How to Compare Car Insurance Rates 2024
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LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appear on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.

Cheap Car Insurance for Low-Income Drivers

Updated on:
Content was accurate at the time of publication.

Car insurance is required by law in almost every state, but only three states — California, Hawaii and New Jersey — offer low-income car insurance for those struggling to afford coverage.

If you can’t get government assistance for your auto insurance, you will have to shop around and take other steps to keep your rates affordable.

Find the Cheapest Car Insurance Quotes in Your Area

Since state government assistance is limited, your only option might be hunting for lower-priced car insurance policies and maybe choosing one with minimal coverage.

Note that each auto insurer uses a different formula to determine rates, so comparing quotes from multiple companies is important for finding the cheapest one.

How much car insurance do I need with a low income?

The good news is that if you have a low income, minimum-coverage car insurance may be all that you need.

The minimum amount of car insurance you need to drive legally varies by state:

  • Almost every state requires liability to cover injuries and property damage you may cause to others in a car accident.
  • Some states also require you to get uninsured motorist coverage and/or personal injury protection.

However, if you have a car loan, your lender will probably require you to get collision and comprehensive (comp) coverage as well. The two combine to cover your vehicle damage and theft.

If you live in California, New Jersey or Hawaii, then you do have the chance to get government assistance via low-income car insurance. The details are different for each of the three states, however.

 Low-cost car auto insurance in California

California’s Low Cost Auto (CLCA) insurance program provides minimum-liability insurance to low-income drivers.

To qualify, you need

  • A good driving record.
  • A household income of less than 250% of the Federal Poverty level
  • A car valued at $25,000 or less

Rates range from $232 a year to $932 a year.

 Low-income car insurance in New Jersey

Medicaid recipients in New Jersey can meet the state’s insurance requirements by obtaining a Special Automobile Insurance Policy (SAIP).

A SAIP only covers injuries you suffer in a car accident. If you qualify, it’s all you need to meet the state’s car insurance requirements.

A SAIP costs $365 a year and is available from almost any state-licensed car insurance company in New Jersey. You just need to provide documents that show you are enrolled in Medicaid to obtain or renew a SAIP policy.

 No-fault insurance for aid recipients in Hawaii

The Hawaii Joint Underwriting Plan (HJUP) offers free car no-fault car insurance to low-income drivers who qualify for certain public assistance programs.

You may qualify if you meet one of the following requirements:

  • You receive public assistance through a program such as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families or the Aged, Blind or Disabled Program
  • You receive supplemental security income through the Social Security Administration

If you qualify, you have to get a certificate of eligibility from the state’s Department of Human Services. Most state-licensed car insurance companies accept these certificates. The policies meet the state’s minimum no-fault car insurance requirement.

Westfield and Erie offer the cheapest minimum-coverage car insurance nationwide, which is a good starting point for low-income drivers. That said, they might not be the cheapest for your particular state, so check below to make sure.

Westfield’s rates average $429 a year, or $36 a month. Erie’s rates average $505 a year, or $42 a month. However, both companies are only available in a limited number of states.

State Farm has the cheapest minimum coverage rates among widely available large companies. Its rates average $605 a year, or $50 a month.

CompanyAnnual rate
Westfield$429
Erie$505
Mercury$511
Auto-Owners$516
State Farm$605
Country Financial$623
American Family$728
Geico$729

Find the Cheapest Car Insurance Quotes in Your Area

What’s the cheapest car insurance company in my state?

The cheapest car insurance near you depends largely on the state where you live.

State Farm has the cheapest minimum-coverage car insurance rates in 18 states, and Geico is cheapest in eight. Farm Bureau affiliates offer the cheapest minimum-coverage car insurance in five states.

StateCompanyAnnual rate
AlabamaState Farm$313
AlaskaState Farm$551
ArizonaState Farm$660
ArkansasState Farm$377
CaliforniaGeico$425
ColoradoState Farm$519
ConnecticutState Farm$713
DelawareTravelers$858
District of ColumbiaGeico$657
FloridaGeico$469
GeorgiaAuto-Owners$500
HawaiiGeico$364
IdahoState Farm$227
IllinoisState Farm$521
IndianaAuto-Owners$339
IowaState Farm$237
KansasFarm Bureau$427
KentuckyTravelers$800
LouisianaFarm Bureau$666
MaineState Farm$363
MarylandGeico$803
MassachusettsHanover$484
MichiganAuto-Owners$1,134
MinnesotaState Farm$484
MississippiState Farm$344
MissouriProgressive$474
MontanaGeico$432
NebraskaFarmers$302
NevadaState Farm$753
New HampshireHanover$187
New JerseyGeico$583
New MexicoState Farm$393
New YorkProgressive$627
North CarolinaErie$317
North DakotaAmerican Family$292
OhioState Farm$309
OklahomaProgressive$343
OregonState Farm$651
PennsylvaniaErie$338
Rhode IslandTravelers$729
South CarolinaAuto-Owners$512
South DakotaAuto-Owners$234
TennesseeFarm Bureau$394
TexasFarm Bureau$401
UtahAuto-Owners$615
VermontState Farm$229
VirginiaFarm Bureau$507
WashingtonState Farm$401
West VirginiaErie$399
WisconsinErie$293
WyomingGeico$212

The average cost of minimum-coverage car insurance is $777 a year, or $65 a month.

Insurance companies evaluate several factors to determine your rate, including your driving record, insurance history, age and ZIP code.

In most states, insurance companies also factor your credit into your insurance rate. However, insurance companies focus on the type of credit you use and your payment history, rather than your income.

In addition to shopping around for cheap car insurance, a low-income driver can save money by taking advantage of any discounts that may be available to you.

Best car insurance discounts for low-income drivers

  • Bundling: Most car insurance companies offer discounts to customers who bundle car insurance with at least one other policy, such as home or renters insurance.
  • Safe driving: Most large companies offer a discount for enrolling in their smartphone-based safe driver programs. If you avoid unsafe driving behaviors such as speeding and distracted driving, you may get subsequent discounts when you renew.
  • Pay-per-mile insurance: If you don’t drive frequently, consider switching to pay-per-mile insurance, such as Allstate’s Milewise or Lemonade’s Metromile. With mileage-based insurance, your rate is based on the number of miles you drive, which means you’ll pay less if you drive less.

For each company you contact for a quote, ask about any additional discounts you may qualify to receive.

Citizens United Reciprocal Exchange (CURE) is a not-for-profit company that provides auto insurance in Michigan, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The company doesn’t charge you more if you have bad credit.

The Maryland Auto Insurance Fund (MAIF) is now called My MD Auto. The independent agency issues car insurance to Maryland residents who are unable to get car insurance from private companies. This includes drivers with multiple accidents and/or traffic offenses.

Unfortunately, government assistance for car insurance is rare. As noted above, it’s only available to drivers in California, New Jersey and Hawaii who meet specific eligibility requirements.

Methodology

LendingTree uses insurance rate data from Quadrant Information Services using publicly sourced insurance company filings. Rates are based on an analysis of hundreds of thousands of car insurance quotes for a typical driver. Prices are shown for comparative purposes only. Your own rates may be different.

Unless noted otherwise, quotes are for a full-coverage policy for a 30-year-old man with good credit and a clean driving record who drives a 2015 Honda Civic EX.

Minimum-liability policies provide liability coverage with the state’s required minimum limits.
Full-coverage policies include collision, comprehensive and liability coverage:

  • Bodily injury liability: $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident
  • Property damage liability: $25,000
  • Uninsured / underinsured motorist bodily injury: $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident
  • Personal injury protection: minimum limits, where required by law
  • Collision: $500 deductible
  • Comprehensive: $500 deductible