The words “economical” and “insurance” probably shouldn’t be used together, especially when you are looking for the cheapest coverage for drivers with accidents. To help control this cost, let’s take a look at some of the factors that have an effect on auto insurance prices, and find some ways to cut the cost of your next policy.
The type of vehicle that is being insured is a large consideration that determines whether or not you can buy low-priced car insurance for drivers with accidents. Vehicles with high performance features, poor crash test ratings, or high incidents of liability claims will cost significantly more to insure than safer, lower-performance models.
The data below estimates auto insurance costs for a handful of the most cost-effective vehicles to insure in Florida.
| Vehicle Insured | Estimated Cost for Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Honda CR-V EX-L 2WD | $4,489 |
| Toyota Prius | $4,569 |
| Dodge Grand Caravan SE | $4,731 |
| Ford Escape Limited 4WD | $4,768 |
| Honda Odyssey EX W/Rear Entertainment | $4,936 |
| Ford Explorer XLT 4WD | $4,967 |
| Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 4WD | $4,989 |
| GMC Sierra SLE Crew Cab 2WD | $4,997 |
| Chevrolet Silverado LS Regular Cab 2WD | $5,082 |
| Ford Focus SE 4-Dr Sedan | $5,182 |
| Toyota Tacoma Double Cab 4WD | $5,191 |
| Chevrolet Equinox LS 2WD | $5,247 |
| Chevrolet Impala LT | $5,254 |
| Volkswagen Jetta S 4-Dr Sedan | $5,247 |
| Toyota RAV4 Limited 2WD | $5,253 |
| Chevrolet Malibu LT | $5,250 |
| Ford F-150 Lariat Super Cab 4WD | $5,312 |
| Nissan Rogue SL 2WD | $5,393 |
| Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sport Islander Package 4WD 4-Dr | $5,490 |
| Toyota Corolla XLE | $5,524 |
| Hyundai Elantra SE 4-Dr Sedan | $5,529 |
| Ford Edge Sport AWD | $5,524 |
| GMC Sierra 2500HD SLT Crew Cab 4WD | $5,558 |
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Data assumes married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, two at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and Florida minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, homeowner, and multi-vehicle. Premium costs do not factor in specific zip code location which can increase or decrease auto insurance rates significantly.
Looking at the numbers, we can conclude that vehicles like the Honda CR-V, Toyota Prius, Dodge Grand Caravan, Ford Escape, and Honda Odyssey are most likely to be a few of the most budget-friendly vehicles to insure for drivers with at-fault accidents. The price for car insurance will be higher anyway just due to the fact that there is more risk for drivers with accidents, but generally speaking those particular vehicles will have the lowest prices that you’ll find.
Establishing which insurers offer the cheapest auto insurance rates for drivers with accidents calls for more time in order to find the most economical policy. Every insurance provider uses a slightly different approach for determining rates, so let’s examine the auto insurance companies with the most affordable rates in Tampa.
Best Auto Insurance Prices for Accident Prone Drivers
| Rank | Company | Cost Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | USAA | $957 |
| 2 | Electric | $1,746 |
| 3 | Amica | $1,746 |
| 4 | Progressive | $1,793 |
| 5 | Travelers | $1,888 |
| 6 | Mercury | $1,914 |
| 7 | Allied | $2,004 |
| 8 | Esurance | $2,102 |
| 9 | GEICO | $2,108 |
| 10 | State Farm | $2,110 |
| 11 | Auto-Owners | $2,171 |
| 12 | Allstate | $2,411 |
| 13 | 21st Century | $2,469 |
| 14 | Windhaven Insurance | $2,627 |
| 15 | Hanover | $2,964 |
| 16 | Safeco | $2,987 |
| 17 | MetLife | $2,988 |
| 18 | Liberty Mutual | $3,101 |
| 19 | United Automobile | $3,422 |
| 20 | Direct General | $3,942 |
| Compare Rates Now Go | ||
USAA may offer some of the most affordable car insurance rates in Tampa at around $957 each year. Electric, Amica, Progressive, and Travelers also qualify as some of the best Tampa, FL insurance companies.
As shown in the table above, if you buy coverage from Progressive and switched to USAA, you could earn savings of around $836. Policyholders with Travelers may save as much as $931 a year, and Mercury customers might realize rate reductions of up to $957 a year.
Bear in mind that those premium estimates are averages across all ages of drivers and types of vehicles and and are not figured with a specific zip code for drivers with accidents. So the car insurance company that has the lowest price for you may not even be in the top 21 companies in the list above. That point stresses why you need to get rate quotes from many companies using your own driver information and specific vehicle type.
Finding the right auto insurance provider is hard considering how many companies sell insurance in Florida. The rank data in the lists below could help you analyze which auto insurers to look at when trying to find cheaper insurance for drivers with accidents. The ratings below are only comprised of large nationwide companies, so smaller regional companies will not be included in these rankings.
| Company | Value | Customer Service | Claims | Customer Satisfaction | A.M Best Rating | Overall Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Travelers | 93 | 98 | 99 | 88% | A++ | 95.1 |
| USAA | 83 | 99 | 100 | 91% | A++ | 94.1 |
| Mercury Insurance | 97 | 96 | 88 | 89% | A+ | 93.4 |
| AAA Insurance | 91 | 95 | 92 | 90% | A | 93.3 |
| Nationwide | 85 | 95 | 97 | 89% | A+ | 92.4 |
| Allstate | 77 | 100 | 97 | 88% | A+ | 90.7 |
| State Farm | 80 | 94 | 96 | 88% | A++ | 90.6 |
| The Hartford | 88 | 93 | 91 | 87% | A+ | 90.4 |
| Safeco Insurance | 91 | 95 | 85 | 88% | A | 90.2 |
| Progressive | 88 | 94 | 83 | 88% | A+ | 90.1 |
| Compare Rates Now Go | ||||||
Data Source: Insure.com Best Car Insurance Companies
Bad driving habits will cost you more
In a perfect world, the ideal way to maintain the most affordable auto insurance rates for drivers with at-fault accidents is to be an attentive driver and not receive tickets or have accidents. The example below illustrates how violations and at-fault collisions can increase insurance costs for each age group. The rate quotes are based on a single female driver, full physical damage coverage, $1,000 deductibles, and no policy discounts are applied.
In the example above, the average cost of auto insurance in Florida per year with no violations or accidents is $1,669. Factor in one speeding ticket and the average cost surges to $1,895, an increase of $226 each year. Then include one accident along with the one speeding ticket and the annual cost of auto insurance for drivers with accidents goes up to an average of $2,514. That’s an increase of $845, or $70 per month, just for being a careless driver!
The diagram below shows how choosing a deductible can influence insurance prices when searching for cheap insurance for drivers with accidents. The premiums are based on a single male driver, full coverage, and no discounts are applied.
In the chart above, a 40-year-old driver could lower rates by $476 a year by switching their comprehensive and collision coverages from a $100 deductible to a $500 deductible, or save $720 by switching to a $1,000 deductible. Younger drivers, like the age 20 example, can cut up to $1,582 every year by selecting a higher deductible. When choosing a higher deductible, it is essential to have emergency funds available to be able to pay the extra out-of-pocket expense, which is the main inconvenience of larger deductibles.
Who has the cheapest Tampa car insurance?
Tampa auto insurance rates are based on many factors which can substantially change the cost of a policy. Turning one year older, having a teen driver, or getting a ticket for running a stop sign can produce rate changes resulting in some companies being more affordable than competitors. Additionally, companies change prices without warning to adjust for unexpected claims or profits. Higher than normal claim frequency or severity can result in increased rates, while profitable underwriting can cause more affordable Tampa car insurance rates.
As an example, the graph below demonstrates which company has the cheapest car insurance in Tampa, FL for a 45-year-old female driver with no violations or accidents, and good credit. When quoting prices based on her current risk factors, USAA quotes the cheapest car insurance rates in Tampa at $1,473 each year. This is $975 less than the average rate paid by Florida drivers of $2,448. Electric, Amica, Progressive, and Mercury are also on the list of the cheapest Tampa, FL auto insurance companies.
In this next rate comparison, we will give the driver from the above example an accident surcharge, slightly worse credit, and a blemish on her driving record. Since each insurance company uses their own method for setting prices, getting updated rate quotes may now result in a different list of affordable Tampa car insurance companies as shown below.
USAA now has the lowest price in Tampa with Travelers, Esurance, State Farm, and Auto-Owners completing the list. This shows why Florida drivers need to shop around when trying to get the cheapest insurance quotes for drivers with accidents. Insurance rates are determined by many factors and can change substantially, so the cheapest option a year ago may now be one of the higher cost companies.