.
"Consider raising your deductibles to decrease your premium. Deductibles usually have the biggest impact on price. To choose a deductible amount, think about how much you would feel comfortable paying out of pocket to repair your car if you were in a crash. I usually recommend a higher deductible for collision (which is more expensive than comprehensive coverage) to help reduce a policy’s premium."
—Alex Matthews, Licensed insurance agent, NerdWallet Insurance Experts
More Nerdy Perspective
I saved nearly $200 a year by choosing the cheapest way to pay my auto insurance premiums. By signing up for autopay, I got a discount on my policy and avoided a $5 monthly service charge. The savings added up to about 14%. That’s like skipping more than 1½ monthly payments!
Reddit is an online forum where users share their thoughts in “threads” on various topics. The popular site includes plenty of discussion on financial subjects like auto insurance, so we sifted through Reddit forums to see what steps drivers are using to find cheap insurance.
People post anonymously on Reddit, so we can’t confirm anyone’s individual experiences or circumstances. After reading through many conversations, we found a few common themes:
Some drivers prefer to work with local, independent agents, because these agents are experts who can shop around and compare quotes for you. You can search in your area or use Trusted Choice, a network of independent insurance agents, to browse a directory of agents and find a good match.
Some drivers found that going to an insurer’s website helped them find cheaper quotes than what an independent agent gave them.
Some drivers recommend looking at smaller insurers, since these companies tend to offer better customer service and possibly even cheaper rates than a national company.
Auto insurance ratings methodology
NerdWallet’s auto insurance ratings reward companies for customer-first features and practices. Ratings are based on weighted averages of scores in several categories, including financial strength, consumer complaints and discounts. Our “ease of use” category looks at factors such as website transparency and how easy it is to file a claim. Using our editorial discretion, we also consider customer satisfaction surveys. These ratings are a guide, but we encourage you to shop around and compare several insurance quotes to find the best rate for you. NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews. Read our editorial guidelines and full ratings methodology for auto insurance.
Here’s how we evaluated each car insurance company and the weights we placed on each category:
Financial strength (30%).
Consumer complaints (30%).
Ease of use (20%).
Affordability (20%).
The best auto insurers excel at all of these categories. They provide the information people need to make a purchase without any surprises along the way. They offer insurance at a fair price and provide more than one way to buy and manage a policy. They're financially strong and able to keep their customers happy throughout the relationship.
Insurer complaints methodology
NerdWallet examined complaints received by state insurance regulators and reported to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in 2022-2024. To assess how insurers compare to one another, the NAIC calculates a complaint index each year for each subsidiary, measuring its share of total complaints relative to its size, or share of total premiums in the industry. To evaluate a company’s complaint history, NerdWallet calculated a similar index for each insurer, weighted by market shares of each subsidiary, over the three-year period. NerdWallet conducts its data analysis and reaches conclusions independently and without the endorsement of the NAIC. Ratios are determined separately for auto, home (including renters and condo) and life insurance.
Average rates methodology
NerdWallet averaged rates based on public filings obtained by pricing analytics company Quadrant Information Services. We examined rates for men and women for all ZIP codes in any of the 50 states and Washington, D.C. Although it’s one of the largest insurers in the country, Liberty Mutual is not included in our rates analysis due to a lack of publicly available information.
In our analysis, “good drivers” had no moving violations on record; a “good driving” discount was included for this profile. Our “good” credit rates are based on credit score approximations and do not account for proprietary scoring criteria used by insurance providers.
These are median rates, and your rate will vary based on your personal details, state and insurance provider.
Sample drivers had the following coverage limits:
$100,000 bodily injury liability coverage per person.
$300,000 bodily injury liability coverage per crash.
$50,000 property damage liability coverage per crash.
$100,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage per person.
$300,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage per crash.
Collision coverage with $1,000 deductible.
Comprehensive coverage with $1,000 deductible.
In states where required, minimum additional coverages were added. We used the same assumptions for all other driver profiles, with the following exceptions:
For drivers with minimum coverage, we adjusted the numbers above to reflect only the minimum coverage required by law in the state.
For drivers with one at-fault crash, we added a single at-fault crash costing $10,000 in property damage.
For drivers with a DUI, we added a single drunken-driving violation.
For drivers with a ticket, we added a single speeding violation for driving 16 mph over the speed limit.
We used a 2023 Toyota Camry LE in all cases and assumed 12,000 annual miles driven. We analyzed rates for 35-year-old drivers.
These are rates generated through Quadrant Information Services. Your own rates will be different.
