Average Cost of Car Insurance in Kentucky

The average auto insurance cost in Kentucky is $909, which is 13 percent less than the national average, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.¹ Factors including your gender and credit score — criteria that some states require insurance companies to disregard — will determine your auto insurance rate.

By City

Louisville, home of the Kentucky Derby, is the largest city in the state of Kentucky (628,594).² It corresponds with the highest average annual cost of car insurance at $1,990. In general, larger cities have higher rates than rural and suburban areas.

By Age

Teens in Kentucky may pay as much as $8,383 for auto insurance every year! Luckily, auto insurance rates decrease with age and experience. By the time you’re in your 30s, you can expect to pay an average of $1,932.

By Gender

Bucking the nationwide trend, women pay more for auto insurance in Kentucky than men. Statistically, men often pay more for car insurance. In Kentucky, women pay $42 more per year on average.

By Marital Status

Married couples get a break on their auto insurance premiums. In Kentucky, married people pay $1,947 per year for car insurance, whereas single and divorced people pay $2,060.

By Coverage Level

The more coverage you want, the more coverage you pay for. In Kentucky, you’ll pay $985 for a minimum coverage policy versus $2,178 for a full coverage policy.

By Credit Score

Kentucky allows auto insurance companies to account for credit score when providing policy quotes. If you have poor credit, you could pay more than twice what you’d pay if your credit score were high.

By Violation

How much your auto insurance premium changes after a violation depends on the severity. Compared to a clean driving record, drivers with a speeding ticket pay more, but not as much as drivers found at fault in an accident or driving under the influence.

If you’re looking for the absolute cheapest car insurance in Kentucky, look no further than our list — segmented by demographic.

Here are some basic ways to get the best deal on auto insurance:

1. Look for discounts.
2. Bundle policies with the same company.
3. Raise your deductible.
4. Lower your coverage limits.

Kentucky requires the following car insurance minimums to crack down on uninsured motorists. Failure to maintain auto insurance will result in a suspended vehicle registration, a fine of up to $1,000, and/or up to 90 days in jail. Here are the liability insurance limits:

• $25,000 for bodily injury sustained by one person;
• $50,000 for bodily injury sustained by two or more people;
• $25,000 for property damage as a result of any one accident; or
• A policy with a single limit of $60,000⁴

Because of Kentucky’s no-fault law, the state requires personal injury protection (PIP) coverage for all motor vehicles except motorcycles. Basic PIP is paid through the insurer of the vehicle in which the injured person is riding or the vehicle that strikes a pedestrian, regardless of fault. It provides up to $10,000 per person per accident for medical expenses, lost wages, and other out-of-pocket costs.⁵

In exchange for receiving PIP benefits, all persons registering, operating, maintaining, or using a motor vehicle in Kentucky have certain accepted limitations on their rights to sue for bodily injury in a motor vehicle accident. The threshold for suing the at-fault party for damages is $1,000 in medical expenses, a broken bone, permanent disfigurement, permanent injury, or death.⁶ You can reject the no-fault coverage, which means you will not receive PIP coverage.

An SR-22 is a certificate of financial responsibility that proves you have the minimum auto insurance required in your state. Kentucky does not require an SR-22 to reinstate a suspended license. If you get a DUI in another state, then you may be required to hold one even if you live or register your car in Kentucky.⁷

If you have trouble getting insured through the voluntary market, you can get coverage via the Kentucky Automobile Insurance Plan. Eligibility requirements include proof that you attempted and could not obtain insurance in the last 60 days, applied in good faith, and registered your vehicle in Kentucky (or intend to do so within 15 days). If you plan to apply with a suspended or revoked license, you are still eligible, provided you meet one of the following conditions:

1. Another licensed operator is on the application;
2. The application is returned with an additional licensed operator;
3. Current valid operator’s license information is submitted;
4. A notice of restoration of license is received from the state; or
5. An SR-22 filing is requested at the time of the application.⁸

Kentucky has optional no-fault insurance and a state-sponsored auto insurance plan for high-risk drivers who may find it difficult to get coverage on the voluntary market. The cost of auto insurance is cheaper than the national average for most Kentucky drivers.

We utilize our proprietary database of auto insurance transaction information and state-specific research to provide this overview of auto insurance factors in Kentucky.