Best Cheap Car Insurance in Louisiana for 2019

If you want to find cheap car insurance in Louisiana, don’t go with the first quote you get. Rates for the same coverage options and limits can fluctuate from one insurer to the next, so it’s wise to compare as many estimates as possible. This is especially important in Louisiana, where car insurance rates are among the highest in the country.

NerdWallet has done the heavy lifting for you. We compared rates from the six largest insurers in the state and found the three cheapest options for several driver types.

Cheapest for good drivers

Louisiana Farm Bureau is the cheapest carrier we found in the state for residents with clean driving and credit histories, at $257 per month, on average. Allstate and Progressive were second and third, respectively.

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

Allstate had the cheapest auto insurance rates we found for Louisiana drivers with poor credit, with an average rate of $439 per month. Louisiana Farm Bureau and State Farm also make 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

Louisiana Farm Bureau had the cheapest car insurance we found for drivers with a recent on-record accident, with an average price of $277 per month. State Farm was second-cheapest, and Allstate came in third.

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

Louisiana Farm Bureau was the cheapest insurance provider we found for drivers in the state who put few annual miles on their cars, at an average rate of $229 per month. Progressive and State Farm round out the list with average rates very similar to one another.

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

Progressive had the lowest average rate we found for minimum coverage car insurance in Louisiana — and the only one we found in the state under $1,000 per year — at $79 per month. State Farm and Louisiana Farm Bureau also make the list.

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 required auto insurance in Louisiana

Louisiana drivers are required to carry liability insurance, which covers others’ injury treatment and property damage after crashes you cause.

The minimum limits you must buy are:

• $15,000 bodily injury liability per person.
• $30,000 bodily injury liability per accident.
• $25,000 property damage liability per accident.

Although this will be enough to drive legally, experts recommend getting more than the bare minimum to avoid paying out of pocket after serious crashes. You may also want optional coverage such as collision, comprehensive and uninsured motorist coverage.

Check out NerdWallet’s guide to car insurance requirements by state for more information on how these coverage options work and what makes sense for your policy.

Alternative car insurance in Louisiana

Drivers who are denied auto insurance on the open market thanks to such factors as a checkered driving record can shop for coverage through the Louisiana Automobile Insurance Plan.

Try our car insurance comparison tool to view rates from top companies.

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