Who Has the Cheapest Car Insurance for Retired Military in Alabama?

Who Has the Cheapest Car Insurance for Retired Military in Alabama?

For veterans, one of the more important components that determine rate quotes is the neighborhood you call home in Alabama. Cities with more crime and/or more people like Birmingham, Bessemer, and Prichard are more likely to have higher rates, whereas areas with less congestion benefit from lower rates.

The following table lists the most expensive places in Alabama for retired military to buy an auto insurance policy in.

Most expensive Alabama cities for auto insurance
Rank City Annual Rate
1 Birmingham $1,466
2 Mobile $1,455
3 Bessemer $1,435
4 Homewood $1,406
5 Prichard $1,385
6 Hoover $1,368
7 Phenix City $1,352
8 Tuscaloosa $1,346
9 Anniston $1,331
10 Prattville $1,331
11 Gadsden $1,313
12 Montgomery $1,311
13 Vestavia Hills $1,311
14 Northport $1,297
15 Alabaster $1,297
16 Opelika $1,282
17 Athens $1,275
18 Decatur $1,274
19 Enterprise $1,267
20 Madison $1,253
21 Auburn $1,245
22 Florence $1,239
23 Huntsville $1,226
24 Daphne $1,226
25 Dothan $1,217
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Table data uses comparative as the specific Alabama residence address can modify prices significantly.

The vehicle model needing coverage is a large consideration that determines whether or not you can buy the most affordable coverage for retired military. Vehicles with limited top-end speed, excellent safety ratings, or a track record of few liability claims will cost quite a bit less to insure than adrenaline junky models.

The table below features coverage premiums for a handful of the more afforable vehicles to insure in Alabama.

Cheapest Auto Insurance Rates for Retired Military in Alabama
Vehicle Make and Model Estimated Cost for Full Coverage
Honda CR-V EX-L 2WD $684
Ford Escape XLT 4WD $694
Chevrolet Traverse LT AWD $743
Hyundai Elantra GLS Touring Station Wagon $757
Chevrolet Impala LS $775
Hyundai Santa Fe SE 2WD $791
Toyota Tacoma Double Cab 4WD $807
Jeep Wrangler Sport Islander Package 4WD 2-Dr $831
Toyota Prius $842
Kia Forte EX 4-Dr Sedan $848
Chevrolet Equinox LTZ AWD $853
Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer 2WD $848
Nissan Rogue S AWD $850
Hyundai Sonata GLS 4-Dr Sedan $856
Hyundai Tucson GLS 4WD $852
Ford Edge SEL 2WD $880
Toyota Sienna XLE $896
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Price data assumes married female driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and Alabama minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, claim-free, homeowner, safe-driver, and multi-policy. Table data does not factor in Alabama location which can raise or lower coverage prices greatly.

Based upon these rates, we can expect vehicles like the Honda CR-V, Ford Escape, Chevrolet Traverse, and Hyundai Elantra are most likely to be the more affordable vehicles to insure for veterans.

Full coverage rates compared to liability-only

Finding the cheapest car insurance for retired military in Alabama is the goal of most vehicle owners, and one easy way to pay lower rates for insurance is to buy only liability coverage. The illustration below compares insurance costs with liability coverage only compared to full coverage. The data assumes no claims, a clean driving record, $100 deductibles, drivers are not married, and no discounts are taken into consideration.

If averaged out across all ages, full coverage costs an additional $1,933 per year more than just buying liability insurance. At some point, every insured wonders if paying for full coverage is worth it. There is no clear-cut formula for eliminating full coverage on your policy, but there is a general guideline you can use. If the yearly cost of comp and collision coverage is more than 10% of any settlement you would receive from your insurance company, then it might be time to buy liability only.

There are some situations where dropping full coverage is not a good idea. If you still owe money on your vehicle, you have to keep full coverage in order to keep the loan. Also, if you can’t afford to buy a different vehicle if your current one is totaled, you should keep full coverage in place.

State Farm, Geico, Allstate, or Progressive: Who is cheapest?

When it comes to buying auto insurance for veterans in Alabama, some of the largest companies to start with are State Farm, Geico, Allstate, and Progressive. Combined they insure over 48% of the car insurance market in the United States. Each company has slightly different coverages and options that buyers can select from. The table below points out price, claims, and customer service ratings, as well as some optional coverages offered by each company.

Ratings for State Farm, Geico, Allstate, and Progressive
State Farm Geico Allstate Progressive
Price Rank 2nd 1st 4th 3rd
Claims Handling 2nd 3rd 1st 4th
Client Satisfaction 4th 1st 2nd 3rd
Number of Discounts 3rd 2nd 1st 4th
U.S. market share 18.3% 11.4% 10% 8.8%
Recommend by customers 88% 87% 86% 88%
A.M. Best rating A++ A++ A+ A+
Accident forgiveness coverage No Yes Yes Yes
Roadside service Yes Yes Yes Yes
New car replacement coverage No No Yes No
Rate for vehicle usage Yes No Yes Yes
Breakdown insurance No Yes No Yes
Rideshare insurance Yes Yes Yes Yes
Offered in Alabama Yes Yes Yes Yes
Where you can buy Can only buy from State Farm agents From a Geico agent or online Allstate exclusive agents Online or from independent agents
Number of agents 18,000+ 150+ 11,000+ 30,000+
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