Best Cheap Car Insurance in Connecticut for 2020

Patience pays off if you’re looking for cheap car insurance in Connecticut. Costs vary depending on the company you choose and on personal factors such as your age and driving record, so it’s smart to shop around.

To help pinpoint the best deal for you, NerdWallet gathered rates from the nine largest car insurance companies in Connecticut and found the five cheapest options for several driver types.

Cheapest for good drivers in Connecticut

For a Connecticut driver with a clean driving record and good credit, the cheapest insurance companies and average rates for full coverage are:

1. Geico: $986 per year.
2. State Farm: $1,294 per year.
3. Amica: $1,349 per year.
4. Safeco: $1,615 per year.
5. MetLife: $1,780 per year.

Drivers with no recent accidents or violations can get cheaper car insurance rates for having good credit. For this calculation, NerdWallet averaged rates for 40-year-old men and women with a clean driving record and good credit. In terms of driving and credit history, a large portion of drivers are closest to this profile, which carries standard "full coverage" insurance, including comprehensive and collision, along with state-required coverage. Prices shown include a good driver discount, when available from the insurer.

Cheapest for minimum coverage in Connecticut

For Connecticut’s minimum required insurance coverage, these are the cheapest companies and average rates, assuming clean driving and credit histories:

1. Geico: $432 per year.
2. Amica: $563 per year.
3. State Farm: $614 per year.
4. Safeco: $932 per year.
5. Allstate: $973 per year.

We calculated these numbers by averaging rates for 40-year-old good drivers (earning them a discount if the insurer offers one) who have only the minimum mandatory insurance in their state. Such light coverage isn't typically recommended, since it might not cover all the bills resulting from a car accident, but it's better than nothing — especially if you can't afford much more. If you're looking for the cheapest possible insurance you can get, though, you'll still want to get quotes from at least three auto insurers.

Cheapest for good drivers with poor credit

For a driver in Connecticut with poor credit and a clean driving record, the cheapest insurers and average rates for full coverage are:

1. Geico: $1,365 per year.
2. State Farm: $2,419 per year.
3. Amica: $2,473 per year.
4. Progressive: $2,847 per year.
5. Safeco: $3,089 per year.

If you have a spotty credit history, it's important to shop around to find the cheapest auto insurance rates you can. Poor credit can have a bigger effect on car insurance premiums than even a DUI conviction or a recent at-fault crash, but prices vary by insurer. To calculate these figures, NerdWallet averaged rates for 40-year-olds with a clean driving record and associated good driver discount, if the insurer offered one. They had poor credit as reported to their insurer, and standard "full coverage" car insurance.

Cheapest for drivers with one at-fault crash

Connecticut drivers with a recent at-fault accident on their record may want to get quotes from these companies, which returned the cheapest average rates for full coverage auto policies:

1. Geico: $1,327 per year.
2. State Farm: $1,410 per year.
3. Amica: $2,093 per year.
4. Safeco: $2,151 per year.
5. Progressive: $3,427 per year.

After a relatively minor crash, some auto insurers will charge a lot more than others for coverage. To get these figures, we averaged rates for 40-year-olds with typical "full coverage" insurance and one recent at-fault crash costing $10,000 in property damage. Your rates will remain high for three to five years after you cause an accident or have a moving violation. If you fall into this category, be sure to shop for new insurance rates just after the three-year and five-year anniversaries of your infraction.

Cheapest insurance after a DUI in Connecticut

After an on-record DUI, these are the cheapest options and average rates in Connecticut for full coverage car insurance:

1. State Farm: $1,410 per year.
2. Safeco: $2,134 per year.
3. Progressive: $2,345 per year.
4. Geico: $2,631 per year.
5. Allstate: $3,354 per year.

A conviction for driving under the influence, or DUI, generally results in higher auto insurance premiums than before. NerdWallet analyzed rates for 40-year-old drivers and standard “full coverage” car insurance with a recent DUI conviction to see which companies were cheapest. Rates can vary by hundreds between carriers after a DUI, and some penalize for longer than others, so it’s important to shop around for the best price right after you see a price hike and each year after that.

Cheapest insurance after a ticket in Connecticut

For a Connecticut driver with a recent speeding ticket, the cheapest insurers and average rates for full coverage are:

1. State Farm: $1,410 per year.
2. Geico: $1,685 per year.
3. Amica: $1,749 per year.
4. Safeco: $1,756 per year.
5. MetLife: $2,180 per year.

Getting a speeding ticket will result in higher car insurance rates from most companies for three to five years. To see who has the cheapest rates, we calculated average car insurance rates for 40-year-old drivers with “full coverage” insurance and a recent ticket for speeding 16 mph over the limit. Though these larger companies were the cheapest we found on average, others may be cheaper for you, so be sure to get at least three quotes before deciding on a carrier.

Cheapest for couples and families in Connecticut

Insurance companies with the best rates for single drivers aren’t always the cheapest for families. Each company sets its rates differently, so it’s a good idea to shop for insurance quotes after big life changes like moving or getting married — your cheapest options may have changed. To see which insurers are cheapest for families in Connecticut, we analyzed rates for a 50-year-old couple with and without a teen driver.

Cheapest for a married couple in Connecticut

For a Connecticut husband and wife, each 50 years old with clean driving and credit histories, these are the cheapest insurance companies we found, along with their average rates for full coverage on two vehicles:

1. Geico: $1,449 per year.
2. Safeco: $1,597 per year.
3. Amica: $1,668 per year.
4. State Farm: $2,056 per year.
5. MetLife: $2,127 per year.

Couples who live together can save on auto insurance by combining policies, whether they are married or not, because they can earn multi-car and multi-driver discounts. Once they tie the knot, rates can dip further, but not because of discounts — insurers see married people as less risky and so charge them lower rates. Our hypothetical 50-year-old couple’s clean driving record also earns them both a good driver discount.

Cheapest for families with a teen in Connecticut

For a 50-year-old couple in Connecticut plus an 18-year-old driver, the insurers with the cheapest average rates for full coverage on two vehicles are:

1. Geico: $2,715 per year.
2. Amica: $3,271 per year.
3. State Farm: $3,658 per year.
4. Safeco: $3,811 per year.
5. Progressive: $4,398 per year.

Taking that same couple and adding a teen with two years’ driving experience is sure to cause a big jump in rates. Since different insurers tend to see a teen’s inexperience in different ways, we analyzed rates to see which companies had the cheapest car insurance for teens. These rates are averaged for 50-year-old couples with male and female 18-year-old drivers across the state.

Cheapest for young drivers in Connecticut

When people in their 20s shop for car insurance, they’re likely to pay higher rates than a more experienced driver. But prices can vary by a wide margin, because each company considers age and driving experience differently. We checked rates for 25-year-olds in Connecticut to find out which companies have the cheapest rates for young drivers.

Cheapest full coverage for young good drivers

For a young driver in Connecticut buying full coverage insurance, these are the cheapest companies and average rates, assuming clean driving and credit records:

1. Geico: $1,155 per year.
2. Amica: $1,497 per year.
3. State Farm: $1,534 per year.
4. Safeco: $2,090 per year.
5. Progressive: $2,104 per year.

Drivers in their 20s can have a hard time finding cheap car insurance, and that's even truer when they need full coverage. The rates above are averages for 25-year-old male and female drivers with comprehensive and collision coverages, which are often required for drivers with active auto loans or leases. These rates reflect a good driver discount, but no others. Young drivers, like all drivers, should check several quotes to find the cheapest for the coverage levels they need.

Cheapest minimum coverage for young good drivers

For a 25-year-old in Connecticut who wants only the state’s minimum required insurance, the cheapest companies and average rates are:

1. Geico: $497 per year.
2. Amica: $621 per year.
3. State Farm: $705 per year.
4. Allstate: $982 per year.
5. Progressive: $1,090 per year.

Since young people often have fewer assets to protect with liability insurance, they can usually get away with lower coverage limits. For an age group with relatively high insurance rates on average, that's good news, keeping rates as low as possible. For this price set, we averaged rates for 25-year-old male and female drivers who have clean driving records, good credit and bare-bones insurance coverage.

Poor credit and minimum coverage

When a young driver in Connecticut has poor credit and a good driving record, here are the cheapest insurers and average rates for minimum coverage auto policies:

1. Geico: $638 per year.
2. Amica: $1,114 per year.
3. State Farm: $1,316 per year.
4. Allstate: $1,528 per year.
5. Progressive: $1,577 per year.

Poor credit is common for younger folks just starting out, who may still be building their credit files. That can increase rates further, so it's extra important to shop around and compare as many insurance quotes as possible to find the cheapest you can get. For these prices, we averaged rates for 25-year-old male and female drivers with no recent accidents or violations (earning them a good driver discount), minimum coverage car insurance, and credit in the "poor" tier as reported to an insurer.

Cheapest for minimum coverage after a crash

For a 25-year-old Connecticut driver who has caused a recent accident, the companies with the cheapest average rates for minimum insurance are:

1. Geico: $613 per year.
2. State Farm: $771 per year.
3. Amica: $915 per year.
4. Safeco: $1,539 per year.
5. Allstate: $1,724 per year.

To get prices for this group, we averaged rates for 25-year-old male and female drivers with good credit and a recent at-fault crash costing $10,000 in property damage. Since car insurance is often pricier after a crash, and especially so for young drivers, we assumed minimum required insurance in the state to contain costs for our hypothetical driver. If you've caused a crash, no matter your age, be sure to check auto insurance quotes just after the third and fifth anniversaries of your incident, when insurers often adjust rates downward.

Cheapest for minimum coverage after a DUI

For a young driver in Connecticut whose record includes a recent DUI, these are the insurers with the cheapest average rates for minimum coverage:

1. State Farm: $771 per year.
2. Geico: $1,169 per year.
3. Progressive: $1,307 per year.
4. Allstate: $1,444 per year.
5. Safeco: $1,551 per year.

Young drivers with a recent DUI on their records will need to be diligent to find the lowest car insurance rates they can get — it's likely that many companies' rates will be quite expensive. But spending the time to shop around for quotes can help you find the lowest. For this analysis, we averaged rates for male and female 25-year-old drivers with a recent on-record DUI. They had good credit and minimum required car insurance, which helps keep rates down.

Cheapest for minimum coverage and a ticket

For a 25-year-old Connecticut driver who has recently gotten a speeding ticket, the insurance companies with the cheapest average rates for minimum coverage are:

1. State Farm: $771 per year.
2. Amica: $779 per year.
3. Geico: $814 per year.
4. Allstate: $982 per year.
5. Safeco: $1,312 per year.

Getting a speeding ticket is never fun, and neither is the higher car insurance bill you may receive months later. At that point it's time to shop around for better rates, and it wouldn't hurt to repeat on your third and fifth ticket anniversaries, when insurers may adjust rates downward. We analyzed rates for 25-year-old male and female drivers with a recent speeding violation for going 16 mph over the speed limit to see prices for this group.

Cheap for military families

For Connecticut drivers with a military connection, cheap auto insurance is often available through USAA, which offers coverage exclusively to active service members, veterans and their families. Since USAA isn’t available to everyone, we didn’t include it in the rankings above, but it was among the three cheapest insurers in Connecticut for every driver category except one — young drivers with a DUI.

» MORE: Best car insurance for military and veterans

Recap: Cheapest car insurance in Connecticut

• Good drivers: Geico.
• Minimum coverage: Geico.
• Poor credit: Geico.
• After an at-fault crash: Geico.
• After a DUI: State Farm.
• After a speeding ticket: State Farm.
• Married couples: Geico.
• Families with a teen: Geico.
• Young good drivers: Geico.
• Minimum coverage for young good drivers: Geico.
• Minimum coverage for young drivers with poor credit: Geico.
• Minimum coverage for young drivers after a crash: Geico.
• Minimum coverage for young drivers after a DUI: State Farm.
• Minimum coverage for young drivers after a ticket: State Farm.

» MORE: Compare car insurance

Minimum auto insurance limits required in Connecticut

Connecticut drivers must carry liability insurance, uninsured motorist bodily injury insurance and underinsured motorist bodily injury insurance in at least the following amounts:

• $25,000 bodily injury liability per person.
• $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident.
• $25,000 property damage liability per accident.
• $25,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per person.
• $50,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per accident.

Keep in mind that causing just one crash could result in property damage or injury costs that surpass the liability limits above, so it’s usually smart to buy more than the bare minimum.

Check out NerdWallet’s guide to car insurance requirements by state for more details on the required and optional coverages in your Connecticut auto policy.

Alternative car insurance in Connecticut

If you’re denied car insurance on the voluntary market because of a spotty record or other factors, you can seek coverage through the Connecticut Automobile Insurance Assigned Risk Plan.

Try NerdWallet’s car insurance comparison tool to view rates from leading Connecticut insurers.

Methodology

For our “good driver” profile, NerdWallet averaged rates from the largest insurers in the state for 40-year-old men and women in all ZIP codes with 12,000 annual miles driven. The policy includes:

• $100,000 bodily injury liability per person.
• $300,000 bodily injury liability per accident.
• $50,000 property damage liability per accident.
• $100,000 uninsured motorist coverage per person.
• $300,000 uninsured motorist coverage per accident.
• Collision coverage with a $1,000 deductible.
• Comprehensive coverage with a $1,000 deductible.

If required, minimum additional coverages were added. Our “young driver” had all the same characteristics, but average rates were for 25-year-old men and women. 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 minimum required coverage by law in the state.
• 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 costing $10,000 in property damage.
• For drivers with a ticket, we added a single speeding violation for driving 16 mph over the speed limit.
• For drivers with a DUI, we added a single drunken driving violation.

We used a 2016 Toyota Camry LE for all single drivers. Couples in our analyses were 50-year-old men and women with good credit and clean driving histories, averaged across all ZIP codes with the same policy outlined above. To see rates for families with a teen, we added an 18-year-old licensed two years ago, averaging rates for male and female teens. For couples and families we added a 2016 Nissan Rogue S to create a two-car household. These are rates provided by Quadrant Information Services. Your own rates will be different.