You have probably seen the captivating ads from car insurance companies like Allstate and Progressive promising enormous savings, so you just need to choose one randomly, right?
That is not the case, however, as there are many unknowns like your credit score, the vehicle you are insuring, and your gender. The content below covers the best ways to find cheap car insurance and also should give you a good start to your coverage search.
The make and model of vehicle you are seeking coverage for is one of the largest factors that determines the availability of the most economical car insurance for active military. Vehicles with reasonable performance levels, excellent safety ratings, or a low likelihood of liability claims will cost less to insure than fast, unsafe models.
The data below features coverage costs for a number of the more affordable vehicles to insure in Florida.
| Make and Model | Estimated Cost for Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Honda Accord LX 4-Dr Sedan | $1,901 |
| Hyundai Elantra GLS Touring Station Wagon | $1,909 |
| Ford F-150 XL Super Cab 2WD | $2,085 |
| Dodge Grand Caravan SE | $2,128 |
| Ford Escape XLS 4WD | $2,147 |
| Honda CR-V EX-L 4WD | $2,203 |
| Ford Edge SEL AWD | $2,206 |
| Ford Focus SE 4-Dr Sedan | $2,215 |
| Ford Fusion S 4-Dr Sedan | $2,249 |
| Toyota Prius | $2,315 |
| Ford Explorer XLT 4WD | $2,327 |
| Toyota Corolla S | $2,370 |
| GMC Sierra 2500HD SLE Extended Cab 4WD | $2,411 |
| Toyota RAV4 Limited 2WD | $2,464 |
| Chevrolet Impala LT | $2,471 |
| Hyundai Sonata SE 4-Dr Sedan | $2,532 |
| Chevrolet Equinox LS 2WD | $2,535 |
| Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 2WD | $2,542 |
| Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD LTZ Crew Cab Diesel 4WD | $2,575 |
| GMC Sierra SLT Crew Cab 4WD | $2,580 |
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Data variables include single male driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and Florida minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, multi-vehicle, multi-policy, homeowner, and safe-driver. Estimates do not factor in garaging location in Tampa, FL which can revise rates greatly.
Based upon the table data, we can assume that makes and models like the Honda Accord, Hyundai Elantra, and Ford F-150 are most likely going to be the more affordable vehicles to insure for military personnel.
One of the many considerations that are looked at to help calculate car insurance rates is where you live in Tampa. Areas with high crime rates or more dense population are more likely to have higher rates, whereas areas with less congestion have the luxury of lower rates.
The following table rates the most expensive places in Florida for active military to purchase car insurance in. Tampa is ranked at #6 having an annual price of $2,636 for the average policyholder, which is around $220 each month.
| Rank | City | Annual Premium |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hialeah | $3,488 |
| 2 | Miami Gardens | $3,245 |
| 3 | Miami | $3,145 |
| 4 | Miami Beach | $3,043 |
| 5 | West Palm Beach | $2,705 |
| 6 | Tampa | $2,636 |
| 7 | Miramar | $2,629 |
| 8 | Pompano Beach | $2,620 |
| 9 | Hollywood | $2,552 |
| 10 | Fort Lauderdale | $2,550 |
| 11 | Davie | $2,523 |
| 12 | Coral Springs | $2,474 |
| 13 | Pembroke Pines | $2,431 |
| 14 | Brandon | $2,368 |
| 15 | St. Petersburg | $2,263 |
| 16 | Clearwater | $2,172 |
| 17 | Spring Hill | $2,039 |
| 18 | Orlando | $2,008 |
| 19 | Jacksonville | $1,980 |
| 20 | Port St. Lucie | $1,975 |
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Information shown are comparative as the specific garaging location can alter premiums significantly.
Determining which company offers the cheapest auto insurance rates for active military will take more time in order to find a policy that fits your budget. Every auto insurer has a proprietary formula to establish rates, so we will examine the overall cheapest auto insurance companies in Florida.
It’s important to understand that Tampa auto insurance rates are influenced by many factors that can increase the price you pay for coverage. Turning one year older, moving to a different location, or getting caught speeding may generate price changes that can cause some rates to be more affordable than before.
Compare Cheap Insurance Quotes for Military
USAA may offer some of the cheapest car insurance rates in Tampa at around $986 a year. Electric, Amica, Progressive, and Mercury are also some of the cheaper Tampa, FL insurance companies.
As depicted above, if you are insured with Progressive and switched to USAA, you may see a yearly price reduction of approximately $861. Drivers with Mercury may save as much as $928 a year, and Allied policyholders might reduce rates by $940 a year.
If you want to find out if you’re overpaying, click here to start your free quote or click through to the companies below.
Bear in mind that those rates are averaged across all drivers and vehicles in Florida and do not take into consideration a specific zip code for active military. So the insurer that can offer you the lowest price may not even be in the list above. That point stresses why you need to compare as many prices as possible using your own specific driver and vehicle information.
Liability rates compared to full coverage
Finding cheaper auto insurance is important to the majority of drivers, and a great way to find cheaper insurance for active military is to only buy liability insurance. The example below illustrates the comparison of insurance rates when comparing full coverage to liability only. The premium estimates are based on no accidents or driving violations, $500 deductibles, marital status is single, and no other discounts are factored in.
If averaged for all ages, physical damage coverage on your policy costs $2,619 per year more than carrying just liability coverage. Lot’s of drivers question if buying full coverage is worth the expense. There is no exact formula to stop paying for physical damage coverage, but there is a guideline you can use. If the yearly cost for physical damage coverage is more than around 10% of the vehicle’s replacement cost less your deductible, then it could be time to drop full coverage.
For example, let’s say your vehicle’s book value is $11,000 and you have $1,000 physical damage deductibles. If your vehicle is severely damaged, the most you would receive is $10,000 after you pay the deductible. If you are paying over $1,000 annually for physical damage coverage, then you might consider buying liability only.
There are a few situations where dropping full coverage is not in your best interest. If you have an outstanding loan on your vehicle, you have to maintain full coverage in order to satisfy the requirements of the loan. Also, if your emergency fund is not enough to purchase a different vehicle if your current one is in an accident, you should keep full coverage in place.
Get discounts on Tampa auto insurance
Insurers that offer coverage for active military may have price discounts that could potentially reduce rates by as much as 30% if you are eligible. The best auto insurance companies and some of the discounts are shown below.
- Farm Bureau may offer discounts for multi-policy, driver training, 55 and retired, multi-vehicle, and renewal discount.
- State Farm policyholders can earn discounts including driver’s education, multiple policy, safe vehicle, accident-free, defensive driving training, student away at school, and multiple autos.
- Progressive includes discounts for online quote discount, multi-vehicle, continuous coverage, online signing, multi-policy, and good student.
- Allstate discounts include good student, senior citizen, defensive driver, auto/life discount, eSmart discount, FullPay discount, and new car.
- Nationwide may include discounts for business or organization, easy pay, defensive driving, good student, Farm Bureau membership, and family plan.
- MetLife offers discounts for defensive driver, good driver, accident-free, multi-policy, good student, and claim-free.
The chart below illustrates the difference between annual premium costs with and without discounts being applied to the rates. Data assumes a female driver, no accidents, no driving violations, Florida state minimum liability limits, comprehensive and collision coverage, and $100 deductibles.
The first bar for each age group shows the price with no discounts. The second bar shows the rates with safe-driver, claim-free, defensive driving course, anti-theft, vehicle safety, and multiple policy discounts applied. When drivers take advantage of discounts, theaverage amount saved on auto insurance for active military is 28% or $693.
Selecting the right auto insurance company can be challenging considering how many companies provide coverage in Tampa. The ranking data shown next could help you select which coverage providers you want to consider when shopping your coverage around. The rankings below only include large nationwide companies, so companies that focus mainly on Florida business will not be included in these rankings.
Top 10 Large Auto Insurance Companies 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 Large Auto Insurance Companies in Tampa Ranked by Claims Service
- Travelers
- Nationwide
- Allstate
- State Farm
- Liberty Mutual
- GEICO
- American Family
- Esurance
- Titan Insurance
- AAA Insurance
The agents below can help you make a decision which coverages and limits you need, as some drivers wish to have some professional guidance when trying to find the best insurance rates for active military. It can be complicated to do it yourself, so getting advice from a licensed agent can provide you satisfaction knowing your coverage gives you enough coverage if you have a claim.
To find an agent close to where you live, click the button at the bottom of the list.
State Farm: Jeff Ralph
11014 N Dale Mabry Hwy #501 – Tampa, FL 33618 – (813) 969-3331
State Farm: Stan White
3204 Cove Bend Dr – Tampa, FL 33613 – (813) 971-1123
Phil Cole Whitco Insurance Agency
6601 Memorial Hwy #230 – Tampa, FL 33615 – (813) 884-7577
More Tampa, FL insurance agents
How to find economical auto insurance for active military
It’s not impossible to find cheaper rates, and here are a few penny-pinching ideas that can help you locate low-cost coverage.
- Too many claims can make car insurance unaffordable
- Do not pay for full coverage on older vehicles
- Increase your deductibles
- Clean up your credit
- Bundle home and auto and save
- Safer vehicles cost less to insure
- Compare rate quotes frequently
The last item on the list is particularly important, as was emphasized in this write-up. Insurance rates in Tampa can change considerably based on profitability, so don’t be unwilling to buy a policy from a new company if you can find a cheaper rate.
Many consumers stick with the same company and that’s fine, but it’s not recommended if that dedication is costing money that could be going to better use. In just a few minutes you could shop around and find cheaper auto insurance for active military.