Drivers in Dalton, Georgia, enjoy plenty of parks, wildlife preserves, and national forests in the surrounding area. But before heading out on a mountain road trip in Georgia, you need car insurance. Fortunately, Dalton drivers have lower average car insurance costs than many other Georgia cities.
The average cost of car insurance in Dalton is $178 per month for full coverage and $112 for liability-only policies. This is less than the Georgia state averages of $250 and $164, respectively.
Dalton's smaller population and comparatively low fatality rate likely contribute to the city's lower-than-average car insurance costs. Here’s what you need to know about cheap car insurance in Dalton, Georgia, and how premiums change based on coverage type, incidents, and age.
3 of the cheapest car insurance companies in Dalton
Buying auto insurance can be complicated, and you want to find the right fit for your situation. The most affordable coverage option may not fit your specific needs.
Insurify covers the cheapest car insurance in Dalton for certain categories below. In many cases, Hugo won out in the affordability category. However, the company doesn’t offer full coverage in Georgia, which can leave you more at risk. And if you finance or lease your vehicle, you won't be able to use Hugo.
Always compare options and review benefits. Below are some of the cheapest car insurance companies in Dalton, Georgia, and what they’re a good fit for.
Best insurance for full coverage: Auto-Owners
Best insurance for temporary coverage: Hugo
Best insurance for teens: State Farm
How to get the cheapest car insurance in Dalton
Finding affordable car insurance coverage in Dalton will depend on your individual needs, ZIP code, age, driving record, and more.6 To get the cheapest car insurance in Dalton, follow these tips:
Compare your options. Don’t just stop at the first affordable quote you find. Research multiple insurance companies and get several quotes. Reviewing three or more options can give you a better idea of what’s competitive.
Research discounts. On top of low quotes, look at available discount options from insurance companies. You may be able to get a safe driving discount, good student discounts, and more.
Bundle coverage. If you buy multiple insurance products — like home insurance or renters insurance — from the same company you buy auto insurance from, you can usually score a lower premium.
Be a safe driver. What you pay for car insurance is also based on your driving record. To keep costs low, drive within the speed limit, put down your cell phone, and never drive under the influence.
Choose the right deductible. Consider your deductible when lowering your car insurance costs. “The deductible is the amount you pay out of pocket before your insurance coverage applies. Choosing a higher deductible can lower your premium, but it is important to strike a balance that aligns with your financial capabilities,” says Grizzle.
Cheapest liability-only car insurance in Dalton: Progressive
Liability insurance is the most basic form of car insurance that meets Georgia state minimums. It helps cover your liability to pay for property damage and bodily injury in an accident you cause. Because it only covers the other party’s vehicle repairs and medical bills, and not yours, it tends to be more affordable than full-coverage options. Liability policies in Dalton cost $112 per month on average.
Below are the companies that offer the lowest average quotes for liability-only policies in Dalton, Georgia:
Cheapest full-coverage car insurance in Dalton: Mile Auto
Full-coverage car insurance in Dalton helps provide more robust protections for a driver. Instead of just covering your liability, full coverage typically also includes collision and comprehensive coverage. Having just liability-only coverage can leave you more at risk, while full coverage is often the safer bet if you want more protection on the road. To get full coverage in Dalton, you can expect to pay an average of $178 per month.
Here are the companies that offer the cheapest average quotes for full-coverage insurance in Dalton, Georgia:
Car insurance requirements in Georgia
Georgia is an at-fault state, sometimes called a tort state. This means that a driver who causes an accident is responsible for paying for the resulting damages and injuries, typically through their liability insurance.1 However, even if the damages or medical costs exceed their liability limits, the driver is responsible for the excess costs. Injured parties can sue the at-fault driver for the remaining damages in Georgia as part of its fault-based system.
Georgia requires the following minimum liability limits for drivers:2
“By meeting these minimum requirements, drivers fulfill their legal obligations and have a basic level of financial protection in case of accidents,” says Tyler Grizzle, partner at GSP Insurance Group. “However, it is important to note that these limits may not be sufficient to cover all potential damages. Drivers should carefully assess their personal circumstances, including their assets and financial situation, and consider higher coverage limits to ensure comprehensive protection.”
Drivers in Dalton should also consider adding the following coverages to an auto policy for more protection:
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an incident
If you have an incident on your driving record, it’s likely your car insurance premiums in Dalton will go up. Incidents can include moving violations, speeding tickets, at-fault accidents, and driving under the influence (DUI).
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a speeding ticket: Mile Auto
Going over the speed limit can result in a speeding ticket, which may affect car insurance premiums. It can also result in two to six points on your license that won’t disappear for two years.3 The average cost of car insurance for drivers with a speeding ticket in Dalton is $218 per month for full coverage and $137 for liability only. To find affordable coverage in Dalton, Georgia, after getting a speeding ticket, compare liability-only quotes from the cheapest insurance companies Insurify analyzed:
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an at-fault accident: Progressive
Having an at-fault accident on your record in Dalton, Georgia, will most likely increase your car insurance premiums. How much they increase depends on the severity of the accident and claim, so it’s important to review your policy at renewal to see how much more you’ll pay.4 If the cost jumps too high, you can shop around for a new insurance company. The cost of car insurance for Dalton drivers with an accident is $238 per month for full coverage and $150 for liability only, on average.
The table below shows the cheapest car insurance companies for drivers in Dalton with an at-fault accident:
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a DUI: Mile Auto
Driving under the influence is dangerous and risky to drivers and other passengers. Having a DUI conviction increases car insurance premiums due to the added risk. In Dalton, car insurance costs can double after a DUI conviction or even trigger a non-renewal with your car insurance company.4 The average cost of car insurance for drivers with a DUI is $287 per month for full coverage and $180 for liability only.
Start your quote comparison for car insurance with the following cheap auto insurers for drivers in Dalton with a DUI:
Cheapest car insurance for seniors: Mile Auto
Senior drivers can take advantage of low car insurance premiums in Dalton. Car insurance prices tend to dip around the age of 25 and decrease until around age 75, when they start to rise again because that’s when reaction times and driving capabilities decline.5 Senior drivers in Dalton pay an average of $156 per month for full coverage and $98 for liability only.
To find affordable car insurance for seniors in Dalton, Georgia, start with the following cheap auto insurers:
Cheapest car insurance for teens: Progressive
Teen drivers tend to pay higher premiums than other age groups due to additional risk factors. Teens and young adults are just starting to learn to drive and don’t have as much experience on the road.6 Plus, data from the CDC shows that teens are more likely to be involved in a fatal car accident. The average cost of car insurance for teen drivers in Dalton is $318 per month for full coverage and $200 for liability only.
Because of these factors, teens pay more for car insurance coverage. To get affordable coverage, teens should consider staying on their parents’ insurance and research insurers that offer teen-specific discounts.
Dalton car insurance quotes by credit tier
Many car insurance companies use credit history as one of the criteria for determining premiums. A handful of states prohibit this practice, but Georgia allows insurers to do it.7
In Dalton, car insurance quotes are lowest for those with excellent or good credit. Those with poor credit pay significantly more, so it’s a good idea to work on improving your credit score when you can.
Is car insurance more expensive in Dalton?
Insurance isn’t more expensive in Dalton. Car insurance in Dalton is about on par with the national average. The average cost of full-coverage car insurance in Dalton is $178 per month, while the national average for full coverage is higher, at $184 per month, based on Insurify data.
And full-coverage car insurance in Dalton is cheaper than in Georgia overall ($250 per month) and in Atlanta ($319).
More cities in Georgia
Car insurance in Dalton is relatively inexpensive compared to other cities in Georgia. Below, you can see the average monthly liability-only and full-coverage quotes from other cities. Savannah has the most expensive full-coverage insurance out of these cities, at $274 per month.