Car Insurance Calculator: Estimate the cost of car insurance for you
How Can You Learn More About Auto Insurance Companies?
Not all car insurance companies are equal. Some will meet your needs better than others. Before you choose a company, take a look at their website to see the types of policies they offer and the coverages and discounts available. You can also check out MoneyGeek’s car insurance company reviews, including discussions on customer experience and financial strength. Keep in mind: the best car insurance company may not be the cheapest. So shopping around, comparing quotes and learning about the companies offering insurance in your area can help you find a balance between coverage and affordability.
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Learn How Car Insurance Is Calculated In Your State
State laws, regulations, and insurance requirements can significantly impact insurance costs. As such, where you live plays a sizeable role in your premium prices. For example, minimum coverage in Maine costs $352 per year, while the same coverage is $5,099 in Michigan; that's a $4,747 difference.
Click on your state below to learn more about how auto insurance is calculated where you live.
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How Can You Learn More About Car Insurance?
MoneyGeek makes it easy to learn about car insurance and the companies that offer it. We’ve analyzed each company, including the coverages they offer, discounts you can use to keep costs low, how well they handle customer service and their ability to pay claims on time.
What's the cheapest auto insurance company?
What are the best auto insurance companies?
What's the best car insurance for teens and young drivers?
What is a car insurance deductible?
What's the cheapest car insurance for military and veterans?
How Do You Estimate Your Car Insurance Coverage Needs?
Car insurance pricing and your coverage needs are unique to you and your household. Each car insurance company you get a quote from will request personal information to complete a driving profile, which they will use to determine your rate. Considering the factors they use will help you estimate how much car insurance you need, including coverage options that may not be required but that you might want.
1
Driving Record
Insurance companies consider drivers with a history of tickets and accidents a higher risk than those with clean driving records. Maintaining a clean record will help you get the cheapest rates with the best car insurance company.
2
Other Drivers
An insurance company will ask about every licensed driver in the household, not just the applicant. Failure to provide that information could result in denied claims if someone is involved in an accident and isn’t listed on the policy. Encourage everyone you live with to practice safe driving habits to help lower your rate.
3
Your Vehicle
If you have an older vehicle that doesn’t have a high book value, you may decide liability and uninsured motorist coverage are all you need. But if you have a new car that would be costly to fix, you may want the added protection of comprehensive and collision coverage.
4
Existing Insurance
If you’re a new driver, strive to maintain a consistent insurance record without gaps in coverage. This saves you money on your insurance rates and means you’ll avoid fines for driving without insurance.
At MoneyGeek, we recommend most drivers get higher liability limits than many states require. We recommend a minimum coverage limit of 100/300/100, which covers up to $100,000 per person for bodily injury, up to $300,000 total in bodily injury per accident, and up to $100,000 for property damage.
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Ensure you are getting the best rate for your insurance. Compare quotes from the top insurance companies.
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What Factors Impact Your Car Insurance Cost Estimate?
Many factors go into calculating your car insurance cost. Consider these when getting quotes to compare for car insurance:
- Liability-Only vs. Full Coverage: Full coverage will cost more than liability-only because of the additional coverages like comprehensive and collision coverage. Roadside assistance, rental car reimbursement and gap insurance may also be included as part of full coverage.
- Coverage Amounts: The more coverage, the higher your premium, but the more options you have if you’re in an accident or your car breaks down. Additional coverage could include roadside assistance, medical payments and rental car reimbursement.
- Age: Drivers under the age of 30 and over 75 are statistically more likely to be involved in accidents and have higher fatality rates. Expect higher rates for teenagers and senior drivers than other age groups.
- Location: Where you live can significantly impact your car insurance. Less dense populations in rural areas see fewer accidents and thefts than highly populated urban areas.
- Additional Coverage Required by State (PIP, UM, etc.): Some states mandate personal injury protection and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, which costs extra. But even if optional, they may be worth considering since they can provide broader protection if you’re in an accident, whether as a pedestrian or driver, that involves a driver without insurance.
- Driving Record: New drivers or drivers with several tickets or accidents on their record are riskier to insure, which means they'll pay more for car insurance. Drivers with a history of clean driving records not only get better rates, but they also may be eligible for other discounts.
- Credit Score: Paying your bills on time can mean lower car insurance rates in states that allow companies to use credit history when calculating premiums.
- Car Choice: The more your car is worth, the more you’ll pay for car insurance. This is because you’ll likely need additional coverages like comprehensive and collision, plus it will cost the insurance company more to fix your car if you file a claim.
- Marital Status: If you’re married, your spouse must be listed as a driver on your insurance policy, which is great if they have a good driving history but can be costly if not. Even so, research shows that single drivers are twice as likely to be injured in an accident than married drivers, which can account for better insurance rates for married people compared to singles.
- Deductible Size: Picking a higher deductible will save you on premiums, but you’ll have to pay more out of pocket if you file a claim.
How Can You Lower Your Car Insurance Costs?
Not everything is in your control when it comes to car insurance rates, but there are some steps you can take to lower your car insurance costs.
1
Compare Quotes From Multiple Companies
Getting several quotes for the same coverage options can help you find the best deal and the most affordable car insurance.
2
Ask About Discounts
Most car insurance discounts are stackable, so take advantage of everything you’re eligible for to lower your costs.
3
Improve Your Driving Record
The better your driving record, the lower your rate for car insurance — one of many reasons to practice safe driving habits and do your best to avoid accidents and tickets.
4
Improve Your Credit Score
Paying your bills on time can boost your credit score and lower your car insurance rate.
5
Ask About Bundling Your Home & Auto Insurance Policies
If you're a homeowner, opting to purchase home and auto insurance from the same company can get you a bundling discount, which is one of the highest percentage discounts available. To help your research, our proprietary analysis can help figure out which insurance companies provide the cheapest home and auto insurance bundles by state.
Frequently Asked Questions About Estimating Car Insurance Costs
Do you still have questions about using a car insurance calculator to get a ballpark estimate on costs? Here are some frequently asked questions about estimating your car insurance without using your personal information.
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What do you need to get a car insurance cost estimate?
You’ll need to provide your age, city and state, vehicle information (year, make, model) and what coverage level you need. You do not have to provide confidential personal information like your home address, email or social security number to get a car insurance cost estimate.
What are the cheapest car insurance companies?
Though the cheapest car insurance company is different for everyone, we’ve compiled data on the leading companies to provide recommendations in your area. This can help you narrow down which companies may give you the cheapest rates when you ask for a quote.
What are the best car insurance companies?
The best car insurance companies offer the coverage you need at a price you can afford. Consider customer experience, company reviews, how they handle the claims process and what discounts are available when researching companies to find the best one for your situation.
Where can I get a quote after I have an estimate?
Reading MoneyGeek’s reviews can help you find companies that offer the coverage you need at the right price. You can use our calculator to get an idea of how much you will pay for car insurance and create an informed list of potential companies. From there, contact your top three car insurance companies for quotes and compare them against each other.
COMPARE INSURANCE RATES
Ensure you are getting the best rate for your insurance. Compare quotes from the top insurance companies.
COMPARE QUOTES
Expert Advice: Auto Insurance Rates
Haydn Sessions
Owner of Sessions Insurance
BACK TO ALL EXPERTS
How do companies calculate car insurance?
Some of the ways insurance companies calculate car insurance are: your credit (a soft pull is performed); your insurance history, for example, how long you have been insured and how long you have been with one company; and your driving history, which makes up a large portion.
So the fewer tickets and accidents you get, the better your price. Where you live can affect your insurance. I am licensed in Idaho and Utah, and for the same coverage, Utah is more expensive than Idaho, but it really depends on if you are in a city or more rural areas.
About Mandy Sleight, Licensed Insurance Agent
Mandy Sleight is a licensed insurance agent and has worked in the industry since 2005. She has her property, casualty, life and health licenses. Mandy has worked for well-known insurance companies like State Farm and Nationwide Insurance, and most recently as the Operations Coordinator for a startup employee benefits company.
Mandy earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and Management from the University of Baltimore and her Master of Business Administration from Southern New Hampshire University. She uses her vast knowledge of the insurance industry and personal finance combined with her writing background to create easy-to-understand and engaging content to help readers make smarter choices with their budgets and finances.
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SOURCES
- Injury Prevention. "Motor vehicle driver injury and marital status: a cohort study with prospective and retrospective driver injuries." Accessed March 9, 2021.
- Insurance Information Institute. "Facts + Statistics: Teen drivers." Accessed March 5, 2021.








