Cost of full coverage car insurance in 2024

The cost of full coverage car insurance varies depending on the insurance company you choose, where you live and other factors. Find out more about full coverage, how much you can expect to pay and how to cut your costs.

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Full coverage car insurance offers you and your vehicle the highest level of protection. The average cost of full coverage car insurance nationwide is $1,895 a year, or $158 a month. 

The term “full coverage” can vary from place to place and its precise definition depends on what is required by law in your state. Full coverage car insurance usually includes:

The cost of full coverage car insurance varies and depends on many factors. Find out which states charge the most – and least – for full coverage car insurance and which insurers offer the best deal. 

Key takeaways

Our recommendation

We recommend full coverage for anyone who wants to ensure maximum financial protection in the event of an accident, theft, or other unexpected incidents.

If you have a newer or high-value car, full coverage is essential to protect your investment. It’s also a smart choice for those who drive frequently or live in areas with high traffic or inclement weather, where the risk of accidents or damage is greater.

Even if your car is older, full coverage is still beneficial if you rely heavily on your vehicle for daily activities and can’t afford to cover repair or replacement costs out of pocket. Ultimately, full coverage provides peace of mind, knowing that you are financially safeguarded against a wide range of potential risks on the road.

How much is full coverage insurance?

The average full coverage car insurance cost is $1,895 per year, or about $158 per month, according to Insurance.com's most recent data. That’s based on coverage of 100/300/100 ($100,000 per person, $300,000 per incident for injuries, and $100,000 for property damage.) The average cost of state minimum coverage, which offers much less coverage, is $502 annually.

Car insurance rates are very specific to the driver: Your age, driving record, credit history and location count, and the kind of car you are driving. Rates vary by hundreds or even thousands of dollars from company to company. That's why we always suggest comparing quotes as your first step to saving money.

Best car insurance for full coverage 

The best full coverage car insurance policies are offered by Erie, according to Insurance.com’s data. The insurer earned a 4.67 overall Insurance.com score. Auto-Owners and Travelers followed, receiving scores of 4.65 and 4.62, respectively. 

Below is a full list of the top insurance companies for full coverage based on price, NAIC complaint ratio, customer satisfaction and AM Best financial ratings. The total Insurance.com score is calculated out of five using these factors.

In the Insurance.com rankings, full coverage includes liability limits of 100/300/100 and a deductible of $500. 

How much is full coverage insurance cost in your state?

The average cost of full coverage car insurance in the U.S. is $1,895 a year, or $158 a month. That’s based on 100/300/100 liability limits with $500 deductibles. These are averages, and many factors affect auto insurance rates, so your rates will differ.

Maine is the cheapest state for full coverage car insurance, with premiums that cost $1,175 annually. The three cheapest states for this level of coverage and their annual premiums are: 

At the other extreme, Louisiana is the most expensive state for full coverage car insurance, with premiums that cost $2,883 annually. The three most expensive states for full coverage are: 

Below you’ll find how much full coverage costs in each state.

Data updated in 2024 Read our full methodology

*New Hampshire doesn’t require drivers to have car insurance, but most drivers do, and we’ve listed what is mandated if you choose to carry coverage.

Full coverage car insurance cost by company

Nationwide offers the best deal on full coverage car insurance. Premiums average $129 per month, or $1,548 annually. USAA offers cheaper coverage to people who are eligible. 

Below you’ll find the cheapest companies for full coverage car insurance.

*USAA only provides coverage to military members, veterans and their families.

What is full coverage insurance?

Full coverage auto insurance is a policy that includes not only mandatory state coverages, such as liability insurance (and personal injury protection or other coverages in some states), but also comprehensive and collision coverage to protect your car.

As a general rule, liability-only coverage protects others from damage you cause, while full coverage also protects your vehicle.

There's no specific definition of full coverage car insurance; what it looks like for you depends on your state and what coverage you need. While liability plus the addition of comprehensive and collision is what people typically mean by full coverage, you can add a lot more for a policy that might include:

The main difference between liability-only and full-coverage car insurance is that full coverage protects your car no matter who is at fault.

What does full coverage car insurance cover?

If you don’t add any additional coverage, your full coverage policy will cover the following:

Full coverage insurance covers at-fault accidents for injuries and damage to others and your vehicle. It doesn’t cover your own injuries in an at-fault accident unless personal injury protection is added (it’s required in some states and optional in others).

What isn't covered by full coverage?

Full coverage car insurance doesn’t cover everything. Common exclusions are:

Typical comprehensive and collision policies won’t cover every situation. Normal exclusions are:

Remember that full coverage isn't an official term; your full coverage policy may not include all available coverage. Look at all your coverage options to ensure you know what's covered and what's not, and add any additional protection you may need.

Do I need full coverage car insurance?

While you are required by law in most states to have liability coverage (and no-fault medical coverage in some states), you are not required by any law to have full coverage.

However, if you owe money on your vehicle, your lender will require that you buy collision and comprehensive coverage to protect its investment. After you pay off the loan, buying comprehensive and collision is your choice.

Here are some rules of thumb on insuring any car:

Choose the right coverage using our car insurance coverage calculator

Use Insurance.com's online car insurance calculator to get a personal recommendation for what kind of car insurance coverage you should buy and what deductibles to consider.

How to get cheap full coverage car insurance

The best way to find the cheapest full-coverage car insurance is to shop around and compare quotes. Insurance companies rate risk differently, which can result in dramatic differences in premium quotes. In addition to shopping around, here are a few tips for getting cheaper full coverage car insurance:

When should you drop full coverage on your car?

While there is no specific time at which you can or should drop full coverage, there are a few ways to decide.

First, if your loan is paid off and you feel comfortable covering the cost of repairs or replacement after an accident, you may want to drop your comprehensive and collision coverages.

A car's value drops with each passing year, and so do the insurance premiums. At a certain point, most drivers would choose to accept the risk and bank the collision and comprehensive premiums because they would be unlikely to find a reliable replacement with the insurance payout.

Consider how much you are paying for the additional coverage and how much your car is worth. Putting that extra money aside may be the wiser choice. If you don’t have an accident, it stays in your pocket. If you do, hopefully, you’ve saved enough to cover it.

Methodology

Insurance.com commissioned 2023 full coverage insurance rates from Quadrant Data Services for coverage of 100/300/100 with $500 deductibles. Rates were fielded from multiple companies in ZIP codes across the country. Rates are based on a 40-year-old male driver with a clean record, driving a 2023 Honda Accord LX. The content is updated for 2024.

Auto insurance FAQs

How much is full coverage insurance on a new car?

There is no difference in the cost of full coverage car insurance between a new and a used car. That is to say, the answer to the question “How much is full coverage on a used car?” is the same: it depends.

The average cost of full coverage car insurance in 2023 is $1,895, according to Insurance.com data. That will vary based on a wide variety of factors. The car's value is more important than whether it’s new or used.

How much is full coverage insurance a month?

The monthly cost of a full coverage policy varies, but based on the annual national average, the monthly cost would be $158.

Do you have to have full coverage insurance when financing a car?

In almost all cases, the answer to this question is yes. If you are financing your vehicle, your lender will require that you carry minimum full coverage to protect its investment in your vehicle.

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