The car, truck, or SUV on the policy is a significant factor in finding cheap car insurance for drivers under 21. Vehicles with lots of horsepower, poor passenger safety features, or a high likelihood of having liability claims will cost more to insure than safer, lower-performance models.
The next table features auto insurance costs for the most affordable automobiles to insure in Pennsylvania.
| Vehicle Make and Model | Estimated Cost for Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Ford Escape XLS 4WD | $9,930 |
| Honda CR-V EX-L 2WD | $10,080 |
| Honda Accord EX-L 4-Dr Sedan | $10,817 |
| Hyundai Elantra SE Touring Station Wagon | $10,826 |
| Toyota Prius | $10,963 |
| Ford Explorer XLT 2WD | $11,055 |
| Ford F-150 XLT Regular Cab 4WD | $11,065 |
| Ford Edge SEL AWD | $11,642 |
| Volkswagen Jetta SE 2.5 Station Wagon | $11,700 |
| Dodge Grand Caravan Hero | $11,792 |
| Chevrolet Equinox LT 2WD | $11,797 |
| Toyota RAV4 4WD | $11,792 |
| Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 4WD | $11,801 |
| Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid | $11,792 |
| GMC Sierra SLE Regular Cab 2WD | $11,800 |
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Prices based on single male driver age 20, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and Pennsylvania minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, and claim-free. Premium amounts do not factor in specific location which can influence premium rates substantially.
Looking at the data, you can presume that models like the Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, Honda Accord, and Hyundai Elantra are a few of the cheapest vehicles to insure for minors. Rates will tend to be more expensive anyway just because there is more inherent risk for drivers under 21, but generally speaking those particular models will have the best rates available.
Locating low-cost insurance is not the easiest thing to accomplish, and finding out which companies have the most affordable insurance rates for drivers under 21 will take a little more work.
Each insurer has a unique approach for setting prices, so let’s take a look at the most competitive insurance companies in Philadelphia. It’s a good idea to be aware that Philadelphia, PA insurance rates are calculated based on many things which can significantly increase or decrease the price you have to pay. Simply improving your credit score, increasing liability limits, or having a fender bender may generate price changes that can make some companies much higher than others.
Best Auto Insurance Prices for Minors
| Rank | Company | Cost Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | General Casualty | $748 |
| 2 | Travelers | $787 |
| 3 | Penn National | $808 |
| 4 | USAA | $809 |
| 5 | Erie | $816 |
| 6 | Auto-Owners | $993 |
| 7 | Atlantic States | $1,005 |
| 8 | Amica | $1,012 |
| 9 | Donegal Mutual | $1,091 |
| 10 | GEICO | $1,123 |
| 11 | Allied | $1,155 |
| 12 | State Farm | $1,198 |
| 13 | California Casualty | $1,222 |
| 14 | State Auto | $1,241 |
| 15 | Encompass | $1,398 |
| 16 | Mutual Benefit Group | $1,411 |
| 17 | Nationwide | $1,433 |
| 18 | Harleysville | $1,438 |
| 19 | Progressive | $1,457 |
| 20 | Chubb | $1,598 |
| Get Personalized Rates Go | ||
General Casualty offers some of the cheapest car insurance rates in Philadelphia at around $748 a year. Travelers, Penn National, USAA, and Erie also rank well as some of the lowest-priced Philadelphia, PA auto insurance companies.
In the rate table above, if you have coverage with Penn National and switched to General Casualty, you might see savings of in the vicinity of $60. Insureds with USAA could save as much as $61 a year, and Erie insureds might realize rate reductions of up to $68 a year.
Understand that those prices are averages for all types of insureds and vehicles and and are not calculated with an exact location for drivers under 21. So the insurer that has the cheapest price for you may not even be in the top 30 companies shown above. That underscores the importance of why you need to get quotes using your own personal information and vehicle type.
For minors, one of the big criteria that aid in calculating insurance cost is where your car is garaged in Philadelphia. More densely populated places will most likely have higher rates, whereas areas with less congestion have the benefit of cheaper auto insurance prices.
The information below sorts the most expensive places in Pennsylvania for drivers under 21 to purchase a policy in. Philadelphia comes in at #1 costing $2,057 for the average policy, which is about $171 monthly.
| Rank | City | Premium Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philadelphia | $2,057 |
| 2 | Drexel Hill | $1,534 |
| 3 | Chester | $1,435 |
| 4 | Levittown | $1,379 |
| 5 | Norristown | $1,320 |
| 6 | Erie | $1,115 |
| 7 | Reading | $1,099 |
| 8 | Allentown | $1,097 |
| 9 | Wilkes-Barre | $1,089 |
| 10 | Hazleton | $1,088 |
| 11 | Plum | $1,079 |
| 12 | Bethlehem | $1,077 |
| 13 | Easton | $1,069 |
| 14 | Pittsburgh | $1,063 |
| 15 | Municipality of Monr | $1,059 |
| 16 | New Castle | $1,057 |
| 17 | Scranton | $1,049 |
| 18 | Altoona | $1,032 |
| 19 | Harrisburg | $1,015 |
| 20 | Bethel Park | $1,009 |
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Rate quotes are comparative as the specific garaging location can raise or lower auto insurance rates considerably.
The example below shows how choosing a deductible can change premium costs when getting quotes for cheap insurance for drivers under 21. The premiums are based on a single male driver, full physical damage coverage, and no discounts are factored in.
In the chart above, a 50-year-old driver could cut expenses by $378 a year by changing their physical damage coverage from a $100 deductible to a $500 deductible, or save $570 by choosing a $1,000 deductible. Younger drivers, such as the 20-year-old example, could save up to $1,248 each year just by using higher deductibles. If you do decide to increase your deductibles, it is important to have additional funds in a savings account to cover the extra out-of-pocket expense, which is the main disadvantage of using high deductibles.
Finding the best insurance company can be rather challenging considering how many companies sell coverage in Philadelphia. The company information shown next may help you select which auto insurers you want to consider when comparing rate quotes. The rankings below are only made up of companies with a nationwide focus, so smaller regional companies are not factored into the list.
Top 10 Large Auto Insurance Providers in Philadelphia Ranked by A.M. Best Rating
- USAA – A++
- GEICO – A++
- Travelers – A++
- State Farm – A++
- Allstate – A+
- Nationwide – A+
- Esurance – A+
- Erie Insurance – A+
- Progressive – A+
- Titan Insurance – A+
Top 10 Large Auto Insurance Providers in Philadelphia Ranked by Customer Satisfaction
- Titan Insurance – 93%
- The Hartford – 93%
- The General – 91%
- Progressive – 90%
- 21st Century – 89%
- USAA – 87%
- Erie Insurance – 87%
- State Farm – 87%
- Travelers – 87%
- Safeco Insurance – 86%
The importance of shopping around
Philadelphia insurance rates are calculated based on many things which can substantially decrease or increase the price of your policy. Simply improving your credit, buying a different vehicle, or getting into an accident can cause premium changes resulting in some rates now being cheaper than others.
Additionally, insurance companies file new rates as needed in order to offset underwriting gains or losses. An unexpected high level of claims may cause higher prices, while long-term profits may cause lower-cost Philadelphia car insurance rates.
The bar chart below shows which companies have the cheapest car insurance in Philadelphia, PA for a 35-year-old male driver with a clear driving record, no claims, and a good credit rating. Based on his personal profile, General Casualty quotes the lowest car insurance rates in Philadelphia at $1,585 per year. This is $72 less than the average rate paid by Pennsylvania drivers of $1,657. Travelers, USAA, Erie, and Penn National round out the rest of the cheapest Philadelphia, PA auto insurance companies.
In this example, we will give the driver in the first example an accident surcharge, slightly worse credit, and a few blemishes on his driving record. Since each insurance company has a proprietary method to establish rates, analyzing rates may now show a substantially altered list of the cheapest companies as shown below.
Amica now has the cheapest price in Philadelphia with Atlantic States, Donegal Mutual, GEICO, and Erie completing the list. This illustrates why it is so important to compare many different companies when trying to find cheap auto insurance rates for drivers under 21.
Auto insurance prices are made up of many risk factors and can change without notice, so the most economical option when you bought your policy may now be quite expensive.