Situated on the Gulf Coast of Florida, Sarasota has a high risk of storm damage to vehicles and homes. Still, Sarasotans pay an overall average of $146 per month for car insurance, compared to the statewide average of $182. The city’s relatively low accident rate may contribute to its slightly lower insurance rates.
Here’s what you need to know about comparing quotes and finding affordable car insurance premiums in Sarasota.
6 of the cheapest car insurance companies in Sarasota
The right car insurance company for you depends on various factors, including the type of car you drive, your driving record, and your age.2 Before committing to any company, it’s important to compare rates from multiple insurers to find the right fit for your needs.
To help get you started, here’s a list of some of the cheapest car insurance companies in Sarasota.
Best insurer for teen drivers: State Farm
Best insurer for senior drivers: GEICO
Best insurer for coverage options: Allstate
How to get the cheapest car insurance in Sarasota
Finding affordable car insurance can be a challenge, but you can use these strategies to lower your rates:
Increase your deductible. Increasing your deductible is a straightforward way to reduce your premiums. When you increase your deductible, you shift more of the liability when filing a claim onto yourself. Just make sure you can afford the out-of-pocket costs if you ever file a claim.
Take advantage of discounts. Most insurance companies offer discounts on insurance policies for safe driving, good grades, and completing defensive driver courses. Be sure to ask about any discounts you qualify for when shopping for car insurance.
Bundle policies. Bundling auto and home policies with the same insurer often results in discounted rates. Many insurers also offer bundling discounts for auto and renters insurance.
Drive your current car for as long as possible. Driving an older vehicle can often result in lower car insurance premiums since new vehicles cost more to repair or replace if damaged or stolen.
Compare rates. Shopping around and comparing rates from the best companies is one of the easiest ways to save money on car insurance.
Cheapest liability-only car insurance in Sarasota: State Farm
Liability-only car insurance only covers damages and injuries you cause in a car accident — it doesn’t cover any damage to your vehicle. This makes it more affordable than full-coverage auto insurance, but you’ll have to pay to repair or replace your car out of pocket after an accident.
On average, Sarasota drivers pay $124 per month for minimum coverage. Here’s a list of some of the lowest liability-only rates available in Sarasota.
Cheapest full-coverage car insurance in Sarasota: State Farm
Full-coverage car insurance covers legal liability and any damage to your vehicle in an accident or other event. This type of coverage is typically more expensive than liability-only plans, which only cover expenses when you injure another person or damage their property.
People who drive newer, more expensive vehicles or are financing their vehicle purchases would benefit from full-coverage car insurance. On average, Sarasota drivers pay $168 per month for full coverage.
Here’s a list of the lowest full-coverage auto insurance rates in Sarasota.
Car insurance requirements in Florida
Florida is a no-fault car insurance state, meaning you must carry minimum personal injury protection (PIP) and property damage liability coverage to pay for your medical expenses and other accident-related damages, regardless of who causes an accident.
Here are the minimum coverage limits that Florida requires for drivers:4
Keep in mind that Florida’s minimum requirements are quite low compared to other state requirements. Consider adding these coverages for more protection:
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an incident
Incidents such as at-fault accidents, driving under the influence (DUI), speeding tickets, and other traffic violations can increase car insurance rates significantly. When you have one or more incidents on your driving record, insurance companies view you as higher risk and charge more for auto coverage.2
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a speeding ticket: State Farm
Speeding tickets can be costly in more ways than one. Not only do you have to pay the ticket, but your car insurance rates will likely increase, too. On average, Sarasota drivers with speeding tickets pay $166 per month for liability insurance.
If you’ve received a speeding ticket and are looking for the cheapest car insurance in Sarasota, below is a table of some of the lowest premiums available.
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an at-fault accident: State Farm
Like a speeding ticket, an at-fault accident can increase your auto rate. The amount it increases depends on the severity of the accident and your insurance company.5
Sarasota drivers with at-fault accidents pay an average of $155 per month for liability coverage. The table below shows the cheapest car insurance quotes in Sarasota for drivers with an at-fault accident on their record.
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a DUI: State Farm
Driving under the influence of alcohol can have serious consequences, including hefty fines and increased car insurance rates.5 Drivers with DUIs in Sarasota pay an average of $161 per month for minimum coverage.
Here’s a table showing some of the lowest car insurance premiums available for Sarasota drivers with a DUI.
Cheapest car insurance for seniors: State Farm
Car insurance companies may charge seniors more for insurance due to several factors. On average, older drivers tend to be more risky than younger drivers due to their slower reaction times, decreased flexibility and vision, and a higher risk of medical emergencies.6
Senior drivers in Sarasota pay an average of $110 per month for liability coverage and $149 per month for full coverage. To help you get the best deal, the below table illustrates the lowest car insurance rates available to senior drivers in Sarasota.
Cheapest car insurance for teens: State Farm
Insurance companies often consider teen drivers as high risk because they’re less-experienced drivers. As a result, they usually have to pay higher premiums for coverage.2
Insuring a teen driver in Sarasota costs an average of $212 per month for liability coverage and $287 per month for full coverage. Below is a table showing the cheapest car insurance quotes for teens in Sarasota, so they (and their parents) can save money on their policies without sacrificing quality.
Sarasota car insurance quotes by credit tier
Florida allows car insurance companies to use your credit history when determining your premiums.1
Insurance companies view drivers with poor credit as riskier and more likely to file claims than drivers with good or excellent credit. This means people with poor credit scores usually pay higher premiums for car insurance than people with better scores.
The following table shows the average monthly quotes for each credit tier.
Is car insurance more expensive in Sarasota?
Car insurance is more expensive in Sarasota than the national average due to various factors, including:
A high number of uninsured drivers: Florida has a high rate of uninsured motorists, which can drive up the cost of coverage for everyone else.
Severe weather: Florida may be the Sunshine State, but it experiences a lot of severe weather events, including hurricanes, thunderstorms, and lightning.7 These weather events can damage vehicles, driving up the number of claims and causing insurance companies to charge more in the state.
Influx of yearly tourists: Florida experienced its highest estimate of tourists in a single quarter at the beginning of 2023.8 This influx of drivers unfamiliar with Florida roads may contribute to more claims and higher insurance costs.
But car insurance rates vary significantly by ZIP code within Florida, depending on several factors such as population density and the average cost of car repairs in the area.2 For example, cities with higher populations and more tourists tend to have higher rates due to the increased risk of accidents and claims.
Despite these factors, Sarasota is an affordable city for car insurance compared to cities like Riverview and Spring Hill.
More cities in Florida
To see how car insurance rates differ among some of the most popular cities in Florida, consider the table below, which shows the average monthly premium for full-coverage and liability-only policies in some other Florida cities.