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Last updated: October 31, 2024
The Best Auto Insurance in Kentucky
Which auto insurance provider in Kentucky is right for you?
Best Overall
Direct Auto offers a wide selection of policies for vehicle insurance for all kinds of drivers, even those with imperfect driving records. With options to bundle products, along with a wide range of discount opportunities, there are many ways to save with Direct Auto.
Best for Active Military Members
USAA offers the best rates for car insurance in Kentucky for residents who have served in the military or have family members who have served. In fact, those who buy their auto insurance with USAA save an average of $725 each year.
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Kentuckians pay less for their car insurance than residents of other states on average. Specifically, the 2019 to 2020 Auto Insurance Database Report from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) found that residents of Kentucky pay an average annual cost of $919, compared to the national average of $1,047. However, it can be difficult to find providers and policies that mirror these lower-than-average rates.
To help drivers in Kentucky find the more affordable and protective auto insurance plans, we’ve put together a list of our top picks for auto insurance providers across the state.
The Best Auto Insurance in Kentucky for 2024
- 1.
Best Auto Insurance in Kentucky Overall: Direct Auto
- 2.
Best Auto Insurance in Kentucky for Active Military Members: USAA
- 3.
Best Auto Insurance in Kentucky for Bundling Policies: Allstate
- 4.
Best Cheap Auto Insurance in Kentucky: State Farm
Comparison of the Best Auto Insurance in Kentucky
| Provider | What it’s best for | J.D. Power rating (out of 1,000) | BBB rating (A-F) | Available discounts | Review pages |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Direct Auto | Overall | 803 | A+ | Senior, insurance renewal, military, multipolicy, new car | Direct Auto review |
| USAA | Military | 884 | A+ | Safe driver, multiple vehicles, bundled policies | USAA review |
| Allstate | Bundling policies | 826 | A+ | New car, bundled policies, early signing, responsible payer, smart student | Allstate review |
| State Farm | Cheap | 847 | A | Accident-free, anti-theft device, defensive driving course, good driving, good student, multiple vehicles, seniors | State Farm review |
Detailed List of the Best Auto Insurance in Kentucky
1. Best Auto Insurance in Kentucky Overall - Direct Auto
What We Like Most:
- Low rates for high-risk drivers
- Can pay in cash locally
- Save money by bundling with life insurance
Direct Auto Insurance is a top choice for Kentucky drivers of all kinds, not just those with perfect driving records. Additionally, its wide range of discounts helps customers save up to 25 percent on their premiums.
Who It's Best For
- People who prioritize companies with high third-party ratings
- Those looking to save with a variety of discounts
Who It's Not Best For
- Those who prefer in-person customer service (no Kentucky locations)
Plentiful Discounts
Direct Auto offers various discounts for customers in Kentucky:
- Multivehicle: If you insure more than one vehicle with Direct Auto, you’ll save on your yearly premium.
- Driver improvement course: Those who participate in driver improvement or defensive driving education courses to demonstrate safe driving skills save with Direct Auto.
- Homeowner: In addition to auto insurance, Direct Auto offers other insurance products, including homeowners insurance. Therefore, you can bundle and save on your insurance if you buy both homeowners and auto insurance with Direct Auto.
Nonstandard Insurance
If you have multiple serious driving violations on your driving record, such as DUIs or DWIs, you may have a hard time finding solid auto insurance coverage at a reasonable price. Fortunately, Direct Auto offers nonstandard or high-risk auto insurance to protect all drivers, not just those with clean records. You may be considered a high-risk driver if any of the following apply to you:
- You’ve caused one or more car accidents.
- You’ve received one or more speeding tickets.
- You have a below-average credit score.
- You’ve been convicted of driving while intoxicated or driving under the influence.
FYI:
Kentucky is one of the few U.S. states that does not require drivers to carry SR-22s to reinstate their driving privileges after receiving a conviction for driving under the influence or driving without insurance.
Convenient Payments
One of the best parts about buying auto insurance with Direct Auto is the ability to pay your bill in the way that works best for you. With Direct Auto, you’ll enjoy flexible payment schedules and various ways to pay, including the following methods:
- Online payments: To pay your bill online, you can either set up automatic payments with your credit or debit card, or make one-time payments using a credit card, debit card, or check.
- Phone payments: If you prefer to pay your bill over the phone, all you have to do is call 1-877-463-4732.
2. Best Auto Insurance in Kentucky for Active Military Members - USAA
What We Like Most:
- Cheapest rates for teens on a family policy or on their own
- Special discount for teens transitioning off their parents’ policy
- Strong customer service and claims process
USAA is known across the country for its competitive auto insurance rates and protective policies for military members and their families. Access savings with USAA by bundling policies, maintaining a clean driving record, and demonstrating safe driving through its safe driving program, SafePilot.
Who It's Best For
- Active military members
- Veterans
- Deployed military members who need vehicle storage in the U.S.
Who It's Not Best For
- Nonmilitary members or families
- People with DUIs on their driving records
SafePilot Driving Program
Drivers in Kentucky are eligible to participate in USAA’s safe driving program, SafePilot. SafePilot rewards customers who demonstrate safety behind the wheel. You’ll receive a 10 percent discount just for enrolling, after which you’ll download the SafePilot app and begin driving to receive a discount of up to 30 percent. The app is available for download on both the Google Play Store and the Apple Store.
| Apple Store rating | Google Play rating | Driving information measured |
|---|---|---|
| 4.5 stars | 4.2 stars |
|
Roadside Assistance
Whether you need car towing or fuel delivery, USAA’s roadside assistance protects you in the event of an emergency. You can request roadside service either online or through the USAA mobile app, available for free on both Google Play and the App Store. Learn more about this optional policy below.
| Included services | Service speed | Service hours | iOS rating | Android rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Towing (to the nearest repair shop), flat tire, fuel delivery, battery jump starts, unlocking, stuck vehicles | Assistance arrives within 60-90 minutes of calling, service provided within 60 minutes of arrival | 24/7 | 4.8 stars | 4.1 stars |
If you have roadside assistance coverage added to your policy but have already paid for assistance out of pocket, USAA will reimburse you. All you need to do is submit your expenses to the reimbursement form on USAA’s website.
NOTE:
Once you request roadside assistance, stay and wait with your car to receive services. Otherwise, the only service USAA will provide is vehicle towing.
Accident Forgiveness
Diving history is a major factor in car insurance rates, which is why rates generally increase after an at-fault accident. Certain factors also contribute to increased rates after accidents, such as a history of traffic violations or multiple accidents within a short period of time.
However, USAA offers a way to prevent your premium from increasing after your first at-fault accident. If you previously remained accident-free for five consecutive years, you’ll qualify for USAA’s free accident forgiveness policy, and USAA will add it to your policy automatically. If you do not qualify for free accident forgiveness, you can add it to your policy as optional coverage. It’s important to note that USAA’s free accident forgiveness is per policy rather than per driver.
3. Best Auto Insurance in Kentucky for Bundling Policies - Allstate
What We Like Most:
- Three ways to earn a student discount
- Pay-per-mile option for drivers with low mileage
- No waiting period to purchase accident forgiveness
As a leading insurance company across the country, Allstate offers comprehensive auto insurance plans for a diverse customer base, along with many ways to save. Since Allstate offers plenty of insurance products in addition to auto insurance, many customers find great savings when they bundle their Allstate policies. For example, drivers in Kentucky who buy and bundle policies with Allstate save an average of 25 percent on their insurance.
Who It's Best For
- Those who want to bundle their auto policies with renters' or homeowners' coverage
- Young or new drivers and their families
- Good drivers
Who It's Not Best For
- Military members and their families (no available discounts)
- Those who drive electric cars (no available discounts)
Financial Strength
Allstate customers value the company’s high ratings from different third-party organizations that measure financial strength. AM Best, for example, rates Allstate an A+, indicating superior financial stability as a company. Review Allstate’s financial strength ratings below.
| Third Party | Rating | Description of rating |
|---|---|---|
| AM Best | A+ | An A+ rating demonstrates a company’s superior ability to payout claims and fulfill financial obligations. |
| Moody’s | A3 | An A3 rating from Moodys is considered an upper-medium grade, indicating that a company is subject to low credit risk.1 |
| Standard & Poor’s | A2 | An A2 rating indicates a satisfactory or adequate capacity of a company to meet its financial obligations. |
Allstate Mobile
With Allstate’s mobile app, you can manage your policy, payments, and other account details from your smartphone. Available for both Apple and Android users, the app is free to download from the App Store and Google Play.
| App features | iOS rating (out of 5 stars) | Android rating (out of 5 stars) |
|---|---|---|
|
4.8 | 3.8 |
Excellent Customer Service
Whether you choose to take advantage of Allstate’s digital tools or you prefer traditional methods of communication, you’ll always have quick access to Allstate’s excellent customer service. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) rates Allstate an A+, representing the company’s responsiveness to customers’ complaints. J.D. Power measures a company’s customer satisfaction, product quality, and overall experience. As of 2021, Allstate scored 826 on a scale of 1,000, exhibiting above-average customer service satisfaction.
If you prefer in-person customer support, you can choose to visit a local agent in the following Kentucky cities:
- Ashland
- Bardstown
- Bowling Green
- Burlington
- Corbin
- Covington
- Crestwood
- Dry Ridge
- Elizabethtown
- Florence
- Frankfort
- Georgetown
- Gilbertsville
- Hebron
- Henderson
- Highland Heights
- Hopkinsville
- Horse Cave
- Independence
- La Grange
- Lexington
- London
- Louisville
- Maysville
- Mount Sterling
- Murray
- Nicholasville
- Owensboro
- Paducah
- Pikeville
- Powderly
- Prospect
- Richmond
- Saint Matthews
- Shelbyville
- Shepherdsville
- Somerset
- Wilder
- Winchester
4. Best Cheap Auto Insurance in Kentucky - State Farm
What We Like Most:
- Multiple discounts for safe driving, including one specifically for young drivers
- Local agents
- Discounts for multiple cars
State Farm offers a range of auto insurance policies that meet the needs of Kentucky drivers, and it is committed to providing reliable and prompt service. With its vast collection of coverage options, discounts, and flexible pricing plans, new State Farm customers in Kentucky have been able to save an average of $50 a month on their auto insurance.2
Who It's Best For
- People looking to bundle multiple insurance policies
- Those who value working with local agents
- Those who prioritize digital tools, like mobile apps
Who It's Not Best For
- Military members and federal employees (no available discounts)
Ways to Save
State Farm provides many opportunities for policyholders to save on their yearly premiums. Explore various discounts available in Kentucky using the chart below.
| Discount | Eligibility |
|---|---|
| Accident-free | Those whose cars have been insured with State Farm for three continuous years without at-fault accidents |
| Multiple vehicle | Insuring two or more vehicles from the same household |
| Senior | Drivers over the age of 65 |
| Multiple line | Policyholder must be the named insured on a qualifying State Farm policy (e.g., home, renters, condo, life health) |
| Good student | Drivers under 25 years who meet one of the following criteria:
|
| Driver training | Drivers under the age of 21 who have successfully completed a driver education course |
| Vehicle safety | Private-passenger vehicles (typically from 1994 and newer) equipped with updated safety features |
Bundling Policies
State Farm’s collection of insurance products allows customers to bundle policies and save on their yearly premiums. Some of the different insurance policies you can buy with State Farm are listed below:
- Motorcycle
- Boat
- Off-road vehicle (like an ATV)
- Motorhome
- Travel trailer
- Home
- Condominium
- Renters
Expansive Representative Team
State Farm has a wide network of local agents in Kentucky, with agents in 126 cities out of the state’s total of 419 cities. Some of those cities are listed below:
- Alexandria
- Ashland
- Barbourville
- Bardstown
- Beaver Dam
- Benton
- Berea
- Bowling Green
- Brandenburg
- Brownsville
- Burkesville
- Burlington
- Cadiz
- Calvert City
- Campbellsville
- Carrollton
- Central City
- Cold Spring
- Columbia
- Corbin
- Covington
Methodology
We select the top auto insurance providers in Kentucky using a three-pronged approach:
- Company information: AutoInsurance.com compiles comprehensive data about car insurance providers in the state of Kentucky, including details about their coverage options and available discounts. Additionally, we consider third-party ratings on customer satisfaction and financial strength from AM Best, the Better Business Bureau, J.D. Power, Moody’s, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, and Standard and Poor’s.
- Proprietary data: With our extensive experience of over 20 years in connecting individuals with car insurance providers, we have accumulated a vast amount of proprietary data. We identify the companies that have yielded the greatest success for different types of customers. By matching each company’s strengths and target demographics, we streamline the process for customers, saving them time and effort in their search for the best providers.
- Institutional knowledge: In addition to our proprietary data, we hold deep institutional knowledge of the car insurance industry. We have acquired valuable insights about each insurance company and its strengths and weaknesses.
We also consult with Paul Ford, the President of Insurance at Centerfield, AutoInsurance.com’s parent company. Paul has spent nearly 30 years working in the insurance industry and has tenured at Canadian Access, Inslogic, Capital One Insurance Services, NetQuote, Bankrate, and Datalot. We leverage Paul’s extensive knowledge of car insurance to guide customers in finding their ideal car insurance policies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is car insurance in Kentucky so expensive?
Generally, the cost of car insurance in Kentucky is cheaper than in other states. According to 2020 data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, the average annual cost of auto insurance in Kentucky is about 14 percent cheaper than the national average.
Compare quotes from the top insurance companies in Kentucky to see the cost of full coverage car insurance. Your zip code will affect your premiums with each car insurance company.
Is Kentucky still a no-fault state?
As of July 2023, Kentucky is a choice no-fault state, meaning the default is no-fault coverage. Kentucky drivers can choose to reject no-fault coverage by submitting a no-fault rejection form to the Department of Insurance.
What are the required auto insurance coverages in Kentucky?
According to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, all Kentucky drivers must hold the following coverage policies:
- $25,000 in bodily injury liability per person
- $50,000 in bodily injury liability per accident
- $10,000 in property damage liability per accident
Insurance requirements do not include comprehensive coverage, personal injury protection (PIP), or uninsured/underinsured military coverage. Only liability insurance is required.
What is the penalty for driving without insurance in Kentucky?
According to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, driving without the mandatory minimum auto insurance coverage may result in the following penalties.
| Offense number | Minimum fine | Maximum fine | Jail time maximum | Registration suspension | License revocation? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First | $500 | $1,000 | 90 days | One year | No |
| Second and subsequent | $1,000 | $2,500 | 180 days | One year | Yes |
Senior Writer & Editor
A seasoned journalist and content strategist with over 10 years of editorial experience in digital media, Aliza Vigderman has written and edited hundreds of articles on the site, covering everything from plan coverages to discounts to state laws. Previously, she was a senior editor and industry analyst at the home and digital security website Security.org, previously called Security Baron. She has also contributed to The Huffington Post, SquareFoot, and Degreed. Aliza studied journalism at Brandeis University.
Citations
Rating Scale and Definition. Moody’s Asia Pacific Desktop Reference. (2023).
https://www.moodys.com/sites/products/productattachments/ap075378_1_1408_ki.pdfFind State Farm® Agents in Pikeville for KY Insurance. State Farm. (2023).
https://www.statefarm.com/local/kentucky/pikeville
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