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Review the offers and find the coverage that is right for you. The best part is that it’s 100% free and only takes a few minutes.
SmartFinancial provides information, advice and assistance on all of your tough insurance questions.
The average car insurance policy in Minnesota is almost 12 percent less than national average. Being better than average is nice. But we bet Minnesotans can do even better on their car insurance.
Finding a bargain on car insurance in Michigan is going to be tough. Michigan has the most expensive car insurance rates in the whole country. We can help.
While Maryland beats the national average, it is even nicer to get additional discounts on your auto insurance premium. We have tips and strategies that will help you to do just that.
People in Maine already know all about affordable car insurance but there are ways to get car insurance rates in Maine even lower.
The folks in Kansas could use a better deal on car insurance. And we can show them how to get one with tips and strategies to lower your auto insurance premiums.
Fortunately for the folks in Louisiana, there are tips and strategies that you can do that will lower auto insurance premiums.
If you have a loss that is covered by the terms of your car insurance, you can file an insurance claim with your insurance company for coverage, compensation or for representation if you are liable for damages. For example, if you have an accident, you can file a claim to cover the cost of the damages to your automobile. If your car is stolen, you can file a claim for compensation for the loss. You need to file a claim on whether an accident or loss is your fault or not.
A deductible is the amount you need to pay before your insurance company begins to pay for your damages or loss. You choose the deductible amount when you buy insurance. The lower your deductible, the higher your premiums (payments) will be and vice versa. When choosing a deductible, consider whether or not you can pay the deductible amount if you find yourself at a loss. A high deductible on a newer, more expensive vehicle may result in great savings but ask yourself if you’ll have the emergency fund to pay that high deductible if you have a collision. The savings on an older, less valuable car will not be much if you choose a high deductible, so it’s sensible to keep the deductible low.
An insurance endorsement is an addition to an insurance policy, changing the terms or scope of the original policy. Endorsements are also called riders or floaters. Some common car insurance endorsements include gap insurance, new car replacement, roadside assistance, and car rental insurance.
When you buy a car insurance policy, you are signing a contract specifying what you pay in exchange for specific terms of coverage on your vehicle. Your policy will include your declarations page, which has a basic policy and vehicle information, the amount you agree to pay and your deductible amounts. If you have any, you will also see your endorsements and discounts here. In your policy, you will also find your insuring agreement with terms of overage as well as exclusions and conditions. At the very end of an auto policy, you will find a definitions section, which goes over terms used throughout the policy.
The premium is the amount you agree to pay in exchange for protection from an insurance company. Annual and monthly payments are how most people pay for insurance. Others pay semi-annually or quarterly.
A liability, in general, is an obligation to, or something you owe someone, as a legal financial debt. Liability insurance protects you against legal costs and payouts you would otherwise be responsible to pay out-of-pocket.
This form of coverage is required in every state. It covers bodily injuries to a third party in an accident that was deemed your fault.
This form of coverage is required in every state. It covers property damage and loss of use to a third party.
This type of protection is also known as “no-fault insurance” and is required in some states. PIP will cover you if you’ve been injured in an accident, regardless of who’s at fault. Coverages include income continuation, loss of services, funeral expenses and child-care expenses.
This coverage pays for damages and loss other than that caused by a collision. It is subject to a deductible.
This coverage pays for damages and loss caused by impact with another automobile, object or person. It is subject to a deductible.
This coverage pays for medical expenses if you’re injured in an accident caused by someone who doesn’t have liability insurance.
This coverage pays for medical expenses if you’re injured in an accident caused by someone whose liability limits are lower than what’s needed.
This coverage pays the value of a brand-new vehicle of the same make and model, minus the deductible if your car is declared a total loss.
This coverage helps you get back and driving if you have a roadside breakdown.
If you rent a car while yours is in the shop, you are eligible for $50 a day up to 30 days, if the damage to the car was a covered loss.
Without charge, you can replace major parts like tires, brakes, and batteries regardless of wear and tear and depreciation value at the time of the accident.
This protection covers you if your car is declared a total loss and you owe more on the car than its covered depreciated value.
If you drive for a rideshare company like Uber or Lyft, this coverage protects you during that period of time when you’re covered by neither your personal auto insurance nor your rideshare company’s insurance.
Drivers with a clean policy may be fully forgiven for their first accident without seeing a price increase as a result of the accident.
Do you know what replacement parts will be used to repair your vehicle after it’s been in an accident? This coverage guarantees original parts made by the car manufacturer, not a third party.
Certain parts of your profile affect your car insurance rates more than others, and every insurer has their own specific formula to decide how much risk you pose. The following are the most heavily weighted factors used to determine car insurance rates:
Young drivers pay the highest rates for auto insurance. Teens are seen as the riskiest to insure because statistically they drive less cautiously and are involved in more accidents than any other age group. Your rates begin to be more reasonable at age 20 but are still dramatically high until 25 or 26. Age 50 is on the other side of the spectrum and sees a dip in auto insurance rates.
Liability insurance is required in nearly every state. Some states require more coverage. No-fault states, for instance, require Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance. See car insurance rates by location
Each state has different requirements. Some only require liability insurance whereas “no-fault’ states require drivers to carry personal injury protection, also called PIP. Even if the state you live in only requires that you carry liability insurance when leasing or financing a car, the lienholder will most likely require that you also buy collision and comprehensive insurance in case you have an accident.
You can also choose the limits of protection. You’ll see a breakdown of the limits you choose on the declaration page of your policy packet. The limits of coverage will be expressed like this: 20/40/15. What you are covered for in this instance is:
$20,000 for bodily injury liability $40,000 per accident for bodily injury liability $15,000 per accident for property damage liability.
The make/model and year of your car, SUV or truck will greatly impact your auto insurance rate. For one thing, your rate is based on the overall value of the vehicle, so the more expensive your vehicle is the more you pay.
A history of car crashes, a couple of cars stolen and some DUIs will raise your rates. However, if you have no incidents within a given year, your rate may drop.
| State | High Risk Drivers | Safe Drivers* |
| Alabama | $123.32 | $107.06 |
| Alaska | $119.62 | $119.77 |
| Arizona | $114.13 | $106.15 |
| Arkansas | $129.27 | $109.96 |
| California | $155.83 | $155.02 |
| Colorado | $123.44 | $135.39 |
| Connecticut | $133.79 | $137.77 |
| Delaware | $126.71 | $123.38 |
| District of Columbia | $153.42 | $168.0 |
| Florida | $216.46 | $217.47 |
| Georgia | $148.65 | $133.09 |
| Hawaii | $103.15 | $107.91 |
| Idaho | $76.64 | $71.26 |
| Illinois | $104.41 | $102.68 |
| Indiana | $97.75 | $85.64 |
| Iowa | $92.77 | $80.64 |
| Kansas | $106.96 | $110.67 |
| Kentucky | $124.41 | $117.35 |
| Louisiana | $212.86 | $208.29 |
| Maine | $75.07 | $68.55 |
| Maryland | $169.69 | $157.29 |
| Massachusetts | $95.83 | $109.35 |
| Michigan | $181.79 | $167.54 |
| Minnesota | $106.99 | $108.84 |
| Mississippi | $139.4 | $117.33 |
| Missouri | $121.61 | $107.63 |
| Montana | $120.84 | $102.72 |
| Nebraska | $92.54 | $88.85 |
| Nevada | $152.4 | $138.56 |
| New Hampshire | $107.57 | $98.55 |
| New Jersey | $171.75 | $168.86 |
| New Mexico | $131.38 | $118.51 |
| New York | $186.51 | $207.4 |
| North Carolina | $77.22 | $76.49 |
| North Dakota | $97.47 | $100.77 |
| Ohio | $96.17 | $85.63 |
| Oklahoma | $130.03 | $133.14 |
| Oregon | $109.7 | $104.18 |
| Pennsylvania | $111.79 | $113.02 |
| Rhode Island | $152.44 | $153.61 |
| South Carolina | $113.76 | $106.31 |
| South Dakota | $102.78 | $102.88 |
| Tennessee | $118.23 | $97.87 |
| Texas | $157.38 | $142.65 |
| Utah | $116.87 | $106.12 |
| Vermont | $105.45 | $80.68 |
| Virginia | $99.79 | $89.91 |
| Washington | $104.88 | $98.66 |
| West Virginia | $130.52 | $127.3 |
| Wisconsin | $102.03 | $85.98 |
| Wyoming | $99.25 | $112.6 |
Some states do not use credit scores to determine car insurance rates while others do. According to the Federal Trade Commission’s data, drivers with lower credit scores file more claims than drivers with good credit. In addition, the claims filed by drivers with lower credit scores are usually more expensive.
| Credit Rating | US avg monthly rate |
| Excellent | $161.75 |
| Good | $155.02 |
| Poor | $125.74 |
The number of years you have been driving will affect your rate, so if you avoid filing claims (and accidents), your rate should decrease over time. With experience, drivers make fewer mistakes that lead to collisions and theft.
Your location is also a big determining factor for your auto insurance rate. Your zip code tells a car insurance carrier how prone you are to floods, crime, wildfires, and other perils that may cause damage or loss of your vehicle.
Most states still use gender as a determining factor in setting car insurance rates. While most people assume that male teens pay the highest car insurance rates, the truth is that rates vary depending on the carrier. Some carriers charge female teens more while others charge male teens more. The numbers continue to be just as haphazard as the driver gets older. So, gender is a determining factor but not in any consistent, quantifiable way.
Continuous coverage is one of the most important factors used to determine vehicle insurance rates. If you were licensed without insurance, it’s often assumed that you were driving uninsured, a fact that renders a driver much riskier to insure.
If you have filed claims or had claims filed against you, you’re likely to have a much higher rate than someone with one or no accidents. At-fault accidents take the biggest hit on your rate.
The number of times a vehicle has traded hands and the type of car ownership also affect insurance rates. In other words, your rates vary according to whether your car is owned, leased or financed.
Your annual mileage is a big determining factor for rates. This is because the more you drive the more at-risk you are of getting into an accident. Some carriers offer considerable discounts to people who drive less than 7500 or 5000 miles a year.
Married drivers are seen as lower risk than single ones, mainly because they file fewer claims than a single driver.
If you have the minimum state requirement for car insurance, you will pay less than if you add on coverage. State requirements for minimum coverage vary, with some states requiring only liability insurance while others require liability and personal injury protection (PIP).
After a claim is filed and processed, you are required to pay a deductible amount before coverage takes effect. You set a deductible rate when you first get insured. Usually, you choose from the following: $250, $500 or $1,000. The less you pay for a deductible, the higher your premiums will be and vice versa. To lower your premiums, you can raise your deductible.
If you prefer to start your car insurance quote online, you can use an insurance comparison-shopping engine, like SmartFinancial, to get many free cheap car insurance quotes, which will accurately reflect the prices offered in your area and based on your information.
Once you start the process on SmartFinancial.com, you’ll answer some questions, which will determine how accurate your online car insurance quote will be. Usually, when you’re given the official quote, the information will be on hand and in your records so it does you no good to lie. In fact, if you’re caught lying, your car insurance rates may go up because you’ll be seen as a potentially high-risk driver. an insurance comparison engine like SmartFinancial’s can give you an accurate quote in 5 minutes unless you have multiple cars and multiple drivers, which would tack on another couple of minutes.
SmartFinancial only partners with the top carriers in the country. Some of these insurance companies work in every state, others do not. Learn more about each carrier below.
| American National P&C | Concord Group |
| Countryway Insurance | North Carolina Farm Bureau |
| Pekin Insurance | Bear River |
| Virginia Farm Bureau | Buckeye Insurance Group |
| MMG Insurance Company | PEMCO |
| IMT Insurance Company | Partners Mutual Insurance Co |
| Ohio Mutual Ins Group | Farm Bureau of ID Group |
| General Casualty | Utica National Ins Group |
| Ameriprise Group | SECURA Insurance |
| Clearcover | Farm Bureau Mutual (IA Group) |
| Indiana Farmers Mutual Ins | Kentucky Farm Bureau |
| Farmers Mutual of Nebraska | West Bend Mutual |
| Mississippi Farm Bureau | Plymouth Rock Assurance |
| New Jersey Manufacturers | USAA |
| Capital Insurance Group | Oregon Mutual |
| Peerless Insurance Company | Rural Mutual Insurance |
| Norfolk and Dedham Group | Commerce Group Inc |
| MO Farm Bureau Services | Nodak Mutual |
| Grinnell Mutual | EMC Insurance |
| Erie | Safety Group |
| Verti Insurance | United Farm Bureau of IN Group |
| Tennessee Farmers | Patriot Group |
| Auto-Owners Insurance Co | Western Reserve |
| Unigard | Western National |
| Penn National | Texas Farm Bureau Group |
| Mutual Of Enumclaw | Umialik Insurance |
| GEICO | Titan |
| Southern Farm Bureau | North Star |
| Georgia Farm Bureau | Country |
| Hastings Mutual Insurance Co | Rockford Mutual Insurance |
| American Family | Columbia Insurance Group |
| Oklahoma Farmers Union | ACCC Insurance Company |
| State Farm | Cincinnati Insurance |
| Celina Insurance Group | Arbella Insurance Group |
| ACE American Pool | Cameron Mutual Group |
| First Chicago Insurance | Progressive |
| California Capital | Grange |
| Colorado Farm Bureau Mutual | Travelers |
| SAFECO | Acuity |
| National General | Pure Companies Grp |
| Atlantic States Insurance | Motorists Mutual |
| Auto Club | Farm Bureau Ins of MI |
| National Farmers Union P&C | Vermont Mutual |
| National Grange Mutual | CSAA |
| ALFA | Amica Mutual |
| Quincy Mutual | Hartford |
| Westfield | Oklahoma Farm Bureau |
| Alliance United | Nationwide |
| Chubb | State Auto |
| Shelter | 21st Century |
| Frankenmuth Mutual | Hallmark Insurance Group |
| Mercury | GMAC Insurance Group |
| Grange Mutual | Pioneer State Mutual Ins Co |
| Allied | Iowa Mutual |
| MEEMIC Insurance Company | Workmen's Auto |
| Allstate | Direct General Insurance |
| Esurance | Electric |
| Republic Indemnity | Victoria |
| Metropolitan | Automobile Club of Missouri |
| Southern Ins Co of Virginia | Safe Auto |
| Sentry | Safeway |
| Farmers | Permanent General |
| Donegal Mutual Insurance Co | Auto Club Group |
| American Independent Ins Co | Unitrin |
| New York Central Mutual Fire | Liberty Mutual |
| Bristol West | Direct Auto |
| Encompass | Wolverine Mutual |
| Tower Insurance Company of New York | United Automobile Ins Group |
| Allmerica | Home State Ins Group |
| AIG | Maryland Auto Insurance Fund |
| Central Mutual Insurance Co | Preferred Mutual |
| Hanover | Loya Insurance |
| Dairyland | General Agents Group |
Traditional insurance states and no-fault states are different in how they handle accidents. In a traditional (or tort law) state, there is fault assigned in an accident whereas in no-fault states your own car insurance pays for damages and injuries even when the accident was someone else’s fault. Below, we break down for you which 12 states are no fault states and what it means if you live in one.
What you need to know before you compare rates.
Drivers assume that there is nothing they can do to lower their insurance premium, this is not true.
What your young driver does, while driving your car, has a direct impact on what you pay for your insurance.
To say the folks in the Bluegrass State need a break on their car insurance is an underestimate. They need many, many breaks. We can help!
A driver’s license is identification that allows you to operate a motor vehicle on the road. Every state has their own driver’s license and own licensing agency.
The folks in Iowa pay just around $1,015 on average for car insurance per year, which is almost 29 percent less than the national average. That’s quite a deal and one that can be made even sweeter with some smart insurance shopping tips.
People in the Hoosier State are used to paying a little less for their car insurance. And there are ways for that car insurance to drop even lower.
Idaho drivers are used to getting deals on insurance. But that doesn’t mean the deals can’t get any better. There are all kinds of tips and strategies for getting lower auto insurance premiums.
Let’s get your auto insurance rates in Hawaii even lower with some money-saving tips and strategies. Before we do, let’s learn more about auto insurance in the Aloha State.
Should you buy the rental car company's insurance? Find out.
Only about 50% of rideshare drivers have insurance. Is it required?
Learn the difference between liability and full coverage auto insurance.
How uninsured motorist coverage works if you're involved in an accident.
Understanding PIP and the 15 states that require it.
What is a deductible and how to choose the right amount.
Learn more about collision insurance and the deductibles that are available
What comprehensive insurance covers and how it differs from collision.
What is liability insurance for auto insurance? Is it required and what are the limits?
Everything you need to know about gap insurance. Learn what what it is and whether or not it's required.
All drivers are legally required to have auto insurance. Learn more about the coverages that are available and the consequences of being uninsured.
Learn more about what basic car insurance covers and doesn't cover. You might be surprised.
Find out what auto insurance covers and explore the different types of coverage including comprehensive, liability, and gap.
Auto Insurance is required by law in all 50 states. Learn more about how it works and if minimum coverage is right for you.
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