The cheapest liability car insurance is from Geico, USAA, and AAA. Liability-only car insurance is coverage that only pays for damage that you cause to other people and their property in a car accident, and it is the minimum amount of car insurance required in most states. A liability-only car insurance policy is cheaper than full coverage, which also covers damage to your vehicle.
Cheapest Liability Car Insurance Companies
- Cheapest for Good Drivers: Geico
- Cheapest for Drivers with One Speeding Ticket: USAA
- Cheapest for Drivers with a DUI: Mercury
- Cheapest for Drivers with One At-Fault Accident: AAA
- Cheapest for Teen Drivers: Travelers
- Cheapest for Older Drivers: Geico
- Cheapest for Drivers with Bad Credit: Mercury
- Cheapest for Drivers with an SR-22: Geico
Liability-only insurance costs an average of $609 per year from the cheapest companies. To help drivers find the cheapest liability insurance for their needs, WalletHub analyzed quotes from 17 major auto insurance companies.
Cheapest Liability Insurance for Good Drivers
Drivers with a clean record will pay the least for car insurance, since insurance companies consider them to be the lowest risk. Policyholders without recent violations or at-fault accidents are eligible for good driver discounts with almost every major auto insurance company. Good drivers can also earn accident forgiveness with some insurers, meaning that their first at-fault accident won’t cause their rate to increase.
| Company | Average Price | Quote |
|---|---|---|
| Geico | $39 per month | Quote |
| USAA | $41 per month | Quote |
| AAA | $44 per month | Quote |
| Progressive | $46 per month | Quote |
| Mercury | $50 per month | Quote |
Cheapest Liability Insurance for Drivers with One Speeding Ticket
Speeding tickets will raise a driver’s insurance premium by an average of 25% for 3-5 years. But each insurance company will treat a speeding ticket differently, which is another reason to get multiple quotes.
| Company | Average Price | Quote |
|---|---|---|
| USAA | $44 per month | Quote |
| AAA | $55 per month | Quote |
| Geico | $59 per month | Quote |
| Mercury | $65 per month | Quote |
| Kemper | $67 per month | Quote |
Cheapest Liability Insurance for Drivers with a DUI
A DUI conviction can more than triple insurance premiums in some states. Drivers with a DUI might also be required to file an SR-22 or FR-44, which can make coverage even more expensive. If it’s an option for you, purchasing a liability-only policy can be a good choice if your DUI conviction has made a full coverage policy unaffordable.
| Company | Average Price | Quote |
|---|---|---|
| Mercury | $81 per month | Quote |
| Geico | $94 per month | Quote |
| National General | $97 per month | Quote |
| Progressive | $101 per month | Quote |
| Kemper | $103 per month | Quote |
Learn more about the cheapest liability insurance for drivers with a DUI.
Cheapest Liability Insurance for Drivers with One At-Fault Accident
A single at-fault accident will increase premiums by an average of 48% for 3-5 years. An at-fault accident can also cause policyholders to lose their good driver discount.
| Company | Average Price | Quote |
|---|---|---|
| AAA | $55 per month | Quote |
| USAA | $58 per month | Quote |
| Geico | $69 per month | Quote |
| Esurance | $84 per month | Quote |
| Auto-Owners | $85 per month | Quote |
Cheapest Liability Insurance for Teen Drivers
Teen drivers are more expensive to insure than the average driver due to their lack of experience, but purchasing liability-only insurance is one way to make teen car insurance more affordable. It’s also usually cheaper to add a teenager to a parent’s existing policy than it is to purchase an individual policy for a teen.
| Company | Average Price | Quote |
|---|---|---|
| Travelers | $104 per month | Quote |
| Geico | $113 per month | Quote |
| State Farm | $125 per month | Quote |
| Mercury | $129 per month | Quote |
| Progressive | N/A | Quote |
Learn more about the cheapest liability insurance for teen drivers.
Cheapest Liability Insurance for Older Drivers
Car insurance prices begin to rise once drivers hit 65 years old, since older drivers are more likely to be in expensive accidents than middle-aged drivers. But older drivers also have multiple opportunities to save, such as by comparing quotes and taking senior driving courses.
| Company | Average Price | Quote |
|---|---|---|
| Geico | $38 per month | Quote |
| USAA | $42 per month | Quote |
| State Farm | $47 per month | Quote |
| AAA | $48 per month | Quote |
| Progressive | $50 per month | Quote |
Cheapest Liability Insurance for Drivers with Bad Credit
Insurance companies consider credit data when setting rates in most states, and studies have shown that drivers with lower credit scores are more likely to file insurance claims. However, California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Michigan, and Oregon have strictly limited or banned the use of credit scores when calculating auto insurance rates.
| Company | Average Price | Quote |
|---|---|---|
| Mercury | $777 per year | Quote |
| USAA | $787 per year | Quote |
| National General | $941 per year | Quote |
| Nationwide | $1,005 per year | Quote |
| Chubb | $1,132 per year | Quote |
Cheapest Liability Insurance for Drivers with an SR-22
An SR-22 requirement usually indicates that a driver has a history of traffic violations, DUI convictions, or other high-risk driving behaviors. As a result, insurance companies may view the driver as high risk and charge them higher premiums for liability insurance coverage than a driver with a clean driving record. However, drivers who require an SR-22 may find discounts or lower rates by shopping around for insurance providers that offer competitive rates for high-risk drivers.
| Company | Average Price | Quote |
|---|---|---|
| Geico | $512 per year | Quote |
| AAA | $529 per year | Quote |
| Grange | $566 per year | Quote |
| USAA | $567 per year | Quote |
| Progressive | $574 per year | Quote |
Full Coverage vs. Liability Cost
Liability insurance is 64% cheaper than full coverage, on average, because it only covers damage and injuries that you cause to others. On the other hand, full coverage pays for repairs if your car is damaged by an accident that you cause or by something out of your control, like vandalism or a natural disaster. The exact cost difference will vary depending on your individual risk factors as well as the insurance company you choose.
| Company | Liability Cost | Full Coverage Cost | Percent Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Geico | $796 per year | $2,886 per year | 263% |
| USAA | $807 per year | $2,802 per year | 247% |
| Travelers | $893 per year | $3,518 per year | 294% |
| Grange | $976 per year | $4,253 per year | 336% |
| Mercury | $1,032 per year | $3,365 per year | 226% |
| Progressive | $1,033 per year | $4,041 per year | 291% |
| State Farm | $1,032 per year | $3,514 per year | 241% |
| Auto-Owners | $1,108 per year | $2,865 per year | 159% |
| Esurance | $1,218 per year | $3,166 per year | 160% |
| AAA | $979 per year | $5,509 per year | 463% |
For more information on the difference between liability and full coverage car insurance, check out WalletHub’s complete guide. To learn more about the quotes in the table, see the methodology section below.
Liability Insurance Costs by State
| State | Average Liability Insurance Premium | Cheapest Company | Quote of the Cheapest Company |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $577 per year | Cincinnati Insurance | $279 per year |
| Alaska | $470 per year | USAA | $258 per year |
| Arizona | $720 per year | Noblr | $171 per year |
| Arkansas | $591 per year | USAA | $238 per year |
| California | $717 per year | Geico | $462 per year |
| Colorado | $606 per year | American National | $188 per year |
| Connecticut | $1,086 per year | Geico | $470 per year |
| Delaware | $927 per year | Travelers | $449 per year |
| Florida | $1,242 per year | Geico | $474 per year |
| Georgia | $877 per year | Country Mutual Insurance | $389 per year |
| Hawaii | $432 per year | Geico | $256 per year |
| Idaho | $374 per year | American National | $113 per year |
| Illinois | $592 per year | Westfield | $337 per year |
| Indiana | $422 per year | USAA | $231 per year |
| Iowa | $294 per year | Hastings Mutual | $134 per year |
| Kansas | $565 per year | Geico | $230 per year |
| Kentucky | $827 per year | Geico | $390 per year |
| Louisiana | $1,175 per year | Southern Farm Bureau | $564 per year |
| Maine | $427 per year | USAA | $225 per year |
| Maryland | $1,038 per year | USAA | $365 per year |
| Massachusetts | $647 per year | State Farm | $372 per year |
| Michigan | $1,300 per year | Travelers | $158 per year |
| Minnesota | $698 per year | Westfield | $321 per year |
| Mississippi | $508 per year | Direct Auto | $219 per year |
| Missouri | $651 per year | USAA | $211 per year |
| Montana | $423 per year | USAA | $159 per year |
| Nebraska | $437 per year | EMC | $212 per year |
| Nevada | $874 per year | Auto-Owners | $354 per year |
| New Hampshire | $503 per year | USAA | $233 per year |
| New Jersey | $1,283 per year | Geico | $450 per year |
| New Mexico | $497 per year | USAA | $197 per year |
| New York | $1,719 per year | Geico | $784 per year |
| North Carolina | $511 per year | Nationwide | $320 per year |
| North Dakota | $384 per year | USAA | $170 per year |
| Ohio | $393 per year | USAA | $224 per year |
| Oklahoma | $511 per year | USAA | $227 per year |
| Oregon | $807 per year | Geico | $417 per year |
| Pennsylvania | $611 per year | Erie | $332 per year |
| Rhode Island | $946 per year | State Farm | $370 per year |
| South Carolina | $802 per year | USAA | $354 per year |
| South Dakota | $304 per year | USAA | $179 per year |
| Tennessee | $467 per year | Auto-Owners | $255 per year |
| Texas | $773 per year | State Farm | $399 per year |
| Utah | $765 per year | USAA | $370 per year |
| Vermont | $318 per year | Patriot Insurance | $172 per year |
| Virginia | $603 per year | USAA | $346 per year |
| Washington | $699 per year | PEMCO Insurance | $287 per year |
| West Virginia | $523 per year | USAA | $229 per year |
| Wisconsin | $412 per year | Grange | $180 per year |
| Wyoming | $291 per year | USAA | $172 per year |
Note: Rates are an approximation based on a driver with minimum coverage.
For more information about these quotes, see the methodology section below.
Tips for Finding Cheap Liability Insurance
1. Compare Quotes
Comparing quotes from multiple companies should always be your first step when you’re shopping for auto insurance, since it will help you get the best deal. Every company calculates premiums differently, so use this list as a starting point to find the cheapest prices for your individual circ*mstances.
2. Look for Discounts
Every insurance company offers a range of discounts that can help reduce your premium, and it’s well worth the effort of asking about discounts that aren’t applied automatically. For instance, ask your insurer if they offer discounts for taking a defensive driving course, or see if you can save by paying via automatic withdrawal.
3. Consider Your Coverage Limits
Lowering your liability limits will reduce your premium. However, low liability limits may cost you money in the long run if you don’t have enough coverage to pay for the damage that you cause in a car accident. So it’s best to consider whether your state’s required car insurance coverage will protect you from the financial ramifications of a serious accident.
4. Reduce Your Risk Factors
Although car insurance companies consider some factors that you can’t control, like age and gender, there are some things you can change. For instance, improving your driving record and raising your insurance score will help lower your premium over time.
Methodology
WalletHub editors compared 17 major car insurance companies to determine the cheapest liability insurance. The premiums above are an average of a series of quotes sourced from Quadrant Information Services. All premiums are annual rates.
The baseline driver profile was a 45-year-old single man with a clean driving record and good credit, who drives a sedan an average of 15,000 miles per year. The older-driver premiums were based on a 65-year-old driver with the same car and mileage. The teen driver profile reflects an average of premiums for 16 to 19-year-olds, also with the same car and mileage.
The following coverage limits were used for most categories, as well as for the company cost comparison table:
- $15,000 in bodily injury liability coverage per person
- $30,000 in bodily injury liability coverage per accident
- $5,000 in property damage liability coverage per accident
The full coverage premiums used the following coverage limits:
- $100,000 bodily injury liability coverage per person
- $300,000 bodily injury liability coverage per accident
- $50,000 property damage liability coverage per accident
- $100,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage per person
- $300,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage per accident
- $50,000 uninsured motorist property damage coverage per accident
- Collision coverage with a $500 deductible
- Comprehensive coverage with a $500 deductible
WalletHub editors determined the cheapest company in each state using quotes for the baseline driver profile. Quotes were averaged from a variety of zip codes using each state’s minimum coverage requirements.
Video: Cheapest Liability Car Insurance
Ask the Experts
To help drivers find the cheapest liability insurance, WalletHub posed the following questions to a panel of experts. Click on the links below to find their commentary and advice.
1. Do you have any advice for people who are looking for the cheapest auto liability insurance?
2. What risks do people take by opting for cheap liability insurance?
3. Do you think the minimum amount of liability insurance is enough to protect most drivers?
4. How can someone protect their finances if they can only afford the minimum amount of liability insurance and they get into an at-fault accident?
Ask the Experts
Tom Faulconer
J.D., CFP®, Clinical Professor, Risk Management and Insurance, Lacy School of Business, Butler University
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William J. Warfel
Ph.D., CPCU, CLU, Professor, Scott College of Business, Indiana State University
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Patrick Ryle
JD, LLM, CPA, CMA, CIPP/US, Assistant Professor of Accounting, Wright School of Business, Dalton State College
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Andrew Burnstine
Ph.D. – Associate Professor, College of Business and Management – Lynn University
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Cagla Yildirim
Ph.D., Assistant Professor, College of Business, Department of Finance, New Mexico State University
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Yiwei Zhao
Assistant Professor of Finance, College of Business and Economics, Longwood University
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More Experts
