The words “economical” and “insurance” really shouldn’t be used in the same sentence, specifically when shopping around for the cheapest auto insurance for uninsured drivers. Because it’s not cheap, let’s introduce you to some things that have an effect on auto insurance rates, and find some ways to take the bite out of your next policy.
For drivers with no prior coverage, one of the more important things that are looked at to determine the amount you pay each year for auto insurance is your address in Philadelphia. Larger areas tend to have more expensive auto insurance rates, whereas areas that tend to be more rural tend to receive slightly lower rates.
The illustration below lists the most expensive cities in Pennsylvania for uninsured drivers to buy auto insurance in. Philadelphia is ranked at #1 with an annual rate of $1,977 for the average insured, which is about $165 per month.
| Rank | City | Average Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philadelphia | $1,977 |
| 2 | Drexel Hill | $1,489 |
| 3 | Chester | $1,421 |
| 4 | Levittown | $1,379 |
| 5 | Norristown | $1,268 |
| 6 | Reading | $1,110 |
| 7 | Allentown | $1,108 |
| 8 | Easton | $1,102 |
| 9 | Erie | $1,082 |
| 10 | Scranton | $1,081 |
| 11 | Hazleton | $1,078 |
| 12 | Pittsburgh | $1,063 |
| 13 | Municipality of Monr | $1,059 |
| 14 | Wilkes-Barre | $1,057 |
| 15 | Plum | $1,047 |
| 16 | Bethlehem | $1,045 |
| 17 | New Castle | $1,015 |
| 18 | Altoona | $1,012 |
| 19 | Bethel Park | $1,009 |
| 20 | Williamsport | $996 |
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Rate quotes are comparative as the vehicle garaging location can lower or raise premiums noticeably.
Trying to find low-cost car insurance is not always easy, and finding out which companies offer the lowest-priced auto insurance rates for uninsured drivers will take even more diligence. Each company has their own unique process to determine premium rates, so let’s take a look at the auto insurance companies with the most affordable rates in Philadelphia, PA.
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| Rank | Company | Cost Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | General Casualty | $748 |
| 2 | Travelers | $779 |
| 3 | Erie | $792 |
| 4 | USAA | $817 |
| 5 | Penn National | $840 |
| 6 | Auto-Owners | $973 |
| 7 | Atlantic States | $1,016 |
| 8 | Amica | $1,022 |
| 9 | Donegal Mutual | $1,102 |
| 10 | GEICO | $1,123 |
| 11 | Allied | $1,155 |
| 12 | State Farm | $1,198 |
| 13 | California Casualty | $1,198 |
| 14 | State Auto | $1,267 |
| 15 | Encompass | $1,398 |
| 16 | Harleysville | $1,410 |
| 17 | Nationwide | $1,433 |
| 18 | Mutual Benefit Group | $1,454 |
| 19 | Progressive | $1,457 |
| 20 | Chubb | $1,583 |
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General Casualty may offer some of the most affordable car insurance rates in Philadelphia at around $748 each year. Travelers, Erie, USAA, and Penn National are also some of the most economical Philadelphia, PA car insurance companies.
As illustrated above, if you are currently insured with Travelers and switched to General Casualty, you may realize an annual premium reduction of in the vicinity of $31. Insureds with Erie may save as much as $44 a year, and USAA customers might realize rate reductions of up to $69 a year.
To get a quick, customized rate comparison, click here to start your free quote or visit several of the following companies.
It’s important to note that these policy rates are averages across all drivers and vehicles and do not take into consideration a vehicle location for uninsured drivers. So the insurer that fits your age and vehicle best may not even be in the list above. That points out the importance of why you need to get quotes using your own individual information.
The vehicle that needs insurance is probably the largest consideration when consumers are trying to find low-cost coverage for uninsured drivers. Vehicles with limited top-end speed, a plethora of safety features, or a positive history of liability claims will cost substantially less to insure than high performance models.
The table below presents car insurance costs for a number of the most cost-effective automobiles to buy coverage for.
| Make, Model, and Trim Level | Estimated Cost for Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Honda CR-V LX 2WD | $4,069 |
| Ford Escape XLS 2WD | $4,596 |
| Ford Edge SEL 2WD | $4,719 |
| Volkswagen Jetta SE 2.5 Station Wagon | $4,773 |
| Dodge Grand Caravan Hero | $4,810 |
| Nissan Altima 2.5 4-Dr Sedan | $4,816 |
| Toyota RAV4 Limited 2WD | $4,810 |
| Toyota Prius | $4,955 |
| Jeep Wrangler Sport Islander Package 4WD 2-Dr | $5,055 |
| Toyota Corolla XLE | $5,073 |
| Honda Odyssey EX-L | $5,078 |
| Nissan Rogue S AWD | $5,160 |
| Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited 4WD | $5,164 |
| Ford Focus S 4-Dr Sedan | $5,305 |
| Ford Explorer Limited 2WD | $5,382 |
| Chevrolet Equinox LS 2WD | $5,428 |
| Kia Optima EX | $5,514 |
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Cost estimates assume single male driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and Pennsylvania minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, homeowner, safe-driver, multi-policy, and multi-vehicle. Price information does not factor in specific Philadelphia, PA garaging location which can modify prices substantially.
Looking at the numbers, models like the Honda CR-V, Ford Escape, Ford Edge, Volkswagen Jetta, and Dodge Grand Caravan should be some of the cheapest vehicles to insure for drivers with no prior coverage.
Get discounts on Philadelphia insurance
Insurance companies that sell policies for uninsured drivers could also offer discounts that could reduce prices by as much as 25% or more if you are eligible to receive them. Larger auto insurance companies and their possible discounts are detailed below.
- GEICO offers discounts for good student, multi-policy, membership and employees, seat belt use, and driver training.
- Travelers offers premium reductions for new car, good student, continuous insurance, home ownership, IntelliDrive, and early quote.
- Nationwide includes discounts for business or organization, easy pay, Farm Bureau membership, accident-free, multi-policy, and anti-theft.
- Farmers Insurance has discounts for bundle discounts, good student, early shopping, multi-car, and distant student.
- Esurance may have discounts that include Switch & Save, online shopper, homeowner, good student, and anti-lock brakes.
- State Farm may offer discounts for driver’s education, multiple policy, anti-theft, student away at school, Drive Safe & Save, and good driver.
- Progressive policyholders can earn discounts including homeowner, online signing, multi-policy, online quote discount, and multi-vehicle.
- Mercury Insurance offers discounts including age of vehicle, good driver, multi-policy, low natural disaster claims, and type of vehicle.
The illustration below compares insurance rates with and without some available policy discounts. The prices are based on a male driver, no claims or driving violations, Pennsylvania state minimum liability limits, full physical damage coverage, and $1,000 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows the average rate with no discounts. The second shows the rates with multiple vehicle, defensive driving course, marriage, homeowner, anti-theft, and claim-free discounts applied. When these discounts are applied, theaverage amount saved on auto insurance for uninsured drivers is 28% or $523.
The chart below highlights how deductible selection can influence insurance premiums when trying to find cheap insurance for uninsured drivers. Data assumes a single male driver, comp and collision included, and no policy discounts are applied.
As shown above, a 40-year-old driver could lower rates by $378 a year by switching from a $100 deductible to a $500 deductible, or save $570 by using a $1,000 deductible. Even younger drivers, such as the 20-year-old example, could potentially save as much as $1,248 annually just by using higher deductibles. When insureds make the decision to increase the deductibles on their policy, it is essential to have enough savings set aside to enable you to pay the extra out-of-pocket expense, which is the one shortcoming of high deductibles.
Reckless driving habits raise Philadelphia auto insurance rates
The recommended way to maintain good auto insurance premiums in Pennsylvania for drivers with no prior coverage is to be a careful driver and avoid getting tickets or having accidents. The illustration below demonstrates how citations and accidents increase auto insurance costs for different age categories. The rate quotes are based on a married female driver, comp and collision included, $500 deductibles, and no discounts are factored in.
In the example above, the average cost of an auto insurance policy in Philadelphia per year with no accidents and a clean driving record is $1,196. Get one speeding ticket and the average cost surges to $1,393, an increase of $196 each year. Then add in one accident along with the one speeding ticket and the annual cost of auto insurance for uninsured drivers jumps again to an average of $1,942. That’s an increase of $745, or $62 per month, just for not driving carefully!
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Pennsylvania auto insurance rates are impacted by many factors that can increase the cost of having a policy. Simply improving your credit, having a teenage driver, or getting a reckless driving citation may prompt premium changes resulting in some companies being more affordable than the competition.
Also, car insurance companies change rates without warning in order to remain profitable. Heavy losses may cause more expensive premiums, while a better loss history can result in lower-priced Philadelphia car insurance rates.
To illustrate this point, the bar chart below shows the cheapest car insurance in Philadelphia, PA for a 45-year-old male driver with no prior accidents, a clean driving record, and a good credit rating. If we look at prices based on his current risk profile, General Casualty has the cheapest car insurance rates in Philadelphia at $1,699 a year. This is $42 more than the average price paid by Pennsylvania drivers of $1,657. Erie, USAA, Penn National, and Travelers are the remaining top five cheapest Philadelphia, PA auto insurance companies.
The example below compares rates after we give the driver from above a chargeable claim, slightly worse credit, and a blemish on his driving record. Because each insurer has a different process for establishing rates, comparing rates may now result in a completely different list of companies as shown below.
Amica now has the best car insurance rate in Philadelphia, PA with Atlantic States, Donegal Mutual, Erie, and USAA completing the list. This shows why it is critical to take the time to shop around when trying to get the best car insurance quotes for uninsured drivers.
Insurance prices can be altered by many different factors and change substantially, so the best option two years ago may now be one of the more expensive options.