How we put this guide together: the figures come from CarInsurance.com’s 2026 rate study (Quadrant Information Services data for 40-year-old drivers with 100/300/100 limits and $500 deductibles unless noted) and Insurify’s 2026 teen-driver data. We don’t receive payment for rankings. See our advertiser disclosure.
Get the best car insurance rates in your location
Select two or more insurance companies to compare rates where you live. Free, no obligation.
Sponsored listings. Insuretro may be paid if you click a listing; it doesn’t change your price.Cheapest insurer for each type of driver
| Driver situation | Cheapest in the study | Average a year |
|---|---|---|
| Full coverage, clean record | Travelers | $1,962 |
| State-minimum cover | GEICO | $539 |
| Teens (16–19), full coverage | GEICO | $6,507 |
| Young adults (20–24), full coverage | Travelers | $3,057 |
| After a speeding ticket | Travelers | $2,801 |
| After an at-fault accident | Travelers | $2,823 |
| After a DUI | Travelers | $2,933 |
| Poor credit | GEICO | $3,555 |
Source: CarInsurance.com, cheapest car insurance companies, updated September 18, 2026.
These are national averages. In your state a regional company may undercut both names: CarInsurance.com found a regional insurer was the cheapest option for minimum and liability-only cover in 24 of 51 states (including Washington, D.C.).
How the big insurers compare on price
The same study priced each major company for a minimum policy and for full coverage. The spread is wide: for full coverage, the most expensive name on this list charged over $1,200 a year more than Travelers.
| Insurer | State minimum | Full coverage |
|---|---|---|
| USAA* | $406 | $1,628 |
| Travelers | $767 | $1,962 |
| GEICO | $539 | $2,159 |
| Nationwide | $932 | $2,524 |
| Progressive | $752 | $2,569 |
| State Farm | $1,025 | $2,875 |
| Allstate | $946 | $3,159 |
| Farmers | $950 | $3,207 |
*USAA is open only to military members, veterans and eligible family members. Source: CarInsurance.com, August 2026 averages.
Savings tip: the cheapest company for your neighbor may not be cheapest for you. Insurers weigh age, location, car, credit (where allowed) and driving record differently, which is why CarInsurance.com found a median $1,894 a year gap between the cheapest and priciest insurer for the same driver in the same state.
Cheapest car insurance company in each state
National rankings hide big local differences. LendingTree’s 2026 analysis named the cheapest insurer for full coverage in every state, and the winners range from national brands to small regional companies such as Erie in Pennsylvania, Mutual of Enumclaw in Washington and Farmers Mutual of Nebraska.
| State | Cheapest company | Full coverage a month |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Travelers | $103 |
| Alaska | GEICO | $116 |
| Arizona | State Farm | $144 |
| Arkansas | State Farm | $125 |
| California | GEICO | $127 |
| Colorado | GEICO | $182 |
| Connecticut | Travelers | $112 |
| Delaware | Farmers | $147 |
| Florida | State Farm | $158 |
| Georgia | Farm Bureau | $119 |
| Hawaii | GEICO | $69 |
| Idaho | State Farm | $61 |
| Illinois | Travelers | $93 |
| Indiana | Travelers | $97 |
| Iowa | Progressive | $89 |
| Kansas | Travelers | $124 |
| Kentucky | Travelers | $131 |
| Louisiana | Allstate | $212 |
| Maine | Travelers | $66 |
| Maryland | State Farm | $129 |
| Massachusetts | GEICO | $113 |
| Michigan | Progressive | $134 |
| Minnesota | Travelers | $106 |
| Mississippi | State Farm | $107 |
| Missouri | Travelers | $115 |
| Montana | State Farm | $95 |
| Nebraska | Farmers Mutual of Nebraska | $99 |
| Nevada | Travelers | $161 |
| New Hampshire | Safety | $86 |
| New Jersey | GEICO | $132 |
| New Mexico | State Farm | $133 |
| New York | Progressive | $104 |
| North Carolina | Progressive | $70 |
| North Dakota | State Farm | $100 |
| Ohio | GEICO | $97 |
| Oklahoma | Progressive | $99 |
| Oregon | State Farm | $88 |
| Pennsylvania | Erie | $120 |
| Rhode Island | Progressive | $163 |
| South Carolina | Auto-Owners | $128 |
| South Dakota | Farmers Mutual of Nebraska | $91 |
| Tennessee | Travelers | $107 |
| Texas | State Farm | $101 |
| Utah | Progressive | $142 |
| Vermont | State Farm | $65 |
| Virginia | Travelers | $86 |
| Washington | Mutual of Enumclaw | $107 |
| Washington, D.C. | GEICO | $179 |
| West Virginia | Westfield | $116 |
| Wisconsin | American Family | $112 |
| Wyoming | American National | $65 |
Source: LendingTree, Cheapest Car Insurance Companies for 2026 (Quadrant Information Services rates for a 30-year-old man with good credit and a clean record driving a 2018 Honda CR-V, 50/100/50 liability with uninsured motorist cover and $500 deductibles). USAA is excluded from state winners because only military families can join. A different driver profile can produce a different winner.
Travelers and State Farm each topped the list in 12 states in this data, GEICO in 8 and Progressive in 7 (our count). Regional and mutual companies won in 10 states, which is why it pays to include a local company when you compare quotes.
Cheapest options for teens and young drivers
Teen drivers are the most expensive group to insure. GEICO had the lowest teen average in CarInsurance.com’s data, at $6,507 a year for full coverage. The bigger saving usually comes from how the teen is insured: Insurify’s 2026 data shows adding a teen to a parent’s policy costs about 24% less than a separate policy, saving roughly $1,079 a year. Good-student discounts help too: up to 25% at State Farm, up to 10% at USAA and up to 5% at Progressive, according to Insurify.
Cheapest after a ticket, accident or DUI
Travelers was the lowest-priced major insurer in all three situations in the 2026 study. To put the averages in context, CarInsurance.com’s typical full-coverage price of $2,578 rises to $3,568 after one speeding ticket (+38%), $4,129 after an at-fault accident (+60%) and $4,959 after a first DUI (+92%). Those surcharges usually last about three years, so re-shopping each renewal as violations age off your record is one of the best ways to bring the price back down.
Cheapest with poor credit
In most states insurers can use a credit-based insurance score, and CarInsurance.com found poor credit raised the typical full-coverage price by 113%, to $5,478. GEICO was cheapest for this group at $3,555. Seven states restrict how credit is used for car insurance (California, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Oregon and Utah), according to Experian, so drivers there are priced mainly on other factors.
Cheapest options for seniors
In CarInsurance.com’s April 2026 senior study (drivers aged 65, 70 and 75), the average full-coverage costs by company were:
| Insurer | Average a year for seniors |
|---|---|
| USAA* | $1,681 |
| Travelers | $1,987 |
| GEICO | $2,237 |
| Nationwide | $2,370 |
| Progressive | $2,404 |
| State Farm | $2,745 |
| Farmers | $3,078 |
| Allstate | $3,170 |
*Military members, veterans and their families only. Source: CarInsurance.com, April 16, 2026.
Many states require insurers to offer a discount to older drivers who complete an approved defensive-driving course, so ask your insurer which courses qualify.
Cheapest for military families
If you, your spouse or a parent served in the military, check USAA first. It had the lowest averages in almost every category in the 2026 data: $1,628 a year for full coverage and $406 for minimum cover in CarInsurance.com’s study, and $125 a month in LendingTree’s national comparison. GEICO also offers military discounts, including up to 25% for some deployed service members.
Cheapest for electric cars
EVs cost more to insure on average: CarInsurance.com puts full coverage at $3,708 a year. Because repair costs vary so much by model, the cheapest insurer for an EV is often different from the cheapest for a gas car. Get quotes for the exact model, and ask about EV or hybrid discounts, which some insurers offer.
Why the cheapest insurer changes from driver to driver
Every insurer uses its own pricing model, built from its own claims history. One company may have had good experience with drivers in their 50s in suburban ZIP codes and price them keenly, while charging more for young drivers in cities. Another may be more forgiving of an old speeding ticket but stricter on credit. That is why the same driver can see quotes hundreds of dollars apart, and why the cheapest company in a study might not be cheapest for you.
Insurers also change their prices through rate filings with each state, often once or twice a year. A company that was cheapest when you bought your policy may not be cheapest at renewal, which is another reason to compare again each year.
Is the cheapest policy good enough?
Price matters, but so does what happens when you claim. Before you switch to save money, check three things:
- Same coverage: confirm the cheaper quote has the same liability limits, deductibles and add-ons such as rental reimbursement or roadside help.
- Complaint record: the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) publishes complaint data for each insurer, and your state insurance department may too.
- Financial strength: ratings from agencies such as AM Best show whether an insurer is in a strong position to pay claims.
A slightly more expensive insurer with a good claims reputation can be better value than the cheapest name if you ever need to use your policy.
How to find your own cheapest rate
- Get at least three quotes, including one from a regional insurer if there is one in your state.
- Keep the coverage identical in each quote: same liability limits, deductibles and add-ons.
- Ask about every discount: multi-car, bundling with home or renters cover, good student, paperless, paid in full and safety features.
- Re-shop at each renewal, and again when a ticket or accident drops off your record.
For more ideas, see ways to lower your premium, or check average costs by state and age to see whether your quote is in line.
Common questions
Which company has the cheapest car insurance in 2026?
In CarInsurance.com’s September 2026 study, Travelers had the lowest average full-coverage rate at $1,962 a year and GEICO had the cheapest state-minimum cover at $539. USAA was cheaper still but is only open to the military community.
Who has the cheapest insurance after a DUI?
Travelers had the lowest average after a DUI in the 2026 study, at $2,933 a year for full coverage. Prices vary widely by state, and some states require an SR-22 or FR-44 filing.
Is it cheaper to add a teen to my policy?
Usually yes. Insurify’s 2026 data shows adding a teen to a parent’s policy costs about 24% less than buying the teen a separate policy.
Which company is cheapest in my state?
It varies. In LendingTree’s 2026 data the cheapest full-coverage insurer was Travelers or State Farm in 12 states each, GEICO in 8 and Progressive in 7, while regional companies won in 10 states. See the state table above, then compare quotes for your own profile.
What is the cheapest car insurance for seniors?
In CarInsurance.com’s April 2026 senior study, Travelers was the cheapest widely available insurer at $1,987 a year for full coverage. USAA was cheaper at $1,681 for military families.
Sources
- CarInsurance.com: Cheapest car insurance companies (Sept 2026)
- CarInsurance.com: How much is car insurance? (Aug 2026)
- Insurify: Cheapest car insurance for teens (2026)
- Experian: States that restrict credit-based insurance scores
- LendingTree: Cheapest car insurance companies for 2026
- CarInsurance.com: How much car insurance costs for seniors (Apr 2026)
- GEICO: Car insurance discounts
Prices, discounts and rules change often and vary by state and driver. Figures were checked in October 2026; confirm details with the insurer or your state insurance department.