Used Car Insurance Explained
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Auto insurance isn’t just for shiny new vehicles — used cars need insurance, too. But used car insurance isn’t a specific type of policy that companies provide; it’s actually the same as new car insurance. But the cost of insuring a used car can be different from that of insuring a new one, and the types of coverage that will best suit your needs may change.
Here’s what you need to know about used car insurance.
See what you could save on car insurance
Easily compare personalized rates to see how much switching car insurance could save you.How much is insurance for a used car?
Used car insurance is typically cheaper than new car insurance, especially when comparing policies that include comprehensive and collision coverage. Since these coverage types pay for damage to your vehicle up to its current market value, insuring a used car will be cheaper simply because it will have depreciated over time, so it would usually be cheaper to replace or repair.
However, in some cases, certain parts for much older car models can become hard to find, raising the cost of repairs, and older cars’ lack of safety equipment such as backup cameras and burglar alarms may cost drivers discounts and make the cost of insuring a used car go up.
Besides, the age of your car is just one of the many factors that companies consider when setting a premium for your policy. Car insurers may look at:
The make and model of your car.
Your driving history.
Your state of residence and address.
Your age, gender, and other demographic factors.
The types of coverage, liability limits and deductibles you choose.
Your insurance credit score. (California, Hawaii and Massachusetts don’t allow insurers to use credit when determining car insurance rates.)
Although comprehensive and collision coverage may be cheaper for a used car, you might not even need to include them in your policy, depending on the age and current value of your vehicle.
Do you need full coverage for a used car?
Full coverage insurance covers you beyond your own liability if you cause a wreck. It includes collision and comprehensive coverage, which pay to fix damage to your vehicle, after the deductible, up to its current market value.
Depending on a used car’s age, model, and general condition, its value may have depreciated to the point where full coverage is no longer worth purchasing.
You can drop collision and comprehensive insurance if:
Your car’s value is equal to or less than the deductible, since the coverage won’t pay out if you file a claim.
The deductible combined with the total cost of the additional coverage is higher than the current market value of your car.
To find the value of your vehicle, be sure to use a reliable source, such as Kelley Blue Book.
If you’re leasing or taking out a car loan, your lessor or lender may require you to have full coverage insurance and gap insurance, even on a used car. This makes for a pricier policy. But because older cars tend to be cheaper to fix, and their parts easier to source, this added coverage tends to be cheaper when insuring a used car.
Here’s a side-by-side comparison of the average full coverage premium for 35-year-old male and female drivers from all 50 states with no past traffic violations and good credit, compared to the average minimum coverage premium for drivers with the same characteristics, according to NerdWallet’s January 2024 analysis. Rates are for a 3-year-old used car.
Type of policy | Average annual premium | Average monthly premium |
|---|---|---|
Full coverage policy | $1,982 | $165 |
Minimum coverage policy | $549 | $46 |
Is minimum coverage cheaper for a used car?
Minimum coverage requirements vary by state, but they typically include liability insurance, which pays for damage and injuries inflicted on others, as well as protecting you financially in case of a lawsuit. Some states also require uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, as well as personal injury protection (PIP) or medical payments coverage.
Because these coverage types pay for damage and injuries caused to others, and not for repairing or replacing your own car, the car you drive won’t typically make a big difference to the premium you pay for a minimum coverage premium. That’s why a minimum coverage policy won’t necessarily be cheaper for a used vehicle than for a new one. However, factors like your location, demographic characteristics and driving history can impact how much you pay for minimum coverage. And unless you pay cash for a new vehicle, you’ll likely be required to have more than minimum coverage.
Buying a used car without insurance
You may be able to buy a used car without insurance if you purchase it through a private seller. But, as is the case with any other vehicle, you won’t be able to drive it legally without satisfying your state’s minimum car insurance requirements.
Insuring a classic or specialty car
If your used car is actually an antique or classic car with some sort of collectible value, you may want to consider purchasing specialty classic car insurance, which works very differently from standard auto insurance. While these policies tend to cover antique or collectible cars for more than the listed price, they come with strict mileage limits restricting their use.
NerdWallet averaged rates based on public filings obtained by pricing analytics company Quadrant Information Services. We examined rates for 35-year-old men and women for all ZIP codes in all 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. Poor credit rates from The Hanover were removed in both Connecticut and New York.
In our analysis, “good drivers” had no moving violations on record; a “good driving” discount was included for this profile. Our “good” and “poor” credit rates are based on credit score approximations and do not account for proprietary scoring criteria used by insurance providers. These are average rates, and your rate will vary based on your personal details, state and insurance provider.
Sample drivers had the minimum required coverage by law in each state. Some policies include additional coverage at the insurer’s discretion.
We used a 2021 Toyota Camry LE for all drivers and assumed 12,000 annual miles driven.
We used the same assumptions for all other driver profiles, with the following exceptions: We changed the credit tier from “good” to “poor” as reported to the insurer to see rates for drivers with poor credit. For drivers with one at-fault crash, we added a single at-fault crash that happened six months ago, resulting in $10,000 in property damage and no bodily injury claim. For drivers with a DUI, we added a single drunken driving violation that happened six months ago.
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