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How much you’ll pay for insurance in the Pelican State
Louisiana is the most expensive state for auto insurance in the country, with an average cost of car insurance 31 percent above the national average, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. There are a number of reasons for this, including above-average rates of theft, hurricanes, and auto-related lawsuits, as well as the state’s high population and highway density. Continue reading to learn how much you can expect to pay for auto insurance in Louisiana and ways you can save.
On average, car insurance in Louisiana costs $1,882 each year, or $157 monthly. Below, we break down the average costs of full coverage insurance by category and by company unless otherwise specified.
Due to their inexperience and tendency to engage in unsafe behaviors, young drivers pay the most for auto insurance than drivers in any other category. On average, teenagers in Louisiana pay over $8,000 per year for auto insurance, while drivers age 20 and older pay around $2,900.
To encourage safer driving, consider signing a parent-teen driving contract with your child to set ground rules and expectations around safety practices.
Age | Average annual cost of car insurance |
---|---|
16 | $8,985 |
17 | $8,829 |
18 | $8,111 |
19 | $6,229 |
20s | $4,195 |
30s | $2,892 |
40s | $2,671 |
50s | $2,665 |
60s | $2,385 |
70s | $2,539 |
Typically, men pay slightly more for auto insurance than women. The difference is greater in younger drivers and decreases over time.
Gender | Average annual cost of car insurance |
---|---|
Male | $2,573 |
Female | $2,558 |
Married couples pay less for auto insurance than people who are single, divorced, or widowed. If you’re married, you’ll save about $100 annually on auto insurance in Louisiana.
Marital status | Average annual cost of car insurance |
---|---|
Single | $2,140 |
Married | $2,041 |
Divorced | $2,140 |
Widowed | $2,121 |
You’ll pay more for full coverage versus liability only, but keep in mind that more extensive coverage saves you money in the event of an accident.
Coverage level | Average annual cost of car insurance |
---|---|
Minimum | $1,061 |
Full | $2,723 |
Most states, including Louisiana, allow auto insurance companies to account for drivers’ credit scores when determining premiums. The average credit score in Louisiana is 689, which is 25 points below the national average — another reason for the high premiums in the state1.
Credit score | Average annual cost of car insurance |
---|---|
Poor | $4,972 |
Average | $3,606 |
Good | $3,057 |
Excellent | $2,474 |
Maintaining a good driving record is one of the best ways to lower your insurance costs. In Louisiana, a speeding ticket alone can cost you $600 annually in premiums, and a DUI will run you nearly $1,000.
Driving history | Average annual cost of car insurance |
---|---|
Clean driving record | $2,725 |
Speeding ticket | $3,348 |
Accident | $3,866 |
DUI | $4,600 |
USAA offers some of the cheapest insurance in Louisiana, though it’s available only to military members, veterans, and their families. Southern Farm Bureau, State Farm, and GEICO also offer lower rates.
Company | Average annual cost of car insurance |
---|---|
Allstate | $2,152 |
GEICO | $1,742 |
MetLife | $3,216 |
Progressive | $2,456 |
Southern Farm Bureau | $1,548 |
State Farm | $1,767 |
USAA | $1,028 |
For cheap insurance in Louisiana, check out the following companies:
Category | Cheapest company | Annual rate |
---|---|---|
Full coverage | Southern Farm Bureau | $2,158 |
Minimum coverage | Southern Farm Bureau | $629 |
Military/veteran | USAA | $1,028 |
Married | Southern Farm Bureau | $1,668 |
Single | Southern Farm Bureau | $1,770 |
Excellent credit | State Farm | $2,046 |
Good credit | Southern Farm Bureau | $2,158 |
Bad credit | Safeway | $2,902 |
Male teens | Southern Farm Bureau | $3,415 |
Female teens | Southern Farm Bureau | $2,970 |
Ticket | State Farm | $3,182 |
At-fault accident | Southern Farm Bureau | $3,223 |
DUI | Louisiana Farm Bureau | $3,582 |
To lower your insurance costs, consider the following:
Louisiana’s minimum car insurance requirements are as follows:
Coverage | Minimum required limit |
---|---|
Bodily injury liability (per person) | $15,000 |
Bodily injury liability (per accident) | $30,000 |
Property damage liability (per accident) | $25,000 |
In order to register your car in Louisiana, proof of insurance is required.
Louisiana fault law falls under pure comparative negligence, meaning liability is spread among everyone who contributed to the accident in proportion to their responsibility. In other words, a party may recover for injuries and damages even if they bear more fault than the other party. For example, if you were 60 percent at fault for an accident, you can still recover 40 percent of your damages.
Louisiana’s “No Pay, No Play” law bars uninsured drivers from collecting the first $25,000 in property damages and the first $15,000 in personal injuries, regardless of who caused an accident. Uninsured drivers also face fines of at least $500 and a license suspension of six months or more2.
An SR-22 is a form proving you hold car insurance that meets minimum state requirements. The Louisiana Department of Public Safety’s Office of Motor Vehicles may require you to have one if you commit one of the following offenses:
Typically, your insurance company will file an SR-22 for you for a fee of around $25. The length of time you must hold the SR-22 depends on your conviction, but in most cases, it is three years from the date of conviction.
As a last resort, high-risk drivers who cannot find insurance elsewhere can seek coverage through the Louisiana Automobile Insurance Plan by using the following contact information:
Louisiana has the highest auto insurance rates in the country. That makes it even more important to shop for discounts and get at least three quotes before deciding on a company. USAA, Southern Farm Bureau, State Farm, and GEICO have some of the cheapest rates in the state.
Over the course of its two decades in the industry, AutoInsurance.com has gathered millions of data points that we use to match customers with the right insurance company for their circumstances and needs. We leverage our database, along with information on coverage requirements, state laws, fault systems, and SR-22s, to give you insight into how much you’ll pay.
The Ford F-150 and Honda Odyssey are two of the cheapest vehicles to insure in Louisiana. Safety features, cost of repairs, and the statistical likelihood of an accident are vehicle-related factors that affect premiums.
USAA, Louisiana Farm Bureau, Southern Farm Bureau, State Farm, and GEICO have the cheapest car insurance rates in New Orleans. That being said, NOLA has the highest auto insurance rates in the state by about 55 percent.
The cheapest cars to buy aren’t necessarily the cheapest cars to insure. While vehicle value is one factor in determining premiums, other factors — like vehicle safety features — are also important. Vehicles valued between $25,000 and $30,000 tend to be the least expensive to insure.
Typically, a 17-year-old cannot get their own car insurance in Louisiana; a parent or guardian must co-sign the policy. Emancipated minors are an exception and can enter legal agreements, including signing an auto insurance policy, on their own.
Credit Scores Steady as Consumer Debt Balances Rise in 2022. Experian. (2023, Feb).
https://www.experian.com/blogs/ask-experian/consumer-credit-review/
Consumer’s Guide to Auto Insurance. Louisiana Department of Insurance. (2016, May).
https://www.ldi.la.gov/docs/default-source/documents/publicaffairs/consumerpublications/auto-insurance-guide.pdf
Louisiana Automobile Insurance Plan. AIPSA. (2023.
https://www.aipso.com/Plan-Sites/Louisiana