We all know that one friend who pays half what you pay for car insurance, drives the same kind of car and somehow has two speeding tickets. You ask them how, and they just shrug and say “I switched.” That’s annoying, but they are kind of right.
Car insurance is expensive right now. The average American driver pays $2,357 a year for full coverage, about $196 a month, and $650 a year for the minimum the state asks for, according to NerdWallet’s November 2026 rate analysis. But the cheapest companies charge a lot less than that. For the same driver, Travelers comes in at $1,588 a year for full coverage. That is almost $770 a year back in your pocket for doing nothing different on the road.
Below are the top 10 cheap car insurance companies in the US, with the rates they actually charge, who each one is good for and where the catch is. Every price comes with its source, because rates change every month and you should know where a number came from before you trust it.
Cheap Car Insurance Companies at a Glance
Here are all ten companies side by side. NerdWallet numbers are median rates for a 35-year-old with good credit and no tickets (updated 2 November 2026). Insurify numbers are averages for drivers aged 20 to 70 with a clean record (updated 17 October 2026). “n/a” means that source didn’t list the company.
| # | Company | Full coverage (NerdWallet) | Minimum coverage (NerdWallet) | Full coverage (Insurify) | Liability only (Insurify) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | USAA | $132/mo | $29/mo | $102/mo | $52/mo |
| 2 | Travelers | $132/mo | $46/mo | $190/mo | $98/mo |
| 3 | GEICO | $168/mo | $41/mo | $143/mo | $79/mo |
| 4 | State Farm | $165/mo | $47/mo | $103/mo | $53/mo |
| 5 | Progressive | $190/mo | $54/mo | $136/mo | $78/mo |
| 6 | Auto-Owners | n/a | n/a | $89/mo | $47/mo |
| 7 | NJM | n/a | n/a | $81/mo | $48/mo |
| 8 | Country Financial | n/a | n/a | $91/mo | $45/mo |
| 9 | Erie | n/a | n/a | $117/mo | $66/mo |
| 10 | American Family | n/a | n/a | $160/mo | $82/mo |
Why are the two columns so different? NerdWallet uses one fixed driver in every ZIP code in the country. Insurify mixes real quotes from its users with estimates, across a wide age range. Neither one is wrong. They just measure different people, and your own quote will be different from both.
1. USAA
Full coverage: $1,587 a year, $132 a month (NerdWallet) Minimum coverage: $352 a year, $29 a month (NerdWallet)
If you can get USAA, start here. It has the lowest minimum coverage price in NerdWallet’s data by a long way, $12 a month cheaper than GEICO, and ties with Travelers for the cheapest full coverage. Insurify has it at $102 a month for full coverage too, which puts it near the top of their list as well.
It stays cheap for older drivers. A 70-year-old pays a median $1,315 a year with USAA, the lowest in that NerdWallet age table.
The catch: USAA only sells to military members, veterans and their families, plus some federal employees. If you don’t fit, you can’t buy it, no matter how good the price looks.
2. Travelers
Full coverage: $1,588 a year, $132 a month (NerdWallet) Minimum coverage: $548 a year, $46 a month (NerdWallet)
NerdWallet calls Travelers the cheapest large company in the country for full coverage, and it stays cheapest after things go wrong. With one at-fault crash, the median is $181 a month. With a DUI, $226 a month. With poor credit, $220 a month. In each of those NerdWallet tables, no other company open to everyone beats it.
It’s also the cheapest pick NerdWallet found for a 20-year-old on their own policy, at $267 a month. That’s still double what a 35-year-old pays, but it’s $98 a month less than State Farm for the same young driver.
The catch: Insurify’s numbers tell a different story. There, Travelers sits at $190 a month for full coverage, behind 20 other companies. So get a Travelers quote, but don’t assume it will be your cheapest.
3. GEICO
Full coverage: $2,020 a year, $168 a month (NerdWallet) Minimum coverage: $493 a year, $41 a month (NerdWallet)
GEICO is the cheapest big company for minimum coverage in NerdWallet’s November data. If you drive an older car you own outright and only want what the law asks for, it’s the first quote to get. Insurify has it at $79 a month for liability only and $143 for full coverage.
GEICO also came out cheapest for full coverage in some big states, like California ($1,358 a year) and Florida ($2,104 a year), in NerdWallet’s state table. It holds the highest NerdWallet rating of the bunch at 5 out of 5.
The catch: One mistake costs more here. After an at-fault crash, the GEICO median jumps to $293 a month, $112 more than Travelers.
4. State Farm
Full coverage: $1,985 a year, $165 a month (NerdWallet) Minimum coverage: $561 a year, $47 a month (NerdWallet)
State Farm is the biggest car insurer in the US and it’s cheap in both sources. Insurify has it at $103 a month for full coverage and $53 for liability only, third cheapest on their overall list. NerdWallet puts it second for full coverage among companies anyone can buy.
It’s a good fit if you want a local agent you can call by name. With one speeding ticket, the median is $189 a month on NerdWallet, only $20 more than Travelers.
The catch: It’s one of the pricier options for young drivers on their own policy, at $365 a month for a 20-year-old.
5. Progressive
Full coverage: $2,280 a year, $190 a month (NerdWallet) Minimum coverage: $645 a year, $54 a month (NerdWallet)
Progressive isn’t the cheapest for a clean driver in NerdWallet’s data, but it’s a strong pick if you already have something on your record. It’s second cheapest after a DUI at $260 a month. Insurify has it at $136 a month for full coverage and $78 for liability.
It’s also worth a look for parents. Adding a 20-year-old to a two-adult Progressive policy raised the bill by $80 a month in NerdWallet’s May 2026 analysis, one of the smallest jumps in that table. GEICO was lower at $70, but its total price was higher.
The catch: For a clean 35-year-old, it’s the most expensive of the five big names in NerdWallet’s list, and it costs $319 a month with poor credit.
6. Auto-Owners
Full coverage: $89 a month (Insurify) Liability only: $47 a month (Insurify)
Auto-Owners is one of the cheapest companies on Insurify’s whole list, second only to NJM for full coverage. It also stays cheap after trouble: $63 a month for liability only after a speeding ticket or an at-fault accident, and $61 after a DUI. Those are the lowest prices in Insurify’s incident table, tied with Country Financial for DUI.
The catch: You buy through an independent agent, not online, and it doesn’t sell in every state. These rates come only from Insurify, so treat them as a rough guide.
7. NJM
Full coverage: $81 a month (Insurify) Liability only: $48 a month (Insurify)
NJM has the cheapest full coverage on Insurify’s clean-record table, $81 a month. That’s less than half of what Travelers costs on the same table.
The catch: NJM started in New Jersey and only sells in a small group of nearby states. If you live in Texas or California, it’s not an option. This rate comes only from Insurify.
8. Country Financial
Full coverage: $91 a month (Insurify) Liability only: $45 a month (Insurify)
Country Financial has the cheapest liability-only rate on Insurify’s list. It’s also cheapest there for teen drivers at $59 a month for liability only, about $43 less than the next company, Auto-Owners. For seniors, Insurify has it at $33 a month for minimum coverage.
The catch: It sells in a limited number of states, so check if it covers yours before you get excited. These figures come only from Insurify.
9. Erie
Full coverage: $117 a month (Insurify) Liability only: $66 a month (Insurify)
Erie came in sixth cheapest for full coverage on Insurify’s clean-record table, ahead of Progressive and GEICO. In NerdWallet’s state data it was the cheapest full coverage company in Washington, D.C., at $1,870 a year.
The catch: Erie only sells in a group of Mid-Atlantic and Midwest states plus D.C. The national rate here comes only from Insurify.
10. American Family
Full coverage: $160 a month (Insurify) Liability only: $82 a month (Insurify)
American Family isn’t the cheapest for a clean driver, but it shows up in NerdWallet’s tables for two groups that usually get hit hard. With poor credit, it charges a median $332 a month for full coverage. After a DUI, $297. Both are in the cheapest five NerdWallet found for those drivers.
The catch: The clean-record price comes from Insurify and the bad credit and DUI prices come from NerdWallet, so they describe different drivers. Get a real quote before you compare.
Cheapest Car Insurance by Driver Type
Your record and your age move the price more than the company name does. Here is who came out cheapest in NerdWallet’s November 2026 data for full coverage, leaving out USAA since most people can’t buy it:
| Driver | Cheapest company | Median monthly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Clean record, age 35 | Travelers | $132 |
| Age 20, own policy | Travelers | $267 |
| One speeding ticket | Travelers | $169 |
| One at-fault crash | Travelers | $181 |
| One DUI | Travelers | $226 |
| Poor credit | Travelers | $220 |
And here is what those same records do to the national average, from NerdWallet’s average cost data:
| Driver | Full coverage per year | Minimum coverage per year |
|---|---|---|
| Clean record, good credit | $2,357 | $650 |
| One speeding ticket | $3,022 | $843 |
| One at-fault crash | $3,514 | $952 |
| One DUI | $4,424 | $1,230 |
| Clean record, poor credit | $3,939 | $1,032 |
A DUI almost doubles what you pay. Poor credit costs about 67% more for full coverage than good credit, according to NerdWallet, except in California, Hawaii and Massachusetts, where companies can’t use credit to set your price.
How to Get Cheap Car Insurance
The cheapest company for your neighbor might be the most expensive one for you. These steps work no matter which company you end up with:
- Get at least three quotes. Pick one big name (GEICO, State Farm or Progressive), Travelers, and one smaller company that sells in your state, like Erie, NJM or Auto-Owners. It takes about 20 minutes and it’s the only way to know.
- Shop again every year. Companies change prices all the time. Your current insurer counts on you not checking.
- Drop full coverage on an old car. If your car is worth less than a few thousand dollars, collision and comprehensive might cost more than the car is worth over a couple of years. The national average gap between full and minimum coverage is $1,707 a year.
- Raise your deductible. Going from $500 to $1,000 lowers the premium. Just make sure you actually have $1,000 saved if something happens.
- Ask for every discount. Bundling home or renters insurance, paying in full, going paperless, good student grades for young drivers and safe driving apps can all lower the bill.
- Fix your credit if you can. In most states, moving from poor to good credit saves more than most discounts combined.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest car insurance company in the US?
It depends on the driver and the source. In NerdWallet’s November 2026 data, Travelers is cheapest for full coverage at $132 a month and GEICO is cheapest for minimum coverage at $41 a month, among companies anyone can buy. USAA is cheaper still if you’re in the military or a veteran. In Insurify’s October 2026 data, NJM is cheapest for full coverage at $81 a month and Country Financial for liability only at $45.
How much is car insurance per month?
The national average is about $196 a month for full coverage and $54 a month for minimum coverage, according to NerdWallet’s November 2026 analysis for a 35-year-old with good credit and a clean record.
Who has the cheapest car insurance for young drivers?
For a 20-year-old on their own policy, NerdWallet found Travelers cheapest at $267 a month for full coverage. Insurify found Country Financial cheapest for teens at $59 a month for liability only. Staying on a parent’s policy is almost always cheaper than buying your own.
Who has the cheapest car insurance after an accident?
Travelers, at a median $181 a month for full coverage after one at-fault crash, in NerdWallet’s data. For liability only, Insurify has Auto-Owners at $63 a month.
Is cheap car insurance bad?
Not always. Travelers, State Farm and GEICO all score 4.8 or higher out of 5 in NerdWallet’s ratings, which look at complaints and financial strength along with price. Cheap becomes a problem when you buy less coverage than you need, so check your limits before you look at the price.
Find Your Cheapest Rate Today
Most people pay too much for car insurance only because they never looked. Take 20 minutes this week, get a quote from three of the companies above and compare them with what you pay now. If you save even $50 a month, that’s $600 a year for one afternoon of work.
