Cheap Car Insurance: How to Find the Lowest Rates in Minutes

Written by Lacie Glover and 1 other
Updated Jan 20, 2026

See sample cheap car insurance rates or compare quotes online from several different insurers.

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Finding cheap car insurance doesn’t have to be a chore if you know how to shop. 

Sure, prices are highly personal and insurers don’t advertise which factors they value most, whether that’s more experienced drivers or those with spotless records. But doing a little research to find which companies might reward drivers like you and comparing car insurance quotes online can go a long way.

Overall, Aspire Advantage is the cheapest car insurance carrier we found, but your price will be based on your personal characteristics.

Jerry helps you save on car insurance fast.

Which companies offer the cheapest car insurance​?

Insurers offer the lowest rates to the types of customers they want: some specialize in “high-risk” drivers, while others look for customers with more experience behind the wheel and clean records. But companies consider so many factors when calculating rates that it’s impossible to predict which company will offer you the best deal.

Comparing quotes for the coverage you need is the only real way to know the cheapest car insurance companies and their average rates.

Most affordable full coverage car insurance companies

Most drivers choose a full coverage insurance policy, which goes beyond state requirements to cover damage to your own car. If you have a car loan or lease, a full coverage policy that includes comprehensive and collision coverage is likely required.

Aspire Advantage is currently the cheapest car insurance company for Jerry customers buying a full coverage car insurance policy, with an average monthly quote of $214.

Insurer
Average monthly cost
$106
$214
$225
$247
$247
Last Updated Jan. 19, 2026

Learn More: How to get cheap full coverage car insurance

Cheapest insurers for minimum coverage

The cheapest car insurance you’ll find, period, will include no more than state-mandated minimum coverage, which is enough to drive legally and be covered for small amounts of damage if you cause a crash. Some states also require protection against uninsured drivers and medical coverage for passengers in your car, but limits tend to be low.

Any insurance is better than none, but just note that purchasing only the minimum liability coverage required could cost you more down the road if you’re in a wreck, whether you’re at fault or not. For state minimum protection, Aspire Advantage is the cheapest insurance company we found overall for that bare-bones minimum coverage, with a rate of $91 per month.

Insurer
Average monthly cost
$57
$91
$100
$107
$113
Last Updated Jan. 19, 2026

Learn more: What is personal injury protection (PIP)?

The best cheap car insurance by age

Age can be a big factor in car insurance rates for the youngest and oldest drivers on the road, who tend to cause more accidents and carry more insurance risk. For that reason, let’s take a look at prices for drivers under 30, in the middle of life and for seniors.

Cheap car insurance for 18- to 29-year-olds

The teenage years are often when we make a lot of our mistakes in life — including on the road. It follows that teen drivers and those in their twenties tend to get charged the most for car insurance due to historically high crash rates. After a few years of safe driving, rates tend to tick down as age and experience become a smaller factor.

The cheapest quotes for young drivers seeking full coverage insurance through Jerry comes from ROOT with an average monthly rate of $216.

Insurer
Average monthly cost
$147
$216
$248
$263
$275
Last Updated Jan. 19, 2026

Cheap liability car insurance comes at an even lower price. For young drivers seeking only minimum coverage, Aspire Advantage is the cheapest car insurance company with an average monthly premium of $117.

Insurer
Average monthly cost
$82
$117
$118
$121
$127
Last Updated Jan. 19, 2026

Learn more about average car insurance costs

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Cheap car insurance for drivers between 30 and 64

While it may seem a wide range, rates don’t vary much for a few decades after you hit 30 — at least not due to age alone.

During this time in life, your marital status, home address and number of drivers will be larger factors in your monthly insurance rates. And if you live in any state besides California, Hawaii, Massachusetts or Michigan, insurers can use your credit to price your auto policy, too.

If your credit and driving history are pretty clean, insurers may offer lower rates. Be sure to compare quotes from several companies for similar coverage before you buy.

Through Jerry, the cheapest full coverage insurance quotes for drivers ages 30 through 64 comes from Aspire Advantage at an average monthly rate of $166.

Insurer
Average monthly cost
$82
$166
$176
$181
$184
Last Updated Jan. 19, 2026

You’ll pay less for state minimum coverage, of course. The cheapest liability car insurance for Jerry drivers between 30 and 64 comes from Aspire Advantage at an average of $75 a month.

Insurer
Average monthly cost
$38
$75
$83
$98
$100
Last Updated Jan. 19, 2026

Cheap car insurance for drivers 65 and older

It’s smart to research car insurance prices as you age because rates start to tick up later in life. Some car insurance companies charge senior drivers more than others, and your current insurer could be one.

When comparing car insurance quotes, make sure you’re buying liability insurance in limits high enough to prevent you from losing your savings or home, should you cause a severe wreck. A common liability guideline is $100K/$300K/$100K, which would pay $100,000 per injured person, up to $300,000 per accident for injuries and another $100,000 for property damage. Another option is to choose a total bodily injury limit — that middle number — that exceeds your net worth or total assets.

The cheapest car insurance for senior drivers wanting a full coverage policy comes from Mercury with an average monthly premium of $128.

Insurer
Average monthly cost
$49
$128
$150
$163
$172
Last Updated Jan. 19, 2026

Also always, you can expect the cheapest car insurance to actually be state minimum coverage. For older Jerry drivers buying a minimum coverage policy, Mercury is the cheapest at an average of $71 per month.

Insurer
Average monthly cost
$26
$71
$78
$92
$93
Last Updated Jan. 19, 2026
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Cheap car insurance for mixed driving record​s

Depending on your state and the nature of any violations you have been convicted of, an infraction can affect car insurance prices for up to 10 years, though three to five is most common for tickets and small accidents. Driving while intoxicated or causing accidents with hospital-level injuries is likely to result in even higher rates, sustained for longer.

It might seem like the best way to save money is to lock your car away and avoid insurance altogether, but you’ll pay even higher rates later when you start buying coverage again. To keep your driving privileges intact and rates as low as possible, compare multiple quotes for the same coverage. Insurance companies view each infraction differently, so include all your violations each time you get a quote to find the most forgiving carrier.

Cheap car insurance companies for a DUI

Believe it or not, it’s possible to find relatively low-cost car insurance after a single DUI conviction, and you can help yourself by comparing quotes from multiple insurance carriers. Be sure to compare rates for the coverage you need — even though they’re pricier, full coverage policies with comprehensive and collision are the only way to ensure your car will get repaired if it’s damaged. 

The lowest cost auto insurance company for Jerry drivers wanting full coverage after a DUI conviction comes from ROOT, with an average monthly rate of $196.

Insurer
Average monthly cost
$21
$196
$202
$223
$238
Last Updated Jan. 19, 2026

Learn More: What is SR-22 insurance?

Want cheap liability auto insurance after a DUI? The cheapest car insurance for Jerry drivers wanting minimum coverage comes from Aspire Advantage at an average of $96 a month.

Insurer
Average monthly cost
$96
$100
$110
$123
$125
Last Updated Jan. 19, 2026

Cheap car insurance after an accident

If you were found at fault for an accident, your car insurance rates will likely be elevated for a handful of years, depending on the severity of the wreck. Fender benders and small bonks that cause little more than a dented door panel may be forgiven entirely the first time, while causing accidents with injuries will increase rates more.

The cheapest full coverage car insurance quotes for Jerry drivers with an at-fault accident on their records come from Aspire Advantage at an average of $226 a month.

Insurer
Average monthly cost
$226
$273
$280
$283
$291
Last Updated Jan. 20, 2026

Learn More: Should you buy accident forgiveness?

For liability only, the cheapest car insurance for Jerry drivers with an at-fault accident on their record comes from Aspire Advantage at an average of $108 a month.

Insurer
Average monthly cost
$108
$129
$135
$143
$170
Last Updated Jan. 20, 2026

Cheap car insurance after a speeding ticket

One of the most common moving violations, a lone speeding ticket is likely to affect your car insurance rates for at least three years — possibly more, if you have multiple tickets or points on your license. Smaller tickets may not affect insurance prices at all, depending on your state and company, so the rates below are for drivers with citations for going 15 mph or more over the speed limit.

For drivers with a speeding ticket for driving 15 mph or more over the limit, the cheapest quotes on full coverage insurance through Jerry come from ROOT with an average monthly rate of $206.

Insurer
Average monthly cost
$117
$206
$212
$216
$231
Last Updated Jan. 19, 2026

For liability coverage, the cheapest car insurance company for drivers with a speeding ticket for driving more than 15 mph over the limit is Embark General, with an average monthly premium of $110.

Insurer
Average monthly cost
$62
$110
$114
$114
$116
Last Updated Jan. 19, 2026
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Cheap car insurance companies by state

Auto insurance rates tend to vary widely by state because each one has different minimum requirements. Regional factors like hazardous climates, population density and road risks also affect car insurance prices. All combined, it amounts to a patchwork of prices across the nation, where the cheapest company for full coverage may not be the least expensive for liability-only policies.

Choose your state below for a deep dive on cheap auto insurance companies where you live.

How to get cheaper car insurance today

Though many elements that factor into car insurance rates are out of your control — it’s not like anyone relocates over auto insurance prices, after all — there are some things you can do to lower your bill.

  • Drive safely. As violations fall off your record and time passes without new ones, you’ll become the kind of driver insurers reward with low rates.
  • Stay insured. A lapse in car insurance will result in higher premiums later, even if you were out of the country or not driving at all.
  • Shop around. Comparing quotes for similar coverage is the only way to find your lowest rate.
  • Compare quotes with and without bundles. If you have home or renters insurance, a bundling discount might not offset two other companies’ cheaper, separate rates.
  • Improve your credit. Having poor credit translates to high car insurance premiums unless you’re a resident of California, Hawaii, Massachusetts or Michigan.
  • Raise your deductibles. If you can afford to pay more out of pocket in the event your car needs repairs, raising comprehensive and collision deductibles will decrease your car insurance rate.
  • Consider smaller companies. While it may be comforting to go with a name brand company, rates may not be cheaper — a local insurer may cater best to your demographics.
  • Do a discount checkup. Check with your agent or a customer service rep to make sure you’re getting all available discounts.

Look twice at the cheapest car insurance quotes

It’s easy to see car insurance only as a requirement and shop for the cheapest way to check that box. But if you sacrifice service for a low rate or your policy doesn’t pay out enough when you need it, you’ll have paid a lot of money for nothing.

For example, the average cost of a new car in 2025 was nearly $50,000, according to car valuation company Kelley Blue Book. Yet many states mandate just $10,000 in property damage (PD) coverage, which is the amount an insurer would pay if you damage someone’s vehicle in a wreck. Only North Carolina requires enough property damage liability coverage to replace a brand-new totaled car, and not all PD claims involve vehicles — you could be on the hook for city or county property damage, too.

Of course, you never really plan on totaling a car. But if you own a home, have savings or other assets, buying more than the minimum required liability coverage is wise because if your insurance comes up short, your assets could be seized. Calculate your net worth and shoot to purchase enough bodily injury liability insurance to cover that amount.

Methodology

Data included in this analysis comes from policies that Jerry has quoted within the last 6 months for drivers with a clean record and that have full coverage, unless stated otherwise. Data related to violations, accidents or credit scores pull from quote data from the last 18 months. Jerry services 48 states and offers a range of insurance companies to choose from.

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Our experts
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Lacie Glover

Lacie Glover is a Lead Writer and Editor with sixteen years’ experience in the insurance category. Prior to Jerry, she spent more than a decade on NerdWallet’s content team writing, editing and then overseeing the auto insurance category, as well as dabbling in other insurance and automotive topics. Prior to her career in the online personal finance content space, Lacie spent time in the hard sciences, in clinical research and chemistry labs. She has a bachelor’s degree from Colorado State University.

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Annie Millerbernd

Annie is a writer and editor at Jerry with more than a decade of experience writing and editing digital content. Before joining Jerry, she was an assistant assigning editor at NerdWallet. Her past work has appeared in the Associated Press, USA Today and The Washington Post. Her work has been cited by Northwestern University and Harvard Kennedy School. Annie served as a spokesperson for NerdWallet during her time at NerdWallet and has been featured in New York Magazine, MarketWatch and on local television and radio stations.

Previously, she worked at USAA and newspapers in Minnesota, North Dakota, California and Texas. She has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Minnesota.

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