Cheapest car insurance with collision and comprehensive

| Updated on: Oct 20, 2022

EXPERT REVIEWED by Laura Longero

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Shopping for cheaper full coverage car insurance? CarInsurance.com ran the numbers and found the cheapest insurers when it comes to a policy that includes comprehensive and collision. Consumers can get full coverage car insurance for less than $100 a month from auto insurers American National Finance, Palisades, Mapfre Insurance, Vermont Mutual, Nationwide and USAA.

Full coverage car insurance includes liability, comprehensive and collision coverage. Nearly 80% of American drivers have full coverage insurance, according to the Insurance Information Institute.

It’s not just accidents that full coverage protects against. If your vehicle is damaged by weather, fire or theft, comprehensive will replace or repair it – without full coverage, you would be on the hook for those costs.

Check out our rankings of the cheapest full coverage car insurance in this guide.

So, which companies offer cheap full coverage car insurance? According to 2022 data, Nationwide, USAA, Erie, GEICO and American Family came out on top when it comes to the cheapest full coverage car insurance companies among major national insurers.

The insurance companies listed below offer the cheapest average full coverage rates, but remember – your coverage needs and specific driver profile will impact insurance costs, so your premium may be higher or lower than the average.

Cheapest full coverage car insurance company

How much does full coverage car insurance cost in each state?

Rates for full coverage car insurance depend on a variety of factors, including your state of residence. See full coverage car insurance costs by state in the table below.

Average annual and monthly cost for full coverage car insurance in each state

What are the cheapest cities for full coverage car insurance?

Cities in Ohio, Idaho and Maine have the cheapest full coverage car insurance in the nation. On the flip side, Florida, Louisiana and Michigan have the dubious honor of having the most expensive cities for full coverage insurance.

See the 50 cities with the cheapest full coverage car insurance in the table below.

Top 50 cheapest cities in the U.S. for full coverage car insurance

How much does full coverage cost in the biggest U.S. cities?

In the 25 most populous cities in the U.S., the average annual cost for full coverage ranges from $1,146 in Columbus, Ohio, to $3,924 in New York City. Full coverage car insurance is the most expensive in New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Philadelphia and Jacksonville, Florida.

Average cost of full coverage insurance in the 25 most-populous U.S. cities

How do you find cheap full coverage car insurance?

Comparison shopping is the best way to get full coverage car insurance online. No two car insurance providers have identical prices for the same policy. Instead, costs vary significantly from one company to another as insurers rate risk differently which is why comparing rates is one of the best ways to save on coverage.

Richard Estrella, director of operations at Miami-based Estrella Insurance recommends drivers get quotes from insurers every renewal period or every other renewal period.

“Remember, also, that insurance companies sometimes adjust their premiums several times a year and typically never less than once a year. Therefore, it’s very possible that your insurer, which may have been the cheapest at the time you purchased coverage, is now more expensive,” Estrella says.

How do you find the best full coverage insurance policy for you?

Here are a few tips when you’re shopping for a full coverage insurance policy:

• Compare the same deductible amounts and liability limits.
• See what add-on coverages are available, such as roadside assistance.
• Always use the same basic information, such as the listed drivers.
• Make sure you get all the auto insurance discounts that you’re eligible to receive.
• Compare full coverage car insurance quotes from at least three insurers.
• Maintain good credit.

“We recommend you get a minimum of three quotes from a mix of national and regional carriers to compare prices,” says Mark Friedlander, director of corporate communications for the Insurance Information Institute in St. Johns, Florida.

“You can also lower your car insurance rates by raising your deductible on comprehensive and collision coverages and bundling your coverage by taking advantage of multi-policy discounts.”

How does the cost of full coverage compare to liability only?

Liability-only insurance is only a good idea if you are driving an older vehicle that you would replace not repair if you were involved in an accident. In most cases, you must own the vehicle outright. If you have a loan or lease on your vehicle, your lender will require you to carry full coverage to protect their investment in your vehicle.

Full coverage costs more but if your car is damaged or destroyed by a covered peril, it will be repaired or replaced; liability only provides zero coverage for your own vehicle.

According to our analysis, a full coverage policy will cost roughly 102% more than a 50/100/50 liability-only policy and 140% more than a state minimum liability-only policy. This breaks down to $695 a year more than the state minimum policy and $601 more than the more robust liability-only policy.

While this may seem a bit pricey at first glance, it translates into $50 more a month which will seem well worth it if your car is severely damaged or destroyed by a covered peril.

If you are carrying liability only, you will be on the hook for all costs to repair or replace your vehicle if it is damaged or destroyed in an accident or by a weather incident. In most cases, you should not carry liability-only coverage unless your vehicle is nearing the end of its life or you can easily afford to repair or replace it.

Annual average insurance rates by various limits for major insurance companies

Do I need comprehensive and collision (full coverage)?

It depends on the value of your vehicle and whether or not you have a loan or lease. If your car is financed or you have a lease, your lender will require that you carry full coverage which includes comprehensive and collision. This protects their asset until you have paid the vehicle off.

On the other hand, if you have an older vehicle that is paid off and you would replace it after an accident, dropping comprehensive and collision makes sense.

Comprehensive and collision only pay out up to the actual cash value of your car, minus a deductible you pay first. That’s why these coverages may be unnecessary if the vehicle is old and has little value.

Coverage recommendations for collision and comprehensive:

• If your car is less than 10 years old, you should consider buying collision and comprehensive.
• If your car is more than 10 years old, buy collision and comprehensive if your car is worth $4,000 or more.
• Buy collision and comprehensive if you can’t afford to replace it if you get into an accident.
• Buy comprehensive if you live in an area prone to hail, flooding, vandalism, animal strikes or theft.

Learn more about When to drop comprehensive and collision coverage

How can I find the cheapest full coverage insurance online?

The best way to find the cheapest full coverage insurance is to shop your coverage on a regular basis. If you are already aware of the coverages you want, shopping for a policy online is simple.

Here’s how to find full coverage car insurance:

Comparison sites: Sites like CarInsurance.com show prices from a variety of insurance companies so you can find the best rates. Fill out a simple form to see quotes in minutes from a variety of insurers.

Then, choose the best policy for you and finalize the purchase right on the site. Comparison sites are an excellent way to compare quotes from several insurers quickly and easily.

Directly from the insurer: While it varies by insurer, most allow you to purchase a policy online directly from the insurance company. Geico and Progressive are excellent examples of insurers who mainly sell insurance directly to consumers. If you know the coverages you need, this can be an excellent way to shop for coverage.

Independent agent: Independent agents sell products from multiple insurance companies so you can get quotes from a variety of insurers. In many cases, you can shop the insurers they are affiliated with online and even buy a policy online or over the phone.

Regardless of how you purchase your new policy, don’t forget to cancel your old policy after you’ve signed your new policy. Always make sure to set the cancellation date of your old policy after the start date of your new one so there are no coverage gaps.

Check out our detailed guide on how do you buy car insurance online

What are other ways I can save to get the most affordable full-coverage car insurance?

Here are a few tips to help keep your full coverage car insurance affordable:

• Clean driving record: Keeping your driving record (and those of everyone on the policy) clean will help lower your rates. Tickets and accidents will result in a big premium increase.
• Safe car: Insurers love advanced safety features that help the driver avoid accidents that result in a claim. If you have a vehicle loaded with safety features, you will usually pay less for coverage.
• Drive less: The less time you spend on the road, the fewer chances you have to get into an accident and this can result in a lower premium. Check with your insurer to see if they offer a low mileage discount.
• Raise your deductible: If you can afford to raise your deductible you should see a drop in your premium. Doubling your deductible can result in a lower cost, but always choose a deductible you can easily afford if you have to make a claim.
• Loyal customer: While shopping your coverage on a regular basis is a great way to lower your premium, if you have been with the same insurer for years they should offer you a loyal customer discount. Check with your insurer to see if they offer this discount.

FAQ: Cheap full coverage auto insurance

Do I need full coverage car insurance?

When you shop for a car insurance policy, you have to decide how much coverage you need. Most lenders require that you buy full coverage – a liability policy with comprehensive and collision insurance.

Read more about Do I need full coverage insurance for my new or used car

How much liability coverage do I need?

While your insurance agent or insurer will be happy to help you figure out how much liability you should carry, we came up with a few basic guidelines based on net worth. In general, the more assets you have to lose, the more liability you should carry.

State-required minimums are almost never enough coverage, particularly if you are at fault in a serious accident.

Here are possible liability limits based on your net worth:

• Net worth less than $50,000 – choose at least 50/100/50
• Between $50,000 and $100,000 – choose at least 100/300/100
• More than $100,000 – choose at least 250/500/100

What is full coverage auto insurance with no down payment?

This refers to a policy that divides the policy premium by the term of the policy, which is typically six months but can be up to a year, according to Estrella. Technically, you can’t purchase full coverage insurance with no money down, but some insurers will allow you to pay just the first month’s premium to initiate coverage.

How does full coverage car insurance differ from minimum car insurance?

Minimum or basic, auto insurance includes at least liability protection, which is mandated in most states. However, some states require you to also have uninsured/underinsured protection and comprehensive coverage. Full coverage automobile insurance includes all of these coverages as well as collision coverage.

Final thoughts on cheap full coverage car insurance

Full coverage insurance is a requirement in most cases if you have a loan or lease on your vehicle. Your lender will require that you protect their investment in your vehicle by carrying full coverage.

Still, opting for full coverage makes sense financially unless you drive an old car that’s not worth much or have no assets to protect. If you would replace your vehicle instead of repairing it after an accident, full coverage is probably not necessary.

“The best candidates for full coverage auto insurance are those who have a vehicle that is still worth covering fully because the cost of repairing it or replacing it would be financially difficult,” Estrella says.

– Erik Martin contributed to this story.

Resources & Methodology

Sources

1. Ballotpedia. “America’s Largest Cities.” Accessed September 2022.
2. Insurance Information Institute. “Facts + Statistics: Auto insurance.” Accessed September 2022.

Methodology

CarInsurance.com commissioned Quadrant Information Services to pull rates in 2022 for a 40-year-old male driver with no violations, 100/300/100 full coverage insurance with a $500 deductible and a 12-mile commute.