The average monthly cost of car insurance in Tennessee is $103, placing it at the 13th-lowest average rate in the nation.
Full-coverage car insurance increased nationally in 2024, and Tennessee drivers saw their average annual price increase to $1,700. Tennessee has a higher rate of fatal crashes than the national average and the highest number of alcohol-related traffic fatalities, according to crash data, which could explain this increase.1 2
Here’s a deeper look into the average rates drivers in Tennessee pay, including how these rates depend on age, gender, driving record, ZIP code, type of car, and additional coverages.
How much is car insurance in Tennessee?
The average monthly cost of car insurance in Tennessee is $103, but car insurance rates vary depending on your policy type.
Drivers who choose the minimum coverage that state law requires — liability-only car insurance — pay $70 per month, totaling about $844 per year. If you want higher protection than the minimum requirements or additional coverage options, such as comprehensive and collision, you’ll pay an average annual amount of $1,630, or $136 per month.
How Tennessee car insurance rates have changed over the past two years
The average price for full-coverage car insurance in Tennessee rose to $1,700 in 2024, up significantly over rates from just a few years ago. Full-coverage rates also rose nationally, though they remain more expensive than in Tennessee.
See how Tennessee car insurance prices have changed over the past two years below.
Average Tennessee car insurance rates by city
Never assume that the average car insurance rate in Tennessee is exactly what you’ll pay. Two drivers with the same minimum liability coverage living in two different ZIP codes, even within the same city, likely pay different car insurance rates based on their address.
The rates of vehicle accidents, uninsured motorists, theft, and vandalism all influence rates.3 For instance, the FBI reports that motor vehicle theft rates are substantially lower in Kingsport than in Memphis. And you can see below that average annual insurance rates in Kingsport are lower than average annual insurance rates in Memphis.4
The table below shows how rates fluctuate based on where you live in Tennessee.
Average Tennessee car insurance rates by age and gender
Gender is one of the many factors car insurance companies use to determine rates. Women statistically have fewer at-fault fender benders, DUIs, and serious property damage and bodily injury accidents than men. In Tennessee, women pay an average of $101 per month, while men pay a slightly higher monthly rate of $104.
Age also influences car insurance rates. Drivers younger than 25 pay the most for insurance since they have less experience on the road. In 2024 alone, over 1,000 more drivers younger than 25 were involved in crashes across Tennessee than drivers between the ages of 25 and 34.5
Rates improve as you get older, but at around age 70, older drivers may see their rates increase due to reduced faculties.
The tables below show how rates fluctuate by age and gender.
Average cost to insure popular vehicles in Tennessee
Your car’s age, make, and model affect your insurance costs. Cars less than one year old cost more to insure because their values are higher than older cars. It’s an important factor to consider before buying a vehicle.
Insurance companies assess car information, injury safety ratings, and accident repair costs to determine rates for specific vehicles. Tennessee car owners purchase more American-made cars — like GMC, Ford, and Chevrolet — than the national average. Toyota and Honda are often considered reliable brands. Comparatively, the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and Ford F-150 Series Pickup have high national theft rates.
The table below shows average monthly car insurance quotes for five of the most popular vehicles in Tennessee.
How your driving record affects car insurance rates in Tennessee
Your driving record is an important factor when insurance companies determine rates. If you have an incident on your record, insurers believe you’re likely to have a repeat offense and submit a claim.
Accidents that cause bodily injury or property damage will increase your average annual premiums. Consequences from risky driving behaviors, such as speeding tickets or DUI arrests, will also increase average annual premiums.
Tennessee drivers with poor records pay anywhere from $168 per month with an accident to $190 per month with a DUI. But drivers with a clean record pay $112 per month, on average.
The table below compares the rates of drivers with clean records to those of drivers with incidents on their records.
How to lower your insurance costs in Tennessee
Along with maintaining good credit and comparing car insurance costs before you purchase a car, you can use these strategies to find cheap car insurance policies that meet your minimum liability, comprehensive, and collision needs.