Best Low Income Car Insurance 2023

With the cost of insurance increasing at a rate of up to 12% annually, drivers with tight budgets may feel the financial strain. Luckily, there are low-income car insurance options that can help you stay covered without breaking the bank. Depending on where you live, low-income drivers may qualify for state-subsidized car insurance programs. Beyond that, there are discounts and tips for lowering your premium

How Much Is Standard Car Insurance for Low-Income Drivers?

In 2021, the average cost of car insurance in the U.S. is $1,450 annually ($120.83 per month). Your premiums will depend greatly on where you live, as each state has different required minimums for liability car insurance. Many factors will affect your auto insurance rate, including:

• Driving and claims history

• Where you live

• Car model and mileage

• Credit score

• Personal information (e.g., age, gender, marital status)

• Amount of coverage

Get Personalized Car Insurance Quotes Here

In 2021, the average cost of car insurance in the U.S. is $1,450 annually ($120.83 per month).

Cheapest Car Insurance Companies for Low-Income Drivers

Below, we've compiled the most affordable premiums among national and local auto insurance companies.

Affordable Car Insurance from National Carriers
Company	Monthly Premium
USAA	$121
State Farm	$162
American Family	$171
Travelers	$179
Nationwide	$213
Allstate	$237
Farmers	$282
Liberty Mutual	$313

Find Cheap Insurance for Low-Income Drivers

Affordable Car Insurance from Small Carriers
National Carrier	States Served	Monthly Premium
Concord Group	Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont	$68.98
American National P&C	All 50 states	$76.65
Countryway Insurance	8 northeastern U.S. states, Virginia and Kentucky	$76.65
North Carolina Farm Bureau	North Carolina	$86.42
Bear River	Utah	$92.56
Buckeye Insurance Group	Ohio, Indiana and Kansas	$92.70
MMG Insurance Company	Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Pennsylvania and Virginia	$97.00
Utica National Insurance Group	All 50 states	$99.09
Pekin Insurance	Arizona, Indiana, Iowa, Ohio, Wisconsin	$96.75
Virginia Farm Bureau	Virginia	$96.85

State-Subsidized Car Insurance for Low-Income Drivers

State-subsidized car insurance programs are available in California, New Jersey and Hawaii.

In California, the Low-Cost Automobile program (CLCA) provides income-eligible drivers with liability insurance at an affordable rate. Each policy provides liability coverage for the vehicle's primary driver and eligible secondary drivers.

In New Jersey, the Special Automobile Insurance Policy (SAIP) offers low-cost medical coverage for drivers enrolled in federal Medicaid with hospitalization.

In Hawaii, the Assistance to the Aged, Blind and Disabled (AABD) program provides free no-fault car insurance, plus financial assistance and cash benefits for food, clothing, shelter and other essentials.

State-subsidized car insurance programs are available in California, New Jersey and Hawaii.

Below is a summary of the insurance coverage options, cost and requirements for each program.

	California	New Jersey	Hawaii
Program	Low-Cost Automobile (CLCA) Insurance	Special Automobile Insurance Policy (SAIP)	Assistance to the Aged, Blind and Disabled (AABD)
Coverages	Bodily injury liability: $20,000 Property damage liability: $3,000 Uninsured motorist: $20,000 Medical payments: $1,000/person	Emergency medical treatment: $250,000 Death benefit: $10,000	No-fault insurance
Cost	Starting at $263	$365/year	Free
Requirements	Income within 250% of federal poverty limit Car worth less than $25,000 Maintain good driving record	Be enrolled in Medicaid with hospitalization	Meet the SSA definition of disabled or blind. Be 65+ years old Income below 34% of federal poverty line

Ways Low-Income Families Can Save on Car Insurance

If you don't qualify for a state-subsidized insurance program, there are other ways to save on car insurance, including special discounts, paying a higher deductible, reducing your coverages and more.

Take Advantage of Discounts

There are multiple car insurance discounts available based on your driving behaviors, policy and car model. Some common ones include:

• Try Bundling. If you have auto insurance and home insurance at the same company, bundle the policies together. You'll save money on your premiums.

• Good Driver Discount. Be a squeaky-clean driver with no at-fault accidents, no speeding tickets, no moving violations, no DUIs and you'll qualify for a good driver discount and save money on car insurance.

• Check Car Safety Features. Having certain anti-theft features and safety features on your car will lower your car insurance premium. So check to see if the features on your car warrant a discount.

• Low-Mileage Discount. Drivers who maintain low mileage pay less for car insurance. So cut back on your mileage and save.

• Take a Driver Safety Class. You'll brush up on the rules of the road and on safe driving behaviors with a driver safety class. Taking the class will save you money on your car insurance.

• Pay in Full. You can receive a discount if you pay for your entire auto insurance policy upfront. While this may be a significant one-time cost for low-income drivers, the savings may be worth the effort.

• Affinity. Low-income drivers may qualify for a premium discount if they hold a certain occupation (e.g., nurse, teacher, military) or if they belong to a certain organization, such as a credit union.

• Good Student. Students that maintain good grades may qualify for a good student car insurance discount. Your insurer may require you to show proof by supplying a copy of your grades and a form signed by your school administrator.

Pay Per Mile

If your mileage is low, then pay-per-mile insurance can be an affordable alternative to a traditional car insurance policy. Pay-per-mile programs are offered by multiple car insurance carriers, including Nationwide, Allstate, Liberty Mutual and MetroMile.

Raise Your Deductible

Raising your deductible — your out-of-pocket cost before insurance covers the difference — can lower your monthly premiums (and vice versa). This tip should only be used by good drivers with a clear or minimal accident history. Accident-prone drivers may be paying more out of pocket than they'd like.

Drive a Safer Car

Cars with better safety ratings are cheaper to insure. Insurance carriers may provide safety discounts on newer models because they have built-in safety features, such as anti-lock brakes, backup cameras and adaptive headlights.

Not sure how your car stacks up? Check safety ratings with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Drive a Cheaper Car

Another way to get low-income auto insurance is to drive a cheaper car. Luxury cars tend to be more costly to insure and often rack up higher repair bills. While a new car may net you a new car discount, depending on your insurance carrier, older models may cost less to insure because the insurer would have to pay less in the event of a total loss.

Try a Telematics Program

If you're a good driver, consider an insurance program that uses telematics. Telematics is a technology that monitors driving behaviors, such as your speed, braking and driving hours. The insurance carriers use this data to determine your premiums — safer drivers will qualify for lower premiums.

• With Progressive Snapshot, drivers can save an average of $145 a year with safe driving.

• Allstate Drivewise, drivers can save 40% or more off premiums.

• With State Farm Drive Safe & Save, you can save up to 30%.

• Drivers with Esurance DriveSense gain a 5% discount when signing up.

• At Nationwide, you can save up to 40%with its SmartRide program.

• At Liberty Mutual, you can save up to 30% with RightTrack.

Avoid Letting Your Coverage Lapse

Besides breaking the law of driving without insurance (and getting your driver's license suspended), you risk increasing your insurance rates in the future if you let your policy lapse. A cost-saving alternative would be to reduce your coverages to the necessary minimum, increase your deductible and drive cautiously to avoid accidents and insurance claims.

Exclude High-Risk Drivers From Your Policy

If you're a safe driver but there's somebody else in your household increasing your rates, consider excluding that high-risk driver from your insurance policy. That way, your premium can reflect your positive driving history and safe driving habits. Just make sure the excluded driver gets their own insurance so they stay covered.

Reduce Your Coverage

Reducing your car insurance coverage can save you money and is often worth it if your car's value is nominal. But you'll want to be careful about reducing coverages — cut back too much liability insurance and you're financially vulnerable when you're at fault in an accident. If you have inadequate coverage, you may have to pay for medical bills and property damage out of your own pocket.

Compare Rates

When looking for affordable auto insurance, don't accept the first carrier you find. You'll want to obtain cheap auto insurance quotes from multiple carriers to get the price that best meets your budget and coverage needs.

Improve Your Credit Score

Many insurance companies used credit-based insurance scores as one of many factors when determining your insurance premiums. Insurance scores are calculated based on information pulled from your credit report, such as payment timeliness, total outstanding debt and credit utilization ratio. Improving your credit score should also improve your insurance score and may lead to lower premiums.

If you discover an error on your credit report, you can get it removed and ask your insurance company to re-calculate your insurance score. If your score improves, your insurance company can potentially lower your auto insurance premium.

Get Personalized Car Insurance Quotes Here

Grab Your Free Quotes for the Lowest Car Insurance Rates

Car insurance is required in most states, and the last thing you want is to get caught driving without it — even if you are strapped for cash. But securing a low-cost car insurance policy when you're driving on a budget is not always quick or easy.

SmartFinancial can help. A comparison of over 200 insurers will show you the lowest car insurance quotes in your area. All you need to do is enter your zip code below and answer a few simple questions.