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Find the best auto insurance for your needs in the Keystone State.
Allstate is our top pick for insurance in Pennsylvania. It stands out for its homeowners and young drivers discounts, pay-per-mile option, and rideshare coverage.
Founded in the Pennsylvania city of the same name, Erie impressed us with its competitive pricing, option to lock in your insurance rate, and range of coverage options.
Pennsylvanians spend an average of $992 each year on car insurance, which translates to around $83 per month. The state’s insurance rates are 8 percent lower than the national average. However, drivers in major cities like Philadelphia or Pittsburgh might face higher premiums. Your specific insurance costs are influenced by various factors unique to you, such as the coverage you desire, your location, credit score, and potential discounts you qualify for. Let’s explore the leading insurance companies in Pennsylvania.
Best Auto Insurance in Pennsylvania Overall: Allstate
Best Auto Insurance for Full Coverage in Pennsylvania: Erie
Best Auto Insurance for High-Risk Drivers in Pennsylvania: Direct Auto
Best Auto Insurance for Military and Veterans in Pennsylvania: USAA
Best Cheap Auto Insurance in Pennsylvania: State Farm
Company | What it’s best for | Discounts | J.D. Power regional customer satisfaction score (out of 1,000)1 | AM Best financial strength rating2 | Review |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Allstate | Overall | Bundling, multi-vehicle, new car, early signing, automatic payment, pay-in-full, responsible payer, student, safety features, paperless, safe driving, and telematics | 825 | A+ | Allstate review |
Erie | Full coverage | Safe driving, safety features, multi-vehicle, multi-policy, reduced usage, young driver, pay-in-full | 863 | A+ | Erie review |
Direct Auto | High-risk drivers | Military, accident-free, violation-free, good student, senior citizen, telematics, drive education, multi-vehicle, safety features, multi-product, prior coverage, homeowner, previous customer, affinity organization, preferred payment, multi-policy | N/A | A | Direct Auto review |
USAA | Military and veterans | Bundling, telematics, good student, multivehicle, vehicle in storage, low mileage, automatic payment, early quote, safety features, new car, loyal member, and good driver | 877 | A++ | USAA review |
State Farm | Cheapest | Accident-free, violation-free, anti-theft, driver education, telematics, good student, multi-vehicle, multi-policy, safety features, young driver, student away at school | 843 | A++ | State Farm review |
Allstate is the fourth-largest insurer nationally and a great choice for drivers in Pennsylvania. The company stands out for its bundling and student discounts in particular, and it offers coverages and policy options you won’t find everywhere, such as pay-per-mile insurance and rideshare coverage.
Bundling auto and home insurance is often a good idea. Many insurance companies, including Allstate, offer discounts for bundling multiple insurance policies. Additionally, bundling can make it easier to manage your coverage, as you can handle your claims, payments, and policy through a single point of contact.
Allstate reports that customers who bundle auto and homeowners insurance in Pennsylvania can save up to 12 percent.3 This can result in hundreds of dollars in savings per year.
The U.S. Department of Transportation reports that drivers in Pennsylvania log about 102 billion miles annually, which averages to approximately 11,400 miles per driver per year. That’s 2,000 miles less than the national average of 13,400.5 People in major cities like Philadelphia or Pittsburgh may drive even less.
If you don’t drive every day or have a short commute, a pay-per-mile plan could help lower your auto insurance costs. Typically, these plans make most sense if you drive less than 10,000 miles per year.
Pennsylvania is one of 21 states in which Allstate offers its pay-per-mile insurance plan, called Milewise. You’ll pay a base rate, plus a per-mile rate. For example, let’s say you drive an average of 20 miles each day:
Daily base rate | $1.25 |
---|---|
Rate per mile | $0.07 x 20 miles = $1.40 |
Total daily cost | $2.65 |
Total monthly cost | About $80 |
Allstate uses a device in your vehicle to record your mileage, and you can monitor your mileage and expenses in the Allstate app. When you have multiple vehicles covered under the same policy, you have the flexibility to decide individually for each vehicle whether it should be categorized as per-mile or under the traditional unlimited-mileage policy.
If you drive for Lyft, Uber, Doordash, GrubHub, or a similar delivery service, the transportation network coverage (TNC) — i.e., the rideshare company’s insurance — does not kick in until you’ve picked up a passenger or order. Your personal auto insurance policy does not cover you while you’re working. That means there may be a gap in your coverage when the app is on and you’re waiting to match with a ride or on your way to pick up. Additionally, TNC policies often have high deductibles.
Allstate’s rideshare coverage (called Ride for Hire) covers this gap by protecting you when the TNC policy and your personal policy wouldn’t apply. This coverage also pays for high TNC deductibles, up to $2,500.
Founded in 1925, Erie holds the highest customer satisfaction ratings of the region (excluding USAA, which is not available to all customers). Its competitive prices and range of options make it a great choice for Pennsylvanians looking to purchase full coverage.
J.D. Power reports that customer satisfaction with auto insurance companies has plummeted, in large part due to rising rates. Nearly one-third of customers experienced a rate increase from 2022 to 2023, and rates rose by an average of 15.5 percent.
Erie offers an option to lock in your auto insurance rate, helping you keep your premium stable. If you add this endorsement to your policy, your rate won’t change unless you move or change the drivers or vehicles on your policy. In other words, inflation and minor accidents or violations will not increase your premium. If you add or remove coverages, Erie will adjust your premium to reflect that particular change.
When you purchase comprehensive coverage, Erie throws in several extra perks:
In addition, Erie’s policies typically include the following extras at minimal cost:
Finally, for $35 or less per year, you can add Erie Auto Plus to your policy, which includes:
For those looking to purchase coverage beyond the minimum, Erie offers full-coverage protection (collision, comprehensive, uninsured/underinsured motorist, medical payments) as well as the following additional options:
Coverage | Details |
---|---|
Rental car reimbursement | Choose from six classes of rental cars, which correspond to different premium rates, and choose which company to rent from. |
Emergency roadside services | This covers lockouts, flat tires, mechanical breakdowns, dead batteries, and running out of gas. It provides towing up to 20 miles and winching from a ditch or snow up to 10 feet from the highway (additional distance costs extra). |
New- or better-car replacement | In the event of total loss of a vehicle less than two years old, Erie pays for a replacement of the latest model year. For cars older than two years old, Erie pays for a comparable vehicle that is two model years newer. For leased or financed vehicles, Erie pays for the difference between the actual cash value and the amount owed (like gap coverage). |
Rideshare coverage | Erie extends your personal policy coverage to protect you during every stage of the rideshare trip (before, during, and after the hired ride). |
Direct Auto is a good option for Pennsylvanians with a DUI, multiple at-fault crashes, or other high-risk driving events. In addition to car insurance, it sells non-auto products like term life insurance and accident medical expense coverage, which you can bundle for savings.
Insurance companies may consider you a high risk driver if you:
While Pennsylvania does not require high-risk drivers to file an SR-22, traditional auto insurance companies may refuse to sell you a policy if they view you as too much of a liability.
Direct Auto specializes in insuring drivers whom traditional insurance companies may refuse to cover. It offers all of the standard coverages:
It also offers several discounts that high-risk drivers can use to lower their premium, like taking a driver education course or tracking safe driving habits through telematics.
Like most insurance providers, Direct Auto offers discounts for bundling multiple policies (e.g., personal auto, motorcycle, and commercial auto insurance). However, you can earn an additional 5 percent savings when you buy a non-auto insurance product. These include:
Not only does high-risk auto insurance typically cost more than standard insurance, violations like DUIs come with their own fines and fees. Direct Auto offers payment flexibility, which can help you budget for auto insurance. You can:
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, the state is home to 800,000 veterans — the fourth-largest veteran population in the country.6 About an additional 80,000 active-duty military and National Guard members and their families call the state home.7 USAA sells auto insurance and other financial products to individuals affiliated with the U.S. military. It has competitive prices and a strong track record for customer satisfaction.
With USAA’s roadside assistance coverage, you get the following services 24/7:
If you carry roadside coverage, you won’t pay for these services unless otherwise specified. Further, USAA is unique in that even if you don’t have roadside assistance, you can still receive assistance and pay negotiated rates, which are often less than what you would pay the provider directly.
Additionally, unlike many providers, USAA’s roadside assistance extends across the U.S. border to the following places:
USAA offers financial services in addition to auto insurance, including auto loans at the following rates:
Loan type | USAA starting rate (on a 36-month term, including 0.25% discount for auto-payment) | Average rate in Pennsylvania | USAA terms |
---|---|---|---|
New car | 5.79% | 6.91% |
|
Used car | 6.14% | 10.62% |
|
Older car | 9.14% | 10.62% |
|
The cost of insuring teen drivers is higher than almost any other group, due to their inexperience and higher likelihood of being in an accident.
USAA offers a good-student discount for teens and other young drivers, which can help families save on auto insurance. To qualify, the young driver must:
Additionally, USAA offers a 10 percent “legacy” discount to drivers under age 25 who are transitioning from their parents’ policy to their own and have had no major violations in the last three years.
State Farm has insurance agents in over 400 cities in Pennsylvania, making it easy to get connected and find coverage. The company is known for low prices, customer satisfaction, and an easy claims process.
Along with Erie, State Farm offers some of the cheapest premiums in Pennsylvania. The average cost for a minimum coverage policy with State Farm in Pennsylvania is $324 annually ($27 monthly), and the average cost for a full-coverage policy is $960 annually ($80 monthly). That’s 35 percent less than the state average.
State Farm offers the following discounts in Pennsylvania, which can help you save on premiums:8
State Farm offers multiple programs that can earn customers discounts for safe driving habits, including one geared specifically toward young drivers.
Program | Potential savings | Who’s eligible | How you qualify |
---|---|---|---|
Drive Safe & Save | Up to 30% | Any State Farm customer in Pennsylvania | Download the Drive Safe and Save app, and connect to the Bluetooth beacon you receive in the mail.
The app and beacon track behaviors like quick acceleration, hard braking, fast cornering, and speeding. Your discount is calculated at each policy renewal, and you get an initial discount just for signing up. |
Steer Clear | 15-20% | Drivers under age 25 with no at-fault accidents or moving violations in the past 3 years | Download the Steer Clear app and complete the training modules. Then complete and record 5 hours of driving in at least 10 trips.
Note that you can pair Steer Clear with the Drive Safe & Save discount. |
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, there are nearly 800,000 licensed motorcyclists and around 373,000 registered motorcycles in the state.9 Pennsylvania is home to several scenic motorcycle routes, including the 107-mile Groundhog Loop through Punxsutawney.
State Farm offers the following motorcycle coverages:
You can purchase motorcycle coverage from State Farm for the following types of vehicles:
Maybe you don’t own a motorcycle but you’re thinking about buying one. State Farm has an online tool to help you estimate costs depending on the make, model, and type of motorcycle you’re looking at.
We took a three-point approach to choose the best auto insurance providers in Pennsylvania:
Erie, State Farm, and USAA typically have the lowest insurance rates in PA:
Company | Average annual cost for minimum coverage | Savings compared to Pennsylvania average for minimum coverage | Average annual cost for full coverage | Savings compared to Pennsylvania average for full coverage |
---|---|---|---|---|
Erie | $324 | 35% | $1,020 | 32% |
State Farm | $324 | 35% | $960 | 35% |
USAA | $384 | 22% | $1,198 | 20% |
Pennsylvania requires drivers to carry the follow auto insurance at a minimum:
If you’re caught driving without insurance, you can face the following penalties:
The Hartford, Travelers, and Erie have some of the best auto insurance for seniors in Pennsylvania, due to their low prices and strong track records for customer satisfaction.
Pennsylvania requires insurance providers to offer a minimum 5 percent discount for drivers age 55 or older who complete an approved driver improvement course. A list of courses is available on the PennDOT website.
Car insurance rates are not negotiable, so asking for lower rates won’t help you save. However, there are several other ways you can lower your auto insurance costs:
Auto Insurance Customer Satisfaction Plummets as Rates Continue to Surge, J.D. Power Finds. J.D. Power. (2023, Jun 13).
https://www.jdpower.com/business/press-releases/2023-us-auto-insurance-study
Rating Services. AM Best. (2024).
https://web.ambest.com/ratings-services
Pennsylvania car insurance. Allstate. (2024).
https://www.allstate.com/auto-insurance/pennsylvania-car-insurance-coverages
QuickFacts Pennsylvania. United States Census Bureau. (2021).
https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/PA/BZA010221
Highway Statistics 2021. Policy and Governmental Affairs Office of Highway Policy Information. (2023, May).
https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/policyinformation/statistics/2021/vm3.cfm
Veterans/Military Families. Department of Human Services. (2024).
https://www.dhs.pa.gov/Services/Mental-Health-In-PA/Pages/VeteransMilitary-Families.aspx
Pennsylvania. Military State Policy Source. (2024).
https://statepolicy.militaryonesource.mil/state/PA
Competitive Pennsylvania auto insurance discounts. State Farm. (2024).
https://www.statefarm.com/insurance/auto/discounts/pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Motorcycle Statistics. PennDOT Driver & Vehicle Services. (2022).
https://www.dmv.pa.gov/pages/pennsylvania-motorcycle-statistics.aspx