The Best Car Insurance in Louisiana

Founded in 1991, Direct Auto insures high-risk drivers. If you have an SR-22 or hold a high-risk designation for another reason, Direct Auto is much more likely to insure you than standard insurers. Though it specializes in high-risk policies, Direct offers discounts and flexible payment options that keep premiums affordable.

Coverage for High-Risk Drivers

On average, Louisiana drivers are more likely to fall into certain high-risk categories than drivers in other states. Take a look at the following statistics about driving in Louisiana:

• There are 30 percent more deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled in Louisiana than in the U.S. as a whole.²
• In Louisiana, 20 percent of fatal crashes involved distracted drivers, compared to 8 percent of crashes nationally.³
• Louisiana has the second-lowest average credit score at 689 (Mississippi is first at 680) — the national average is 714.⁴

The following factors can contribute to a high-risk designation:

• At-fault accidents
• Being a new driver
• Being a teen or senior driver
• Driving an expensive vehicle
• DUI convictions
• Insurance lapses (even if you sold your car)
• Multiple claims in short periods
• Poor credit
• Speeding tickets

Insurers can deny coverage for high-risk drivers, and many standard providers do. However, Direct Auto specializes in high-risk coverage. It can help you get an affordable policy with flexible payment options if you fall into a high-risk category.

Many Discount Options

High-risk insurance often costs more than standard insurance. For example, after a DUI conviction, insurance premiums in Louisiana typically increase by 48 percent.⁵ Direct Auto offers an array of discount options that can help you keep insurance costs affordable:

Flexible Payment

Affordable insurance isn’t just about the amount you pay each month but when and how you pay. Direct Auto offers several payment options to help align your insurance costs and your budget. You can customize the following to your needs:

• Date: Pick the day of the month to make your payment.
• Schedule: Decide how often you’ll pay— in full, monthly, or in installments of a different frequency.
• Monthly amount: Determine your monthly costs by choosing how much to put down up front (like a down payment).
• Method: Pay online by debit, credit, or e-check, or pay in cash at a Direct Auto location. There are 34 locations in Louisiana, including in New Orleans and Baton Rouge.

Known for strong customer service, State Farm has over 60 locations in Louisiana. Its competitive rates make it a particularly good choice for drivers who want to purchase coverage beyond the minimum coverage car insurance in Louisiana, which we recommend doing.

Affordable Full Coverage

Like most states, the minimum required insurance in Louisiana is liability coverage. Other coverages are optional — though if you financed your vehicle, your lender may require them. See below for the car insurance that Louisiana requires.

When deciding whether to purchase full coverage versus liability, consider your monthly budget as well as what out-of-pocket costs you can afford in the event of an accident. For example, if you rely on your car as your primary mode of transportation and would not be able to replace it in the event of a theft or accident, consider adding comprehensive and collision coverages to your policy.

On average, in Louisiana, full coverage policies from State Farm cost about $123 (compared to the state average of $147 for full coverage⁶), which makes it a great choice for drivers seeking extra protection and cheap car insurance in Louisiana.

Numerous Discounts

The following discounts are available to State Farm customers in Louisiana:

• Accident-free: After three years of holding a State Farm auto policy without accidents, you get a discount that may increase over time.
• Anti-theft: Save money if your car is equipped with an approved anti-theft device.
• Defensive driver course: Drivers age 55 and older can save 10 percent for voluntarily completing a state-approved defensive driving course in the past three years.
• Drive Safe & Save: Save 5 percent when you enroll and up to 30 percent once you track your driving with the State Farm app.
• Driver education: Drivers under age 21 who complete an approved driver education course receive a discount.
• Good driving: You earn this discount if all drivers in the household have had no moving violations or at-fault accidents in the past three years.
• Good student: Full-time high school and college students under age 25 who hold B averages or higher save on insurance.
• Military: Active-duty military and their spouse/dependents are eligible for a discount.
• Multiple vehicles: Households with multiple vehicles on the same policy get a discount.
• Multiline: Save money by bundling auto insurance with a State Farm home, renter, condo, life, or health policy.
• Passive restraint: If you drive an older car (1993 or prior), you get a discount if the vehicle has a factory-installed airbag or other approved passive restraint system.
• Steer Clear: Drivers under age 25 with no moving violations or at-fault accidents in the past three years can complete a State Farm driver safety program to get a discount.
• Student away at school: Students under age 25 who go to school more than 100 miles away from home and only drive while home on breaks save on premiums.
• Vehicle safety: Vehicles model year 1994 and newer can get a discount, depending on their safety ratings.

Rideshare Coverage

If you drive for Uber, Lyft, or another rideshare company (including food delivery), we recommend adding rideshare coverage to your policy. State Farm offers rideshare coverage in 43 states, including Louisiana. It covers you when the rideshare company’s insurance doesn’t:

It’s strong coverage, considering some insurers don’t offer any protection once you’ve matched with a passenger or are transporting them.

If you qualify, USAA is an excellent choice for auto insurance in Louisiana. In particular, it stands out for its competitive car insurance rates, exceptional roadside assistance offering, and discounts.

Protection for Active Military Families and Veterans

Louisiana is home to over 15,000 active-duty military members and over 17,000 spouses and dependents, plus nearly 19,000 National Guard and reserve members and their 20,000 spouses and dependents.⁹ These individuals, as well as veterans and their families, are eligible for USAA auto insurance.

USAA’s prices are competitive, and it offers the following auto coverages:

• Bodily injury and property liability
• Car replacement assistance
• Comprehensive and collision
• Medical payments
• Rental reimbursement
• Roadside assistance
• Umbrella insurance
• Uninsured and underinsured motorist for accidents caused by uninsured drivers and underinsured drivers

Great Roadside Assistance

One of the offerings we like the most from USAA is its roadside assistance, which covers the following:

• Towing to the nearest repair shop
• Tire change (spare required) or tow
• Fuel delivery (cost of fuel not included)
• Battery jump start
• Lockout service
• Winching for a stuck vehicle

If you have roadside assistance on your policy, you won’t pay out of pocket for these services. USAA distinguishes itself in that even if you don’t hold coverage, you can call its roadside assistance services and will pay a special negotiated rate, typically less than you would if you contacted the service provider directly.

In addition to providing services domestically, you can call roadside assistance in Canada, Mexico (within 75 miles of the border), U.S. territories, and the base country where a policy is issued.

Numerous Discounts

USAA claims that its members save an average of $725 annually, or $60 per month when they switch from other providers. You can save on auto insurance from USAA with the following discounts:

• SafePilot: Save 10 percent upon enrollment and an additional 30 percent when you track your driving habits with USAA’s app.
• Good grades: If you or a dependent is a full-time high school or college student under age 25 with a B average or higher (3.0 GPA), you’ll get a discount.
• Garage on base: Save up to 15 percent on comprehensive coverage when you garage your car at a military installation, like Fort Polk or NSA New Orleans.
• Safe driver: If you have a clean driving history for five years or if you complete an approved defensive driver or driver education course, you get a discount. After five years of safe driving, you may also qualify for accident forgiveness.
• Bundling: Save up to 10 percent when you insure both property and auto with USAA.
• Multivehicle: Get a discount for insuring two or more vehicles on the same policy.
• Vehicle features: Vehicles three years old and newer may be eligible for discounts due to improved safety features. An anti-theft device earns you a discount as well.
• Low mileage: If you are deployed or storing your vehicle for another reason, you can get up to 60 percent off. Additionally, Louisiana is one of 15 states in which USAA offers a usage-based option, meaning your car insurance premiums are based on how much (and how safely) you drive.
• Loyal member: If you are under 25 years old and transitioning off your parents’ USAA policy onto your own policy, you can save up to 10 percent.

One of Allstate’s main pros is the number of coverage and add-on options it offers, which you may not find everywhere. Additionally, its new car discount makes it a good choice for Louisianians behind the wheel of brand-new rides.

Many Coverages and Add-Ons

As a major insurer, Allstate offers all typical coverages like liability, medical payments, roadside assistance, rental reimbursement, comprehensive, and collision. It also offers the following additional coverages and add-ons.

New Vehicle Discount

Insuring a new car can be expensive, in part due to the vehicle’s higher value. Allstate offers a special new car discount, which you qualify for if:

• Your vehicle is a current model year or one prior.
• You are the vehicle’s first owner.

Even if you don’t qualify for the new car discount, Allstate offers discounts for features many newer cars have, such as anti-lock brakes and anti-theft technology. It also has a multivehicle discount for insuring multiple cars on the same policy.

Several Paths to Student Discount

Louisiana is home to big universities like Louisiana State University and Tulane University, as well as smaller schools like Loyola University New Orleans. Whether you’re a student at one of these schools or another, or still in high school, you may be able to earn Allstate’s student discount.

To qualify for Allstate’s student discount, you must be unmarried and under age 25, and fulfill one of the following:

• Hold at least a 2.7 GPA or B minus average (many companies require a 3.0 GPA/B average)
• Attend school at least 100 miles away from where the car is garaged

When you’re shopping for car insurance in Louisiana, make sure you’ve compared quotes from multiple car insurance companies. The cheapest car insurance company for you may not be the most affordable option for someone in another zip code.