AutoInsurance.com is supported by commissions from providers listed on our site. Read our Editorial Guidelines.
Autoinsurance.com logo
Find Your Perfect Policy:866-843-5386
Last updated: May 7, 2025

Compare Cheap Auto Insurance in Arkansas

USAA offers the cheapest full and minimum coverage auto insurance in Arkansas. For nonmilitary customers, State Farm, Southern Farm Bureau and Travelers also have cheap rates.

Document with check mark

Compare quotes from top providers

Car insurance reviews
Share
Twitter brand
Facebook brand
Linkedin brand
Reddit brand
Envelop icon
Share
Twitter brand
Facebook brand
Linkedin brand
Reddit brand
Envelop icon

The statewide average cost of full coverage auto insurance in Arkansas is $2,340 — right around the national full coverage average of $2,399. At $528, minimum coverage runs about 17 percent cheaper than the national average.

The average cost of auto insurance varies depending on your location within the state. Bentonville and Rogers offer some of the lowest rates, and Little Rock and Benton have some of the highest rates.

Overview:

  • The average cost of full coverage auto insurance in Arkansas is $2,340 annually, and the average annual cost of minimum coverage is $528.
  • USAA offers the cheapest auto insurance in multiple categories, and State Farm is the cheapest for drivers with a DUI or an at-fault accident.
  • Southern Farm Bureau and Travelers also have lower-than-average rates across many categories.

Jump to: 

Cheapest Auto Insurance in Arkansas for Full Coverage: USAA and Southern Farm Bureau

USAA offers the cheapest full coverage auto insurance in Arkansas; its average rate of $1,377 is 41 percent less than the statewide average. However, the company is exclusively available to military members, veterans and their families. Southern Farm Bureau ($1,537 annually) and Travelers ($1,544 annually) are the next cheapest and do not require a military affiliation.

Provider Annual full coverage Monthly full coverage
USAA $1,337 $111
Southern Farm Bureau $1,537 $128
Travelers $1,544 $129
State Farm $1,730 $144
Shelter $1,896 $158
Nationwide $1,957 $163
GEICO $1,998 $167
Alfa $2,174 $181
Arkansas average $2,340 $195
National average $2,399 $200

Cheapest Auto Insurance in Arkansas for Minimum Coverage: USAA and Travelers

USAA offers the cheapest minimum coverage in Arkansas, with an average annual cost of $340, or just $28 a month. That’s 35 percent less than the statewide annual average of $528. Travelers ($468 annually), State Farm ($488 annually) and Southern Farm Bureau ($490 annually) are the next cheapest and do not require a military affiliation.

Provider Annual minimum coverage Monthly minimum coverage
USAA $340 $28
Travelers $468 $39
State Farm $488 $41
Southern Farm Bureau $490 $41
Alfa $576 $48
Nationwide $612 $51
Shelter $636 $53
GEICO $648 $54
Arkansas average $528 $44
National average $635 $53

FYI:

Regional insurer Alfa operates primarily in Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi, but its products are available in some parts of Arkansas, too. Check with an agent to see if auto insurance from Alfa is available in your area.

Cheapest Auto Insurance in Arkansas for Teen Drivers: Southern Farm Bureau

On average, Arkansas households with teen drivers pay $6,657 annually for car insurance, or over $550 per month. Southern Farm Bureau offers the lowest average rates for policies with teens, at $3,187 — less than half the statewide average. Alfa ($4,038 annually) and USAA ($4,197 annually) are the next cheapest.

Provider Annual rate with a teen driver Monthly rate with a teen driver
Southern Farm Bureau $3,187 $266
Alfa $4,038 $337
USAA $4,197 $350
Travelers $4,619 $385
GEICO $4,716 $393
State Farm $5,222 $435
Shelter $5,743 $479
Nationwide $7,082 $590
Arkansas average $6,657 $555
National average $5,327 $444

TIP:

Adding a teen driver to an existing auto insurance policy is typically cheaper than purchasing a separate policy for them. Discounts for teens — for example, for maintaining a 3.0 GPA or taking a driver’s ed course — can help families keep rates as low as possible.

Cheapest Auto Insurance in Arkansas With a Speeding Ticket: USAA and State Farm

USAA offers the lowest rates in Arkansas for drivers with a speeding ticket, with an average annual rate of $1,560. State Farm ($1,865 annually), Travelers ($1,874 annually) and Southern Farm Bureau ($1,882) are the next cheapest and still well below the state average.

Provider Annual rate with a speeding ticket Monthly rate with a speeding ticket
USAA $1,560 $130
State Farm $1,865 $155
Travelers $1,874 $156
Southern Farm Bureau $1,882 $157
GEICO $2,482 $207
Nationwide $2,535 $211
Shelter $2,620 $218
Alfa $3,434 $286
Arkansas average $2,740 $228
National average $2,511 $209

Cheapest Auto Insurance in Arkansas With an At-Fault Accident: USAA and Travelers

USAA is the cheapest auto insurer in Arkansas for drivers with an at-fault accident. Its average annual cost of $1,717 is 47 percent lower than the statewide average of $3,243. Travelers is the next cheapest, with an average annual rate of $1,946 — 40 percent less than the statewide average.

Provider Annual rate with an at-fault accident Monthly rate with an at-fault accident
USAA $1,717 $143
Travelers $1,946 $162
State Farm $2,111 $176
Southern Farm Bureau $2,377 $198
Shelter $2,671 $223
GEICO $3,046 $254
Nationwide $3,360 $280
Alfa $3,684 $307
Arkansas average $3,243 $270
National average $2,812 $234

Cheapest Auto Insurance in Arkansas With a DUI: State Farm

Arkansas drivers with a DUI can expect to pay around $3,461 for their auto insurance, on average. State Farm offers the lowest rates for drivers with a DUI in Arkansas, at $1,874 — 46 percent lower than the statewide average. Travelers ($2,112 annually), Southern Farm Bureau ($2,169 annually) and USAA ($2,233 annually) are the next cheapest.

Provider Annual rate with a DUI Monthly rate with a DUI
State Farm $1,874 $156
Travelers $2,112 $176
Southern Farm Bureau $2,169 $181
USAA $2,233 $186
Shelter $3,323 $277
Alfa $3,541 $295
GEICO $3,589 $299
Nationwide $4,841 $403
Arkansas average $3,461 $288
National average $3,305 $275

Cheapest Auto Insurance in Arkansas With Low Credit: USAA and Alfa

In Arkansas, a poor credit history increases your auto insurance rates by an average of about 56 percent, compared with 83 percent nationally. USAA offers the lowest rates in the state for drivers with low credit, with an average annual cost of $2,058. Alfa ($2,349 annually) and Southern Farm Bureau ($2,580 annually) offer the next-cheapest rates.

Provider Annual rate with low credit Monthly rate with low credit
USAA $2,058 $172
Alfa $2,349 $196
Southern Farm Bureau $2,580 $215
Travelers $2,763 $230
GEICO $2,871 $239
Nationwide $2,914 $243
Shelter $3,662 $305
State Farm $5,794 $483
Arkansas average $3,634 $303
National average $3,377 $281

Best Claims and Customer Satisfaction in Arkansas: USAA and Shelter

Along with offering cheap rates in Arkansas, USAA performs well in J.D. Power studies of customer and claims satisfaction. This is why it’s our pick for the best auto insurance in Arkansas for military members and their families.

Shelter also scored well above the Arkansas average for customer satisfaction, and it performed better than State Farm in CRASH Network’s Insurer Report Card (a survey of collision repair shops on insurers’ claims practices). Although Shelter’s rates aren’t the lowest in Arkansas, they tend to fall below the state average. Depending on your circumstances, you may find the extra cost worth the higher level of service.

Though Alfa and Southern Farm Bureau are not included in the J.D. Power studies, these providers have high scores on the CRASH Network Insurer Report Card, which indicates that repair shops speak highly of these companies’ claims handling.

Provider Central region customer satisfaction (J.D. Power)1 Claims satisfaction (J.D. Power)2 CRASH Network Insurer Report Card grade3
USAA 759 726 D+
Shelter 677 Not rated B
State Farm 647 710 C-
Southern Farm Bureau Not rated Not rated B (honor roll)
Alfa Not rated Not rated A- (honor roll; fifth overall nationally)
Nationwide 628 728 C
GEICO 622 692 C-
Travelers 613 684 C
Study average 647 697 C-

How to Find the Cheapest Car Insurance Rates in Arkansas

  1. Keep a clean record. High-risk drivers pay significantly more for car insurance than those who maintain a clean record. In addition, many providers offer discounts for those who have remained accident- and violation-free for a certain number of years.
  2. Opt for a high deductible. Increasing your deductible lowers your monthly premiums. However, it also means out-of-pocket costs will be higher if you ever need to make a claim.
  3. Bundle policies. Many providers offer significant discounts for those who bundle multiple policies, including home and auto insurance. Depending on the provider, auto insurance can also be bundled with renters insurance, boat insurance, classic car insurance and other policy types.
  4. Use a multicar discount. If you’re insuring multiple vehicles within your household, you may be able to keep your costs low with a multicar discount.
  5. Consider telematics or low-mileage discounts. Telematics discounts monitor your driving and provide discounts for those who practice safe habits, such as smooth braking and adherence to the speed limit. Many providers offer additional discounts for infrequent drivers.

FYI:

Many low-mileage discounts come with a road trip exception, meaning you won’t incur high insurance costs for an occasional long trip.

Average Auto Insurance Cost in Arkansas by City

The cost of auto insurance can vary significantly depending on your city. Little Rock has some of the highest average rates in the state, while Bentonville and Rogers enjoy more moderate premiums.

City Average annual cost Average monthly cost
Benton $2,190 $183
Bentonville $1,937 $161
Conway $2,051 $171
Fayetteville $1,999 $167
Fort Smith $2,021 $168
Jonesboro $2,093 $174
Little Rock $2,343 $195
Rogers $1,962 $164

Minimum Car Insurance Requirements in Arkansas

Driving without auto insurance in Arkansas is illegal. To legally operate a vehicle, you must own an auto insurance policy that meets certain limits, including property damage and bodily injury liability. This covers the cost of the other driver’s property replacement and medical care if you cause an accident.

  • Bodily injury: $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident
  • Property damage: $25,0004

Insurance companies must offer uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, which can be rejected by the customer. In Arkansas, drivers can choose to include personal injury protection in their insurance policy, which pays for your medical expenses, wages and other losses regardless of who is at fault.

Although these figures represent the legal minimum limits, minimum coverage auto insurance may not be enough to cover the cost of an accident. Drivers with a leased or financed vehicle will likely require additional coverage, such as comprehensive and collision.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cheapest car insurance in Arkansas?

USAA offers the cheapest car insurance for both full and minimum coverage in Arkansas. Its full coverage average of $1,377 is a little over half the statewide average of $2,340. Minimum coverage from USAA averages $340, which is well below the statewide average of $528. For nonmilitary affiliates, Travelers, State Farm and Southern Farm Bureau also have cheaper-than-average rates in Arkansas.

Is Arkansas a no-fault state?

Arkansas is not a no-fault state. It is an “add-on” state, meaning that drivers are required to carry at-fault liability coverage, but they have the option to purchase no-fault coverage. The at-fault liability coverage pays for the cost of medical care and property damage to the other party. Arkansas drivers can add optional personal injury protection to their insurance policy, meaning if they are injured in an accident, their insurance will cover their medical care no matter who is at fault.

Which company has the lowest price for car insurance?

Auto-Owners, Erie, GEICO, Nationwide, Travelers and USAA have lower-than-average auto insurance rates across the U.S. However, the cost of car insurance varies significantly depending on your state, vehicle type, driving history and other factors. We recommend comparing at least three quotes to find the lowest auto insurance rates.

In Arkansas, USAA offers the cheapest average full and minimum coverage auto insurance. Southern Farm Bureau has the second-cheapest full coverage average, and Alfa has the second-cheapest minimum coverage average.

What is the grace period for car insurance in Arkansas?

In most cases, the grace period for car insurance in Arkansas is seven to 30 days. This refers to the period between buying a new car and purchasing a new auto insurance policy for that vehicle.

Methodology

We analyze average premiums in Arkansas for full and minimum coverage for good drivers with good credit as well as other driver profiles, including those with DUIs, accidents, low credit and teenagers. Full coverage averages use the following limits:

  • Bodily injury liability: $100,000 per person/$300,000 per accident
  • Property damage liability: $50,000 per accident
  • Personal injury protection: $10,000
  • Uninsured and underinsured motorist bodily injury: $50,000 per person/$100,000 per accident
  • Comprehensive and collision: $500 deductible
Kate Romain Bio Pic
Written by:Kate Romain
Staff Writer
Kate Romain combines her dedication to research with her love for writing and communications to deliver informative, comprehensive articles for those exploring insurance options. Her years of professional experience in writing and communications have well-equipped her to assist customers get the information they need to make smart insurance choices. Kate has also written for GigWolf, Boston Medical Center, and non-profit Writers Without Margins. She holds a BA in History and Politics and an MA in Creative Writing, both from the University of East Anglia.

Citations

  1. Trust Emerges as Top Driver of Customer Satisfaction with Auto Insurance as Prices Continue to Surge, J.D. Power Finds. J.D. Power. (2024, Jun 5).
    https://www.jdpower.com/business/press-releases/2024-us-auto-insurance-study

  2. Auto Insurance Repair Cycle Times Improve but Price Increases Take a Toll, J.D. Power Finds. J.D. Power. (2024, Oct 29).
    https://www.jdpower.com/business/press-releases/2024-us-auto-claims-satisfaction-study

  3. 2024 CRASH Network Insurer Report Card. CRASH Network. (2024).
    https://www.crashnetwork.com/irc/

  4. 2020 Arkansas Code :: Title 27 – Transportation :: Subtitle 2 – Motor Vehicle Registration and Licensing :: Chapter 22 – Motor Vehicle Safety Responsibility :: Subchapter 1 – General Provisions :: Section 27-22-104 – Motor vehicle liability insurance required — Minimum coverage. Justia. (2020).
    https://law.justia.com/codes/arkansas/title-27/subtitle-2/chapter-22/subchapter-1/section-27-22-104/