The words “bargain” and “insurance” probably shouldn’t be used together, especially when searching for the best insurance rates for used cars. Because it’s so expensive, let’s start off by going over some situations that have an impact on car insurance rates, and find out if we can help you shave a little off your next policy.
For pre-owned vehicles, one of the more important things that determine the annual cost of car insurance is where you keep your car. Areas with a lot of weather claims or more people tend to have more expensive auto insurance rates, whereas areas that tend to be more rural have the benefit of cheaper car insurance.
The next table lists the highest-priced areas in Florida for used cars to buy auto insurance in. Tampa comes in at #10 costing $2,532 for the average insurance policy, which is approximately $211 monthly.
| Rank | City | Average Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hialeah | $3,488 |
| 2 | Miami | $3,273 |
| 3 | Miami Gardens | $3,181 |
| 4 | Miami Beach | $2,923 |
| 5 | Miramar | $2,629 |
| 6 | Pompano Beach | $2,620 |
| 7 | West Palm Beach | $2,599 |
| 8 | Fort Lauderdale | $2,576 |
| 9 | Hollywood | $2,552 |
| 10 | Tampa | $2,532 |
| 11 | Coral Springs | $2,499 |
| 12 | Pembroke Pines | $2,481 |
| 13 | Davie | $2,448 |
| 14 | Brandon | $2,322 |
| 15 | Clearwater | $2,238 |
| 16 | St. Petersburg | $2,219 |
| 17 | Spring Hill | $2,102 |
| 18 | Orlando | $2,008 |
| 19 | Port St. Lucie | $1,975 |
| 20 | Jacksonville | $1,960 |
| 21 | Lakeland | $1,883 |
| 22 | Cape Coral | $1,860 |
| 23 | Palm Bay | $1,786 |
| 24 | Tallahassee | $1,748 |
| 25 | Gainesville | $1,630 |
| Find the Best Rates Go | ||
Rate information is approximated as vehicle location can change insurance rates substantially.
Establishing which companies quote the best auto insurance rates for used cars may require a tad more effort than just picking a company at random.
Each company has a unique formula for determining rates, so let’s take a look at the auto insurance companies with the most affordable rates in Florida. It’s important to know that Tampa, FL auto insurance rates are calculated based on many things which can substantially change the policy premium. Simply turning a year older, buying a different vehicle, or getting a few speeding tickets can trigger price changes that can now make some companies more affordable than before.
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| Rank | Company | Cost Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | USAA | $977 |
| 2 | Electric | $1,746 |
| 3 | Amica | $1,764 |
| 4 | Progressive | $1,847 |
| 5 | Mercury | $1,914 |
| 6 | Travelers | $1,926 |
| 7 | Allied | $1,945 |
| 8 | Esurance | $2,020 |
| 9 | State Farm | $2,047 |
| 10 | Auto-Owners | $2,107 |
| 11 | GEICO | $2,172 |
| 12 | Allstate | $2,411 |
| 13 | 21st Century | $2,469 |
| 14 | Windhaven Insurance | $2,549 |
| 15 | MetLife | $2,870 |
| 16 | Safeco | $2,927 |
| 17 | Hanover | $2,934 |
| 18 | Liberty Mutual | $3,039 |
| 19 | United Automobile | $3,422 |
| 20 | Direct General | $4,062 |
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USAA offers some of the most affordable car insurance rates in Tampa at around $977 per year. This is $1,471 less than the average premium paid by Florida drivers of $2,448. Electric, Amica, Progressive, and Mercury would also be considered some of the cheaper Tampa, FL auto insurance companies.
In the above rates, if you buy coverage from Mercury and switched to Electric, you might see an annual savings of about $168. Drivers with Travelers could save as much as $180 a year, and Allied policyholders might see rate reductions of $199 a year.
Remember that these premiums are averaged for all drivers and vehicles in Florida and and are not figured with a vehicle location for used cars. So the company that is best suited for you may not even be in the top 21 companies in the list above. That is why you need to get rate quotes from many companies using your own driver information and specific vehicle type.
Get discounts on Tampa car insurance
Insurers that offer cheap quotes for used cars may also provide premium discounts that can lower rates by 25% or more if you meet specific eligibility requirements. Popular auto insurance companies and a summarized list of policyholder discounts can be read below.
- GEICO discounts include seat belt use, membership and employees, driver training, daytime running lights, and military active duty.
- MetLife may have discounts that include good student, defensive driver, claim-free, accident-free, good driver, multi-policy
- Progressive offers discounts for multi-vehicle, online signing, continuous coverage, good student, multi-policy, and homeowner.
- Travelers may offer discounts for hybrid/electric vehicle, IntelliDrive, good student, home ownership, payment discounts, and student away at school.
- SAFECO policyholders can earn discounts including homeowner, safe driver, drive less, multi-car, and accident prevention training.
- AAA may include discounts for good driver, good student, anti-theft, AAA membership discount, education and occupation, multi-car, and pay-in-full.
The illustration below visualizes the comparison of insurance prices with and without discounts applied to the policy premium. The costs are based on a male driver, no driving violations, no at-fault accidents, Florida state minimum liability limits, full physical damage coverage, and $100 deductibles.
The first bar for each age group shows the average rate with no discounts. The second bar shows the rates with homeowner, safe-driver, vehicle safety, passive restraint, marriage, and claim-free discounts applied. When taking advantage of discounts, the average savings per year on auto insurance for used cars is 28% or $732.
Insuring your vehicle with a high-quality insurance provider is hard considering how many companies are available to choose from in Tampa. The ranking information in the next section can help you analyze which auto insurance companies you want to consider comparing prices from. The ratings below are for companies that insure vehicles nationwide, so companies without a large exposure will not be included in this list.
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%
Tips to find budget-friendly car insurance for used cars
It is possible to find better rates, and here are some of the better penny-pinching ideas that can help drivers quote lower-cost car insurance.
- Do not file small claims
- Be a safe driver
- Good credit can save money
- Staying accident-free helps keep rates low
- Buy a safer vehicle
- Comparison shop at least every other year
That final tip is extremely necessary, as we hit on in this piece. Prices charged by auto insurers adjust often, so don’t be hesitant to buy from a new company if you find a better deal.
Staying with the same company for years is fine, but it isn’t a good idea if that inflexibility results in costing you lots of money. In just a few minutes you could compare rates and find cheaper auto insurance for used cars in Tampa.