Bethlehem sits on the border of New Jersey and is home to Lehigh University. Drivers in the “Christmas City” experience high car insurance rates and pay an average of $96 per month for liability coverage and $147 per month for full coverage. This is more than the state averages of $94 for liability and $158 for full-coverage car insurance.
Insurers in Pennsylvania consider factors such as your driving record, credit history, and location when determining your premium, so rates can vary widely. Comparing car insurance quotes from multiple companies before buying a policy is the best way to secure a cheaper rate.
Here’s what to consider when shopping for the best car insurance in Bethlehem.
3 of the cheapest car insurance companies in Bethlehem
State Farm, Erie, and National General are three of the cheapest car insurance companies in Bethlehem. These three insurers are a good place to start if you’re looking for affordable coverage, but they may not be the cheapest for you because of your unique needs. Here, you can learn more about each of these insurers and their average statewide quotes.
Best insurer for families: State Farm
Best insurer for flexibility: Erie
Best insurer for high-risk drivers: National General
How to get the cheapest car insurance in Bethlehem
The car insurance rates you pay in Bethlehem will depend on several factors, including your age, gender, driving record, credit history, location, and more.
Some of these factors are outside of your control, but you stand a good chance of lowering your rates by following these tips:
Compare quotes. It’s a good idea to get estimates from at least three companies before buying a car insurance policy. Compare quotes every year to ensure you’re getting the best deal, and read customer reviews of the companies you’re interested in before signing a policy.
Look for discounts. Take advantage of any discounts you qualify for, such as those for safe driving, vehicle safety features, auto and home insurance bundling, and more. Call an independent insurance agent to see if you qualify for any other discounts.
Maintain a good credit history. Insurers will consider your credit-based insurance score to determine how likely you are to file a claim. The better your credit history is, the less likely you are to file a claim and the lower your premium will be.
Raise your deductible. Increasing your deductible will lower your monthly premiums and can save you money. Just be sure you can pay the deductible out of pocket if you need to file a claim.
Cheapest liability-only car insurance in Bethlehem: National General
If you cause a car accident, liability insurance will cover the other party’s bodily injuries and property damage up to your insurance coverage limits. It won’t cover damage to your personal property or vehicle in the accident. It also won’t cover damage caused by weather-related incidents or vandalism.
Liability-only car insurance costs an average of $96 per month in Bethlehem. The table below highlights some of the cheapest insurers offering liability coverage in the city.
Cheapest full-coverage car insurance in Bethlehem: State Farm
Full-coverage car insurance includes collision and comprehensive coverage. Full-coverage insurance isn’t required, but many lenders require you to carry it before they’ll offer you a loan. It can also be a good idea to carry full coverage if you can afford it to cover associated property damage losses if needed.
Full-coverage car insurance costs $147 per month in Bethlehem, on average. The table below shows some of the cheapest insurers for full-coverage car insurance in the city.
Car insurance requirements in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania is a no-fault state, meaning your insurer will cover your medical expenses after an accident, regardless of who was at fault. If you’re a driver in Pennsylvania, you’ll need to carry bodily injury and property damage liability coverage, as well as medical benefits insurance.
The table below outlines the minimum requirements for insurance coverage in Pennsylvania.
The coverages outlined above meet state minimum requirements. But you may want to further enhance your coverage with any of the optional coverages listed below:
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an incident
An incident in car insurance typically refers to a speeding ticket, at-fault accident, DUI, or other serious moving violation. Insurers see past incidents as an indication of future risky driving behavior, and your rates will generally increase as a result. For example, drivers with an incident on their record pay an average of $109 per month compared to a clean record rate of $96 per month.
Even if you’re considered a high-risk driver, you can still find cheap car insurance. The table below compares the cheapest rates for drivers with a clean record to rates after various incidents.
Average cost of car insurance by age
Your age has a significant effect on how much you pay for car insurance. Young drivers pay the most due to their inexperience and risk-taking, while older, more seasoned drivers pay much more affordable rates.
Your car insurance rates will generally start to decrease around age 35. But once you reach 70, they’ll start to creep up again, as age-related risk factors come back into the picture.
The table below highlights car insurance rates by age in Bethlehem.
Bethlehem car insurance quotes by credit tier
Your credit history can affect your car insurance rates in Pennsylvania. Insurers factor the information presented in your credit history into a credit-based insurance score, which they use to determine how likely you are to file a claim.
This means drivers with excellent credit pay much lower monthly premiums than drivers with poor credit.