One drive down the Katy Freeway, which widens to 26 lanes at Beltway 8, explains Houston’s reputation as a sprawling car-centric city. Nearly half of the city’s residents commute for 30 minutes or more, and the vast majority drive alone.
Houston’s crowded roads could help explain its total monthly average car insurance rate of $234. Comparing insurers could help you find cheaper coverage. Here’s what you need to know to get the best deal on car insurance in Houston.
Cheapest car insurance companies in Houston
Each insurance company uses factors unique to you to determine your car insurance rate, including your driving record, age, gender, type of vehicle, and years of experience behind the wheel.
Comparing auto insurance quotes from multiple insurance companies is the best way to find the cheapest coverage in Houston. These companies offer some of the most affordable average rates. Here are statewide rates for the top insurers, along with their IQ Scores.
Best insurer for cheap rates in Houston: State Farm
Best insurer for people with a bad driving record in Houston: GEICO
Best insurer for young drivers in Houston: Allstate
How to get the cheapest car insurance in Houston
Finding the cheapest car insurance in Houston will depend on factors like your driving history, age, ZIP code, and coverage needs. However, you still have control over some specific things when it comes to lowering your costs.
Keep a clean driving record. Try to avoid violations and speeding tickets to obtain the cheapest car insurance rates insurers have to offer.
Improve your credit score. Car insurance companies in Texas may look at your credit to determine, in part, your likelihood of filing an insurance claim. If you have a high credit score, you’re less likely to file a claim and will usually pay a lower premium. If you have a low credit score, you’re statistically more likely to file a claim and will pay a higher premium.
Ask about discounts. Insurers offer a variety of discounts for coverage, including discounts for bundling auto insurance with homeowners insurance, owning a car with anti-theft and safety protection, and remaining accident-free.
Shop around. Consider shopping around and gathering quotes from at least three different insurers to make sure you’re getting the best rate.
“Failing to compare shop unbundled policies is a big mistake because the company with the lowest price for your home may have the highest price for your car or vice versa,” says Anthony Verreos, strategic insurance advisor at Real Estate Bees. “Among the top sellers of car insurance, pricing can vary by hundreds of dollars per year.”
Cheapest liability-only car insurance in Houston: State Farm
Liability-only car insurance is often cheaper than full-coverage insurance because it provides less protection. Liability-only car insurance extends coverage only to the other person’s vehicle and their medical expenses when you’re at fault for an accident.
Since liability-only car insurance doesn’t cover your own vehicle or medical expenses, this coverage may not be enough to meet your needs. However, it could be ideal if you drive an older, paid-off vehicle and can afford to pay for repairs with cash.
The cheapest insurer for liability-only car insurance in Houston is State Farm, with an average cost of $77 per month.
Here are some of the cheapest liability-only car insurance rates in Houston.
Cheapest full-coverage car insurance in Houston: State Farm
Full-coverage car insurance includes liability coverage as well as coverage for your vehicle and your medical expenses after an accident. If you have a car loan or lease, your lender may require you to carry full-coverage insurance until your loan is paid off.
Even if you don’t have a car loan, full-coverage insurance can still be a good idea if you want collision and comprehensive coverages, as these costs can be expensive. State Farm is the cheapest insurer in Houston for full coverage, with an average monthly cost of $120.
Here are some of the cheapest full-coverage car insurance rates in Houston.
Car insurance requirements in Texas
Most states require drivers to have liability car insurance coverage. Texas requires all drivers to carry a certain amount of liability insurance coverage, but you can always pay for more coverage if needed.
Texas is an at-fault state, meaning your insurance company will pay for damage to the other drivers’ vehicles and help cover their medical expenses if you’re at fault for an accident. And all policies in Texas include personal injury protection, which will pay for some of your medical costs when you cause an accident. But you can opt out in writing if you don’t want this coverage.
Texas drivers must meet the minimum coverage requirements:
Depending on your needs and situation, you may want to consider getting optional insurance coverage as well, including:
Comprehensive
Underinsured motorist
Roadside assistance
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an incident
Your driving record is one factor that directly affects your car insurance rate. If infractions like speeding tickets, DWIs, and at-fault accidents are on your record, these incidents can increase your rates.
In Houston, rates increase by about 30% for insurers like GEICO and Allstate when you have an at-fault accident on your record.
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a speeding ticket: State Farm
If you’re stopped by an officer and given a speeding ticket, it can show up on your driving record and cause your car insurance rates to increase. On average, Houston drivers with speeding tickets pay $350 per month for full coverage and $212 for liability-only policies.
However, rates could be as low as $93 per month, even with a ticket on record.
Here are some monthly quotes from insurers in Houston when you have a speeding ticket on your record.
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an at-fault accident: State Farm
Unfortunately, accidents are sometimes unavoidable and mistakes happen, so it’s always best to carry enough insurance to cover damage to your vehicle and the other driver’s car. An accident can stay on your record for three to five years.
Houston drivers with an at-fault accident on their record pay an average of $225 per month for liability-only insurance, but rates can be as low as $98.
Below are some monthly quotes for insurers with the most affordable car insurance in Houston when you have an at-fault accident on your record.
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a DWI: State Farm
Driving under the influence of alcohol is a serious offense that will affect your car insurance rates and may cause you to lose your coverage altogether. A DWI can stay on your driving record for several years and even permanently in some cases.3 In Houston, rates almost double when you have a DWI on your record.
Drivers with a DWI on their record pay an average of $216 per month in Houston but may be able to find rates as low as $104.
Here are some of the cheapest companies and lowest quotes for drivers with a DWI in Houston.
Cheapest car insurance for seniors: State Farm
While car insurance rates tend to decrease once you turn 25, they may increase again as you get older and enter your 70s. Insurance companies view older drivers and teens as riskier to insure, and that tends to raise rates. However, if you keep a clean driving record, you may not experience these higher rates, depending on where you live. Some insurers may also offer discounts to senior drivers.
Houston drivers in their 60s pay an average of $150 per month for liability-only insurance but may find rates as low as $61.
Here you can see monthly quotes for Houston's senior drivers from many of the top insurers.
Cheapest car insurance for teens: State Farm
Age also affects car insurance rates for young drivers, including teens. Insurance companies find that drivers younger than 25 tend to be in more accidents than older drivers. This increases the risk of insuring teens, so insurance companies tend to charge higher rates for this coverage.
Fortunately, drivers often see their car insurance rates decrease once they reach 25, but you can still find a few ways to save on insurance as a teen driver before then. Some insurance companies offer discounts to young drivers who get good grades, attend school away from home, or complete driver safety programs. Teens can also opt to stay on their parents’ insurance if it offers a lower rate than getting a policy on their own.
Teen drivers in Houston pay an average of $345 per month for liability coverage but could find rates as low as $151.
The quotes below are for Houston teens who opt to step away from their parents’ policies and secure their own coverage. Keep in mind, though, that teens younger than 18 won't be able to legally buy their own policies without written consent from a parent or guardian.
Houston car insurance quotes by credit tier
Most states allow insurers to factor in your credit history when calculating car insurance rates, including Texas. Insurers in Houston use your credit history to generate a credit-based insurance score, which helps them estimate how likely you may be to file an insurance claim.
Typically, a credit score above 720 is considered an excellent score, and the higher your credit score, the better chance you’ll have of getting a lower car insurance rate.
Insurers consider other factors in addition to credit history, so a lower credit score doesn’t guarantee higher insurance premiums. Still, you can prioritize improving your credit record for a chance at better rates. Here are some monthly average quotes for car insurance in Houston based on your credit score tier.
Is car insurance more expensive in Houston?
Houston drivers pay an overall average of $234 per month for car insurance compared to the statewide average of $172 and the national average of $144.
Car insurance rates can vary by location, even within the same state. Insurers may look at local car theft rates, climate risk, and population density to determine car insurance premiums. As a result, car insurance costs different amounts throughout the state.
For example, Austin drivers pay an average of $176 per month. In Dallas, the average monthly car insurance rate is $197.
More cities in Texas
Houston is the largest city in Texas and the fourth most populous city in the country. More drivers on the road can mean higher insurance rates due to more frequent accidents. However, other local factors can also influence the cost of insurance, like the risk of hail damage, and the number of car thefts in the city.
Houston drivers pay an average of $177 for liability-only car insurance. Here’s how other Texas cities compare.