Finding the best car insurance often boils down to finding the most affordable rates without sacrificing good coverage. While USAA consistently tops the charts as the cheapest car insurance provider, their policies are exclusively for military members, veterans, and their families. If you don’t qualify for USAA, you’re likely wondering which car insurance companies offer the most competitive rates for everyone else. Our analysis reveals that Nationwide, Travelers, and Geico stand out as some of the cheapest options available to a wider range of drivers.
The reality is, the company offering the absolute “best” car insurance rates is highly personalized. It depends significantly on your unique driver profile. Factors like your age, driving history (including accidents and tickets), and even your credit score can heavily influence your car insurance premiums. Let’s break down which companies typically offer the best rates in various common driving scenarios.
Who Has the Best Car Insurance Rates for Good Drivers?
For drivers with a clean driving record, Nationwide emerges as the most affordable option. USAA remains a top contender for those eligible, but for the general public, Nationwide provides the cheapest car insurance for good drivers.
The national average annual car insurance cost for good drivers is around $2,149. The companies listed below offer substantial savings compared to this average.
| Company | Average cost per year for good drivers | Average cost per month for good drivers | Total savings per year compared to average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nationwide | $1,452 | $121 | $697 cheaper |
| USAA* | $1,475 | $123 | $674 cheaper |
| Travelers | $1,597 | $133 | $552 cheaper |
| Geico | $1,849 | $154 | $300 cheaper |
| Erie | $1,866 | $156 | $283 cheaper |
| Average | $2,149 | $179 | – |
Average rates are calculated for good drivers with no accidents or traffic violations on their record. *USAA insurance is exclusively for military personnel, veterans, and their immediate family members.
Who Has the Best Car Insurance Rates After a Speeding Ticket?
Even a single speeding ticket can cause your car insurance rates to increase. If you’re looking for the most affordable insurance after a speeding ticket, Nationwide continues to be a leading option for the general public. USAA still offers slightly cheaper rates, but again, is limited to those with military affiliation.
On average, drivers see about a 25% increase in their insurance premiums after receiving a speeding ticket.
| Company | Average cost per year for drivers with a speeding ticket | Average cost per month for drivers with a speeding ticket | Total savings per year compared to average |
|---|---|---|---|
| USAA* | $1,803 | $150 | $866 cheaper |
| Nationwide | $1,928 | $161 | $741 cheaper |
| Erie | $2,068 | $172 | $601 cheaper |
| Travelers | $2,172 | $181 | $497 cheaper |
| Westfield | $2,403 | $200 | $266 cheaper |
| Average | $2,669 | $222 | – |
*USAA insurance is exclusively for military personnel, veterans, and their immediate family members.
Who Has the Best Car Insurance Rates After an Accident Causing Injury?
Being involved in an accident, especially one where someone is injured, can significantly impact your car insurance costs. Nationwide remains the cheapest car insurance company for drivers who have caused an accident with injuries. Travelers is also a close second, offering competitive rates. For military-affiliated individuals, USAA consistently provides excellent rates even after an accident.
Following an accident, the national average car insurance rate increase is around 50% compared to drivers with a clean record.
| Company | Average cost per year after an accident with injuries | Average cost per month after an accident with injuries | Total savings per year compared to average |
|---|---|---|---|
| USAA* | $2,174 | $181 | $1,036 cheaper |
| Nationwide | $2,407 | $201 | $803 cheaper |
| Travelers | $2,428 | $202 | $782 cheaper |
| Erie | $2,522 | $210 | $688 cheaper |
| State Farm | $2,566 | $213 | $644 cheaper |
| Average | $3,210 | $268 | – |
*USAA auto insurance is exclusively for military personnel, veterans, and their immediate family members.
Who Has the Best Car Insurance Rates After a DUI?
Driving Under the Influence (DUI) is a serious offense that leads to a substantial increase in car insurance premiums. If you’re looking for the cheapest car insurance after a DUI, Progressive offers the most affordable rates in our analysis, with Travelers coming in second. USAA is again a strong option for those in the military community seeking military car insurance.
A DUI conviction typically results in an average car insurance rate increase of about 72%. Car insurance companies usually check driving records during policy renewals, so a DUI will likely affect your rates.
| Company | Average cost per year for a driver with one DUI | Average cost per month for a driver with one DUI | Total savings per year compared to average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Progressive | $2,485 | $207 | $1,108 cheaper |
| Travelers | $2,766 | $231 | $827 cheaper |
| USAA* | $2,781 | $232 | $812 cheaper |
| State Farm | $2,789 | $232 | $804 cheaper |
| Erie | $2,961 | $247 | $632 cheaper |
| Average | $3,593 | $299 | – |
*USAA insurance is exclusively for military personnel, veterans, and their immediate family members.
Who Has the Best Car Insurance Rates for People With Bad Credit?
Your credit score can surprisingly impact your car insurance rates. Nationwide offers the cheapest car insurance for drivers with bad credit among the companies we examined. For military members and veterans, USAA remains a favorable choice.
Having poor credit can lead to even higher car insurance rates than having a DUI or causing an accident. On average, car insurance costs are 96% higher for drivers with poor credit compared to those with good credit.
| Company | Average cost per year for drivers with poor credit | Average cost per month for drivers with poor credit | Total savings per year compared to average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nationwide | $2,076 | $173 | $2,096 cheaper |
| USAA* | $2,799 | $233 | $1,344 cheaper |
| Geico | $2,826 | $236 | $1,317 cheaper |
| Travelers | $2,830 | $236 | $1,113 cheaper |
| Westfield | $3,556 | $296 | $587 cheaper |
| Average | $4,143 | $345 | – |
*USAA auto insurance is exclusively for military personnel, veterans, and their immediate family members.
Who Has the Best Car Insurance Rates for Seniors?
As drivers age, car insurance rates can fluctuate. Nationwide provides the best rates for senior drivers, both for those around 65 and 80 years old, according to our analysis. The best car insurance for seniors will depend on individual circumstances and location, but Nationwide is often a strong contender for affordability.
From age 60 to 70, senior drivers typically see an average car insurance rate increase of 11%. By age 80, rates may be 22% higher than at age 70 and 35% more than at age 60.
| Company | Average cost per year for senior drivers | Average cost per month for senior drivers | Total savings per year compared to average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nationwide | $1,504 | $125 | $820 cheaper |
| USAA* | $1,639 | $137 | $685 cheaper |
| Travelers | $1,820 | $152 | $504 cheaper |
| Erie | $1,949 | $162 | $375 cheaper |
| Geico | $2,006 | $167 | $318 cheaper |
| Auto-Owners | $2,007 | $167 | $317 cheaper |
| Average | $2,324 | $194 | – |
*USAA insurance is exclusively for military personnel, veterans, and their immediate family members.
Who Has the Best Car Insurance Rates for Young Drivers?
Younger drivers, especially those aged 18 to 25, often face higher car insurance costs. Erie, Travelers, Nationwide, and Geico are among the cheapest car insurance companies for young drivers who are purchasing their own policies. USAA is also generally a top choice for eligible young drivers.
Car insurance for a new driver is often more affordable if they remain on a parent’s policy while living at home, whether they are 18 or 25 years old.
| Company | Average cost per year for young drivers | Average cost per month for young drivers | Total savings per year compared to average |
|---|---|---|---|
| USAA* | $2,666 | $222 | $1,599 cheaper |
| Erie | $2,858 | $238 | $1,407 cheaper |
| Travelers | $3,183 | $265 | $1,082 cheaper |
| Nationwide | $3,228 | $269 | $1,037 cheaper |
| Geico | $3,262 | $272 | $1,003 cheaper |
| Average | $4,265 | $355 | – |
*USAA is exclusively for military personnel, veterans, and their immediate family members.
Who Has the Best Car Insurance Rates After Adding a Teen Driver?
Adding a teen driver to a parent’s car insurance policy significantly increases premiums. Nationwide offers the lowest rates for adding a teen driver (ages 16-19) to an existing policy, based on our rate analysis. Other affordable companies include Shelter, Erie, and Progressive. USAA also provides low rates for adding a teen if you qualify.
Finding cheap car insurance for teens can be challenging because new, young drivers are considered a higher risk by insurers. Adding a teen driver can often double a parent’s car insurance bill. However, this is typically still more cost-effective than having the teen purchase their own separate policy.
| Company | Average cost per year to add a teen driver to a parent’s policy | Average cost per month to add a teen driver to a parent’s policy | Total savings per year compared to average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nationwide | $2,808 | $234 | $1,626 cheaper |
| Shelter | $3,025 | $252 | $1,409 cheaper |
| USAA* | $3,056 | $255 | $1,378 cheaper |
| Erie | $3,198 | $266 | $1,236 cheaper |
| Progressive | $3,893 | $324 | $541 cheaper |
| Average | $4,434 | $369 | – |
*USAA is exclusively for military personnel, veterans, and their immediate family members.
Conclusion: Finding Your Best Car Insurance Rates
While USAA consistently offers the cheapest car insurance, availability is limited. For the general public, Nationwide often provides the most affordable rates across various driver profiles, closely followed by Travelers, Geico, and Erie. However, the “best” car insurance rate is ultimately personalized. To find out who offers you the best car insurance rates, it’s essential to compare quotes from multiple companies based on your specific driving history, location, and coverage needs.
