The words “low-cost” and “insurance” really don’t belong together, in particular when shopping around for the cheapest car insurance for safe drivers. Let’s take a look at some of the factors that help determine auto insurance premiums, and come up with some ways to lower the cost of your next policy.
The make and model of vehicle needing coverage is one of the biggest factors when comparing quotes for the best coverage for safe drivers. Vehicles with high performance engines, poor crash test ratings, or a history of substantial liability claims will cost much more to insure than safer models. The next table illustrates coverage prices for a number of the more affordable vehicles to buy coverage for.
| Make and Model | Estimated Cost for Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Honda CR-V EX 2WD | $2,239 |
| Ford Focus SE 4-Dr Sedan | $2,267 |
| Honda Odyssey EX-L W/Rear Entertainment | $2,432 |
| Ford Escape Limited 2WD | $2,448 |
| Chevrolet Silverado LS Regular Cab 4WD | $2,458 |
| Toyota Prius | $2,474 |
| Jeep Wrangler Sport 4WD 2-Dr | $2,482 |
| Chevrolet Equinox LTZ AWD | $2,477 |
| GMC Sierra SL Crew Cab 2WD | $2,485 |
| Hyundai Sonata SE 4-Dr Sedan | $2,597 |
| Volkswagen Jetta S 2.5 Station Wagon | $2,600 |
| Ford Explorer XLT 2WD | $2,680 |
| Dodge Grand Caravan Crew | $2,692 |
| Honda Civic LX 4-Dr Sedan | $2,734 |
| Hyundai Elantra SE 4-Dr Sedan | $2,781 |
| Toyota Corolla S | $2,790 |
| Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 4WD | $2,832 |
| Toyota RAV4 Limited 4WD | $2,837 |
| Ford Fusion SEL 4-Dr Sedan | $2,832 |
| Ford F-150 Lariat Crew Cab Harley 2WD | $2,837 |
| GMC Sierra 2500HD SLE Regular Cab 4WD | $2,832 |
| Kia Optima LX | $2,838 |
| Dodge Ram Quad Cab ST 4WD | $2,889 |
| Find Cheaper Rates Go | |
Data rating is based on single female driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and Florida minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, multi-policy, homeowner, safe-driver, and claim-free. Rate information does not factor in zip code location which can impact premiums greatly.
Based on these rates, you can assume that models like the Honda CR-V, Ford Focus, Honda Odyssey, and Ford Escape are most likely going to be a few of the most affordable vehicles to insure for good drivers.
For good drivers, one of the more important components that are looked at to help calculate insurance cost is where you normally keep your vehicle. Areas with a lot of weather claims or more people tend to have higher rates, whereas areas with lower vehicle theft rates and fewer weather claims profit from lower rates.
The next table sorts the highest-priced places in Florida for safe drivers to buy car insurance in. Tampa shows up at #9 with an annual cost of $2,532 for the average insurance policy, which is approximately $211 per month.
| Rank | City | Premium Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hialeah | $3,488 |
| 2 | Miami | $3,241 |
| 3 | Miami Gardens | $3,181 |
| 4 | Miami Beach | $3,013 |
| 5 | Miramar | $2,629 |
| 6 | Hollywood | $2,604 |
| 7 | West Palm Beach | $2,599 |
| 8 | Pompano Beach | $2,543 |
| 9 | Tampa | $2,532 |
| 10 | Pembroke Pines | $2,505 |
| 11 | Coral Springs | $2,499 |
| 12 | Fort Lauderdale | $2,475 |
| 13 | Davie | $2,473 |
| 14 | Brandon | $2,322 |
| 15 | St. Petersburg | $2,286 |
| 16 | Clearwater | $2,194 |
| 17 | Spring Hill | $2,102 |
| 18 | Orlando | $2,029 |
| 19 | Port St. Lucie | $1,975 |
| 20 | Jacksonville | $1,960 |
| 21 | Cape Coral | $1,917 |
| 22 | Lakeland | $1,901 |
| 23 | Palm Bay | $1,803 |
| 24 | Tallahassee | $1,784 |
| 25 | Gainesville | $1,680 |
| Compare Prices Now Go | ||
Annual rates are comparative as the specific garaging location can increase or decrease price quotes considerably.
Finding the top auto insurance company can be difficult considering how many companies there are to choose from in Florida. The company ratings below may help you analyze which insurers to look at when insurance shopping for safe drivers. These rankings are for the largest companies in America, so companies that focus mainly on Florida business will not be included in the list.
Top 10 Major Auto Insurance Providers in Tampa Ranked by Customer Satisfaction
- USAA – 91%
- AAA Insurance – 90%
- Esurance – 90%
- Mercury Insurance – 89%
- Nationwide – 89%
- Travelers – 88%
- Progressive – 88%
- Safeco Insurance – 88%
- State Farm – 88%
- Allstate – 88%
Top 10 Major Auto Insurance Providers in Tampa Ranked by A.M. Best Rating
- Travelers – A++
- USAA – A++
- GEICO – A++
- State Farm – A++
- Titan Insurance – A+
- Esurance – A+
- Progressive – A+
- The Hartford – A+
- Allstate – A+
- Nationwide – A+
Get discounts on Tampa auto insurance rates
Insurers that offer cheap quotes for safe drivers may have rate discounts that could potentially reduce rates by as much as 40% or more if you meet specific eligibility requirements. A list of companies and a summarized list of policyholder discounts include:
- Farm Bureau discounts include driver training, safe driver, multi-vehicle, 55 and retired, good student, multi-policy, and youthful driver.
- MetLife has savings for good student, defensive driver, multi-policy, accident-free, claim-free, and good driver.
- Progressive offers premium reductions for online quote discount, good student, homeowner, continuous coverage, multi-policy, and multi-vehicle.
- AAA has discounts for multi-car, anti-theft, AAA membership discount, multi-policy, good student, good driver, and pay-in-full.
- American Family may include discounts for bundled insurance, accident-free, early bird, good driver, defensive driver, Steer into Savings, and TimeAway discount.
- GEICO offers discounts including daytime running lights, driver training, anti-lock brakes, air bags, military active duty, multi-policy, and anti-theft.
- State Farm offers discounts for Drive Safe & Save, safe vehicle, good student, good driver, and multiple policy.
The example below visualizes the comparison of auto insurance costs with and without discounts. The premiums are based on a female driver, no accidents or driving violations, Florida state minimum liability limits, comp and collision included, and $500 deductibles.
The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with anti-theft, homeowner, defensive driving course, marriage, multiple policy, and claim-free discounts applied. When drivers take advantage of discounts, the average savings per year on auto insurance for safe drivers is 28% or $518.
Your low-price policy may be costing you money
Florida auto insurance rates are determined by lots of factors that may substantially change the cost of having a policy. Improving your credit score, buying another vehicle, or having an at-fault accident can produce rate changes that can make some companies cheaper than competitors.
Not only may your situation change, but car insurance companies amend pricing every year or even multiple times each year in order to offset underwriting gains or losses. Higher than normal claims can cause higher priced premiums, while less frequent claims may result in cheaper Tampa car insurance rates.
As an example, the data below shows rates for the cheapest car insurance in Tampa, FL for a 45-year-old female driver with no prior accidents, a clean driving record, and a good credit history. If we look at prices based on her personal risk profile, USAA might quote the best car insurance rates in Tampa at $1,564 a year. This is $884 less than the average premium paid by Florida drivers of $2,448. Electric, Amica, Progressive, and Mercury round out the rest of the cheapest Tampa, FL auto insurance companies.
Now let’s give the driver in the first chart a claim surcharge, less-than-perfect credit, and a few traffic violations. Because every insurance company uses their own calculation for determining rates, comparing prices could now result in a completely different list of companies as shown below.
USAA now has the best price on car insurance in Tampa, FL with Allied, Esurance, GEICO, and State Farm also having competitive pricing. This example illustrates why it is critical to shop around to get affordable insurance rates for safe drivers.
Insurance rates are made up of many factors and can change substantially, so the best price a year ago may now not even be in the top five.