Fort Smith is located in northwest Arkansas along the Arkansas River. The average monthly cost of car insurance in Fort Smith is $133 — slightly lower than the statewide average of $135 per month and similar to the national monthly average of $144. The lower average rates in Fort Smith may be due in part to the city’s low population density.
Here’s what you need to know about comparing quotes and finding cheap car insurance in Fort Smith.
3 of the cheapest car insurance companies in Fort Smith
People looking to get on the road in Fort Smith will need car insurance to operate a motor vehicle legally. Car insurance rates in Fort Smith depend on various factors, including your ZIP code, driving history, vehicle year, make, and model type.
Start your search with these top insurers below. Rates shown in the table are for the state of Arkansas.
Best insurer for full coverage: State Farm
Best insurer for military members and their families: USAA
Best insurer for discounts: GEICO
How to get the cheapest car insurance in Fort Smith
Here are some tips to help you find affordable coverage in Fort Smith:1
Choose a higher deductible. Selecting a higher deductible usually results in cheaper monthly premiums. But you’ll have higher out-of-pocket costs if you need to file a claim.
See what discounts you qualify for. Ask your insurance agent about the discounts available from different insurance companies. Common discounts include multi-policy, safe driver, and customer loyalty discounts.
Shop around. It’s a good idea to compare prices and coverage options from at least three different car insurance companies to find the right coverage for your specific needs.
Cheapest liability-only car insurance in Fort Smith: State Farm
Drivers looking for minimum coverage and low rates may want to consider liability-only car insurance. Liability insurance is a requirement in every state except New Hampshire. It covers the medical bills and property damage of the other driver in an accident you cause. But liability insurance doesn’t cover your own injuries or damages.
Liability insurance in Fort Smith costs an average of $95 per month. Here are some of the lowest rates for liability-only car insurance in Fort Smith.
Cheapest full-coverage car insurance in Fort Smith: State Farm
Full-coverage car insurance provides broader protection than liability-only coverage. Unlike liability insurance, full coverage pays for damages to your vehicle and typically includes collision and comprehensive coverage. Drivers may want to consider full coverage if they drive an expensive vehicle or simply want greater peace of mind on the road.
Full coverage is typically pricier than liability insurance since it offers more protection. But it’s still possible to find affordable policies. Fort Smith drivers pay a monthly average of $171 for full-coverage insurance.
Here are some of the cheapest rates for full coverage in Fort Smith:
Car insurance requirements in Arkansas
Like most states, Arkansas follows a traditional fault-based system, meaning the person who causes a car accident is finally responsible for the resulting losses.
Here are the minimum car insurance requirements in Arkansas:2
If you want to boost your protection above the minimum coverage requirements, consider adding optional coverage types to your policy, such as:
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an incident
If you have an incident on your record — such as an at-fault accident, speeding ticket, or DUI — it can be more challenging to find cheap car insurance.3 Insurers view drivers with these incidents as higher-risk and increase their rates to make up for this added risk. Generally, having multiple incidents on your record will result in a more drastic rate increase than having one incident.
Here are some of the average liability rates drivers with incidents pay in Fort Smith.
Average cost of car insurance by age
Age is a major factor that affects the cost of car insurance. Rates tend to level out around age 35 but increase again around 70. The risk of being injured in a car accident increases as people age, which may explain the higher rates for older drivers. Teen drivers have the highest rates out of all age groups due to inexperience and higher accident rates.4
Here are the average rates for drivers of different ages in Fort Smith.
Fort Smith car insurance quotes by credit tier
The state of Arkansas allows car insurance companies to consider a driver’s credit history when setting car insurance rates. Drivers with bad credit may receive higher rates because insurers perceive them as a higher risk than drivers with good credit.
Here are the average monthly rates in Arkansas for drivers with different credit tiers: