State Farm, Travelers, and Foremost offer some of the cheapest rates in Lancaster. Policies are available for an average rate of $118 a month. However, drivers with poor credit history might pay more on average than drivers with better credit.
When shopping for cheap car insurance in Lancaster, your unique driver profile will influence rates. For instance, you may pay more if you have a history of accidents or traffic violations. You could also pay less if you’re eligible for multiple discounts. Compare multiple insurers to find the best rate for your coverage needs.
Cheapest car insurance companies in Lancaster
Lancaster drivers will notice that factors like ZIP codes and your driving record influence auto rates, so there’s a good chance the right insurance company for you will depend on your individual situation. State Farm, Travelers, and Foremost are among the cheapest car insurance companies in Lancaster, according to Insurify data.
Cheapest full-coverage insurance: State Farm
Cheapest insurance for teens and seniors: Travelers
Cheapest insurance with a poor driving record: Foremost
How to get the cheapest car insurance in Lancaster
Getting the cheapest car insurance in Lancaster doesn’t always mean finding the insurer with the lowest advertised rates. Most insurers offer multiple discounts to qualified drivers.
To increase your savings, you can also consider these tips from the Insurance Information Institute:10
Raise your deductible. Opting for a higher deductible increases your out-of-pocket costs if you file a claim for a covered loss. High deductibles typically create lower monthly rates.
Reduce optional insurance on older cars. If the value of your car is significantly lower than your premium, you may want to consider dropping optional insurance coverages to save money.
Maintain a good credit history. Pennsylvania car insurance companies can lower your rates if you increase your credit score.
Cheapest liability-only car insurance in Lancaster: National General
All drivers in Pennsylvania must maintain a minimum amount of insurance; most car insurance companies refer to this as a liability-only policy.
Mark Friedlander, director of corporate communications for the Insurance Information Institute, recommends all drivers carry 100/300/100 liability coverage levels no matter where they live to ensure they have adequate financial protection from at-fault accidents.
“This includes motorists who drive through Amish communities where horse-drawn buggies share the roads, which could present additional hazards,” Friedlander adds.
National General offers the cheapest liability rates in Lancaster for $60 per month. The table below lists more top carriers for liability insurance in Lancaster.
Cheapest full-coverage car insurance in Lancaster: State Farm
While Pennsylvania drivers must have at least liability-only coverage, optional insurance endorsements like collision and comprehensive coverage can provide even more protection. Full-coverage policies are typically a combination of liability, collision, and comprehensive insurance.
Collision insurance covers the damages to your vehicle when you hit an object or another driver, while comprehensive covers non-collision damages like vandalism, fire, and floods. Drivers who want the greatest level of protection should consider a full-coverage policy.4
Even though full-coverage policies usually cost more than liability-only policies, you can compare insurance quotes to find the cheapest policy for you. State Farm offers the cheapest full-coverage rates in Lancaster for $73 per month. The table below lists other top carriers for full-coverage insurance.
Car insurance requirements in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania sets the minimum car insurance requirements for drivers in Lancaster. Minimum insurance requirements include bodily injury liability, property damage liability, and medical benefits coverage.
Drivers must also have either full or limited tort coverage, which define your right to sue an at-fault party in court for damages sustained. Full tort coverage allows covered drivers to sue at-fault parties for medical expenses, out-of-pocket expenses, and pain and suffering, while limited tort coverage lets drivers sue at-fault parties only for medical and out-of-pocket expenses relating to the accident.1 5
Some drivers in Lancaster may want to purchase additional optional coverages for more financial protection, such as:1
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an incident
Car insurance rates can increase from at-fault accidents, driving under the influence, speeding tickets, and other moving violations.
These incidents can increase rates because they’re risky driving behaviors that have either caused an accident or have a higher likelihood of causing an accident than safe, responsible driving habits.
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a speeding ticket: State Farm
Data from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (DOT) shows that speed was the most common contributing factor in car crashes and fatal car crashes in 2021. Nearly 26,000 crashes occurred due to speeding, with 441 fatal crashes reported.6
Even if you don’t cause an accident while speeding, a speeding ticket can still increase your premium. Car insurance companies view a speeding ticket as a risky behavior that increases the likelihood of an accident.
Lancaster drivers with a speeding ticket can find the cheapest rates from State Farm for $83 per month. The table below lists full coverage and liability rates for drivers with a speeding ticket.
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an at-fault accident: State Farm
Speeding is just one of many factors in a car crash, but it’s important to remember that you can still be at fault for damages in various instances that don’t include speeding or colliding with another car. For instance, you could jump a curb with your car, and your insurer could classify you as at fault for the damage.
Rates typically increase after an at-fault accident; however, some insurers offer accident-forgiveness programs that may not raise your rate after your first at-fault accident.
State Farm has the cheapest rates for drivers with an accident for $79 per month. If State Farm isn't the right insurer for you, check out the table below.
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a DUI: National General
Along with speeding, the Pennsylvania DOT notes that impaired driving is a significant contributor to fatal crashes. In 2021, more than 8,000 reported crashes involved a driver who had allegedly been drinking, and 124 crashes were fatal.6
Car insurance rates will almost certainly increase if you’re convicted of a DUI/DWI. In some cases, an insurer can choose to either cancel or not renew your auto policy following a conviction.7
In Lancaster, National General offers the cheapest rates for drivers with a DUI at $93 per month.
Cheapest car insurance for seniors: National General
Senior drivers are overrepresented in crashes involving multiple vehicles, possibly due to deterioration of cognitive and physical driving abilities, according to the Pennsylvania DOT.6
On average, Lancaster seniors experience on average $71 per month for liability coverage, and $140 per month for full coverage.
Because older drivers are generally more likely to be involved in a fatal crash per traveled mile than middle-aged drivers, it’s common to see premium rates decrease around age 35 but increase again around age 70.8
Cheapest car insurance for teens: National General
Although the highest risk of crash rates in teens is at age 16, the fatal crash rate for all teen drivers is four times higher than drivers 20 and older.9 A lack of driving experience and potential for increased distractions or risky driving behaviors also contribute to higher rates for teenagers compared to other drivers.
To save as much money as possible, teens should look for good student, safe driver, and away-at-college discounts. Teens can also purchase a safer vehicle or stay on their parents’ insurance policy for as long as possible to potentially lower their rates.
National General offers the cheapest rates for teens in Lancaster fir $126 per month.
Lancaster car insurance quotes by credit tier
Pennsylvania state law allows insurance companies to review your credit history when determining rates for your initial car insurance policy. Insurance companies use your insurance score to rate your likelihood of filing a claim. However, insurers can only use this score to decrease, not increase, your policy rates during renewal periods.11
In many cases, having an excellent or good credit history indicates that you present a lower insurance risk than drivers with poor credit history, so drivers with better credit tend to pay lower rates.
Is car insurance more expensive in Lancaster?
The average car insurance rate in Lancaster is $118 per month, which is lower than the Pennsylvania state average and national average of $144.
While Lancaster rates are lower than national averages, Pennsylvania car insurance costs can still vary significantly among cities. Lancaster insurance is significantly cheaper than cities like Philadelphia and Allentown, while it’s similar to rates in Erie, Bethlehem, and York. Factors like population, motor vehicle theft rates, and cost of repairs can affect average rates.12
More cities in Pennsylvania
When comparing other Pennsylvania cities to Lancaster, it’s important to note that while Pittsburgh and Philadelphia are major cities in the Keystone State, one reason their rates may be so different is because of the significantly higher population in Philadelphia compared to Pittsburgh.