Cheap Auto Insurance in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (2025)

Pittsburgh drivers pay an average of $160 per month for full coverage car insurance and $93 for minimum coverage. Those rates are higher than what residents of smaller cities, like Lancaster, pay, and higher than the state averages of $156 and $93, respectively.

With nearly 303,000 residents, Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in Pennsylvania. The city's location in the foothills of the Allegheny Mountains, where the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers join to become the Ohio river, mean Pittsburgh has some challenging terrain for drivers. Add a large population of college students, snowy winters, and numerous businesses and entertainment venues that bring people to the city, and it's not surprising that Pittsburgh has some high car insurance rates.

You can still find cheap car insurance by comparing rates from National General and other insurers. Here's what you need to know about finding affordable car insurance in Pittsburgh.

Best car insurance companies in Pittsburgh

There’s no way to identify a single car insurance company as “best” because the best company for one driver might fall short for another. Look for the company that offers the right policy and customer service for your needs while also delivering an affordable price. You can reach out to an agent to discuss your situation if you’re not sure where to start.

These three Pittsburgh car insurance companies fit the bill for various types of drivers.

Best insurer for cheap rates: State Farm

Best insurer for infrequent drivers: Mile Auto

Best insurer for customer service: Erie

How to get the cheapest car insurance in Pittsburgh

Insurance professionals evaluate many factors when they calculate your auto rates. The main one is the coverage itself — the more auto insurance coverages you opt for and the higher your limits, the more you’ll pay. One of the best ways to save is by eliminating insurance products you don’t need.

What you need depends on how and when you drive. You might need full coverage if you commute to downtown Pittsburgh for school or work. If, on the other hand, you work remotely from your home in Monroeville or another suburb in the Pittsburgh area, liability coverage might be enough.

Here are additional ways to save on your Pittsburgh car insurance:

• Compare quotes from multiple insurance companies to see which offers the best rate.

• Increase your deductible to lower your monthly premiums.

• Bundle your auto insurance with homeowners or renters insurance to earn a discount.

• Maintain a good driving record.

• Improve your credit.

Cheapest liability-only car insurance in Pittsburgh: National General

Liability-only car insurance doesn’t cover your own injuries or damages. It provides bodily injury and property damage protection to cover damages and medical expenses for other drivers when you’re at fault in an accident. If you driver an older, paid-off, less-expensive vehicle, a liability-only policy can make sense.

On average Pittsburgh drivers pay $93 per month for liability insurance. National General offers the cheapest rate at $65 per month.

Here are the cheapest insurers for liability-only car insurance in Pittsburgh.

Cheapest full-coverage car insurance in Pittsburgh: State Farm

Full-coverage car insurance is optional unless you finance or lease your vehicle, but it’s good to have because it covers your losses in an accident. For the most complete protection, opt for both collision coverage, which protects you when you have a collision with another vehicle, and comprehensive coverage, for non-collision events like fire, theft, vandalism, and severe weather.1

On average, Pittsburgh drivers pay $160 per month for full coverage and State Farm offers the cheapest full-coverage rates.

Car insurance requirements in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania drivers must carry liability insurance for each of their registered motor vehicles.2 The minimum coverage is low compared to other state minimums and may not provide enough protection, so you may want to consider increasing your limits.

Pennsylvania is a no-fault state, meaning you must file a bodily injury claim with your insurance company even if the other driver was at fault.3 However, the law allows drivers to opt out by selecting certain coverage options. Here are some other coverage options you should consider when buying car insurance in Pennsylvania:

Cheapest car insurance for Pittsburgh drivers with an incident

An incident is an event that’s reported to your insurance company and may increase your insurance rate as a result. Reportable incidents include speeding tickets, driving under the influence (DUI), and at-fault accidents, all of which correlate with an increased risk of future incidents.

That heightened risk can prompt your auto insurance company to add a surcharge to your premium and terminate any discounts you receive based on your driving record.

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a speeding ticket: National General

A speeding car is more likely to be involved in an accident because the driver has less time to react. Speeding also makes accidents more dangerous by reducing the effectiveness of safety equipment like seat belts and airbags. Speeding contributed to 29% of traffic fatalities in 2021, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.4

A speeding ticket — especially if it’s not your first — could drive up your auto insurance rate for three to five years. On average, drivers with a speeding ticket pay $102 for liability insurance, but State Farm offers the cheapest rate for $81 per month. The following table shows the difference you'll pay with a speeding ticket vs. a clean record with some of Pittsburgh's top insurers offering liability-only coverage.

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an at-fault accident: National General

An at-fault accident will likely result in a rate increase that could stay with you for three years following your insurance claim. The amount of the increase depends on your claims history and how bad the damage was. If you file too many at-fault accident claims, there’s also a chance that your insurance company will decline to renew your auto insurance policy.

In Pittsburgh, an at-fault accident pushes the average car insurance rates to $188 per month for full coverage and $106 for liability only. State Farm offers the cheapest rates for drivers with an at-fault accident for $86 per month.

The following table shows how an at-fault accident affects minimum coverage quotes from insurers that operate in Pittsburgh.

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a DUI: National General

Drivers with a blood-alcohol content of 0.08% or higher are considered intoxicated under Pennsylvania law.5 A DUI conviction is one of the most serious behind-the-wheel violations you can receive. Many companies will even decline to renew a driver following a DUI.

If you find another insurance company to insure you, it’ll likely be at a significantly higher rate than you paid before — much higher if you’ve had prior reportable incidents. However, some insurers still offer reasonable rates to drivers with DUIs.

The average cost of car insurance in Pittsburgh after a DUI is $150 per month for liability and $258 for full coverage. National General has the cheapest rates for drivers with a DUI at $101 per month.

Below are the Pittsburgh companies with the best monthly liability-only rates for drivers with a DUI.

Cheapest car insurance for seniors: National General

Pittsburgh car insurance companies base insurance rates on many factors, including your age. While young drivers typically have the highest rates, their premiums progressively decline until age 35. But once you reach age 70, you’re likely to see your rates climb again.

One reason seniors pay more after age 70 is that they’re more likely to have health problems that can affect their driving ability. Those issues also make them more prone to being seriously injured or killed in a crash.6

On average, car insurance for senior drivers costs $140 per month for full coverage and $81 monthly for minimum coverage. National General offers the cheapest rates for seniors in Pittsburgh at $52 per month.

Below are the insurance companies in Pittsburgh that offer the most favorable monthly rates to senior drivers.

Cheapest car insurance for teens: National General

Teenagers pay higher car insurance rates than other age groups because they’re less experienced and are more likely to be involved in an accident. However, teens can take several actions to reduce their Pittsburgh car insurance rates:

• Stay on your parents’ policy.

• Drive a less-expensive car, such as a compact or sedan. Avoid sports and collector/classic cars.

• Keep up your grades to qualify for good student discounts.

• Install a telematics device that measures your driving behavior — make sure you observe speed limits and avoid hard braking, acceleration, and cornering.

• Keep your car at home when you go away to college, especially if the school is in a ZIP code with a higher crime rate and you’d need to park the car in an unsecured lot.

Car insurance for teen drivers averages $185 monthly for liability-only coverage and $318 for full coverage in Pittsburgh. Teens can find the most affordable rates from National General for $138 per month.

Pittsburgh car insurance quotes by credit tier

Pennsylvania allows insurance companies to consider your credit history to calculate an insurance score that affects how much you pay for a new policy.7 Drivers with good credit typically pay lower premiums than drivers with poor credit.

Here’s how credit tiers affect Pittsburgh car insurance rates.

Is car insurance more expensive in Pittsburgh?

Full-coverage car insurance costs $160 per month in Pittsburgh, which is significantly less expensive than the average cost of insurance in Philadelphia. Philadelphia is located in a larger, more congested metropolitan area, with interstate highways and other busy roads, which might be a key reason for the difference.

More cities in Pennsylvania

Location affects risks like the likelihood of getting into an accident or having your vehicle vandalized or stolen, so car insurance rates can vary greatly from city to city. Here’s how Pittsburgh car insurance rates compare to rates in cities across the state.

Pittsburgh car insurance FAQs