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Icon CheckLast updated: October 9, 2024

The Best Car Insurance in Utah

A survey of the best providers in the Beehive State.

Best Cheap Auto Insurance in Utah
Geico Logo

GEICO insures more than 10 percent of Utah’s drivers. It offers the cheapest average rates in the state and comes with discounts for a variety of drivers.1

Best Auto Insurance for Drivers With a Bad Record in Utah
Auto-Owners Insurance logo

Auto-Owners offers the best rates for drivers with a bad driving record and has dozens of independent car insurance agents across Utah.

Best Auto Insurance for Teens in Utah
Nationwide logo

Nationwide, formerly known as the Farm Bureau Mutual, has been around since 1926 and is one of the largest providers in the country. It offers the best rates for teens in Utah and several ways to save, including usage-based insurance discounts.

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Auto insurance costs in Utah rose by 25 percent in 2022, and in 2023, providers increased their premiums by another 19 percent nationwide.12 With significant increases not just to auto insurance, but to cars, gasoline, groceries, and other day-to-day goods, Americans are experiencing the worst inflation in 40-plus years.

If you’re struggling to make ends meet and are unsure if you can afford quality coverage, you’ve come to the right place. Our team has conducted hundreds of hours of research to identify the best providers in Utah based on their average prices, discounts, coverage, customer service scores, and more. Read on to learn more about finding quality coverage in Utah without breaking the bank.

Average Annual Premium in Utah

Full coverage auto insurance is about $1,642 a year on average in Utah. That’s about 21 percent cheaper than the national annual average of $2,071.

Average Rate by City in Utah

At $1,464 annually for full coverage, St. George has the cheapest average car insurance rates in Utah. West Valley City, on the other hand, is the most expensive city, with an annual average rate of $1,956.

Here’s the full breakdown by city in Utah:

City Monthly average premium Annual average premium
St. George $122 $1,464
Ogden $138 $1,656
Provo $145 $1,740
Salt Lake City $146 $1,752
Orem $149 $1,788
West Jordan $154 $1,848
West Valley City $163 $1,956

Comparison of the Best Auto Insurance Companies in Utah

Feature GEICO Auto-Owners Nationwide Farm Bureau Progressive
Average annual rate in Utah $1,434 $1,740 $1,836 $1,944 $1,632
Southwest Customer Satisfaction Index Ranking out of 1,000 (J.D. Power)4 804 808 783 N/A 809
Best for People on a budget Drivers with a spotty driving history Teens and parents of teens People looking for liability-only insurance People with bad credit
Agents in Utah Fewer than 10 75+ 50+ 25+ 100+
Review GEICO review N/A Nationwide review N/A Progressive review

Summary of the best auto insurance in Utah

  1. 1.

    Best Cheap Auto Insurance in Utah: GEICO

  2. 2.

    Best Auto Insurance for Drivers With a Bad Record in Utah: Auto-Owners

  3. 3.

    Best Auto Insurance for Teens in Utah: Nationwide

  4. 4.

    Best Cheap Auto Insurance for Minimum Liability: Farm Bureau Financial Services

  5. 5.

    Best Auto Insurance for Drivers With Bad Credit in Utah: Progressive

Detailed List of the Best Auto Insurance in Utah

1. Best Cheap Auto Insurance in Utah - GEICO

What We Like Most:

  • Save money with defensive driving courses
  • Cheapest rates after a speeding ticket
  • Save by installing safety equipment

GEICO is one of the largest providers in Utah and the cheapest provider on average. With several discounts for military members, federal workers, safe drivers, good students, and more, you have several ways to bring your premium down with GEICO.

ProsWho It's Best For
  • pro
    People looking for the cheapest option
  • pro
    Students
  • pro
    People who want to bundle insurance
  • pro
    People with safety equipment installed on their vehicle
ConsWho It's Not Best For
  • con
    People who want to work a local Utah agent
  • con
    People who don’t like managing their insurance online

Cheapest Average Rates in Utah

At $1,434 per year for full coverage, GEICO offers the cheapest annual average rates in Utah. The next cheapest is Progressive at $1,632, and the most expensive is Allstate, with an average rate of $2,358.

Here’s the full breakdown:

Company Monthly average rate Annual average rate
GEICO $120 $1,434
Progressive $136 $1,632
Auto-Owners $145 $1,740
Nationwide $153 $1,836
Farm Bureau $162 $1,944
State Farm $173 $2,076
Allstate $197 $2,358

Sizable Safety Equipment Savings

One of the simplest ways to bring your costs down with GEICO is through its safety equipment discounts. Here’s how much you can save with the right equipment installed on your vehicle:

Discount Maximum savings
Airbag 23%
Anti-theft system 23%
Anti-lock brakes 5%
Daytime running lights 3%

Affordable Full Coverage and Add-ons

GEICO’s $1,434 full-coverage rate is the cheapest in the state, making add-ons and increased limits an option for many drivers. If you want more protection on the road, you can add the following coverage options to your policy:

  • Collision coverage
  • Comprehensive coverage
  • Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage
  • Emergency roadside assistance
  • Rental reimbursement
  • Mechanical breakdown insurance

FYI:

While we recommend getting as much additional coverage as you need for your personal day-to-day use, you need only the following limits to drive legally in Utah:

  • Bodily injury liability: $25,000 per person and $65,000 per accident
  • Property damage liability: $15,000
  • Personal injury protection: $3,000 per accident5
2. Best Auto Insurance for Drivers With a Bad Record in Utah - Auto-Owners
Auto-Owners Insurance logo

What We Like Most:

  • Low premiums for adding a teen to a policy
  • Good rates even after an accident
  • Discount for GPS monitoring

Auto-Owners is the 10th-largest provider in Utah. It offers the cheapest rates to drivers after a DUI or speeding ticket and comes with several unique coverage options, like a purchase price guarantee for new vehicles.

ProsWho It's Best For
  • pro
    Drivers with a bad record
  • pro
    People who want to work with a local agent
  • pro
    People who want to bundle life insurance and auto insurance
  • pro
    People with a new car
ConsWho It's Not Best For
  • con
    Safe drivers
  • con
    People who want to manage their policy online

Cheapest After a Speeding Ticket in Utah

If you have a speeding ticket in Utah, there’s a good chance your premium will increase. With average annual rates starting at $1,848, Auto-Owners offers the cheapest premiums for drivers after a speeding ticket.

Company Monthly average rate Annual average rate
Auto-Owners $154 $1,848
Progressive $166 $1,992
American Family $187 $2,244
State Farm $193 $2,316
GEICO $212 $2,544
Allstate $232 $2,784
Farm Bureau $318 $3,816

Cheapest After an Accident in Utah

Premium increases are even greater after an at-fault accident than they are after a speeding ticket. If you have an accident on your record, Auto-Owners will have the best average rates.

Company Monthly average rate Annual average rate
Auto-Owners $185 $2,220
Progressive $192 $2,304
State Farm $213 $2,556
American Family $246 $2,952
Allstate $271 $3,252
GEICO $300 $3,600
Farm Bureau $342 $4,104

Purchase Price Guarantee

Most vehicles depreciate the moment you drive them off the dealership lot. This optional coverage guarantees the value of your vehicle does not decrease for a period of time — usually 30 days — which is important if you want to be compensated for the purchase price value of the vehicle in the event of a claim (as opposed to the depreciated value).

3. Best Auto Insurance for Teens in Utah - Nationwide

What We Like Most:

  • Discounts for taking a defensive driver course
  • Network of local agents
  • Usage-based insurance program for low-mileage drivers

If you’re a teen or parent of a teen, Nationwide will offer the best rates. Its safety discounts come with good incentives to improve teens’ driving skills, and its usage-based insurance is a great way to keep track of your or your teen’s driving habits.

ProsWho It's Best For
  • pro
    Teens and students
  • pro
    Safe drivers
  • pro
    People who want usage-based insurance
  • pro
    Parents of teens
ConsWho It's Not Best For

Cheapest for Teens

Nationwide’s average annual rate of $2,781 is the cheapest for drivers between the ages of 16 and 20. Those prices come down to about $1,900 for teens who sign up with a family plan.

Here’s the full breakdown of the cheapest provider for teens:

Company Monthly average rate Annual average rate
Nationwide $232 $2,781
Auto-Owners $237 $2,843
State Farm $246 $2,956
Allstate $277 $3,321
GEICO $306 $3,672
Progressive $331 $3,973

Fun Fact:

Utah has one of the youngest populations in the country. Nearly 30 percent of its residents are under the age of 18 (compared to 21 percent for the nation), and more than 15 percent are between the ages of 15 and 24.6

Safe Driver and Student Discounts

You can improve your driving habits with the following safe-driver discounts and incentives:

  • Low-mileage program discount
  • Accident-free discount
  • Safe-driver tracking discount
  • Good student discount
  • Five-year moving violation and at-fault claims-free discount

Usage-Based Insurance Programs

You can bring your costs down by exhibiting safe driving habits or driving fewer miles each month. Here’s how Nationwide’s two usage-based insurance programs compare:

Insurance Program Tracks safe-driver habits Tracks mileage Discount for signing up Maximum discount
SmartMiles Yes Yes 10% Varies
SmartRide Yes Yes 10% 40%
4. Best Cheap Auto Insurance for Minimum Liability - Farm Bureau Financial Services
Farm Bureau Financial Services logo

What We Like Most:

  • Insurance for cars, motorcycles, RVs, and farm vehicles
  • Save money with usage-based insurance, up to 30 percent for good drivers
  • Discounts available if you drive 75,000 miles or less per year

Farm Bureau started by insuring farmers in Iowa in 1939. Today, it offers financial services, membership perks, and auto insurance across all 50 states and D.C. It offers the cheapest rates in Utah for minimum liability insurance and comes with several discounts.

ProsWho It's Best For
  • pro
    Safe drivers
  • pro
    People who want minimum liability only
  • pro
    Farmers
  • pro
    People who can take advantage of membership perks
ConsWho It's Not Best For
  • con
    People who aren’t Farm Bureau members
  • con
    Unsafe drivers

Cheapest Minimum-Liability Premium

At $600 per year, Farm Bureau offers the cheapest average annual rate for minimum liability auto insurance in Utah. Farm Bureau is the best option if you’re looking for the most affordable coverage with just enough insurance to drive legally in Utah.

Company Monthly average rate Annual average rate
Farm Bureau $50 $600
Auto-Owners $52 $624
GEICO $64 $768
Progressive $68 $816
American Family $73 $876
State Farm $75 $900

Pro Tip:

Unsure how much insurance you need? Check out our complete guide on how much car insurance you need based on your driving habits, vehicle type, and day-to-day needs.

Membership Perks

Farm Bureau members can take advantage of several membership perks, including discounts on farm equipment, car rentals, hotels, commercial truck rentals, and more.

Low-Mileage Discount

Farm Bureau is one of the few providers that offer a low-mileage discount. Driving less than 7,500 miles per year could make you eligible for significant savings with Farm Bureau.

5. Best Auto Insurance for Drivers With Bad Credit in Utah - Progressive

What We Like Most:

  • Cheaper rates for drivers with a DUI
  • Several ways to save if your premium increases
  • Accident forgiveness automatically applies to policy in most states

Progressive insures more than 12 percent of Utah’s drivers, making it the second-largest auto insurance provider in the state. On top of that, it has a strong history in the industry, over 100 agents in Utah, and the cheapest rates for drivers with bad credit.

ProsWho It's Best For
  • pro
    People with bad credit
  • pro
    People with a DUI on their record
  • pro
    People who want to insure multiple vehicle types
  • pro
    People who want to work with a local agent
ConsWho It's Not Best For
  • con
    Teens
  • con
    People who want minimum liability with no add-ons

Cheapest for Drivers With Bad Credit

If you have a low credit score (below 661), there’s a good chance your premium will be higher. Credit ratings tend to indicate a high claim file rate, which is why drivers with bad credit are seen as high-risk drivers by insurance providers.

Fortunately, providers like Progressive offer competitive rates to drivers with a bad credit score. Here’s the full breakdown by provider in Utah:

Company Monthly premium rate Annual premium rate
Progressive $192 $2,304
American Family $205 $2,460
GEICO $222 $2,664
Auto-Owners $247 $2,964
Allstate $303 $3,636
State Farm $341 $4,092

Cheapest After a DUI

If you get into a DUI, there’s a good chance your premium will increase. Progressive offers drivers the most affordable average rates after a DUI ($2,016) in Utah. On the other hand, GEICO offers the most expensive average rates ($3,792).

Company Monthly premium rate Annual premium rate
Progressive $168 $2,016
American family $192 $2,304
Allstate $246 $2,952
Auto-Owners $281 $3,372
Farm Bureau $303 $3,636
GEICO $316 $3,792

Insure Several Vehicle Types

Between Progressive’s personal and commercial auto policy types, you can gain coverage for a wide range of vehicles:

  • Personal car
  • ATV/UTV
  • Boat
  • Classic car
  • Golf cart
  • Mexico rental
  • Motorcycle
  • Personal watercraft
  • RV
  • Travel trailer
  • Segway
  • Snowmobile
  • Tow truck
  • Van
  • Dump truck
  • Food truck

Frequently Asked Questions

Which provider offers the cheapest car insurance in Salt Lake City?

With premiums starting at around $1,300 annually, GEICO and Auto-Owners offer the cheapest average rates in Utah.

Is Utah an at-fault state?

No, Utah is not an at-fault state. In a no-fault state, you will cover only the other party’s property damage if you cause an accident—not their medical expenses. Both you and the other driver will be required to cover your own medical expenses in an accident, regardless of who is at fault.

Utah is a modified comparative negligence state, meaning you can recover payments from an at-fault party only if you are less than 50 percent responsible for an accident.

Do I need uninsured motorist coverage in Utah?

You do not need uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage to drive legally in Utah. However, we recommend adding uninsured motorist coverage if you can afford it since it will help cover your vehicle if the other party has no insurance or insufficient insurance.

Why is my insurance more expensive in Utah?

A combination of factors has led to car insurance increases in Utah and across the country. Premium increase freezes related to COVID relief, a higher rate of filing claims, and an increase in the cost of parts have all contributed to car insurance rate increases in Utah.

Methodology

We’ve considered several factors to put together our list of the best auto insurance in Utah, including statewide availability, customer service scores, average rates, discounts, relevant coverage options, and driver demographics.

  • Proprietary data: AutoInsurance.com has worked with drivers in Utah and nationwide for over 20 years. Our interactions with drivers and providers have allowed us to create a database detailing which providers offer the best rates, discounts, and coverage to specific driver types, including by age, location, credit score, and driving history.
  • Insider knowledge: We consult with Paul Ford, president of insurance at Centerfield, AutoInsurance.com’s parent company, to refine our recommendations, research, and guides. His decades of experience in the insurance world, with tenures at Capital One, Bankrate, NetQuote, InsLogic, and others, gives us the professional guidance we need to create recommendations for millions of drivers nationwide.
  • Public information: We look at third-party and public organizations like the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Federal Highway Administration, and local DMVs to find the most relevant information and data on driving trends in Utah. We use that information to determine what driving habits, laws, and crash stats affect drivers and their insurance prices in Utah, providing us with the information we need to make relevant and informed car insurance recommendations.
Ali Saleh
Written by:Ali Saleh
Staff Writer & Editor
Ali Saleh is a copywriter with nearly 10 years of experience in content writing, editing, and journalism. Ali’s work has been featured on a number of notable sites and publications, including MSN, Business.com’s award-winning newsletter, and Groove Korea, South Korea’s largest English-print magazine. Today, he writes for dozens of brands, providing expert guides and informative articles on auto insurance, healthcare, recruiting technology, business, and more. Ali holds a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing from North Carolina State University.

Citations

  1. Car insurance rates just had their biggest annual jump in 47 years. This is why. CNN Business. (2023, Sep 13).
    https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/13/business/inflation-car-insurance-rate-increases/index.html

  2. Three states saw car insurance prices spike by 25% in 2022 — and experts say to prepare for even more sticker shock in 2023. Here are 5 ways to drive your costs down right now. Yahoo! Finance. (2023, Mar 1).
    https://finance.yahoo.com/news/three-states-saw-car-insurance-130000573.html

  3. 2022 Market Share Reports For Property/Casualty Groups and Companies by State and Countrywide. National Association of Insurance Commissioners. (2023, Sep).
    https://content.naic.org/sites/default/files/publication-msr-pb-property-casualty.pdf

  4. Auto Insurance Customer Satisfaction Plummets as Rates Continue to Surge, J.D. Power Finds. J.D. Power. (2023, Jun 13).
    https://www.jdpower.com/business/press-releases/2023-us-auto-insurance-study

  5. Motor Vehicle Insurance. Utah State Legislature. (2023, May 3).
    https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title31A/Chapter22/31A-22-S304.html

  6. State of Utah Population by Age, Sex, Race and Ethnicity, 2010–2018. Policy Institute, University of Utah. (2019, Nov).
    https://d36oiwf74r1rap.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/State-of-Utah-Demographic-Profile-2010-2018.pdf