Best Cheap Auto Insurance Companies in 2025

Root is our top provider for drivers with safe driving habits and a good driving record. Although Root is the cheapest insurance on our list ($1,120 annually for full coverage), signing up comes with a few caveats. Root is able to offer great rates because it denies coverage to high-risk drivers, especially high-risk drivers with a bad record.

Cheap Insurance for Safe Drivers

Here’s how much Root’s full coverage may cost safe drivers compared to competitors:

Test-Drive Process

Part of why Root can offer such low rates is its strict vetting process. You must sign up for a test drive and allow Root to track your driving behavior for up to 30 days to get a quote.

Root connects to your smartphone and uses already available features — GPS, accelerometer, and gyroscope — to measure your driving habits across those 30 days. Its tracking system will identify what time of day you’re driving, how many miles you’ve driven, your turn speed, and more. If your driving habits meet its standards, it will approve you and offer you some of the cheapest rates available.

Safe Driver Discount Model

Root has a unique auto insurance discount model that makes benefiting from savings much easier for customers. While it offers traditional bundling discounts for car and renters insurance, most of the company’s safe-driver discounts will be integrated into your final quote automatically. So rather than having to ask an agent for your eligible discounts or applying for a discount, Root will apply a number of safety discounts to your quote. Drivers with the best driving records and test drive scores will be eligible for the lowest prices.

USAA has offered financial products to the military community since 1922. It has the cheapest average rates out of the top 10 largest insurance providers and also offers various discounts, bundling options, and resources for military members.

The caveat with USAA is that it’s only available only to military members, veterans, and their families (spouses and children). Those eligible must become a USAA member in order to take advantage of its offerings, which include affordable rates, specialized coverage and discounts, financial advice, and more.

Specialized Military Discounts

One of the key discounts offered by USAA is a vehicle storage discount, which is particularly useful to active military members who are deployed abroad or stationed away from home and don’t have access to their vehicle(s).

With USAA, you can earn a discount of up to 60 percent on your car insurance policy if you’re out of state on military duty and keep your car securely stored. You may also be eligible for a 15 percent discount on comprehensive coverage if you garage your vehicle on a military installation.

Save With Usage-Based Insurance

USAA offers pay-as-you-drive policies through Noblr, a USAA subsidiary, which tracks your driving and allows you to save on your premium if you drive less than average. It also takes your driving behavior into account, so driving safely will also help you save money. These usage-based policies are currently available in Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin.

If you don’t necessarily drive less than average but are confident in your safe driving and are looking to save more, USAA also has its SafePilot telematics program, which will track your driving habits and reward good driving with a discount.

USAA Military Perks

USAA is a particularly good choice for military members not only because of its affordable rates but also thanks to its additional perks that members have access to. Here are some of the added benefits offered by USAA:

• 24/7 membership support for insurance, deployment questions, and transition to life abroad or back to the U.S.
• Expert advice for managing debt, loans, saving, investing, and other financial needs
• Discounts for shopping, hotels, travel insurance, and more

GEICO has the cheapest average rates for minimum coverage insurance for non-military drivers at $517 per year on average, making it a great choice for those looking to get the absolute best deal. Minimum coverage always costs less than more robust coverage since you’re opting for a lower level of financial protection, but GEICO stands out with particularly low rates. It also offers a variety of discounts to help drivers save even more.

Affordable Minimum Coverage Rates

Here’s how GEICO’s minimum coverage rates compare to those of other providers:

Many Discounts Opportunities

GEICO has an impressive list of discounts for most drivers, ranging from around 5 to 25 percent. Here are some of the discounts you may be eligible for:

• Bundling: Save on your insurance by bundling two or more policies with GEICO.
• Clean driving record: If you’ve been accident-free for at least one year you can get a discount of up to 22 percent.
• Defensive driver: Drivers over the age of 50 who complete an approved mature defensive driving course can earn a discount on their premium.
• DriveEasy: GEICO’s telematics program tracks your driving and rewards you with a discount for safe driving.
• Good student: Full-time students with a minimum 3.0 GPA could get a 15 percent discount.
• Homeownership: Get a discount just for owning a home, even if it’s not insured with GEICO.
• Vehicle equipment: Save if your vehicle has features like airbags, seat belts, anti-lock brakes, anti-theft systems, and daytime running lights

Accident Forgiveness

Accident forgiveness is a useful add-on to your auto insurance policy if you are prone to accidents, have a teen driver on your policy, or simply want added peace of mind. If you have accident forgiveness, GEICO won’t raise your rates following the first at-fault accident of any driver on your policy. It will also allow you to keep your good driver discount.

GEICO policyholders are automatically eligible for accident forgiveness if they have been insured with GEICO for at least five years and have no other qualifying claims within the past five years. GEICO also offers the option to purchase it as a policy add-on in most states.

While State Farm isn’t the cheapest insurer on our list, its rates are middle-of-the-road compared to other major U.S. insurers, and it earns consistently high ratings on industry customer service surveys. For example, it ranked higher than most major insurers in almost every region in J.D. Power’s 2024 Auto Insurance Study.² It has a large network of insurance agents across the country, ensuring personalized service for customers.

Strong Customer Service Record

State Farm scored above average in almost every region in J.D. Power’s 2024 Auto Insurance Study. Here’s how the company stacks up against the average score by region:

State Farm Telematics Programs

State Farm offers two telematics discount programs, Drive Safe & Save and Steer Clear, to help policyholders save money on premiums. With Drive Safe & Save, you can get a discount of 5 to 10 percent just for signing up, and up to 30 percent off at your next renewal. The exact discount will depend on your state and driving habits. The program is not available in California, Massachusetts or Rhode Island. Unlike some other telematics programs, Drive Safe & Save will not increase your rates for unsafe driving.

State Farm also offers a telematics discount of up to 20 percent specifically for young drivers through the Steer Clear program. Steer Clear is a six-month safety driver program that tracks your driver habits and gives you a score based on how well or poorly you’re driving. It comes with five training modules consisting of videos, quizzes, daily tips, and driving scenario exercises. You need to meet the following requirements to qualify for the program:

• Be under the age of 25
• Have a valid driver’s license
• Have no at-fault accidents or moving violations in the past three years
• Successfully complete all the program requirements

It’s probably no surprise that your car insurance premium will increase after a DUI, even if it’s your first one. A DUI is one of the most serious traffic violations you can be convicted of, and a DUI increases your premium by 67 percent on average. If you have a conviction and are looking for an affordable insurance option, we recommend you take a look at Progressive. Compared to major competitors, Progressive has affordable rates for drivers with a DUI.

Cheapest Rate After a DUI

Progressive has the cheapest rates for drivers after a DUI on average compared to its competitors. Here’s a comparison of Progressive’s average rate for drivers with one DUI compared to other major providers.

Progressive Will File Your SR-22

A DUI is one of the leading reasons why you might need to file an SR-22, and not all providers are willing to insure or file an SR-22 on your behalf. That isn’t the case with Progressive. Progressive accepts drivers who need an SR-22s, will file your SR-22 on your behalf, and offers SR-22 non-owner insurance for drivers with a DUI.

Name Your Price Tool

If you’re having trouble finding coverage in your price range after a DUI, you can use Progressive’s Name Your Price tool. Here’s how it works:

1. Provide Progressive with some basic background info about your driving metrics and insurance needs, including that you’ve had a DUI.
2. Use the Name Your Price tool to tell Progressive the maximum you’re willing to pay for coverage.
3. Progressive will generate a few different policies with varying coverages under the maximum amount you’ve laid out.