Dothan drivers pay less for car insurance than the average cost of auto coverage in Alabama. In Dothan, liability-only coverage — the cheapest option available — costs an average of $60 per month, while full coverage costs $124. By comparison, Alabama’s averages are $132 and $64.
Dothan’s short average commute time of about 20 minutes, and the city’s comparatively lower population density, likely both contribute to its lower rates.
While USAA offers the lowest overall rates in this southeastern Alabama, you may be able to find even cheaper rates by comparing quotes from multiple auto insurance companies.
3 of the cheapest car insurance companies in Dothan
The best car insurance company for you depends on several factors, like your age, driving history, and coverage needs. As you begin your search, remember to compare quotes from several insurers, and you can start with these three.
Best insurer for affordable coverage: State Farm
Best insurer for drivers with a DUI: Bristol West
Best insurer for young drivers: Auto-Owners
How to get the cheapest car insurance in Dothan
Getting the cheapest auto insurance policy in Dothan will depend on factors like your age, ZIP code, driving history, and the type of coverage you need. But you can take the following steps to reduce your premiums, no matter your insurance goals:
Keep a clean driving record. Your driving record affects your car insurance rates significantly. Keep a clean driving record by following traffic laws and avoiding at-fault accidents, and insurers will see you as a less-risky client.
Ask about discounts. Insurers offer various discounts, from bundling multiple coverages to enrolling in a safe driver program or maintaining good grades in high school or college. You should always ask your insurance agent if you qualify for any discounts to help lower your premium. There may be a discount or two you’re unaware of.
Check insurance costs when buying a car. If you’re planning to purchase a new car, it’s essential to check the insurance costs early on, since the cost of these rates could affect your buying decision. Some cars cost more to insure than others, and this often depends on the make and model as well as the vehicle’s safety features.1 You can also check with your insurance company to get an idea of how much your insurance premium will be before you buy a car.
Shop around and compare rates. Shopping around to compare at least three quotes from different companies can help ensure you’re getting the best deal for the coverage you need. Consider getting an insurance quote from an insurance agent or consider using an online comparison platform to compare your options.
Cheapest liability-only car insurance in Dothan: National General
Liability car insurance only covers damages to the other person’s car and their medical expenses after an accident you cause. With liability insurance, you won’t receive any coverage for your vehicle or medical treatment, but this option may be worth considering if you’re only interested in the cheapest insurance coverage possible.
Liability insurance may also work for you if you drive a vehicle that’s paid off or is valued at an amount similar to your deductible. Before considering a liability-only car insurance policy, you should determine whether you can afford to pay for your own car repairs out of pocket. The average monthly rate for liability insurance in Dothan is $60, and you can see the average monthly quote from area insurers in the table below.
Cheapest full-coverage car insurance in Dothan: USAA
Full-coverage car insurance provides the same protections as liability insurance but also includes coverage for your vehicle and your medical expenses after an accident. If you lease a vehicle or have a car loan, your lender may require that you have full-coverage (which includes collision and comprehensive) insurance to protect its risk if the car gets totaled.
Full-coverage insurance tends to be more expensive, but it can also save you money, since all you’ll need to pay is your collision and comprehensive deductible if you need to file a claim. The average rate for full-coverage insurance in Dothan is $124.
The following table illustrates average quotes from top insurers selling full-coverage car insurance in Dothan.
Car insurance requirements in Alabama
Alabama is an at-fault state, and minimum liability insurance is required on all motor vehicles.2 Drivers must be prepared to present proof of car insurance when visiting their licensing official’s office, or during a traffic stop by a law enforcement officer, and must contact their local Department of Revenue office if changing insurance companies.
Below are the minimum car insurance coverage requirements you must meet to drive legally in Alabama:3
While meeting the state’s minimum requirements will get you on the road, you may want to augment your coverage with any of the following options:
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an incident
Driving incidents like an at-fault accident or moving violation can stay on your driving record and negatively affect your car insurance rates for several years. Speeding tickets or driving under the influence can also cause your rates to increase through premium surcharges since these driving infractions cause insurers to view you as a higher risk driver than motorists with clean records.
The following sections will show you how different incident types can affect your rates in Dothan.
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a speeding ticket: National General
If you receive a ticket for driving over the speed limit, the state of Alabama allows you to enroll in a defensive driving course to help your driving record.4 But your car insurance rates could still increase for three to five years, depending on the severity of the infraction and your insurers underwriting roles.
On average, full coverage costs Dothan drivers with speeding tickets $169 per month; liability averages $82 monthly. You can compare how a ticket affects the liability rates you’re offered by top insurers in the table below.
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an at-fault accident: National General
Having an at-fault accident on your driving record can increase your insurance rates significantly, as seen in the table below. But some insurers still offer competitive rates.
The average rate for Dothan drivers with an accident on their record is $169 per month for full coverage and $82 for a liability-only policy. In the table below, you can see how liability rates are lower for a driver with a clean record in comparison to one with an at-fault accident on their record.
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a DUI: National General
A DUI is among the most serious driving infractions, and it can remain on your record for several years and result in fines or even jail time. Some insurers may drop you altogether if you have a DUI on your record.
But getting car insurance with a DUI isn’t impossible. Some insurance companies, like Bristol West, specialize in helping drivers with a bad driving record or DUI get a second chance at finding affordable car insurance coverage.
Here, you can see how liability-only rates from the included insurers compare against the area monthly liability average of $97 for drivers with a DUI.
Cheapest car insurance for seniors: National General
Insurers review your age when determining rates, and car insurance rates can increase for seniors and young drivers since insurance companies consider these age groups a higher risk. Older drivers can generally expect rates to rise around age 70, as accident risks for senior drivers tend to increase.
Car insurance for senior drivers in Dothan costs $53 for liability-only coverage and $109 for full-coverage policies, on average. Fortunately, seniors can still get cheaper car insurance by taking advantage of discounts and savings opportunities like bundling and keeping a clean driving record.
Cheapest car insurance for teens: National General
Teens have less experience behind the wheel and higher accident rates than other demographic groups. As a result, they pay higher car insurance rates. To get cheaper car insurance as a young driver, consider taking advantage of discounts for good students or enrolling in a driver safety program if your insurer offers this.
Staying on your parents’ policy can also be helpful in keeping rates manageable. If you're younger than 18, you won't be able to buy your own policy unless a parent or guardian provides written consent.
In Dothan, car insurance for teenagers costs an overall monthly average of $193.
Dothan car insurance quotes by credit tier
Your credit is another important factor that insurers in most states can use to determine your car insurance rates. This is because insurance companies use your credit history to generate a credit-based insurance score, intended to predict the risk that you’ll file an insurance claim.
Generally, the better your credit, the lower your insurance rate can be, and an excellent credit score is considered anything above 720. Even if you have a poor credit score, you can still find cheap car insurance rates by keeping a clean driving record and securing other insurer discounts.
Here are the average monthly quotes for Dothan based on your credit tier.
Is car insurance more expensive in Dothan?
The average cost of full-coverage car insurance in Dothan is $124, which is lower than in several other Alabama cities, including Auburn, Birmingham, and Huntsville.
Insurance in Dothan is also slightly cheaper than the state’s average cost of coverage. Insurance costs can vary by city based on factors like the number of accidents and vehicle thefts in the area or the costs required to repair certain types of vehicles.
More cities in Alabama
Dothan has some of the cheapest car insurance rates in Alabama. Here’s how prices compare to other major cities in the state.