This article would sure be shorter if we could just give you the name of the one Pennsylvania auto insurance company that has the cheapest rate quotes in Pennsylvania. That is not the case, however, as there are many unknown elements like the safety ratings of your vehicle, if you have a lapse in coverage, what coverage limits you need, and how much you actually drive in a year, that all impact the price you pay. This article should teach you a little about the best ways to avoid high prices and should give you a good beginning to your search for cheaper coverage.
The make and model of vehicle requiring insurance is probably the biggest factor in finding the most affordable coverage for 18 year olds. Vehicles with economical engines, an excellent safety record, or a low likelihood of liability claims will cost less to insure than high performance models.
The list below showcases auto insurance premiums for a selection of the cheaper automobiles to insure.
| Vehicle | Estimated Cost for Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Honda Accord EX 4-Dr Sedan | $15,480 |
| Honda CR-V LX 2WD | $15,485 |
| Ford Escape Limited 2WD | $15,654 |
| Hyundai Elantra SE Touring Station Wagon | $16,688 |
| Toyota Prius | $16,863 |
| Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 4WD 2-Dr | $17,341 |
| Chevrolet Impala LS | $18,201 |
| Ford Focus SE 4-Dr Sedan | $18,208 |
| Ford Edge SEL 2WD | $18,201 |
| Chevrolet Equinox LT 2WD | $18,375 |
| Toyota RAV4 Limited 4WD | $18,382 |
| Dodge Grand Caravan SXT | $18,550 |
| Chevrolet Malibu LT | $18,555 |
| Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer 4WD | $18,550 |
| Toyota Corolla XLE | $19,409 |
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Prices based on single male driver age 18, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and Pennsylvania minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, and claim-free. Price estimates do not factor in Philadelphia, PA location which can decrease or increase premiums substantially.
Based upon the table data, you can infer that makes and models like the Honda Accord, Honda CR-V, and Ford Escape are most likely going to be a few of the cheaper vehicles to insure for teen drivers. The price for car insurance will tend to be higher because of the fact that there is a higher risk for 18 year olds, but in general those specific models will tend to have the lowest prices compared to other types of vehicles.
For teen drivers, one of the more important components that are used to help calculate car insurance rates is your zip code in Philadelphia. Regions with more people or even just more weather-related claims are more likely to pay higher prices, whereas areas with less crime or weather claims tend to receive slightly lower rates.
The following table lists the most expensive cities in Pennsylvania for 18 year olds in which to buy car insurance. Philadelphia comes in at #1 with a yearly premium of $1,977 for car insurance, which is around $165 monthly.
| Rank | City | Premium Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philadelphia | $1,977 |
| 2 | Drexel Hill | $1,489 |
| 3 | Chester | $1,435 |
| 4 | Levittown | $1,365 |
| 5 | Norristown | $1,268 |
| 6 | Reading | $1,099 |
| 7 | Allentown | $1,097 |
| 8 | Municipality of Monr | $1,091 |
| 9 | Bethlehem | $1,087 |
| 10 | Erie | $1,082 |
| 11 | Pittsburgh | $1,063 |
| 12 | Easton | $1,058 |
| 13 | Scranton | $1,049 |
| 14 | Plum | $1,047 |
| 15 | Wilkes-Barre | $1,047 |
| 16 | Hazleton | $1,046 |
| 17 | New Castle | $1,046 |
| 18 | Altoona | $1,032 |
| 19 | Harrisburg | $1,015 |
| 20 | Bethel Park | $1,009 |
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Rate information is comparative as vehicle location can impact prices considerably.
The example below illustrates how your deductible choice can affect insurance rates when trying to find cheap insurance for 18 year olds. The premiums are based on a married male driver, full coverage, and no additional discounts are factored in.
The data above shows that a 30-year-old driver could lower their car insurance rates by $304 a year by switching their comprehensive and collision coverages from a $100 deductible to a $500 deductible, or save $460 by using a $1,000 deductible. Youthful drivers, like the 20-year-old category, could shave up to $916 each year by selecting a higher deductible.
If you do decide to increase your deductibles, it will now be necessary to have enough savings to pay the extra out-of-pocket expense, which is the one disadvantage of using larger deductibles.
Discounts on Philadelphia insurance
Insurance companies that offer cheap quotes for 18 year olds may provide premium discounts that could reduce prices by as much as 30% if you are eligible for them. Large auto insurance companies and a selection of discounts are outlined below.
- AAA has discounts for AAA membership discount, good driver, good student, multi-policy, and multi-car.
- Progressive may include discounts for continuous coverage, homeowner, online quote discount, good student, and online signing.
- State Farm offers discounts for good driver, multiple autos, Steer Clear safe driver discount, defensive driving training, and good student.
- Esurance offers premium reductions for homeowner, renters, paid-in-full, online quote, multi-car, and safety device.
- Nationwide includes discounts for family plan, good student, multi-policy, business or organization, accident-free, defensive driving, and easy pay.
The example below shows the comparison of car insurance rates with and without discounts. The rates are based on a male driver, a clean driving record, no at-fault accidents, Pennsylvania state minimum liability limits, comp and collision included, and $250 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second bar shows the rates with anti-theft, passive restraint, good student, paid-in-full, vehicle safety, and continuous coverage discounts applied. With discounts applied, the average amount saved each year on auto insurance for 18 year olds is 28% or $805.
The importance of comparing Philadelphia car insurance rates
Philadelphia, PA auto insurance rates are determined by lots of factors that may substantially change the price you have to pay for coverage. Turning one year older, buying higher coverage limits, or getting a ticket for careless driving can trigger rate changes resulting in some rates now being cheaper than competitors.
Not only may your situation change, but auto insurance companies file new rates without warning in order to be able to pay unexpected claims. An unexpected high level of claims can result in higher prices, while a better claims history may result in cheaper Philadelphia car insurance rates.
The chart below shows the cheapest car insurance in Philadelphia, PA for a 30-year-old male driver with no prior accidents, a clean driving record, and a high credit rating. Based on his current rating profile, General Casualty offers the lowest car insurance rates in Philadelphia at $1,718 per year. This is $61 more than the average rate paid by Pennsylvania drivers of $1,657. Travelers, USAA, Erie, and Penn National are also included in the best Philadelphia, PA auto insurance companies.
In the next rate comparison, we’ll give the driver in the first example an at-fault accident, slightly worse credit, and a traffic citation. Since each auto insurer uses their own formula for setting rates, comparing insurance quotes may now present a substantially altered list of affordable companies as shown below.
Auto-Owners now has the best price on car insurance in Philadelphia, PA with Atlantic States, Donegal Mutual, Travelers, and GEICO completing the list. This demonstrates why it is critical to do a thorough rate comparison when trying to get the lowest insurance rates for 18 year olds. Rates are calculated by many factors and change substantially, so the best option six months ago may now cost much more than other companies.