
Connect, Auto-Owners, USAA, State Farm, and Progressive offer cheap rates for a variety of driver profiles.

Average Monthly Cost

Average Monthly Cost

Average Monthly Cost
Car insurance prices increased by 55 percent since 2020, with a majority of the price hike happening between 2022 and 2024.1 That’s why we researched hundreds of providers to find auto insurance companies that offer affordable rates without skimping on coverage. We use the latest industry data, independent ratings, and real-life customer experience to assess companies’ rates, claims process, and customer satisfaction.
For this review, we prioritized carriers with low rates that remain relatively stable at each renewal. We also analyzed rates by driver profile, so you can find the lowest premiums regardless of your age, driving record, or location.
Your auto insurance needs are unique to your circumstances. If you have a DUI, multiple accidents, or other violations, check out our guide to auto insurance with a bad record. If you’re looking for auto insurance for seniors or auto insurance for teens, we’ve reviewed those, too.
If you are eligible, USAA tends to have the cheapest car insurance, with an average monthly rate of $128 for full coverage and just $36 monthly for minimum coverage.
For non-military drivers, GEICO, Auto-Owners, Nationwide, State Farm, Progressive, and Connect tend to have the cheapest rates. Note that Auto-Owners is a regional provider available in 26 states.
Below we’ve summarized the cheapest car insurance companies based on the type of insurance or the type of driver seeking insurance.
| Cheapest by Category | Carrier | Average Monthly Rate | Average Annual Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full coverage (clean record, good credit) | Connect* | $138 | $1,660 |
| Minimum coverage (clean record, good credit) | GEICO* | $46 | $558 |
| Large provider (available in all 50 states) | Travelers* | $153 | $1,837 |
| Low credit score | Nationwide* | $234 | $2,810 |
| Teens | Auto-Owners* | $367 | $4,407 |
| Seniors | Travelers* | $138 | $1,660 |
| After a DUI | Progressive | $235 | $2,816 |
| After a speeding ticket | Auto-Owners* | $150 | $1,798 |
| Military members and veterans | USAA | $128 | $1,533 |
*USAA technically offers the cheapest average rates for these categories, but it is only available to the military community. Regional providers like Erie may also offer cheaper rates.
Auto insurance companies determine your premium based on a variety of factors, including your age, gender, driving history, marital status, and location. As you can see in the table above, providers can specialize in different types of insurance — like car insurance for seniors or for high-risk drivers — so your quotes will vary.
| Features | State Farm | USAA | Progressive | Connect | Auto-Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full coverage average | $2,030 | $1,533 | $2,060 | $1,660 | $1,870 |
| Minimum coverage average | $650 | $436 | $702 | $1,020 | $520 |
| Student discount | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Bundling discounts (renters or homeowners insurance) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Review | State Farm review | USAA review | Progressive review | Connect review | Auto-Owners review |
While State Farm isn’t the cheapest insurer on our list, its rates are middle-of-the-road compared to other major U.S. insurers, and it earns consistently high ratings on industry customer service surveys. For example, it ranked above average in every region in J.D. Power’s 2025 Auto Insurance Study.2 It has a large network of insurance agents across the country, ensuring personalized service for customers.
State Farm scored above average in almost every region in J.D. Power’s 2025 Auto Insurance Study. Here’s how the company stacks up against the average score by region:
| Region | State Farm | Average |
|---|---|---|
| California | 635 | 631 |
| Central | 664 | 639 |
| Florida | 639 | 635 |
| Mid-Atlantic | 673 | 656 |
| New England | 634 | 625 |
| New York | 646 | 636 |
| North Central | 646 | 643 |
| Northwest | 648 | 629 |
| Southeast | 677 | 667 |
| Southwest | 648 | 636 |
| Texas | 645 | 640 |
State Farm offers two telematics discount programs, Drive Safe & Save and Steer Clear, to help policyholders save money on premiums. With Drive Safe & Save, you can get a discount of 5 to 10 percent just for signing up, and up to 30 percent off at your next renewal. The exact discount will depend on your state and driving habits. The program is not available in California, Massachusetts or Rhode Island. Unlike some other telematics programs, Drive Safe & Save will not increase your rates for unsafe driving.
State Farm also offers a telematics discount of up to 20 percent specifically for young drivers through the Steer Clear program. Steer Clear is a six-month safety driver program that tracks your driver habits and gives you a score based on how well or poorly you’re driving. It comes with five training modules consisting of videos, quizzes, daily tips, and driving scenario exercises. You need to meet the following requirements to qualify for the program:
USAA has offered financial products to the military community since 1922. It has the cheapest average rates out of the top 10 largest insurance providers and also offers various discounts, bundling options, and resources for military members.
The caveat with USAA is that it’s only available only to military members, veterans, and their families (spouses and children). Those eligible must become a USAA member in order to take advantage of its offerings, which include affordable rates, specialized coverage and discounts, financial advice, and more.
One of the key discounts offered by USAA is a vehicle storage discount, which is particularly useful to active military members who are deployed abroad or stationed away from home and don’t have access to their vehicle(s).
With USAA, you can earn a discount of up to 60 percent on your car insurance policy if you’re out of state on military duty and keep your car securely stored. You may also be eligible for a 15 percent discount on comprehensive coverage if you garage your vehicle on a military installation.
USAA offers pay-as-you-drive discounts through SafePilot Miles, which tracks your driving and allows you to save on your premium if you drive less than average. It also takes your driving behavior into account, so driving safely will also help you save money. These usage-based policies are currently available in all states except California, Delaware, and New Jersey
If you don’t necessarily drive less than average but are confident in your safe driving and are looking to save more, USAA also has its SafePilot telematics program, which will track your driving habits and reward good driving with a discount.
USAA is a particularly good choice for military members not only because of its affordable rates but also thanks to its additional perks that members have access to. Here are some of the added benefits offered by USAA:
It’s probably no surprise that your car insurance premium will increase after a DUI, even if it’s your first one. A DUI is one of the most serious traffic violations you can be convicted of, and a DUI increases your premium by 94 percent on average. If you have a conviction and are looking for an affordable insurance option, we recommend you take a look at Progressive. Compared to major competitors, Progressive has affordable rates for drivers with a DUI.
Progressive has the cheapest rates for drivers after a DUI on average compared to its competitors. Here’s a comparison of Progressive’s average rate for drivers with one DUI compared to other major providers.
| Company | Annual rate after a DUI | Monthly rate after a DUI |
|---|---|---|
| Progressive | $2,816 | $235 |
| State Farm | $2,947 | $246 |
| Allstate | $4,615 | $402 |
| Nationwide | $4,225 | $385 |
| Farmers | $6,796 | $566 |
| GEICO | $4,308 | $359 |
| USAA | $2,998 | $250 |
A DUI is one of the leading reasons why you might need to file an SR-22, and not all providers are willing to insure or file an SR-22 on your behalf. That isn’t the case with Progressive. Progressive accepts drivers who need an SR-22s, will file your SR-22 on your behalf, and offers SR-22 non-owner insurance for drivers with a DUI.
If you’re having trouble finding coverage in your price range after a DUI, you can use Progressive’s Name Your Price tool. Here’s how it works:
Connect is our top provider for drivers with safe driving habits and a good driving record, who plan to purchase full coverage. It has the cheapest insurance on our list ($1,660 annually for full coverage), offering basic digital tools and a plethora of discounts. Connect is able to offer great rates because it only offers standard coverages. Additionally, Costco members enjoy extra discounts and benefits when they sign up for a Connect policy.
FYI:
Connect caters to the preferred risk market, meaning you’ll get the cheapest rates if you have a clean record, high credit, and purchase a full coverage policy.
Here’s how much Connect’s full coverage may cost safe drivers compared to competitors:
| Company | Full Coverage (Annual) | Full Coverage (Monthly) |
|---|---|---|
| Connect | $1,660 | $138 |
| USAA | $1,533 | $128 |
| Erie | $1,833 | $153 |
| GEICO | $1,867 | $156 |
| Nationwide | $1,987 | $166 |
| Liberty Mutual | $2,861 | $238 |
| American Family | $2,181 | $182 |
| Progressive | $2,060 | $172 |
| State Farm | $2,030 | $169 |
| Clearcover | $2,023 | $169 |
| Allstate | $2,915 | $243 |
| Gainsco | $2,926 | $244 |
In addition to low rates for clean records, Connect offers car insurance discounts to help families save — especially if they have young drivers. According to our research, the average annual cost to add a teen to an existing policy is $3,149.
Families can make car insurance more affordable with these discounts from Connect:
If you’re a safe driver with a Costco membership, you can unlock additional savings on your Connect auto insurance premium. Beyond the member discount, Costco Executive Members receive exclusive benefits.
Costco members can maximize savings by bundling auto and home insurance policies. Bundling not only reduces your premium but also unlocks extra home protection and discount opportunities. You could save for being a new homeowner, making safety upgrades, or replacing your roof. As a Costco member, your Connect home insurance policy includes:
Auto-Owners has the cheapest average rates for minimum coverage insurance for non-military drivers at $520 per year on average, making it a great choice for those looking to get the absolute best deal. Minimum coverage always costs less than more robust coverage since you’re opting for a lower level of financial protection, but Auto-Owners stands out with particularly low rates. It also offers a variety of discounts to help drivers save even more.
Here’s how Auto-Owners’ minimum coverage rates compare to those of other providers:
| Company | Minimum Coverage (Annual) | Minimum Coverage (Monthly) |
|---|---|---|
| Auto-Owners | $520 | $43 |
| USAA | $436 | $36 |
| Travelers | $684 | $57 |
| Progressive | $702 | $59 |
| State Farm | $650 | $54 |
| Nationwide | $722 | $60 |
| Allstate | $823 | $69 |
NOTE:
In most cases, you can only purchase minimum coverage if your vehicle is fully paid off. If you lease your car or you’re still paying off a loan, your lender likely requires you to carry full coverage.
Auto-Owners has an impressive list of discounts to help drivers save more on their policy. Here are some of the discounts you may be eligible for:
Accident forgiveness is a useful add-on to your auto insurance policy if you are prone to accidents, have a teen driver on your policy, or simply want added peace of mind. If you have accident forgiveness, Auto-Owners won’t raise your rates following the first at-fault accident of any driver on your policy. It will also allow you to keep your good driver discount.
Auto-Owners policyholders are eligible for accident forgiveness if they have no major violations or qualifying claims within the past three years.
The national average for full coverage car insurance is $196 monthly, compared to $60 monthly for minimum coverage — so theoretically, you could save nearly $140 a month by reducing your coverage. However, exactly how much you can save can vary significantly based on where you live.
That said, insurers view drivers who carry only minimum-required coverage as potentially higher-risk, and adjust their rates accordingly. Minimum coverage also provides significantly less financial protection in the event of an accident. So in the long run, switching to minimum coverage could cost you.
If you’re struggling to afford your car insurance and need to reduce your coverage, consider maintaining liability limits higher than the required minimum, even if you drop coverages like collision and comprehensive. Maintaining limits of 100/300/50 or 100/300/100 can protect your assets in the event you cause an accident, while still reducing your monthly premiums.
Wyoming ($1,211 annually), Vermont ($1,213 annually), and Maine ($1,244 annually) have the cheapest full coverage auto insurance rates in the U.S., on average. These states benefit from lower population density, fewer uninsured drivers, and less traffic congestion, which help keep insurance costs down.
Progressive, Dairyland, Direct Auto, Erie, and USAA tend to have the cheapest rates for car insurance after a lapse in coverage.
The cheapest vehicles to insure are typically safe, reliable, and inexpensive to repair. Some of the most affordable models for insurance include:
Additionally, according to IIHS data, the Volvo XC90 plug-in hybrid 4dr 4WD, Audi Q5 plug-in hybrid 4dr 4WD, and Volvo XC60 4dr may be cheaper to insure based on low bodily injury liability claims. This means they are less likely to be involved in accidents that cause injuries to others.
The discounts that can save you the most on your car insurance include:
To find out if you’re eligible, contact your insurer or review your policy’s discount section. Many companies also offer online tools or mobile apps that let you check available programs and estimate savings.
At AutoInsurance.com, we evaluate auto insurance providers based on four key factors:
Read more about our ratings and methodology.
Why car insurance costs have soared (and what drivers are doing about it). NPR. (2025, Oct 30).
https://www.npr.org/2025/10/30/nx-s1-5542448/car-insurance-rising-premiums
It’s Now a Buyer’s Market for Auto Insurance, J.D. Power Finds. J.D. Power. (2025, Jun 10).
https://www.jdpower.com/business/press-releases/2025-us-auto-insurance-study