Chattanooga drivers pay a little less for car insurance than the Tennessee average monthly cost. The average monthly cost for a full-coverage policy in Chattanooga is $147, while the state average is $136.
Chattanooga's declining fatality rate (down 14% in 20231), comparatively smaller population (184,086 people), and less congested roads likely all contribute to its slightly lower car insurance costs.
Mile Auto, State Farm, and Progressive are among the cheapest insurers in Tennessee’s fourth-largest city. Here’s what you should know about comparing quotes and finding the best coverage in Chattanooga.
3 of the cheapest car insurance companies in Chattanooga
Finding the best car insurance in Chattanooga that also fits your budget will depend on numerous rating factors, like your coverage needs, driving history, age, and gender.
State Farm, Auto-Owners, and GEICO are among the best car insurance companies to consider in Chattanooga, Insurify data indicates.
Best insurer for full coverage: State Farm
Best insurer for young drivers: GEICO
Best insurer for drivers with an at-fault accident: Auto-Owners
How to get the cheapest car insurance in Chattanooga
Finding the cheapest or best coverage for car insurance in Chattanooga will depend on factors like your driving history, age, ZIP code, and coverage needs. While some of these factors are out of your control, you can still take steps to get lower car insurance rates:
Keep a clean driving record. Try to avoid speeding tickets and other violations, as well as at-fault accidents. By closely following the traffic laws in your area, you’ll keep a clean driving record and be eligible for the cheapest car insurance rates.
Maintain good credit. Car insurers can use your credit history to help determine the likelihood that you’ll file an insurance claim. This affects car insurance rates, so it’s important to maintain a good credit score, pay bills on time, and practice healthy financial habits.
Ask about discounts. Car insurance companies also offer multiple discounts, such as ones for bundling your insurance policies, driving a car with certain anti-theft features, completing a safe-driver program, and remaining accident-free. Ask questions about which discounts you qualify for so you don’t miss out on these savings.
Shop around. Shop around for coverage and compare quotes from at least three different insurers to make sure you’re getting the best quote for your situation.
Cheapest liability-only car insurance in Chattanooga: Mile Auto
Nearly every state requires a minimum level of liability insurance. Property damage liability only covers damages to the other person’s vehicle, and bodily injury liability covers their medical expenses after an accident you cause.
You may want to consider liability-only insurance if you drive an older vehicle and can afford to pay for your own car’s repairs out of pocket. You may also consider this option if you’re on a tight budget and don’t want to face penalties for not carrying any insurance.
For drivers in Chattanooga, the average monthly cost of liability coverage is $75. Here are some of the cheapest liability-only car insurance rates in Chattanooga.
Cheapest full-coverage car insurance in Chattanooga: Mile Auto
Full-coverage car insurance costs more than liability-only coverage, but it includes liability, comprehensive, and collision coverages. Collision coverage can pay to repair or replace your vehicle in case of an at-fault accident. Comprehensive can pay for damage from non-accident causes, such as a tree falling on your car.
If you have a car loan or lease, your lender or leasing company will likely require you to carry full-coverage insurance. As vehicles can be very expensive, full coverage is also good to have so you can make the necessary repairs to your car and get back on the road sooner.
For full coverage, Chattanooga-based drivers pay on average $147 per month. Here are some of the cheapest full-coverage car insurance rates in Chattanooga.
Car insurance requirements in Tennessee
Like most states, Tennessee requires drivers to have a minimum amount of liability insurance. Drivers who don’t meet the minimum auto insurance coverage requirements face fines and risk losing their vehicle registration.3
Here are the minimum car insurance requirements for the state of Tennessee:
Chattanooga drivers may also benefit from some optional coverages, including:
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an incident
Your driving record heavily affects your car insurance rates. Incidents like speeding tickets, DUIs, at-fault accidents, and other infractions can go on your driving record and increase car insurance rates for several years.
If you’re wondering how much your rates could increase with an incident on your record, Insurify has some current quotes for insurers serving Chattanooga.
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a speeding ticket: Mile Auto
Getting a speeding ticket in Tennessee is a violation that can add points to your driving record and cause your insurance rates to go up for three to five years. Chattanooga drivers with a speeding ticket on their record typically pay a monthly average of $192 for full-coverage insurance and $98 for liability only.
If you have a speeding ticket on your record, some insurers still offer cheap rates for Chattanooga residents. Here are some of the best liability-only coverage options to consider.
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an at-fault accident: Mile Auto
An accident that results in a claim can affect your car insurance rates, even if you’re not at fault for the crash. But it’s still possible to find affordable car insurance following an accident claim. Some insurers even offer optional accident forgiveness coverage that can help hold down your premiums after a single at-fault accident.
In Chattanooga, the monthly average rate for full-coverage insurance with an accident on your record is $194, while liability-only coverage costs $99. Here are some of the best monthly insurance rates for liability-only coverage in Chattanooga when you have an accident on your record.
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a DUI: Mile Auto
Driving under the influence of alcohol is a serious offense that can result in much higher car insurance rates, non-renewal of your policy, or even mid-term cancellation. In Tennessee, first-time offenders can lose their license for up to one year and be subject to a fine, and the DUI will stay on their Tennessee driver's record permanently. You may even do jail time if your blood alcohol level exceeds a certain limit.4
In 2023, 23% of accidents in Chattanooga that resulted in fatalities or serious injury, involved a drunk driver, state data shows. The average monthly cost in Chattanooga for drivers with a DUI conviction is $190 for full coverage and $97 for liability coverage. If you’re recovering from having a DUI on your record and looking for car insurance, here are some of the best monthly liability-only rates for drivers in Chattanooga.
Cheapest car insurance for seniors: Mile Auto
Senior drivers typically have the cheapest car insurance rates of any age group. But seniors’ rates can begin to increase again around age 70 due to an increased risk of accidents.
On average, seniors in Chattanooga pay $93 per month for car insurance. But senior Chattanoogans have options for holding down their car insurance costs. Keeping a clean driving record and taking advantage of discounts such as bundling can help.
Here are some of the best monthly car insurance rates for seniors in Chattanooga.
Cheapest car insurance for teens: Mile Auto
Having less experience on the road and high accident rates, young drivers pay higher car insurance rates. In Chattanooga, the overall average car insurance cost for teen drivers is $223 per month.
Teens and drivers younger than 25 can still save by utilizing certain discounts insurers offer.
Many insurance companies offer a discount for students who earn good grades. Others provide driver safety courses that give you a discount on your premium once you successfully complete the program. Young drivers may also be able to save by staying on their parents’ insurance for longer, even while they're away at college. Teens under 18 won't be able to buy their own policy without written consent from a parent or guardian.
To narrow down your insurance coverage options, here are some of the cheapest monthly car insurance quotes for teens and young adults purchasing their own policies in Chattanooga.
Chattanooga car insurance quotes by credit tier
Like most other states, Tennessee allows insurers to consider your credit history when determining your car insurance rates. Insurers use your credit information to generate a credit-based insurance score, which measures the risk that you’ll file an insurance claim.
While an excellent credit score is considered anything 720 and higher, several other factors determine your actual car insurance rate. Even if you have a lower credit score, you can work to improve your credit and be mindful that insurers consider several other rating factors as well.
Here are the average monthly quotes for a full-coverage policy in Chattanooga based on credit tiers.
Is car insurance more expensive in Chattanooga?
Chattanooga has some of the lowest car insurance rates of Tennessee cities. The average cost of insurance in Chattanooga is $111, compared to $121 in Nashville.
Car insurance rates can vary across cities depending on factors like population, traffic, and the rate of accidents or vandalism in the area.
More cities in Tennessee
Here’s how the average monthly car insurance quote differs in other Tennessee cities compared to Chattanooga.