Best Cheap Car Insurance in Connecticut for 2019

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 eight largest car insurance companies in Connecticut and found the three cheapest options for several driver types.

» FIND YOUR MATCH: Who’s the cheapest carrier for you?

Cheapest for good drivers

Travelers was the cheapest auto insurer we found for good drivers with a clean credit history, at $105 per month, on average. State Farm and Amica round out the list of cheapest companies for good drivers in Connecticut.

For this calculation, NerdWallet averaged rates for 40-year-old men and women with a clean driving record and good credit. With the exception of age, a large portion of drivers are closest to this profile, which carries standard "full coverage" insurance, including state-required coverage.

Cheapest for drivers with poor credit

Travelers was the cheapest carrier we found for Connecticut drivers with poor credit, and the only one under $200 per month, on average. It came in at an average price of $193 per month, with State Farm and Nationwide rounding out the list.

Poor credit can have a bigger effect on car insurance premiums than even a DUI conviction or a recent accident. To calculate these figures, NerdWallet averaged rates for 40-year-olds with a clean driving record, poor credit as reported to their insurer, and standard "full coverage" insurance.

Cheapest for drivers with one at-fault crash

Drivers in Connecticut who have recently caused a wreck might want to get a quote from Travelers, which had an average price of $117 per month. State Farm and Amica were second and third, respectively.

To get these figures, we averaged rates for 40-year-olds with one recent at-fault crash and the typical "full coverage" insurance. 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 for low-mileage drivers

State Farm was the cheapest company in our analysis for Connecticut drivers who don’t drive many miles annually, at an average of $104 per month. Travelers and Amica also make the cut for this group.

Whether you're retired, work at home or often use public transportation, you may be able to get cheaper car insurance simply because you drive less. The rates above are for 40-year-olds with typical "full coverage" insurance and a clean driving record who drive 5,000 miles per year instead of the standard 12,000.

Cheapest for minimum coverage

In a tight competition for the cheapest minimum coverage auto insurance in Connecticut, Travelers won out at an average rate of $56 per month. Amica was just $8 per year more, on average, with State Farm placing third.

We calculated these numbers by averaging rates for 40-year-old good drivers 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.

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.

Here’s a summary of where you’ll find the cheapest insurance, by category:

---