Car insurance prices increased over 22 percent from 2023 to 2024, outpacing the rate of inflation.1 That’s why we researched hundreds of providers to find auto insurance companies that offer affordable rates without skimping on coverage. We use the latest industry data, independent ratings, and real-life customer experience to assess companies’ rates, claims process, and customer satisfaction.

For this review, we prioritized carriers with low rates that remain relatively stable at each renewal. We also analyzed rates by driver profile, so you can find the lowest premiums regardless of your age, driving record, or location.

Your auto insurance needs are unique to your circumstances. If you have a DUI, multiple accidents, or other violations, check out our guide to auto insurance with a bad record. If you’re looking for auto insurance for seniors or auto insurance for teens, we’ve reviewed those, too.

Who has the cheapest car insurance?

If you are eligible, USAA tends to have the cheapest car insurance, with an average monthly rate of $117 for full coverage and just $35 monthly for minimum coverage.

For non-military drivers, GEICO, Erie, Nationwide, State Farm, Progressive, and Root tend to have the cheapest rates. Note that Erie is a regional provider available in 12 states; and Root is a usage-based provider, meaning safe drivers with low annual mileage will save the most.

Below we’ve summarized the cheapest car insurance companies based on the type of insurance or the type of driver seeking insurance.

Cheapest by Category	Carrier	Average Monthly Rate	Average Annual Rate
Full coverage	Root	$93	$1,120
Minimum coverage	GEICO*	$43	$517
Large provider (available in all 50 states)	GEICO	$144	$1,731
Low credit score	Erie**	$128	$1,532
Teens	GEICO*	$408	$4,891
Seniors	Nationwide	$126	$1,511
After a DUI	Progressive	$231	$2,770
After a speeding ticket	Erie**	$147	$1,765
Military members and veterans	USAA	$117	$1,407

*USAA technically offers the cheapest average rates for these categories, but it is only available to the military community.

**Erie is only available to drivers in certain states. GEICO is the next-cheapest after Erie, and is available in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.

Auto insurance companies determine your premium based on a variety of factors, including your age, gender, driving history, marital status, and location. As you can see in the table above, providers can specialize in different types of insurance — like car insurance for seniors or for high-risk drivers — so your quotes will vary.

Detailed List of the Cheapest Car Insurance Companies

Root is our top provider for drivers with safe driving habits and a good driving record. Although Root is the cheapest insurance on our list ($1,120 annually for full coverage), signing up comes with a few caveats. Root is able to offer great rates because it denies coverage to high-risk drivers, especially high-risk drivers with a bad record.

Cheap Insurance For Safe Drivers

Company	Full Coverage (Annual)	Full Coverage (Monthly)
Root	$1,120	$93
USAA	$1,407	$117
Erie	$1,647	$137
GEICO	$1,731	$144
Nationwide	$1,808	$151
Metromile	$1,855	$155
American Family	$1,936	$161
Progressive	$1,960	$163
State Farm	$2,167	$181
Clearcover	$1,994	$166
Allstate	$2,605	$217
Gainsco	$2,909	$242

Test-Drive Process

Part of why Root can offer such low rates is its strict vetting process. You must sign up for a test drive and allow Root to track your driving behavior for up to 30 days to get a quote.

Root connects to your smartphone and uses already available features — GPS, accelerometer, and gyroscope — to measure your driving habits across those 30 days. Its tracking system will identify what time of day you’re driving, how many miles you’ve driven, your turn speed, and more. If your driving habits meet its standards, it will approve you and offer you some of the cheapest rates available.

Safe Driver Discount Model

Root has a unique auto insurance discount model that makes benefiting from savings much easier for customers. While it offers traditional bundling discounts for car and renters insurance, most of the company’s safe-driver discounts will be integrated into your final quote automatically. So rather than having to ask an agent for your eligible discounts or applying for a discount, Root will apply a number of safety discounts to your quote. Drivers with the best driving records and test drive scores will be eligible for the lowest prices.

USAA has offered financial products to the military community since 1922. It has the cheapest average rates out of the top 10 largest insurance providers and also offers various discounts, bundling options, and resources for military members.

The caveat with USAA is that it’s only available only to military members, veterans, and their families (spouses and children). Those eligible must become a USAA member in order to take advantage of its offerings, which include affordable rates, specialized coverage and discounts, financial advice, and more.

Specialized Military Discounts

One of the key discounts offered by USAA is a vehicle storage discount, which is particularly useful to active military members who are deployed abroad or stationed away from home and don’t have access to their vehicle(s).

With USAA, you can earn a discount of up to 60 percent on your car insurance policy if you’re out of state on military duty and keep your car securely stored. You may also be eligible for a 15 percent discount on comprehensive coverage if you garage your vehicle on a military installation.

Save With Usage-Based Insurance

USAA offers pay-as-you-drive policies through Noblr, a USAA subsidiary, which tracks your driving and allows you to save on your premium if you drive less than average. It also takes your driving behavior into account, so driving safely will also help you save money. These usage-based policies are currently available in Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin.

If you don’t necessarily drive less than average but are confident in your safe driving and are looking to save more, USAA also has its SafePilot telematics program, which will track your driving habits and reward good driving with a discount.

USAA Military Perks

USAA is a particularly good choice for military members not only because of its affordable rates but also thanks to its additional perks that members have access to. Here are some of the added benefits offered by USAA:

• 24/7 membership support for insurance, deployment questions, and transition to life abroad or back to the U.S.
• Expert advice for managing debt, loans, saving, investing, and other financial needs
• Discounts for shopping, hotels, travel insurance, and more

GEICO has the cheapest average rates for minimum coverage insurance for non-military drivers at $517 per year on average, making it a great choice for those looking to get the absolute best deal. Minimum coverage always costs less than more robust coverage since you’re opting for a lower level of financial protection, but GEICO stands out with particularly low rates. It also offers a variety of discounts to help drivers save even more.

Affordable Minimum Coverage Rates

Here’s how GEICO’s minimum coverage rates compare to those of other providers:

Many Discounts Opportunities

GEICO has an impressive list of discounts for most drivers, ranging from around 5 to 25 percent. Here are some of the discounts you may be eligible for:

• Bundling: Save on your insurance by bundling two or more policies with GEICO.
• Clean driving record: If you’ve been accident-free for at least one year you can get a discount of up to 22 percent.
• Defensive driver: Drivers over the age of 50 who complete an approved mature defensive driving course can earn a discount on their premium.
• DriveEasy: GEICO’s telematics program tracks your driving and rewards you with a discount for safe driving.
• Good student: Full-time students with a minimum 3.0 GPA could get a 15 percent discount.
• Homeownership: Get a discount just for owning a home, even if it’s not insured with GEICO.
• Vehicle equipment: Save if your vehicle has features like airbags, seat belts, anti-lock brakes, anti-theft systems, and daytime running lights

Accident Forgiveness

Accident forgiveness is a useful add-on to your auto insurance policy if you are prone to accidents, have a teen driver on your policy, or simply want added peace of mind. If you have accident forgiveness, GEICO won’t raise your rates following the first at-fault accident of any driver on your policy. It will also allow you to keep your good driver discount.

GEICO policyholders are automatically eligible for accident forgiveness if they have been insured with GEICO for at least five years and have no other qualifying claims within the past five years. GEICO also offers the option to purchase it as a policy add-on in most states.

While State Farm isn’t the cheapest insurer on our list, its rates are middle-of-the-road compared to other major U.S. insurers, and it earns consistently high ratings on industry customer service surveys. For example, it ranked above average in every region in J.D. Power’s 2025 Auto Insurance Study.2 It has a large network of insurance agents across the country, ensuring personalized service for customers.

Strong Customer Service Record

State Farm scored above average in almost every region in J.D. Power’s 2024 Auto Insurance Study. Here’s how the company stacks up against the average score by region:

State Farm Telematics Programs

State Farm offers two telematics discount programs, Drive Safe & Save and Steer Clear, to help policyholders save money on premiums. With Drive Safe & Save, you can get a discount of 5 to 10 percent just for signing up, and up to 30 percent off at your next renewal. The exact discount will depend on your state and driving habits. The program is not available in California, Massachusetts or Rhode Island. Unlike some other telematics programs, Drive Safe & Save will not increase your rates for unsafe driving.

State Farm also offers a telematics discount of up to 20 percent specifically for young drivers through the Steer Clear program. Steer Clear is a six-month safety driver program that tracks your driver habits and gives you a score based on how well or poorly you’re driving. It comes with five training modules consisting of videos, quizzes, daily tips, and driving scenario exercises. You need to meet the following requirements to qualify for the program:

• Be under the age of 25
• Have a valid driver’s license
• Have no at-fault accidents or moving violations in the past three years
• Successfully complete all the program requirements

It’s probably no surprise that your car insurance premium will increase after a DUI, even if it’s your first one. A DUI is one of the most serious traffic violations you can be convicted of, and a DUI increases your premium by 67 percent on average. If you have a conviction and are looking for an affordable insurance option, we recommend you take a look at Progressive. Compared to major competitors, Progressive has affordable rates for drivers with a DUI.

Cheapest Rate After a DUI

Progressive has the cheapest rates for drivers after a DUI on average compared to its competitors. Here’s a comparison of Progressive’s average rate for drivers with one DUI compared to other major providers.

Progressive Will File Your SR-22

A DUI is one of the leading reasons why you might need to file an SR-22, and not all providers are willing to insure or file an SR-22 on your behalf. That isn’t the case with Progressive. Progressive accepts drivers who need an SR-22s, will file your SR-22 on your behalf, and offers SR-22 non-owner insurance for drivers with a DUI.

10 Best Car Insurance Companies of 2025

1. Best Overall for Quality and Affordability: State Farm

2. Cheapest: GEICO

3. Best for Bundling: Allstate

4. Best for Military: USAA

5. Best for Full Coverage: Erie

6. Best for Families With Young Drivers: Auto-Owners

7. Best for Mileage-Based Insurance: Nationwide

8. Best for Customer Satisfaction: Amica

9. Best for High-Risk Drivers: Progressive

10. Best for Seniors: AARP

State Farm Driving Discounts and Competitive Rates

One way State Farm is able to keep rates low is by offering a number of auto insurance discounts. Depending on where you live, you might be able to save by:

• Remaining accident- and violation-free
• Maintaining good grades if you’re a student, or keeping your vehicle at home while away at college
• Taking a driver education course if you’re under 21
• Insuring multiple vehicles in your household
• Purchasing another type of policy, like home or renters insurance
• Having a vehicle with an anti-theft device or certain safety features
• Renewing your policy with State Farm for at least three years

Reasonable Rates for Drivers With an At-Fault Accident

On average, the cost of auto insurance after an accident increases by about 30 percent for three to five years. State Farm’s rates increase by an average of only 34 percent, making it a good choice for drivers with an at-fault accident on their record.

Coverage for Rideshare Drivers

If you use your vehicle for a rideshare or delivery service like Uber, Lyft, or DoorDash, it’s wise to purchase rideshare coverage. State Farm is one of the best options for rideshare drivers, due to its strong protections and availability. Many major insurers offer rideshare coverage only in a handful of states, but with State Farm, you can add it to your policy everywhere except Alaska, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Rhode Island, and South Dakota.