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Reviewed
USAA has the cheapest full coverage car insurance, at an average of $1,364 per year, but is available only to those with a military connection. We found that Nationwide has the cheapest for all other drivers, at an average of $1,436 per year.
Full coverage policies include liability insurance that pays for damage and injuries you cause to others, plus coverage for your own vehicle with collision and comprehensive insurance.
Full coverage car insurance costs an average of $2,026 a year for good drivers, based on our analysis. USAA, Nationwide, Travelers, Geico and Erie offer the cheapest full coverage car insurance. (USAA is only available to members of the military, veterans and their families.)
Here are our picks for the best and cheapest full coverage car insurance companies:
*USAA auto insurance is available only to the military, veterans and their families.
The average cost for full coverage is $2,026 per year, according to our nationwide analysis of rates for a good driver. We analyzed rates for various driver profiles to find out which companies offer the cheapest full-coverage car insurance rates for drivers facing different issues.
The cheapest car insurance companies for full coverage often vary by state. It’s wise to compare quotes from multiple companies if you’re looking for the best car insurance at a good price.
Erie has the cheapest for full coverage car insurance for drivers ages 16 to 20. Nationwide is the cheapest for drivers ages 21 to 55, according to our analysis of top insurers.
| Driver age | Cheapest company | Average annual cost from the cheapest company | Average monthly cost |
|---|---|---|---|
|
16
|
$3,958
|
$330
|
|
|
17
|
Erie
|
$3,638
|
$303
|
|
18
|
Erie
|
$3,284
|
$274
|
|
19
|
Erie
|
$2,838
|
$237
|
|
20
|
Erie
|
$2,653
|
$221
|
|
21
|
$2,233
|
$186
|
|
|
22
|
Nationwide
|
$2,102
|
$175
|
|
23
|
Nationwide
|
$1,996
|
$166
|
|
24
|
Nationwide
|
$1,902
|
$158
|
|
25
|
Nationwide
|
$1,672
|
$139
|
|
35
|
Nationwide
|
$1,498
|
$125
|
|
45
|
Nationwide
|
$1,401
|
$117
|
|
55
|
Nationwide
|
$1,285
|
$107
|
In some cases, USAA was the cheapest company but membership is limited to military personnel, veterans and their families.
Nationwide offers the cheapest rates for parents adding a 16-year-old driver to their policies, averaging $2,990 per year or $250 per month. Erie and USAA also have lower-cost rates that are under $4,000 per year.
| Company | Average annual cost for full coverage car insurance for parents and a 16-year-old | Average monthly cost for full coverage car insurance for parents and a 16-year-old |
|---|---|---|
|
$2,990
|
$250
|
|
|
$3,541
|
$295
|
|
|
$3,935
|
$328
|
|
|
$4,296
|
$358
|
|
|
$4,360
|
$363
|
*USAA auto insurance is available only to the military, veterans and their families.
Our analysis found it costs an average of $4,951 a year for a 16-year-old driver and two parents for full coverage car insurance.
Young drivers are more prone to accidents than experienced drivers, so full coverage is a smart choice if you have a teen on your policy.
If a young driver needs to be on their own policy, it’s best to compare car insurance quotes with multiple car insurance companies so you can find the cheapest car insurance for teens. However, adding a young driver to a parent’s car insurance policy is normally cheaper if the child is living at home and driving a household vehicle.
Nationwide is the cheapest option for seniors ages 65 to 80 in our analysis, at an average of $1,402 per year.
To find the best car insurance for seniors, compare prices with multiple companies.
| Company | Average annual cost for full coverage car insurance for senior drivers | Average monthly cost for full coverage car insurance for senior drivers |
|---|---|---|
|
$1,402
|
$117
|
|
|
$1,455
|
$121
|
|
|
$1,668
|
$139
|
|
|
$1,793
|
$149
|
|
|
$1,813
|
$151
|
*USAA auto insurance is open only to members of the military, veterans and their families.
USAA has the cheapest rates for drivers who’ve caused an accident with injuries to someone else, at an average cost of $1,991 per year. If you’re not eligible for USAA auto insurance, compare car insurance quotes from Erie and Travelers.
| Company | Average annual cost after one accident with injuries | Average monthly cost after one accident with injuries |
|---|---|---|
|
USAA*
|
$1,991
|
$166
|
|
$2,197
|
$183
|
|
|
$2,229
|
$186
|
|
|
$2,403
|
$200
|
|
|
$2,433
|
$203
|
*USAA auto insurance is available only to members of the military, veterans and their families.
Car insurance costs typically go up if you cause an accident. How much your car insurance goes up after an accident depends on your driving record, state and insurance company. But on average there’s a:
State Farm has the best rates for drivers with two at-fault accidents on their records, among the companies in our analysis. State Farm average rates average $2,661 per year, or $222 per month.
Our analysis finds that insurance rates go up an average of 37% after two at-fault accidents compared to just one.
| Company | Average annual cost after two accidents | Average monthly cost after two accidents |
|---|---|---|
|
$2,661
|
$222
|
|
|
$2,856
|
$238
|
|
|
$2,986
|
$249
|
|
|
USAA*
|
$3,127
|
$261
|
|
$3,265
|
$272
|
*USAA auto insurance is open only to members of the military, veterans and their families.
Nationwide is the cheapest option for drivers with three accidents on their records, followed by Auto-Owners. Nationwide’s average cost is $2,824 per year for drivers at fault for three accidents, while Auto-Owners comes in at $2,971 a year.
Our analysis found that rates go up 46% on average when you have three at-fault accidents compared to having only one accident on your record.
| Company | Average annual cost after three accidents | Average monthly cost after three accidents |
|---|---|---|
|
$2,824
|
$235
|
|
|
$2,971
|
$248
|
|
|
$3,028
|
$252
|
|
|
$3,075
|
$256
|
|
|
$4,018
|
$335
|
*USAA auto insurance is open only to members of the military, veterans and their families.
USAA is the cheapest company for full coverage car insurance after a speeding ticket but it’s only available to military members, veterans and their families. Non-military members with a speeding ticket should check quotes from Nationwide and Erie.
Car insurance rates after a speeding ticket increase by an average of 26%, based on our analysis.
| Company | Average annual cost after a speeding ticket | Average monthly cost after a speeding ticket |
|---|---|---|
|
USAA*
|
$1,661
|
$138
|
|
$1,878
|
$157
|
|
|
$1,899
|
$158
|
|
|
$2,062
|
$172
|
|
|
$2,150
|
$179
|
*USAA auto insurance is open only to members of the military, veterans and their families.
Erie offers the cheapest rates at an average of $2,289 a year for drivers who have both an accident and a speeding ticket on their records.
| Company | Average annual cost after an accident and a speeding ticket | Average monthly cost after an accident and speeding ticket |
|---|---|---|
|
$2,289
|
$191
|
|
|
USAA*
|
$2,301
|
$192
|
|
$2,655
|
$221
|
|
|
$2,663
|
$222
|
|
|
$2,866
|
$239
|
*USAA auto insurance is open only to members of the military, veterans and their families.
Progressive has the cheapest insurance costs after a DUI. Its rates average $2,307 per year or $192 per month for drivers with a DUI conviction on their records.
Our analysis finds that auto insurance rates go up an average of 71% after a DUI.
| Company | Average annual cost after a DUI | Average monthly cost after a DUI |
|---|---|---|
|
$2,307
|
$192
|
|
|
USAA*
|
$2,604
|
$217
|
|
$2,610
|
$218
|
|
|
$2,665
|
$222
|
|
|
$2,716
|
$226
|
*USAA auto insurance is open only to members of the military, veterans and their families.
Minor traffic violations will impact car insurance rates less than major violations, such as a DUI. We evaluated rate increases for tickets for running a stop sign and passing a school bus.
USAA is the cheapest if you have a ticket for ignoring a stop sign, at an average of $1,675 per year. If you’re not eligible for USAA check quotes from Erie and Nationwide.
Cheapest Full Coverage Car Insurance After a Ticket for not Stopping at a Stop Sign
| Company | Average annual cost | Average monthly cost |
|---|---|---|
|
USAA*
|
$1,675
|
$140
|
|
$1,890
|
$158
|
|
|
$1,910
|
$159
|
|
|
$1,930
|
$161
|
|
|
$2,030
|
$169
|
*USAA auto insurance is open only to members of the military, veterans and their families.
Erie is the cheapest company if you’re ticketed for passing a school bus, with an average cost of $1,921 a year or $160 a month.
Cheapest Full Coverage Car Insurance After a Ticket for Passing a School Bus
| Company | Average annual cost | Average monthly cost |
|---|---|---|
|
$1,921
|
$160
|
|
|
USAA*
|
$1,926
|
$161
|
|
$2,039
|
$170
|
|
|
$2,080
|
$173
|
|
|
$2,135
|
$178
|
*USAA auto insurance is open only to members of the military, veterans and their families.
USAA, followed by Travelers, offers the cheapest rates for drivers with fair and good credit. Erie and Travelers are the cheapest insurers for those with excellent credit.
Drivers with lower credit pay higher car insurance rates in most states. That’s because insurance companies correlate poor credit with a higher chance that you’ll make an insurance claim. Insurers in California, Hawaii, Massachusetts and Michigan are not allowed to use credit in calculating car insurance rates.
Cheapest Full Coverage Car Insurance Insurance for Drivers With Fair, Good or Excellent Credit
| Company | Average annual cost with fair credit | Average annual cost with good credit | Average annual cost with excellent credit |
|---|---|---|---|
|
USAA*
|
$1,579
|
$1,359
|
$1,221
|
|
$1,785
|
$1,431
|
$1,195
|
|
|
$1,742
|
$1,504
|
$1,349
|
|
|
$2,190
|
$1,613
|
$1,194
|
|
|
$1,985
|
$1,694
|
$1,426
|
*USAA auto insurance is open only to members of the military, veterans and their families.
Nationwide offers the cheapest car insurance prices for drivers with poor credit. It also has relatively competitive rates for those with below fair credit. USAA is the cheapest for drivers with below fair credit, but eligibility with USAA is limited to military members, veterans and their families.
Cheapest Full Coverage Car Insurance Insurance for Drivers With Below Fair or Poor Credit
| Company | Average annual cost with below fair credit | Average annual cost with poor credit |
|---|---|---|
|
$1,892
|
$2,118
|
|
|
USAA*
|
$1,887
|
$2,418
|
|
$2,257
|
$2,583
|
|
|
$2,276
|
$2,673
|
|
|
$2,733
|
$3,284
|
*USAA auto insurance is open only to members of the military, veterans and their families.
USAA, which caters to military members, veterans and their families, has the lowest rates for military veterans among the companies in our analysis. Other low-cost choices for military veterans include Nationwide and Travelers.
| Company | Average annual cost | Average monthly cost |
|---|---|---|
|
USAA*
|
$1,293
|
$108
|
|
$1,436
|
$120
|
|
|
$1,496
|
$125
|
|
|
$1,571
|
$131
|
|
|
$1,590
|
$133
|
*USAA auto insurance is open only to members of the military, veterans and their families.
Full coverage is right for you if you want a robust auto insurance policy that will pay for accidents you cause, repairs to your own vehicle, and pay out if it’s stolen.
Lenders usually require full coverage auto insurance if your vehicle is financed or leased, but having full coverage can often make sense even if you don’t have a car loan or lease.
If you have a liability-only car insurance policy, your insurer won’t pay you anything if your car is damaged. Having full coverage with collision and comprehensive insurance covers your vehicle for a variety of incidents.
For example:
Car insurance companies each have their own way of calculating rates, but they typically look at the same main factors that affect car insurance rates:
The most effective way to get cheap full coverage insurance is to compare car insurance quotes from multiple auto insurance companies. Shop for the same coverage types, limits and deductibles so you’re evaluating comparable policies. You can potentially save hundreds or more by simply shopping around.
Collision and comprehensive coverage each come with a deductible, an amount deducted from a claim payout. Car insurance deductibles typically range from $250 to $2,500. You can lower full coverage car insurance costs by choosing a higher deductible.
You can get car insurance discounts by going paperless, paying your policy in full and bundling your auto and homeowners insurance, but those are just a few of the price breaks commonly offered. It never hurts to ask if you’re eligible for more so you can get even cheaper full coverage insurance.
If your vehicle is not worth much, full coverage may not be worth it. The maximum you can get from a collision or comprehensive insurance claim is the value of your vehicle if it’s totaled or stolen, minus your deductible. With an older vehicle, an insurance claim check could be relatively small.
Also, ask yourself if you could easily pay for repairs if your car is in an accident or to replace your car if it’s stolen or totaled. If the answer is yes, full coverage car insurance may not be worth the premiums.
To find the best cheap full coverage car insurance, we evaluated each company based on its average rates for a variety of drivers, complaints against the company and collision repair grades from auto body professionals.
Auto insurance rates (80% of score): We used data from Quadrant Information Services to find average rates from each company for good drivers, drivers who have caused an accident, drivers with a speeding ticket, drivers ticketed for not obeying a stop sign and passing a school bus, drivers with a DUI, drivers with varying credit tiers, drivers caught without insurance, adding a teen driver, young drivers, senior drivers and drivers who are military members.
Unless otherwise noted, rates are based on a 40-year-old female driver with a new Toyota RAV4 and coverage of:
Complaints (10% of score): We used complaint data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. Each state’s department of insurance is in charge of logging and monitoring complaints against the insurers that operate in their states. Most auto insurance complaints center on claims, including unsatisfactory settlements, delays and denials.
Collision repair (10% of score): We incorporated grades of insurance companies from collision repair professionals. We used data provided by CRASH Network, a weekly newsletter covering the collision repair and auto insurance market segments. CRASH Network’s Insurer Report Card used grades from more than 1,000 collision repair professionals to gauge auto insurers on the quality of their collision claims service.
Our analysis of average rates finds that USAA has the cheapest average full coverage car insurance cost at $1,364 a year, followed by Nationwide at $1,436, Travelers at $1,521, Geico at $1,597 and Erie at $1,642. You must be a military member, veteran or military family member to qualify for USAA’s military car insurance.
The company with the cheapest insurance for you depends on your personal driver profile. This includes your age, driving record, claims history and location, among other factors. Comparing car insurance quotes from multiple companies will help you find the best car insurance companies.
Full coverage car insurance is not required by states, unlike liability car insurance. If your vehicle is financed or leased, your lender will normally mandate that you carry full coverage auto insurance.
Even if you own your vehicle outright, it’s wise to carry full coverage on newer vehicles. Collision and comprehensive coverage pay for problems such as theft, fire, vandalism, severe weather, falling objects, striking an animal and collisions with objects, such as poles.
Full coverage car insurance includes collision and comprehensive coverage, which pays out the value of your vehicle if it is stolen or a total loss so you can replace your car.
You can use the claim settlement for your vehicle to replace it, but your payout will be for the amount your former vehicle was worth the moment before the accident, not what you paid for it originally.
Many car insurance companies offer new car replacement coverage, which you can add to a full coverage policy. New car replacement coverage gives you money for a brand new vehicle of the same make and model as your car that was totaled, not the depreciated amount that is typically paid out for a total loss claim. Your car usually must be relatively new in order to get new car replacement coverage.
Our analysis found that full coverage costs more than three times a liability-only car insurance policy. The average state minimum liability policy costs $638 a year compared to $2,026 per year for a full coverage policy with higher liability limits.
Car insurance policies with only state-minimum car insurance requirements are cheaper but woefully short on coverage. For instance, California requires only $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident for bodily injury liability and $5,000 for property damage liability per accident. You could cause an accident that easily exceeds those limits—leaving you personally responsible for the remainder.
Also, with liability-only coverage, you have no coverage for damage to your own car, unless another driver causes the accident and you make a claim against them.
Comprehensive coverage is not the same as full coverage but it’s a component of a full coverage car insurance policy.
“Full coverage” refers to a car insurance policy that has liability coverage (and any other state-required car insurance coverages) plus collision and comprehensive coverage. It’s “full coverage” because the liability portion covers others when you cause an accident, and the comprehensive and collision coverage applies to your vehicle.
Comprehensive and collision insurance pays to repair your car, or pays you the value of the car if it’s beyond repair after an incident. Comprehensive insurance covers your vehicle for problems such as:
Collision coverage is usually paired with comprehensive coverage. Collision coverage protects your car if it hits an object, such as a pole.
You should keep full coverage on your car until it’s paid off, as your lender will require it. Once you’ve paid off your car, if it’s still relatively new and worth a decent amount, the benefits of comprehensive and collision coverage usually make full coverage worth keeping.
Once your car is older and worth less, you should consider when to drop collision and comprehensive coverage. Before you decide, ask yourself if you’re ready to pay out-of-pocket for damages to your vehicle full coverage would typically pay for or if you would even keep the car if it were damaged.
Yes, full coverage on a vehicle that’s paid off makes sense if your car is newer and its value is still high. Full coverage will pay to repair or replace your car, which can be costly. If your car is older, the value of having full coverage will depend on the age and value of the vehicle, your ability to pay for the cost of repairs or a vehicle replacement and the amount of car insurance coverage you want.
If you want insurance that pays for damage to your car from an auto accident, regardless of fault—and for situations such as theft, fire, vandalism and damage from natural disasters—it makes sense to have full coverage car insurance even if your car is paid off. If you want to continue full coverage but think you’re paying too much, compare car insurance quotes with multiple companies to see if you can find more affordable rates.
