Choosing the best auto insurance company involves more than just picking a popular name. Your rates depend on individual factors like your age, credit score, driving record, and more. For example, you and a friend could get vastly different quotes from

The General

car Insurance in Denver, Colorado, even if you drive the same car!

Plus, there’s more to great

car insurance

than the price. Customer service and claims processing matter, too.

To help drivers find the most budget-friendly and reliable insurers in the country,

Jerry

conducted a nationwide insurance shopping survey. The results were surprising: Denver customers gave mixed reviews to renowned carriers like

Allstate

and

GEICO

car insurance in Denver, Colorado, but praised small companies like

Mercury Auto

and Safe Auto.

It just goes to show the importance of comparing quotes (and customer reviews) before you pick your provider. Jerry can help you do both with free quotes, comparisons, and reviews.

Check out the table below to see how verified policyholders rated the cheapest companies—

Travelers

, Clearcover,

Safeco

, and

Progressive

car insurance—in Denver, Colorado. Click the links to read real customer reviews!

Insurance company	Monthly minimum coverage cost	Monthly full coverage cost	Cost rating	Overall Jerry rating
Travelers	$50	$168	4.2	4.0
Clearcover	$52	$147	3.0	3.0
Mercury Auto	$70	$161	3.0	5.0
Safeco	$71	$185	4.6	4.7
Progressive	$72	$223	4.3	4.1
Safe Auto	$99	$196	5.0	5.0

How'd we get these scores?
Jerry's experts conducted one of the largest car insurance surveys in the United States. We surveyed 15,000 policyholders, in all 50 states, over the span of 18 months. These policyholders hold insurance policies with 87 different insurance companies. We surveyed policyholders to gauge their satisfaction with their insurance carriers in: policy cost, customer service, buying and renewal experience, as well as claim experience. These scores were all reported by real customers of the insurance companies.

The best car insurance quotes in Denver, CO

Nestled a mile above sea level beneath the towering Front Range in Colorado,

Denver boasts a population of over 700,000

. Known for its vibrant cultural scene and sunny days, Denver is one of the most rapidly expanding urban centers in the Western part of the United States.1

Unfortunately, Denver's unique location—scenic though it may be—comes with unpredictable weather patterns and significant temperature fluctuations.2 Combined with a high cost of living and a rising number of auto thefts, Denver has one of the highest

car insurance rates in Colorado

Denver Car Insurance: Quick Facts

Denver drivers pay an average of $95 per month for minimum liability insurance.

Denver drivers pay an average of $251 per month for full coverage.

Colorado state law only requires 25/50/15 liability coverage.

Colorado drivers pay the 11th-highest car insurance rates in the nation.

If you want full-coverage car insurance in Denver, you might end up paying over $3,000 per year. But that doesn’t mean you can’t find cheap car insurance in the Queen City of the West—it just takes a little research.

How much does car insurance cost in Denver, CO?

Denver residents pay an average of $96 per month (or $1,151 per year) for state minimum coverage. Opt for a full coverage car insurance policy, and your costs will rise to about $252 per month or $3,023 per year. For comparison, Denver drivers pay approximately 43% more than the state and national average for car insurance.

Coverage type	Denver, CO	Colorado	United States
Minimum coverage	$96	$60	$77
Full coverage	$252	$181	$165

Comparison shopping can help you save even more. Thousands of Denver drivers use Jerry (and its team of over 100 licensed insurance agents) to compare free quotes from dozens of providers so they can get the right coverage for the right price.

However, the average insurance rates are only a small part of the whole story. The quotes you receive are based on your driver profile—including your age, driving history, credit score, and more—making your rates as unique as you are.

The Jerry app can give you a quick and accurate estimate of your auto insurance costs. You’ll get free quotes tailored to your ZIP code, age, vehicle, and complete profile, so you can budget confidently.

Learn more:

The average cost of car insurance in the US

Estimate your Denver, CO car insurance costs

Providers calculate your car insurance premiums using a range of factors, including:

Your age

Your credit history

Your deductible

Your driving record

Your location

Your vehicle make and model

While each of these factors can influence your Denver premiums, there are different ways to continue to save on costs.

Age and experience

When it comes to car insurance, lower risks lead to the cheapest rates. That's why

car insurance for senior drivers

is fairly affordable, while

young drivers

pay for their lack of road experience, which makes them more prone to accidents and traffic tickets.

And the situation is only getting worse. A report from the

Colorado Department of Transportation

in October 2023 recorded a 53% increase in teen fatalities, with 57 Colorado teens getting into car accidents that year. But if you’re a teen driver, this doesn’t mean you’ll be stuck with high premiums forever.

Keep in mind that rates tend to drop once drivers turn 25, and while they creep up again around 35-44, they do lower once more for Denver drivers 45+. Take a look at how your rates can change in Denver as you age and gain more experience.

Age	Monthly minimum coverage cost	Monthly full coverage cost
18-21	$246	$459
22-25	$141	$294
26-34	$87	$198
35-44	$103	$200
45-54	$83	$177
55-64	$91	$178
65+	$82	$161

Driving record

clean driving record

makes you eligible for the cheapest car insurance coverage in Denver.

High-risk drivers

with repeated violations, however, pay much more.

single speeding ticket

on your

Colorado driving record

can increase your rates by an average of 26%. Repeated tickets or an

at-fault accident

could cause an even higher spike (which could remain for three to five years).

As for more serious moving violations, you’ll pay 61% more if you commit a DUI in Colorado, and 52% more for reckless driving. Check out how different traffic tickets could impact your auto insurance premiums.

Violation	Average monthly cost	Average annual cost
Illegal turn	$131	$1,573
Failure to obey signal	$169	$2,036
Unsafe operation of a motor vehicle	$176	$2,115
Defective equipment	$240	$2,886
Speeding 11-15 MPH over limit	$239	$2,876
Careless driving	$292	$3,510
Suspended driver’s license	$332	$3,988

Vehicle type

Your choice of vehicle helps decide how much you have to pay for auto insurance coverage. It costs more to insure large vehicles like full-size SUVs; the same goes for sports cars and luxury vehicles. Fortunately, the perennially popular Subaru and pickup truck are fairly affordable.

Take a look at the table below to see how much it costs to insure the

10 most popular vehicles in Colorado

Vehicle make and model	Average monthly cost
GMC Sierra	$70
Chevrolet Silverado K1500	$89
Toyota Tacoma	$101
Subaru Outback	$102
Toyota 4Runner	$112
Ford F-150	$113
Jeep Grand Cherokee	$138
Honda CR-V	$140
Subaru Forester	$164
Toyota RAV4	$190

Credit history

There are 47 states that permit providers to use credit scores to set car insurance rates, and Colorado is one of them. Drivers with poor credit scores (under 600) often pay higher rates than those with fair (601-699) and great credit (700+).

The table below shows you just how much money you stand to save with a good credit rating.

Credit rating	Average monthly cost
< 600	$197
601-699	$162
700+	$121

ZIP code

Your ZIP code tells your insurance company where you live, and by extension, the local accident rate, crime and vandalism rate, and the amount of congestion you face while driving. Remember, the higher your risks, the higher your rates!

The table below shows the difference in insurance costs between the two cheapest and three most expensive ZIP codes in Denver.

ZIP code	Average monthly cost
80212	$114
80201	$115
80203	$209
80236	$218
80247	$266

Why is car insurance so expensive in Denver?

Denver and Colorado share three factors that make auto insurance rates extremely high:

The city has a high cost of living and an above-average income level. Denver isn’t just one of the most expensive cities to live in, it’s also one of the most affluent.5 Wealthy residents usually buy expensive cars, which means more expensive claims and higher premiums.

Denver experiences severe weather. Denver takes the second spot in the country for most frequent hailstorms, which can lead to a spike in car accidents and insurance claims.6

Over one in ten drivers in Colorado don’t carry insurance. Because 17.5% of Colorado drivers don’t carry insurance7, providers have to absorb more of the costs related to car accidents, so they raise rates to compensate.

However, there are also two factors specific to Denver that can cause premiums to increase:

Congestion: Denver is the 17th-most congested city in the country, with drivers losing an average of 54 hours each year to sitting in traffic. Studies show increased traffic leads to more car accidents, which increases the rates you pay for commuting in the Mile-High City.

Car theft hotspot: Denver has the third-highest rate of motor vehicle thefts in a metropolitan hub, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB). Over 31,000 Denver drivers had their ride stolen in 2022 alone.

Auto insurance requirements for Denver, CO

Drivers pay an average of $95 per month (or $1,151 per year) for minimum

liability coverage

in Denver.

Colorado auto insurance laws

require the following coverage limits:

$25,000 of

bodily injury liability

coverage per person

$50,000 of bodily injury liability coverage per accident

$15,000 of property damage liability coverage per accident

Considering Denver’s erratic weather patterns, it’s not recommended to carry only the minimum insurance. An extra coverage option like

comprehensive insurance

can pay for vehicle repairs or replacements after damage from snow, ice, and hail—and help you save on out-of-pocket costs.

Increase your liability limits

Consider raising your liability limits to at least $100k/$300k/$100k if you live in Denver. Quadrupling your limits will only add a few dollars to your bills per month. You’ll also need a

full coverage policy

(which includes comprehensive and

collision coverage

) unless you have enough money to replace your vehicle after a total loss.

Here are a few types of additional coverage you might find useful in Denver:

Uninsured motorist / underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM)

: UM/UIM coverage covers your and your passengers’ medical bills if you’re hit by one of the state’s many uninsured drivers (or someone who doesn’t have enough liability coverage for costs).

Medical payments (MedPay)

: MedPay offers another way to cover your medical expenses, and best of all, it’s a type of no-fault insurance.

Rental reimbursement

: If you have a full coverage auto insurance policy, you can add this option to cover the cost of a rental car while yours is being repaired.

Towing and labor coverage

: Bundling this optional add-on into your regular policy is usually more affordable than joining a roadside assistance club.

FAQ

How much is car insurance in Denver?

Denver car insurance averages $95 per month or $1,151 per year for

state minimum coverage

. A

full coverage policy

costs about $251 per month or $3,023 per year.

Is car insurance in Colorado expensive?

Colorado car insurance costs 28% less than the national average rate for minimum coverage, but 94% more than the national average

full coverage policy

. You can blame the Centennial State’s high amount of snowfall for its higher-than-average comprehensive coverage costs.

Is car insurance required in Denver?

Car insurance is required in Denver and Colorado at large. The penalties for

driving uninsured

include four driver’s license violation points, a fine of $500-$1,000, up to 40 hours of community service, and a driver’s

license suspension

of up to 8 months. You might also have to carry an SR-22 for several years.

How much is car insurance in Colorado per month?

Car insurance in Colorado costs an average of $173 per month for minimum coverage and $181 per month for full coverage. That’s an average cost of $723-$2,172 per year.

Who has the cheapest auto insurance in Colorado?

The cheapest auto insurance in Colorado depends on your driver profile, but according to Jerry’s survey,

Progressive

has the most satisfying policy costs. Verified customers gave the company a 4.3 out of 5.0.

What’s the cheapest car insurance in Denver?

The cheapest car insurance in Denver is state minimum coverage, which costs about $95 per month or $1,151 per year. But as for the cheapest insurance provider, there’s no easy answer. Insurance rates are so individual that the best way to find a deal is to collect and compare multiple car insurance quotes.

Sources

https://explodingtopics.com/blog/fastest-growing-cities

https://www.city-data.com/city/Denver-Colorado.html

https://www.9news.com/article/news/local/top-10-most-popular-vehicles-colorado-2022/73-c7a52811-e395-4cae-844b-1446988e6e04

https://datausa.io/profile/geo/denver-co/?compare=united-states

https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/colorado-car-owners-seeing-increasingly-higher-insurance-premiums-compared-to-other-states/

https://www.iii.org/fact-statistic/facts-statistics-uninsured-motorists

https://inrix.com/scorecard-city-2022/?city=Denver%20CO&index=69

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7068508/

Methodology

The Insurance Research Team analyzes insurance products and services to drive insights and help consumers make informed purchase decisions.

Insurance research: We analyzed over 25 million car insurance quotes; conducted the largest insurance shopping survey (over 15,000 customers surveyed and 85 carriers reviewed in the past 18 months).

We surveyed insurance policyholders for their experience with their insurers in the following areas: (1) insurance cost (2) customer service (3) insurance buying experience (4) insurance renewal experience (5) claim experience. In addition, we asked people what they like about their insurers and what areas in which their insurers could improve. The driver characteristics used in calculating average rates for auto insurance include: single driver, single car, currently insured, clean driving record.

For the quotes and sold policies included in this article, please note that personal information has been hidden. Not all customers find savings.

Team: The team consists of licensed insurance agents, insurance industry veterans, and data scientists.

Meet our experts

Jasmine Kanter

Jasmine Kanter is an insurance writer specializing in subjects relating to home ownership, car insurance requirements, and driving tips. Jasmine combines her background in communication and languages with a passion for writing to create straightforward, yet comprehensive content that’s accessible to car enthusiasts, beginners, and everyone in between. Since joining the Jerry team, Jasmine has penned nearly 300 articles covering subjects from how to save money on homeownership costs to roadside assistance service reviews.

Prior to joining Jerry, Jasmine worked as a storyboard analyst for Depanneur Films and a training assistant for Assistance Services Group.

Kianna Walpole

Expert Insurance Writer & Editor

Kianna Walpole is an insurance writer and editor with a comprehensive background in consumer behavior and online publishing. With experience in car insurance, maintenance, and repair, she is dedicated to building informative content that helps customers reduce costs while achieving the best service. Prior to joining the Jerry editorial team, Kianna worked as a junior editor in the content marketing industry, using consumer data and key insights to create and edit content for an array of large-scale clients in the real estate, cybersecurity, and healthcare industries.

Josh Damico

Head Of Insurance Operations

18+ Years Experience in Insurance

Josh Damico is Jerry’s vice president of insurance operations and a licensed insurance professional with nearly two decades of experience in the industry. Previously, Josh held executive roles at Geico, where he had vast regional oversight and leadership opportunities. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and management from Medaille College, and has appeared on news channels including FOX and CBS to offer insurance expertise and tips to drivers across the country. His work has appeared in Business Insider, Kelley Blue Book, and Digital Insurance and been quoted in The Balance, GOBankingRates, and Inspiring Workplaces.

*Illustration only. For all the pricing information presented in this article (including various tables), please note that not all customers find savings and the information is for illustrative purposes only. Savings depend on type of car, location, policy features, driving history and other factors. Drivers who switch through Jerry save over $70/month on average.