As a driver, opting for full-coverage car insurance means more robust financial protection. The more extensive policy type covers damage to your vehicle, while a liability-only policy only covers damage and injuries you cause to other people.
If you’re considering a full-coverage policy, comparing multiple quotes and working with the right insurance company is important. Here’s what you need to know about the best full-coverage car insurance companies and how to choose one.
Cheapest companies for full-coverage car insurance
The cost of a full-coverage car insurance policy varies by insurer. Each insurance company has its own underwriting method for determining premiums. With that, the only way to find competitive rates for your unique situation is to shop around.
In the table below, you’ll find a breakdown of the cheapest car insurance companies for full-coverage policies in the U.S. COUNTRY Financial and Auto-Owners both offer the lowest full-coverage quotes.
Best full-coverage car insurance companies
The best car insurance companies offering full-coverage options have a combination of affordable rates and a high-quality customer experience.
COUNTRY Financial has the cheapest average full-coverage rates, at $55 per month, but it’s not available in every state. State Farm’s average full-coverage rates may be more for some drivers, but the company has nationwide availability.
Below is a breakdown of the average monthly costs tied to the top full-coverage car insurance companies.
Best insurer for regional low rates: NJM
Best insurer for customer satisfaction: Erie
Best insurer for affordable nationwide coverage: State Farm
Best insurer for military and veteran families: USAA
Best insurer for many coverage options: American Family
Cheapest full-coverage insurance by state
The state you call home — and even your ZIP code — has a big effect on your car insurance rates. A few reasons for varying rates include the frequency of litigation, medical care costs, car repair costs, weather trends, and the prevalence of auto insurance fraud.1
The table below gives a breakdown of the cheapest average full-coverage quotes based on your state:
Full-coverage car insurance rates by age
Driver age affects your average cost of car insurance significantly, with teen drivers facing the highest premiums. Rates of fatal accidents for 16- and 17-year-olds are four times higher than for 20-year-old drivers and older, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
Most insurers offer good student discounts to young drivers with good grades. Driver education and volunteer discounts can also help offset the higher insurance costs for young drivers.
What full-coverage car insurance covers
Full-coverage car insurance includes liability coverage for at least your state’s minimum required amount, along with comprehensive and collision coverage. A full-coverage policy protects your car, other drivers, and their cars.
If you opt for a full-coverage policy, your insurer will reimburse you after an accident or other event that damages your vehicle. For example, if you hit a light pole, your collision coverage would pay for repairs. If someone steals your car, your comprehensive coverage would come into play.
Full-coverage insurance includes multiple layers of protection. Here’s a closer look at what it covers:
Full coverage vs. liability only: What’s the difference?
Liability coverage is the barebones option most states require drivers to purchase. Each state sets different minimum liability insurance requirements, usually broken down into bodily injury liability and property damage liability. Since every state except New Hampshire mandates liability coverage, this serves as the starting point for most drivers.3
Liability coverage only protects other drivers on the road and others’ property from mistakes you make. If you get into an at-fault accident, liability coverage kicks in to pay for the injuries and damages you cause. But liability coverage won’t help you pay to repair or replace your vehicle.
Liability insurance is cheaper because it covers less. The national average monthly premium is $104, according to Insurify data. Less coverage could cost you more if you damage your car in an incident because you’ll have to pay out of pocket for repairs.
On top of liability coverage, full coverage includes comprehensive and collision insurance. When you get in an accident or encounter another incident that damages your vehicle, full coverage will help you repair or replace your vehicle. This coverage will typically pay out the fair market value of your vehicle.
How to determine how much coverage you need
Deciding how much car insurance to buy can take time and effort. You want to get enough coverage but avoid overpaying for coverage you don’t need. Here’s how to figure out how much is right for you.
Know what’s required. Most states have minimum-coverage requirements you’ll need to meet, but many drivers also buy more liability coverage. If you finance or lease your car, your lender may require you to get full coverage to insure against damage to the vehicle.
Consider additional coverages. Even if you don’t have to get full coverage, remember liability insurance doesn’t cover damage to your car. Options like personal injury protection, MedPay, and uninsured motorist coverage can reduce out-of-pocket expenses in the event of an accident.
Review your finances. Monthly payments for full coverage are higher than for liability insurance, but one incident could wipe out your savings if you severely damaged your car in an at-fault accident. Think about the best fit for your budget.
Shop around and compare quotes. These are the best ways to find lower premiums, according to the Insurance Information Institute. Prices vary, so get multiple car insurance quotes for different coverage options to find the right fit.
How to get cheaper full-coverage car insurance
Car insurance is an unavoidable expense, as it’s illegal to drive without a minimum amount of insurance in most states. It’s possible to find cheap auto insurance, and you don’t have to overpay for a policy.
“[One] way to lower the cost of your insurance is to increase your (collision and comprehensive) deductibles,” says Deon R. Williams, agent and owner of 4J Insurance Agency in Texas.
“If you’re a safe driver, you’ll have more time to save up for your deductible,” Williams says.
Here are a few other strategies to help you reduce costs:5
Look for discounts. Insurers offer a wide range of discounts, which can drive the price of your policy lower. Popular discounts are available for bundling policies, insuring multiple vehicles and being a safe driver.
Build your credit. Drivers with good credit histories pay less for insurance than drivers with poor credit histories. If possible, improve your credit to tap into lower rates.
Shop around. Compare quotes from multiple insurance companies to find the best cheap car insurance. Luckily, this once-tedious task is made easy with the help of an online quote-comparison tool.