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Finding Cheap Car Insurance in Tennessee
Finding a good price for Tennessee car insurance shouldn’t be a lot of leg work. We evaluated 13 car insurance companies in Tennessee to help you find the best rates.
Featured Car Insurance Partners
1
Geico
Auto insurance rates
Good
Collision repair
C-
Complaint level
Low
2
USAA
Auto insurance rates
Excellent
Collision repair
C+
Complaint level
OK
3
State Farm
Auto insurance rates
Very good
Collision repair
C
Complaint level
Low
Cheap Tennessee car insurance for good drivers
One way to save on car insurance is to drive safely and not get tickets or cause accidents. Good drivers enjoy the lowest car insurance rates.
State Farm has the cheapest rates for good drivers in Tennessee, among the companies we analyzed. USAA and Geico, two of the best car insurance companies, also charge good drivers in Tennessee under $1,000 on average among companies evaluated. Those are all options if you’re a good driver and looking for cheap car insurance, but USAA only accepts veterans, military members and their families.
| Cheapest companies | Average annual cost in Tennessee |
|---|---|
| State Farm | $825 |
| USAA | $913 |
| Geico | $971 |
| Nationwide | $1,136 |
| State Average | $1,323 |
Cheap car insurance in Tennessee for drivers with a speeding ticket
A good driver who gets a speeding ticket will likely pay higher car insurance rates at renewal time. Tennessee drivers with a recent speeding ticket pay an average of 22% more for car insurance than good drivers.
Even with a speeding ticket on your record, you can potentially save money by shopping around for the cheapest rates.
State Farm is the only Tennessee car insurer with average rates of less than $1,000 for drivers with a recent speeding ticket, based on companies in our analysis. USAA is another low-cost option, but the USAA offers auto insurance only to veterans, military members and their families.
| Cheapest companies | Average annual cost in Tennessee |
|---|---|
| State Farm | $950 |
| USAA | $1,087 |
| Geico | $1,129 |
| Nationwide | $1,342 |
| State Average | $1,618 |
Cheap Tennessee car insurance for drivers who caused an accident with injury
Tennessee drivers who cause an accident with an injury pay nearly $600 more on average than good drivers, or 45% more annually. But insurance companies don’t hike rates by the same amount, so you can still save by shopping around for coverage.
State Farm has the cheapest car insurance rates in Tennessee for drivers who have caused a car accident. among the companies we analyzed.
| Cheapest companies | Average annual cost in Tennessee |
|---|---|
| State Farm | $1,025 |
| USAA | $1,313 |
| Tennessee Farmers | $1,354 |
| Grange Mutual | $1,535 |
| State Average | $1,914 |
Cheap Tennessee car insurance for drivers with a DUI
A DUI doesn’t just cost you in terms of fines, court fees and potential license suspension and possible jail time. It can also cause your Tennessee car insurance rates to skyrocket. A DUI increases rates by nearly $900 on average for the state’s drivers.
State Farm comes out as the cheapest option for Tennessee drivers with a DUI, in our analysis.
| Cheapest companies | Average annual cost in Tennessee |
|---|---|
| State Farm | $950 |
| USAA | $1,741 |
| Geico | $1,749 |
| Travelers | $1,955 |
| State Average | $2,205 |
Cheap Tennessee car insurance for drivers with poor credit
Tennessee drivers with poor credit fork over double what other drivers pay in the Volunteer State. Car insurance companies correlate poor credit with a higher risk of claims, so they charge higher car insurance rates in Tennessee.
Geico, Tennessee Farmers, Grange Mutual and Nationwide are all potentially lower-cost options if you have poor credit.
| Cheapest companies | Average cost per year in Tennessee |
|---|---|
| Geico | $1,480 |
| Tennessee Farmers | $1,564 |
| Grange Mutual | $1,592 |
| Nationwide | $1,594 |
| State Average | $2,645 |
Cheap Tennessee car insurance for adding a teen driver
Safe driving is a great way to keep your rates low, but you can’t avoid a major rate hike if you add a teen to your Tennessee auto insurance.
In Tennessee, the average parents’ rate skyrockets by over $1,800 simply by adding a teen, which is an average 147% premium increase. All of the insurance companies we analyzed more than double the average parents’ rates when they add a teen, except for Nationwide, so that’s a good place to start looking for the best cheap car insurance for teens, if you’re putting a teen on your policy.
| Cheapest companies | Parents only | Parents plus teen driver | Average % increase for adding teen in Tennessee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nationwide | $949 | $1,421 | 50% |
| Geico | $827 | $2,161 | 161% |
| Tennessee Farmers | $808 | $2,175 | 169% |
| USAA | $917 | $2,579 | 181% |
| State Average | $1,246 | $3,086 | 147% |
Cheap Tennessee car insurance for young drivers ages 18 to 25
Young drivers will pay more for car insurance than their parents (assuming the parents have a good driving record), largely due to the difference in driving experience. Inexperienced drivers are more likely to get into accidents, so car insurance companies charge them higher rates.
Geico has the best rates for young drivers in Tennessee in our analysis, followed by USAA and State Farm. Those are good places to start if you’re a young driver, but remember that USAA provides auto insurance only to veterans, military members and their families.
| Cheapest companies | Average annual cost in Tennessee |
|---|---|
| Geico | $1,459 |
| USAA | $1,549 |
| State Farm | $1,585 |
| Grange Mutual | $2,090 |
| State Average | $2,298 |
Cheap Tennessee car insurance for senior drivers age 65+
Senior drivers may find car insurance taking up a bigger portion of their budget as they age. State Farm has the cheapest car insurance for senior drivers in Tennessee. USAA (if you qualify) and Geico are also likely among the more affordable options and also two of the best car insurance companies for seniors.
If you don’t drive much and are willing to have your driving monitored, you might consider usage-based car insurance. It’s an option offered by some insurance companies that can earn you a discount if you score well by using safe driving habits.
| Cheapest companies | Average cost per year in Tennessee |
|---|---|
| State Farm | $905 |
| USAA | $1,022 |
| Geico | $1,035 |
| Tennessee Farmers | $1,223 |
| State Average | $1,407 |
Required Tennessee Car Insurance Discounts
Tennessee car insurance companies must offer these two types of car insurance discounts at a minimum.
Older adult discount
Insurance companies must have a discount for drivers age 55 and over who complete an approved accident prevention course that includes eight hours of classroom instruction. The discount is good for three years and is renewable.
Motorcycle discount
Tennessee insurers must provide a 10% discount for motorcycle liability insurance for riders who complete a state-approved rider training course. The motorcycle insurance discount is good for three years.
Least Expensive Vehicles for Insurance in Tennessee
Your vehicle is factored into your auto insurance costs. In Tennessee, the Honda CR-V LX, Jeep Wrangler JL Sport and Subaru Forester 2.5i are among the most affordable options for insurance, based on average rates for 50 top-selling 2021 models. The 20 least expensive are below.
The most expensive cars for insurance in Tennessee among popular models are the Tesla Model S Performance ($3,260 per year) and Tesla Model 3 Standard Plus ($1,776 per year).
| Vehicle | Average annual premium in Tennessee |
|---|---|
| Honda CR-V LX | $1,102 |
| Jeep Wrangler JL Sport | $1,108 |
| Subaru Forester 2.5i | $1,122 |
| Subaru Crosstrek | $1,126 |
| Ford Escape S | $1,155 |
| Ford F-150 XL | $1,162 |
| Volkswagen Tiguan SE | $1,168 |
| Hyundai Tucson SE | $1,168 |
| Dodge Grand Caravan SE | $1,171 |
| Chevrolet Equinox L | $1,174 |
| Jeep Compass Latitude | $1,177 |
| Ford Edge SE | $1,196 |
| Chevrolet Trax LS | $1,200 |
| Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring | $1,202 |
| Subaru Outback 2.4i Limited XT | $1,202 |
| Kia Sportage EX | $1,202 |
| Toyota Tacoma SR | $1,208 |
| Toyota RAV4 LE | $1,209 |
| Honda Pilot SE | $1,211 |
| Chevrolet Traverse LS | $1,221 |
Required Minimum Tennessee Car Insurance
Tennessee requires car owners to buy liability car insurance. This core coverage type pays for injuries and damages you cause to othersin a car accident. It also pays for a legal defense if you’re sued. But it does not pay for your own vehicle damage or your injuries.
You must buy liability insurance coverage with at least:
- $25,000 for bodily injury to one person
- $50,000 for bodily injury to multiple people in one accident
- $15,000 for damage to property in one accident
This is written as 25/50/15.
Tennessee’s minimum requirements can be insufficient. If you have assets, like a house or savings, the state minimum won’t be enough. If you cause an accident with injuries and property damage, the bills could quickly exhaust your insurance coverage and you could be responsible for the rest.
What Other Types of Car Insurance Should I Have in Tennessee?
Collision and comprehensive insurance.Liability insurance covers a lot of problems, but it doesn’t cover damage to your own car. If someone crashes into you, you could sue them for damages, or use your own collision insurance to cover car repair. Collision is also good for your own mishaps, like backing into a pole or hitting a guardrail.
Comprehensive insurance covers problems like car theft, vandalism, floods, hail, fire, falling objects, riots and colliding with animals, like birds and deer.
If you have a loan or lease, you are typically required to carry collision and comprehensive coverage.
Uninsured & underinsured motorist coverage. What happens if you get into an accident with someone who doesn’t have car insurance to cover your medical expenses? Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage(UM and UIM)kick in.
Insurance companies in Tennessee must offer you UM and UIM, but you can reject it. But generally, these are good coverages to have. Uninsured motorist(UM) pays medical bills when someone without insurance crashes into you and underinsured motorist(UIM) pays when the driver has some insurance but it runs out.
So UM and UIM pay medical bills. What about your car damage? You can also purchase uninsured motorist property damage (UMPD), or reject it in writing. UMPD pays for property damage when an uninsured driver crashes into your car or property (like your fence or garage).
Medical payments (MedPay).This coverage pays for medical expenses for car accidents, no matter who is at fault. It typically covers expenses like hospital bills, copays and deductibles for you and your passengers. But it’s usually in low amounts such as $1,000 or $5,000.
Summary: Required Car Insurance in Tennessee
| Coverage type | Required minimum in Tennessee |
|---|---|
Liability insurance | • $25,000 per person for bodily injury liability • $50,000 per accident for bodily injury liability • $15,000 for property damage |
Medical Payments | Not required |
Uninsured & underinsured motorist coverage | • $25,000 per person • $50,000 per accident |
Collision coverage | Not required |
Comprehensive coverage | Not required |
Can I Show My Insurance ID Card from My Phone in Tennessee?
You can use your phone to show an auto insurance ID card in Tennessee. Check to see if your auto insurance company has a mobile app that gives you easy access to an electronic ID card.
Factors Allowed in Tennessee Car Insurance Rates
Car insurance companies will often use your driving record, past claims, vehicle model and more when setting a rate. In Tennessee, insurers can also use these factors.
| Factor | Allowed in Tennessee? | |
|---|---|---|
Age | Yes | |
Credit | Yes | |
Education & occupation | Yes | |
Gender | Yes | |
Marital status | Yes | |
ZIP code | Yes | |
Source: American Property Casualty Insurance Association. Other factors will be used to calculate your rates, including driving record and the amount of coverage you want. | ||
How Many Uninsured Drivers are in Tennessee?
About 24% of Tennessee drivers have no insurance, according to the Insurance Research Council. That puts Tennessee near the top of the list for uninsured drivers, behind Florida, Mississippi, New Mexico and Michigan.
Penalties for Driving Without Auto Insurance in Tennessee
If you’re caught driving without insurance in Tennessee, you can be fined, have your driving privileges revoked and have your vehicle registration suspended.
When Can a Vehicle Be Totaled in Tennessee?
In Tennessee, an insurance company can decide a car is “totaled” when the damage exceeds 75% of its fair market value.
Solving Insurance Problems in Tennessee
The Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance is in charge of monitoring insurance companies in the state and approving their rates. If you have an unresolved problem, the department staff may be able to help, or you can file a complaint.
Methodology
To find the cheapest auto insurance companies in Tennessee, we used rates from Quadrant Information Services, a provider of insurance data and analytics. Rates are based on a female driver with a clean record insuring a Toyota RAV4 with $100,000 in bodily injury liability coverage per person, $300,000 per accident and $100,000 in property damage liability, uninsured motorist coverage and any other coverage required in the state. The rate also includes collision and comprehensive with a $500 deductible.
The companies evaluated for Tennessee were Allstate, Auto-Owners, Erie, Farmers, Geico, Grange Mutual, Nationwide, Progressive, State Farm, Tennessee Farmers, Travelers, USAA and Westfield.
