Best Car Insurance in Pennsylvania

The average cost of car insurance in Pennsylvania is 9% lower than the national average auto insurance premium. There are several factors that affect how much you'll pay for car insurance in Pennsylvania, including your driving record, age and location, the amount of coverage you purchase, and the insurance company you buy it from.

Average Cost of Car Insurance in Pennsylvania by Category

• After an at-fault accident: $210 per month      
• Driver with poor credit: $86 per month
• Teen driver: $220 per month      
• After a DUI: $108 per month          

Average Cost of Car Insurance in Pennsylvania by Company

Note: Rates are an approximation based on a 45-year-old man in Pennsylvania with a clean driving record. Actual rates will vary.

Average Cost of Car Insurance in Pennsylvania by Age

Note: Rates are an approximation based on a driver in Pennsylvania with minimum coverage and a clean driving record. Actual rates will vary.

How to Lower the Cost of Car Insurance in Pennsylvania

1. Shop around and compare quotes. We recommend comparing quotes from at least three different insurance companies to make sure you are getting the best rate.
2. Choose a higher deductible. Your deductible is the amount you have to pay out of pocket before your insurance kicks in. Choosing a higher deductible can lower your premiums but means you will have to pay more out-of-pocket when you file a claim.
3. Consider lowering your coverage. Consider purchasing only the minimum amount of coverage required by your state, rather than purchasing higher limits or a full coverage policy.
4. Look for discounts you may be eligible for. For instance, most insurance companies offer a good-driver discount for customers with a clean driving record, a good-student discount, or a discount for paying your premiums in full up front.

To learn more, check out our guide to how much car insurance you need in Pennsylvania as well as our picks for the cheapest car insurance companies in Pennsylvania.

Drivers in Pennsylvania need $15,000 of bodily injury liability insurance per person (up to $30,000 per accident) and $5,000 of property damage liability insurance. Collision, comprehensive and gap insurance may also be required by a lender or lessor if your vehicle is financed.

In addition, an optional but recommended type of coverage in Pennsylvania is uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance. It replaces the liability coverage an at-fault driver should've had and pays for your costs up to your policy limits.

Here's How Much Car Insurance Drivers Need in Pennsylvania:

If you lease or finance your car, you may be required to carry coverage types that are not mandatory under Pennsylvania law. Lenders or lessors usually require comprehensive and collision insurance. Collision insurance covers repairs to your car when you hit another car or object. If the damage to your vehicle was caused by something other than a collision—like a natural disaster, vandalism, falling objects, or animals—it is most likely covered by comprehensive insurance. Lenders may also require gap insurance, which covers the difference between what you owe on your loan or lease and what the vehicle is worth if it has been stolen or totaled.

Even if you're not required to carry these optional coverage types, you may still need them. You can learn more about when to drop optional coverage and the penalties for driving without insurance in Pennsylvania to make sure you're paying for the coverage you need.

Pennsylvania car insurance laws require bodily injury liability coverage of $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident, as well as $5,000 of property damage liability coverage. State law also requires $5,000 of Medical Benefits coverage.  

The first two categories - bodily injury liability and property damage liability - cover injuries or damages that you accidentally cause with your car. Your car insurance pays up to a specified limit for each category. If you want additional coverage, you can choose higher limits than the ones required by Pennsylvania law. The last category, Medical Benefits, handles your medical bills even if you cause a car accident.

As insurance is required by Pennsylvania law, you can face multiple penalties if you're caught driving without it, including up to $300 in fines, license suspension and impounding of your car. Another important Pennsylvania car insurance law to note is the grace period for new residents: You have 20 days to register your car when you move to Pennsylvania. You'll need to bring proof of Pennsylvania car insurance when you go to register.  

PA “Choice” No-Fault Car Insurance Laws:

Pennsylvania uses a no-fault system for car insurance by default, but it is one of three "choice” no-fault states. This means the state allows residents to choose whether they want to take part in the traditional no-fault system or opt for a tort-like system, similar to what's used in many other states.

The traditional no-fault system limits accident-related lawsuits, which means each driver is initially responsible for their own medical bills – regardless of who caused the accident. But drivers in Pennsylvania can choose to sue or be sued after a car accident by opting out of the no-fault system. This means drivers can file a lawsuit after an accident in order to recover damages solely from the person who caused the crash. However, those who select this option typically pay higher insurance premiums, and they open themselves up to be sued if they cause a crash.  

Minimum Coverage Required by Pennsylvania Car Insurance Laws: 

• Bodily injury liability: $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident
• Property damage liability: $5,000
• Medical Benefits: $5,000

Liability insurance pays for others' medical expenses and property damage after an accident you were responsible for. In addition, drivers in Pennsylvania will need to purchase $5,000 in medical benefits to satisfy the state's minimum car insurance requirements.

Types of Car Insurance Required in Pennsylvania

• Bodily injury liability (BI)
• Property damage liability (PD)
• Personal injury protection (PIP)

If Pennsylvania drivers do not purchase at least the minimum amounts of car insurance coverage required by Pennsylvania law, they can face penalties for driving without insurance.

Drivers should also consider purchasing other types of car insurance in order to better protect themselves, given that liability insurance does not provide any coverage for the policyholder's own injuries or property. For instance, both collision insurance and comprehensive insurance cover damage to the policyholder's car. You will likely also need these types of insurance if your vehicle is financed.

To learn more, check out WalletHub's guides to how much car insurance you need and cheap car insurance in Pennsylvania.

Full coverage insurance in Pennsylvania costs an average of $351 per month. A full coverage policy usually includes collision and comprehensive insurance, plus the types of coverage required by Pennsylvania law. In Pennsylvania, liability insurance and personal injury protection are mandatory for all drivers.

Average Cost of Full Coverage Insurance in Pennsylvania

Note: Premiums are average rates for a good driver in Pennsylvania; individual premiums will vary.

How to Get Cheaper Full Coverage Insurance in Pennsylvania

1. Compare quotes from several companies to make sure you're getting the best deal.
2. Increase your deductible. Higher deductibles lead to lower premiums, but remember to only pick a deductible you'd be able to afford in an emergency.
3. Don't forget to make sure you're getting all the discounts you can.

To learn more, check out WalletHub's guide to full coverage car insurance.