How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Ratings come from G2, Capterra or Trustpilot, with the date we checked them.
Key takeaways
- USAA posts the lowest average rates in most 2026 comparisons, but only military members, veterans, and their families can buy it.
- GEICO and Travelers are the cheapest large national carriers for clean record drivers, GEICO for minimum coverage and Travelers often for full coverage.
- Regional insurers Erie, Auto-Owners, NJM, and Country Financial beat the nationals on price in the states where they operate.
- Every average in this guide is a modelled national figure: your quote depends on your state, car, age, record, and credit, and can land far from any average.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 USAA | Military families | See website | No |
 GEICO | Clean records, national reach | See website | No |
 Travelers | Cheap full coverage | See website | No |
 Erie | Low rates across age groups | See website | No |
 Auto-Owners | Cheap minimum coverage regionally | See website | No |
 NJM | Low cost in the Northeast and Mid Atlantic | See website | No |
 Country Financial | Cheapest average minimum coverage | See website | No |
 Progressive | Drivers with tickets or a DUI | See website | No |
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The best cheap insurance companies
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
What we like- USAA is the cheapest large insurer in most 2026 rate studies, with full coverage averaging around 1,400 to 1,550 dollars a year against a national average above 2,200, and minimum coverage averaging near 50 dollars a month. It also scores at or near the top for claims satisfaction year after year, a rare pairing of lowest price and strong service. Bundling with USAA home insurance deepens the saving.
Watch out for- Eligibility is the catch: USAA serves military members, veterans, and their immediate families only, so most drivers cannot buy it at any price. It sells direct without local agents, which some buyers dislike. Rate advantages are largest for clean records, as with every carrier.
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
What we like- GEICO is the cheapest national brand for many clean record drivers, averaging around 1,669 dollars a year for full coverage in one major 2026 study, about 25 percent below the national average, and leading on minimum coverage prices. Its discount list is long: good driver, good student, multi vehicle, multi policy, military, and federal employee discounts stack for the right profile. Quotes and purchase are fully online and fast.
Watch out for- Claims satisfaction scores land mid pack to below average in several regions in recent studies, so the cheapest price can come with a rougher claim. Rates jump sharply after a DUI or at fault accident, moving GEICO from cheapest to expensive for those profiles. There are few local agents if you want face to face help.
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
What we like- Travelers repeatedly posts the lowest average full coverage price among large national carriers, around 1,665 to 1,962 dollars a year across 2026 studies, and its surcharges after a first incident are comparatively small. It sells through independent agents, so you get a human who can shop the policy at renewal. Bundle pricing with Travelers home insurance is competitive.
Watch out for- For minimum liability only, Travelers is mid pack rather than cheapest, so the win depends on buying full coverage. Its app and digital experience trail the direct sellers. As an agent sold brand, your price can vary by the agent and package you are quoted.
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
What we like- Erie posts the lowest or near lowest average rates across age groups in several 2026 studies, including the cheapest averages for teen drivers among major carriers, and pairs low prices with top tier customer satisfaction scores. Its rate lock feature, where offered, holds your premium steady unless you change cars, drivers, or address. For drivers inside its footprint, Erie is frequently the quote to beat.
Watch out for- Erie operates in only about a dozen states plus Washington DC, concentrated in the Mid Atlantic and Midwest, so most of the country cannot buy it. It sells through local agents only, with no full online purchase. Moving out of its territory means changing insurers.
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
What we like- Auto-Owners averages near 49 dollars a month for state minimum coverage in Compare.com's October 2026 data, among the lowest figures published, and its full coverage averages also sit well below national norms. It earns strong claims and service marks in industry surveys, unusual at this price level. Senior drivers in particular find it near the top for value in several studies.
Watch out for- Auto-Owners serves a limited set of states, mostly in the Midwest, South, and parts of the East, and sells only through independent agents. Its digital tools are plainer than the national direct brands. No online instant purchase means the quote takes a conversation.
#6
NJM
Best for: Low cost in the Northeast and Mid Atlantic
Visit njm.com
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
What we like- NJM averages about 48 dollars a month for minimum coverage in current comparison data, the second lowest figure in that study, and its policyholder owned model historically returned dividends to customers in many years. It earns high satisfaction scores in its home region. NJM now serves a wider set of states than its New Jersey name suggests, including Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Maryland, and Ohio.
Watch out for- Availability is still regional, so most US drivers cannot quote it. Dividend payments are not guaranteed and depend on results. Its marketing reach is small, so many eligible drivers never think to quote it, which is precisely why it belongs on this list.
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
What we like- Country Financial posts the cheapest average state minimum rate in Compare.com's October 2026 figures, at 47 dollars a month against a national minimum average of 101 dollars. It sells auto alongside farm, home, and life products through local representatives, which suits rural and small town buyers who want one agent for everything. Bundling home and auto is its natural strength.
Watch out for- Its footprint covers roughly 19 states, mostly in the Midwest and parts of the South and West. Published rate data for Country Financial is thinner than for the nationals, so treat its averages as less certain. Digital self service trails the big direct brands.
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
What we like- Progressive is rarely the cheapest for clean records, but for drivers with tickets, an accident, or a DUI it is often the cheapest large carrier willing to price the risk, and its Snapshot usage based program can cut rates for careful drivers who let it watch their driving. Its Name Your Price tool builds a policy around a stated budget, and online quoting is fast. For high risk profiles, Progressive is the benchmark quote the others must beat.
Watch out for- Snapshot can raise rates for drivers whose data shows hard braking or late night driving, so read the terms before enrolling. Base averages for standard profiles sit mid pack. Claims reviews are mixed, and the best Progressive prices usually assume telematics or bundling conditions.
How we chose
We ranked insurers by published 2026 average rate studies from Compare.com, Insurance.com, Insure.com, and other comparison sources, weighting full coverage and minimum coverage for standard driver profiles, and cross checking more than one study before calling any company cheap. Eligibility and footprint limits are stated in every entry, since a cheap insurer you cannot buy is no use. Where studies disagreed on exact averages, we gave the range and named the profile rather than printing one false precise figure. No insurer paid for placement, and every company here must be quoted individually before you can know your price.
How to choose the right cheap insurance company
Quote the same coverage everywhere. A cheap quote built on lower limits or a higher deductible is not cheaper insurance, it is less insurance. Set liability limits you can defend, many advisers suggest at least 100,000 dollars per person and 300,000 per accident for bodily injury if you have assets to protect, then hold those limits constant across all five quotes. Include the regional carriers in your state, since Erie, Auto-Owners, NJM, and Country Financial quietly beat the famous brands for many drivers.
Then work the levers insurers actually price. Bundling home and auto, paying in full, paperless and autopay discounts, defensive driving courses, and good student discounts are the repeatable wins. Usage based programs can help careful low mileage drivers and hurt aggressive ones, so join them only if your driving is genuinely gentle. Recheck prices at every renewal and after any ticket falls off your record, since loyalty rarely pays in this market. Finally, keep the coverage honest: dropping collision on an old car can be smart, but cutting liability to the state minimum to win a headline price is the most expensive saving in this guide if anything goes wrong. This is general information, not insurance advice for your circumstances.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest car insurance company overall?
USAA, on average, but only for military members, veterans, and their families. Among carriers anyone can buy, GEICO leads for minimum coverage and clean records, Travelers often leads for full coverage, and regional carriers such as Erie and Auto-Owners beat both inside their footprints.
Why do average rates differ between studies?
Each study models different driver profiles, coverage levels, and states, and updates on different dates. Averages are a shortlisting tool, not a quote. The only figure that matters is your own quote for identical coverage from each company.
Is state minimum coverage a good way to save?
It is the cheapest legal option in most states, but the limits are low: a serious at fault accident can exceed them quickly, leaving you personally liable for the rest. Most advisers recommend buying more liability than the minimum if you have income or assets to protect.
How many quotes should I get?
At least four or five, including one regional carrier and one agent sold brand alongside the big online names. Quotes are free, and the spread between highest and lowest for the same driver commonly reaches hundreds of dollars a year.
Does my credit score affect my car insurance price?
In most states, yes: insurers use a credit based insurance score and drivers with poor credit pay substantially more on average. A few states, including California, Hawaii, and Massachusetts, restrict or ban the practice for auto insurance. Improving credit is one of the slower but real ways to cut premiums.
Sources we checked (0)
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has 5+ years in B2B and SaaS SEO. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.