You have probably watched the catchy advertisements from companies like The General and Allstate that promise dirt cheap rates, so drivers should just select the one with the best jingle, right?
That is not the case, however, as there are many unknown aspects like when you were born, your financial responsibility, if your vehicle is for work or personal use, and if you are currently insured, that all impact the price you pay. The information below will cover the different ways you can keep rates low and educate you enough to have a good start in finding the cheapest car insurance in Pennsylvania.
Figuring out which companies offer the cheapest insurance rates in Pennsylvania involves a little more sweat than just quoting one company’s rates.
Each insurer uses different criteria for determining rates, so let’s rank the lowest cost insurance companies in Pennsylvania. It’s important that readers know that Pennsylvania insurance rates are impacted by many things that may substantially change the policy premium. Turning one year older, moving across town, or getting a DUI may prompt premium changes resulting in some companies being more affordable than others.
Find the Cheapest Auto Insurance in Pennsylvania
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General Casualty offers some of the most affordable car insurance rates in Pennsylvania at around $726 annually. Erie, Travelers, USAA, and Penn National also qualify as some of the more affordable Pennsylvania auto insurance companies.
As the example above demonstrates, if you have coverage with USAA and switched to Erie, you could see a yearly price reduction of about $17. Pennsylvania drivers with Penn National might save as much as $24 a year, and Auto-Owners policyholders might reduce rates by $201 a year.
Bear in mind that those prices are averages for all ages of drivers and types of vehicles and are not factoring in a rate decrease in Pennsylvania. So the company that can offer you the best price may not even be featured in the list above. That points out the importance of why you need to quote rates from many companies using your own personal information and vehicle type.
When shopping for cheaper auto insurance for drivers in Pennsylvania, one of the many criteria that is used by auto insurance companies to determine a rate quote is the neighborhood you call home in Pennsylvania. Larger areas like Philadelphia, Levittown, and Norristown will most likely pay more, whereas areas with lower crime rates and fewer weather claims have the benefit of cheaper auto insurance prices.
The following table shows the most expensive places in Pennsylvania to purchase a policy in.
Rank | City | Annual Premium |
---|---|---|
1 | Philadelphia | $2,037 |
2 | Drexel Hill | $1,549 |
3 | Levittown | $1,421 |
4 | Chester | $1,379 |
5 | Norristown | $1,268 |
6 | Reading | $1,110 |
7 | Easton | $1,102 |
8 | Allentown | $1,097 |
9 | Plum | $1,089 |
10 | Hazleton | $1,088 |
11 | Scranton | $1,081 |
12 | Erie | $1,071 |
13 | Municipality of Monr | $1,059 |
14 | Pittsburgh | $1,053 |
15 | Wilkes-Barre | $1,047 |
16 | Bethlehem | $1,045 |
17 | Altoona | $1,042 |
18 | Harrisburg | $1,025 |
19 | New Castle | $1,015 |
20 | Bethel Park | $1,009 |
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Prices are comparative as vehicle location can modify auto insurance rates noticeably.
Everyone has different tastes in autos, and the style of vehicle you are insuring is one of the primary factors when quoting affordable coverage in Pennsylvania. Vehicles with higher performance characteristics, poor safety ratings, or an increased likelihood of liability claims will cost significantly more to insure than safer models. The next tables shows coverage costs for some of the most affordable automobiles to insure.
Make, Model, and Trim Level | Annual Cost | Semi-Annual Cost | Monthly Cost |
---|---|---|---|
Ford Focus SE 4-Dr Sedan | $1,144 | $572 | $95 |
Honda Accord LX-S 2-Dr Coupe | $1,314 | $657 | $110 |
Honda Civic GX 4-Dr Sedan | $1,310 | $655 | $109 |
Hyundai Elantra SE 4-Dr Sedan | $1,240 | $620 | $103 |
Hyundai Sonata Limited 4-Dr Sedan | $1,340 | $670 | $112 |
Nissan Altima 3.5 SR 2-Dr Coupe | $1,410 | $705 | $118 |
Toyota Corolla LE | $1,240 | $620 | $103 |
Volkswagen Jetta S 2.5 Station Wagon | $1,082 | $541 | $90 |
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Table data assumes single female driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $500 deductibles, and Pennsylvania minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, safe-driver, claim-free, multi-policy, and multi-vehicle. Price estimates do not factor in Pennsylvania location which can change coverage prices significantly.
Make, Model, and Trim Level | Annual Cost | Semi-Annual Cost | Monthly Cost |
---|---|---|---|
Acura RDX Technology Package AWD | $1,178 | $589 | $98 |
Chevrolet Suburban LTZ 2WD | $1,266 | $633 | $106 |
Chevrolet Traverse LS AWD | $1,040 | $520 | $87 |
Ford Escape XLT 2WD | $988 | $494 | $82 |
Ford Explorer Limited AWD | $1,196 | $598 | $100 |
GMC Acadia SLT 2WD | $1,170 | $585 | $98 |
Honda CR-V EX 2WD | $988 | $494 | $82 |
Honda Pilot Touring 4WD | $1,196 | $598 | $100 |
Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 4WD | $1,170 | $585 | $98 |
Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sport 4WD 4-Dr | $1,176 | $588 | $98 |
Nissan Pathfinder LE 4WD | $1,196 | $598 | $100 |
Subaru Forester X AWD | $1,108 | $554 | $92 |
Toyota Highlander SE 2WD | $1,196 | $598 | $100 |
Toyota RAV4 Limited 4WD | $1,170 | $585 | $98 |
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Data based on single female driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $500 deductibles, and Pennsylvania minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, multi-policy, claim-free, safe-driver, and homeowner. Rates do not factor in Pennsylvania location which can lower or raise prices significantly.
Make, Model, and Trim Level | Annual Cost | Semi-Annual Cost | Monthly Cost |
---|---|---|---|
Chevrolet Colorado LT Crew Cab 4WD | $1,082 | $541 | $90 |
Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD LT Crew Cab Diesel 2WD | $1,388 | $694 | $116 |
Chevrolet Silverado LS Regular Cab 2WD | $1,150 | $575 | $96 |
Dodge Ram 3500 Crew Cab SLT 2WD | $1,388 | $694 | $116 |
Dodge Ram Crew Cab Sport 2WD | $1,366 | $683 | $114 |
Ford F-150 Lariat Crew Cab 2WD | $1,196 | $598 | $100 |
Ford F-250 XLT Super Cab 4WD | $1,436 | $718 | $120 |
Ford F-350 XLT Crew Cab King Ranch Turbo Diesel 2WD | $1,388 | $694 | $116 |
GMC Sierra Denali Crew Cab 2WD | $1,362 | $681 | $114 |
Toyota Tundra SR/5 Double Cab 2WD | $1,244 | $622 | $104 |
Get a Custom Quote for Your Truck Go |
Price data assumes single female driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $500 deductibles, and Pennsylvania minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, claim-free, safe-driver, homeowner, and multi-policy. Rate information does not factor in garaging location in Pennsylvania which can revise prices noticeably.
In a perfect world, the best way to score good insurance prices for drivers in Pennsylvania is to drive cautiously and avoid tickets and accidents. The illustration below shows how traffic citations and accidents drive up insurance premiums for each age group. The costs are based on a single male driver, full physical damage coverage, $250 deductibles, and no additional discounts are factored in.
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The data in the chart shows the average cost of an auto insurance policy per year with a clean driving record and no accidents is $1,731. Receive two speeding tickets and the average cost jumps to $2,292, an increase of $560 each year. Then add in one accident along with the two speeding tickets and the annual cost of insurance in Pennsylvania jumps again to an average of $2,851. That’s an increase of $1,119, or $93 per month, just for not paying attention while driving!
There are many ways to comparison shop for insurance in Pennsylvania, but the most popular ways are through a non-exclusive or independent agent, an exlusive agent such as State Farm or Auto-Owners, or direct either online or via phone.
Each way is similar, but buyers should know the differences in how they provide price quotes.
Independent insurance agents can place your business with multiple companies and can do rate comparisons with every one. They are appointed with more than one company and can compare multiple rates, which may provide you with improved chances of finding a lower rate. If you want to switch companies, you can get a different policy which prevents you from having to switch agents.
Exclusive agencies are restricted to just one company like Farmers Insurance or State Farm agents. They generally cannot provide a range of price quotes, so they really need to provide good service.
Consumers who buy insurance direct skip an exlusive or independent agent and instead shop buying direct from a company like Geico or Esurance. This insurance option may be good for consumers who have fewer assets and have knowledge of what coverages they need.
So which one of the three ways works best to find the cheapest Pennsylvania car insurance quotes? We wish we could say shopping direct saves money because there is no agent involved, but that generally is not the case. A good argument could also be made that going through an independent agent saves the most money due to increased selection, but that assumption is also not necessarily accurate. And occasionally, exclusive agencies have price quotes that independents and direct companies can’t touch.
Since insurance prices are based on many different factors, really the only way to get the cheapest rates is to compare lots of quotes. It takes a little work, but we recommend you get price quotes from independent, exclusive, and direct to give yourself plenty of rates to compare. For a list of insurance companies with low rates, click here to view.