Car Insurance for Knoxville in 2023

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Drivers in Knoxville pay an average of $1,916 per year for car insurance, but you might find cheaper coverage if you shop around.

By Andrew Marder 

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If you’re looking for cheap car insurance in Knoxville, Tennessee, you’ll want to shop around and compare quotes from multiple companies. Insurers use a variety of factors to determine the cost of auto insurance, including your age, address, the type of car you drive and your driving history, which means every driver will ultimately get a different rate. That’s why shopping around is your best bet to getting the cheapest car insurance in Knoxville — or anywhere.

To find the cheapest companies in Knoxville, NerdWallet looked at average full coverage rates calculated from public filings obtained by pricing analytics company Quadrant Information Services. We analyzed rates for male and female drivers for all ZIP codes in Knoxville driving a 2019 Toyota Camry L.

Read on to find out how auto insurance companies in Knoxville stack up. You can also check out our list of the cheapest car insurance companies nationwide.

Table of contents

Cheapest car insurance companies in Knoxville

The biggest variable in your insurance cost will be the company you choose, so you’ll want to shop around to be confident you’re getting the best rate. In Knoxville, these are the cheapest car insurance companies based on average rates for a 35-year-old driver with good credit and a clean driving record, according to NerdWallet’s most recent analysis. It's important to remember that rates are determined individually, so these may not be the cheapest companies for you.

CompanyRateNerdWallet Rating
Auto-Owners Insurance$999
NerdWallet rating 

5.0

/5
Erie$1,134
NerdWallet rating 

4.0

/5
State Farm$1,155
NerdWallet rating 

5.0

/5
Penn National$1,226Not yet rated
Tennessee Farm Bureau$1,241Not yet rated
Westfield$1,444Not yet rated
Travelers$1,600
NerdWallet rating 

4.5

/5
Geico$1,704
NerdWallet rating 

4.5

/5
American National$1,712
NerdWallet rating 

3.0

/5
Farmers$1,780
NerdWallet rating 

4.5

/5

Average car insurance cost in Knoxville and Tennessee

Rates across Tennessee differ from those in Knoxville for lots of reasons. The number of accidents, the type of roads and even the weather can affect the rates drivers are charged. According to NerdWallet’s most recent analysis, the average rate in Tennessee is $1,997, while in Knoxville, it's $1,916.

Average city rateAverage state rate
$1,916$1,997

Average cost of car insurance in Knoxville’s largest ZIP codes

The cost of auto insurance varies based on where you live, even from one neighborhood to the next. Some parts of a city may have higher rates of accidents or thefts, which can lead to an increase in the price you pay. According to NerdWallet’s analysis, here are the most populated ZIP codes in Knoxville and the average annual cost of car insurance for a 35-year-old driver with good credit and a clean driving record.

ZIP CodeAverage Rate
37918$1,915
37920$1,896
37922$1,894
37931$1,864
37919$1,882
37923$1,889
37921$1,924
37934$1,893
37917$1,944
37912$1,885

Cheap car insurance in Knoxville by age

Along with where you live, your age is another major factor in the price you pay for car insurance. For example, younger drivers usually pay more than older drivers with similar driving histories and credit scores due to having less experience on the road.

You could easily find that the cheapest company for you changes as you age. Here's a breakdown of prices in Knoxville for similar drivers at various ages, according to NerdWallet’s most recent analysis.

Cheapest for 20-year-olds

While teen drivers are the most likely to be in an accident, 20-year-old drivers are still relatively new to the road. A higher rate of accidents among younger drivers means they also pay more for car insurance. According to NerdWallet’s most recent analysis, here's what 20-year-olds in Knoxville pay, on average.

CompanyRateNerdWallet Rating
Auto-Owners Insurance$2,126
NerdWallet rating 

5.0

/5
Penn National$2,553Not yet rated
Erie$2,567
NerdWallet rating 

4.0

/5
Westfield$2,613Not yet rated
State Farm$2,746
NerdWallet rating 

5.0

/5
Tennessee Farm Bureau$2,747Not yet rated
Travelers$2,802
NerdWallet rating 

4.5

/5
Geico$3,092
NerdWallet rating 

4.5

/5
Farmers$3,420
NerdWallet rating 

4.5

/5
American National$3,489
NerdWallet rating 

3.0

/5

Cheapest for 35-year-olds

By 35, your car insurance rates should plateau. This is a great age to compare rates, as the cheapest insurer you found in your 20s may no longer be the best deal.

Here’s what 35-year-old drivers might pay, on average, in Knoxville, according to NerdWallet’s analysis.

CompanyRateNerdWallet Rating
Auto-Owners Insurance$999
NerdWallet rating 

5.0

/5
Erie$1,134
NerdWallet rating 

4.0

/5
State Farm$1,155
NerdWallet rating 

5.0

/5
Penn National$1,226Not yet rated
Tennessee Farm Bureau$1,241Not yet rated
Westfield$1,444Not yet rated
Travelers$1,600
NerdWallet rating 

4.5

/5
Geico$1,704
NerdWallet rating 

4.5

/5
American National$1,712
NerdWallet rating 

3.0

/5
Farmers$1,780
NerdWallet rating 

4.5

/5

Cheapest for 60-year-olds

At age 60, your car insurance rates are about as low as they're going to get if your history is clean. Most drivers in this age group have lots of experience on the road and established driving records, so insurers know what they're getting into and charge less accordingly. That doesn't mean you won't be able to save money by bundling or tapping into other discounts, so keep shopping around. Below are the cheapest companies, on average, in Knoxville, according to NerdWallet’s most recent analysis.

CompanyRateNerdWallet Rating
Auto-Owners Insurance$910
NerdWallet rating 

5.0

/5
Tennessee Farm Bureau$1,003Not yet rated
Erie$1,009
NerdWallet rating 

4.0

/5
State Farm$1,032
NerdWallet rating 

5.0

/5
Penn National$1,051Not yet rated
Westfield$1,289Not yet rated
Travelers$1,300
NerdWallet rating 

4.5

/5
American National$1,387
NerdWallet rating 

3.0

/5
Cincinnati Insurance$1,389Not yet rated
Geico$1,569
NerdWallet rating 

4.5

/5

Knoxville’s cheapest companies and rates by driving record

Your driving history also plays a large role in your auto insurance rate. Drivers who have clean records will usually pay less than those with accidents, speeding tickets or other violations. Again, comparing insurance companies is your best bet to getting the lowest rate.

According to NerdWallet’s analysis, these are the average rates in Knoxville by company for good drivers and those with violations on their record.

Good drivers

Drivers without any marks on their records are almost always going to pay the lowest prices for auto insurance when compared to drivers with an accident or driving violation. Insurers set rates based on the potential risk of you filing a claim, and good drivers are considered among the least risky. Here are the average rates for good drivers in Knoxville according to NerdWallet’s most recent analysis.

CompanyRateNerdWallet Rating
Auto-Owners Insurance$999
NerdWallet rating 

5.0

/5
Erie$1,134
NerdWallet rating 

4.0

/5
State Farm$1,155
NerdWallet rating 

5.0

/5
Penn National$1,226Not yet rated
Tennessee Farm Bureau$1,241Not yet rated
Westfield$1,444Not yet rated
Travelers$1,600
NerdWallet rating 

4.5

/5
Geico$1,704
NerdWallet rating 

4.5

/5
American National$1,712
NerdWallet rating 

3.0

/5
Farmers$1,780
NerdWallet rating 

4.5

/5

Drivers with a DUI

Drivers with a DUI can struggle to find affordable insurance and may need to turn to a high-risk car insurance company. A DUI on your record means you should expect to pay substantially more than a driver without one.

Here are the average rates for drivers with a DUI in Knoxville according to NerdWallet’s most recent analysis.

CompanyRateNerdWallet Rating
State Farm$1,651
NerdWallet rating 

5.0

/5
Erie$1,938
NerdWallet rating 

4.0

/5
Tennessee Farm Bureau$1,978Not yet rated
American National$2,097
NerdWallet rating 

3.0

/5
Progressive$2,131
NerdWallet rating 

5.0

/5
Travelers$2,345
NerdWallet rating 

4.5

/5
Farmers$2,435
NerdWallet rating 

4.5

/5
Auto-Owners Insurance$2,521
NerdWallet rating 

5.0

/5
Penn National$2,755Not yet rated
Grange$3,157Not yet rated

Drivers with an at-fault accident

If you've got an at-fault accident on your record, you'll pay more than a driver with a clean record, but likely less than someone with a DUI. Your insurance company may ask for details about the accident to determine your rate — a fender bender will likely be treated differently from an accident caused by running a red light. Here are the cheapest average rates for drivers with an at-fault accident on their record in Knoxville, according to NerdWallet’s most recent analysis.

CompanyRateNerdWallet Rating
Tennessee Farm Bureau$1,241Not yet rated
State Farm$1,421
NerdWallet rating 

5.0

/5
Erie$1,585
NerdWallet rating 

4.0

/5
Penn National$1,742Not yet rated
Auto-Owners Insurance$1,776
NerdWallet rating 

5.0

/5
American National$2,039
NerdWallet rating 

3.0

/5
Westfield$2,078Not yet rated
Travelers$2,143
NerdWallet rating 

4.5

/5
Farmers$2,542
NerdWallet rating 

4.5

/5
Progressive$2,677
NerdWallet rating 

5.0

/5

Shop around to get cheap insurance

No matter what company you're currently getting auto insurance from, remember that it's important to shop around and compare quotes from multiple companies. Prices and offers change over time, and you may be able to save by switching to another insurer.

Be sure to take advantage of potential discounts. Many insurers offer car insurance discounts for things like bundling other types of insurance with your auto policy or going years without filing a claim.

Methodology

For our “good driver” profile, NerdWallet averaged insurance estimates in the city for single male and female drivers with good credit and no tickets or violations. The analysis included the largest insurance companies in each state; smaller insurers were also included when rates were available. Liberty Mutual and its subsidiaries were excluded from our analysis as rates were not made available.

We used a 35-year-old driver (unless a different age is stated) and a 2019 Toyota Camry L and assumed 12,000 annual miles driven.

For full coverage policies, we used the following coverage limits:

  • $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.

Where required by law, minimum additional coverages were added. Some policies include additional coverages at the insurer’s discretion.

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 the minimum required coverage by law in the state.

  • 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.

These are rates generated through Quadrant Information Services. Your own rates will be different.