The overall average cost of car insurance in Baton Rouge is $212 per month — much higher than the state average of $159 and a whopping 190% higher than the national average cost of car insurance. In a city where the median household income is just $46,282 per year,1 saving money on car insurance is critical.
Baton Rouge’s exposure to severe weather and comparatively high number of car accidents — 3,800 total in 20222 — contribute to the city’s car insurance rates. The city also has a high rate of fatal accidents involving drunk driving, according to a Consumer Affairs analysis of federal accident data.3
However, Baton Rouge drivers can still find affordable coverage by comparing car insurance quotes.
Best car insurance companies in Baton Rouge
The best car insurance company for you might not be the one with the cheapest coverage.
“No matter how low the premium might be, an inexpensive policy does you absolutely no good if the insurance company cannot cover your claim when your car has been involved in an accident,” Jim Donelon, Louisiana’s commissioner of insurance, says in the state’s consumer guide to auto insurance.
Aside from price, you should look at factors such as coverage types, discounts, customer service ratings, and financial strength when choosing a car insurance company.
Here’s a closer look at State Farm, GEICO, and Allstate, three of Baton Rouge’s — and the nation’s — leading insurers.
Best insurer overall: State Farm
Best insurer for senior drivers: GEICO
Best insurer for auto insurance claims: Allstate
How to get the cheapest car insurance in Baton Rouge
A number of factors go into determining the car insurance rates you’re offered, including your:
Age
Gender
Driving record
Location
Type of car
Amount of coverage
ZIP code
To increase your chances of obtaining the lowest quote possible, follow these strategies:
Compare quotes. Obtain quotes from several car insurance companies and compare them against one another.
Increase your deductible. Raising your full-coverage deductible from, say, $250 to $1,000 typically lowers your car insurance costs because you’re taking on more of the up-front risk yourself. However, be sure to never set a deductible above what you can afford should you need to file a claim.
Bundle coverage. Your insurance company might provide a discount if you buy at least two policies from them, such as car insurance and homeowners insurance.
Explore discounts. You may be able to score a discount if you maintain a clean driving record or complete a defensive driving course. You can also inquire with your company to see if they have any discount agreements with certain insurers.
Cheapest liability-only car insurance in Baton Rouge: State Farm
Liability-only car insurance, required in Louisiana and most other states, pays accident claims for damage you cause to another car or injuries you cause to other people. Liability coverage doesn’t pay for damage to your own car or injuries to you or your passengers.
The table below shows average monthly quotes for a liability-only insurance policy in Baton Rouge. State Farm has the cheapest liability car insurance at $96 per month.
Cheapest full-coverage car insurance in Baton Rouge: State Farm
Full-coverage car insurance combines state-required liability coverage with comprehensive and collision coverage. This breaks down as follows:
Liability coverage pays for injuries you cause to other people or damage you cause to other people’s property in a car accident.
Comprehensive coverage pays claims for non-collision damage to your car, such as damage caused by a fallen tree.
Collision coverage pays for damage to your car caused by an accident with another car or by a run-in with an object like a guardrail or utility pole.
The table below shows the average monthly quotes for full-coverage car insurance from top car insurers in Baton Rouge. Again, State Farm has the cheapest full-coverage rate at $139 a month.
Car insurance requirements in Louisiana
Louisiana requires drivers to carry two kinds of liability coverage: bodily injury liability and property damage liability. The necessary amounts are listed in the table below.
Louisiana is also a pure comparative fault state. This means you can recover damages in court even if you were 99% at fault in a car accident. However, damage awards depend on your percentage of fault.
In addition to meeting the minimum coverage requirements outlined above, you may also want to consider adding the following coverages:
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an incident
A number of incidents can put a dent in your car insurance costs. These include at-fault accidents, speeding tickets, driving under the influence (DUI), and other traffic violations.
Depending on the insurer, these incidents can cause your car insurance premiums to increase. An insurer views a motorist with incidents on their record as more likely to get into an accident and file a claim in the future. This makes them potentially more expensive to insurers and, thus, more risky.
In the sections that follow, you’ll see how each incident type can affect your insurance rates.
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a speeding ticket: State Farm
Nearly 19% of fatal accidents in Baton Rouge involve speeding, according to Consumer Affairs’ analysis. If you have a speeding ticket on your record, a car insurance company sees you as a riskier client and will charge you accordingly. A speeding ticket can increase your premium for three years or longer.
Baton Rouge drivers with speeding tickets pay an average of $179 for liability only coverage, and $321 for full-coverage car insurance. Below, you can see the monthly rates you can expect to pay with a speeding ticket on your record.
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an at-fault accident: State Farm
Whether the accident was your fault or not plays a role in setting your car insurance rates. If you’re found to be at fault, your insurance company might boost your premiums. This depends on your driving record and other factors, as well as the severity of the accident.
An at-fault accident increases the overall average cost of car insurance to $284 per month. The following table provides some insight into how an accident can affect your car insurance rates in Baton Rouge.
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a DUI: State Farm
Insurers generally see a DUI as the most serious of driving incidents, and state laws underscore that perspective. A first conviction for driving under the influence could net you fines of up to $1,000 and jail time of up to six months in Louisiana. Penalties escalate for subsequent convictions.
If you have a DUI on your record, you should expect your rates to increase. Your monthly cost might even double, or the insurance company may drop you altogether. Drivers with a DUI pay, on average, $341 per month for car insurance in Baton Rouge, compared to $212 for those with clean driving records. Car insurance companies view motorists with a DUI as very high-risk drivers, and the monthly rates listed below reflect this.
Cheapest car insurance for seniors: State Farm
Age plays a role in your insurance rates as well, and senior drivers typically enjoy the lowest rates for car insurance. However, rates generally begin rising once drivers reach their 70s. This is partially because slowed reflexes make senior drivers more likely to be involved in an auto accident but also because seniors are more likely to be severely hurt if they’re in an accident.
Car insurance for senior drivers costs a monthly overall average of $194 in Baton Rouge, according to Insurify data. The following table shows examples of monthly car insurance rates senior drivers might find in Baton Rouge.
Cheapest car insurance for teens: State Farm
Car insurance companies tend to charge higher rates for teen drivers due to their inexperience. Research also shows that teen drivers are more likely to get into an accident, become distracted behind the wheel, and drive recklessly.
Fortunately, if you’re the parent of a teen driver, you can take steps to reduce these high insurance costs. Consider these tips to find cheap car insurance and reduce your premium:
Compare quotes. Obtain quotes from several insurance companies so you can compare cost and coverage.
Ask about good student discounts. Many car insurance companies provide discounts for teen drivers who maintain at least a B average.
Enroll them in a driver training course. Some insurers offer discounts for teen drivers who have undergone driver training.
Keep them on your coverage. Adding a teen to your coverage is almost always cheaper than having them get coverage of their own.
Car insurance for teen drivers averages $300 per month for liability-only coverage in Baton Rouge, while the full-coverage average is $539 for teens. The following table provides examples of monthly premium costs for teen drivers.
Baton Rouge car insurance quotes by credit tier
In Louisiana, it’s legal for a car insurance company to review your credit report or obtain a credit-based insurance score before setting your rates.
Insurers rely on credit-based insurance scores to help determine how likely you are to file a claim. This is because drivers with excellent or good credit tend to file fewer claims than drivers with fair or poor credit.
The average credit score in Louisiana is fair (669), according to consumer credit bureau Equifax.7 The table below shows how your credit affects the rates you’ll pay in Baton Rouge.
Is car insurance more expensive in Baton Rouge?
Yes. Car insurance in Baton Rouge is more expensive than the state and national averages of $159 and $143 respectively.
The driving records of Baton Rouge motorists appear to contribute to the higher-than-average car insurance costs. Statistics show Baton Rouge drivers have some of the country’s highest rates of traffic fatalities, deadly DUI crashes, and speeding.1
The city’s proximity to the Gulf of Mexico and the severe storms that brew there likely also contribute to the city’s higher car insurance costs.
More cities in Louisiana
Car insurance in Baton Rouge falls in the middle when compared to other large Louisiana cities. Rates are lower than those paid in New Orleans, Metairie, and Lafayette and higher than in Monroe and Shreveport.
Baton Rouge car insurance FAQs
If you’re shopping for car insurance in Baton Rouge, this additional information may help as you research your coverage options.
How much is car insurance in Baton Rouge?
The average cost for car insurance in Baton Rouge is $212 per month. Costs are high in Baton Rouge because of the potential for weather-related events and the number of poor drivers in the area.
What is the cheapest car insurance company in Baton Rouge?
Baton Rouge drivers will find the lowest rates from $State Farm, with an average liability-only cost of $96 per month. $National General and $USAA also offer cheap rates in the city, with monthly liability averages of $110 and $122, respectively.
What are the best car insurance companies in Baton Rouge?
State Farm, GEICO, and Allstate rank as the top insurers in Baton Rouge. Not only do these insurers offer some of the lowest car insurance rates available, but all three boast a high Insurify Quality (IQ) Score, with State Farm at 9.3, GEICO at 9.2, and Allstate at 8.9. These insurers have also earned high marks for their financial stability, discounts offered, and customer service.
Why does Louisiana have such high car insurance?
Insurance rates are high in Louisiana for several reasons. Like Florida, Louisiana has the potential for hurricanes and this affects its rates. In addition, cities like Baton Rouge have a high number of incident claims for speeding and at-fault accidents.
What type of car insurance is required in Louisiana?
In Louisiana, you’re required to carry minimum liability coverage amounting to $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident in bodily injury liability coverage and $25,000 per accident in property damage liability coverage.