5 Best Cheap Car Insurance Companies: Pennsylvania (2021)

While car insurance is mandatory practically across the nation, the specific requirements concerning what needs to be covered vary from state to state.

To help you find great, affordable car insurance in Pennsylvania, we’ve researched the best car insurance providers and compiled our research into this guide. We are going to go over all the Pennsylvania car insurance requirements, discuss what makes the state unique as far as driving goes, and finally recommend our top choices in the Keystone State. 

Whenever you shop for car insurance, we recommend getting quotes from multiple providers so you can compare coverage and rates. In addition to the insurance company you choose, factors such as your age, vehicle make and model, and driving history can affect your premium, so what’s best for your neighbor might not be best for you.

Use our tool below to start comparing personalized car insurance quotes.

In this article:

Cheapest Car Insurance In Pennsylvania

According to our rate estimates, Geico is the cheapest car insurance in Pennsylvania with average rates of $1,135 for annual full coverage. After that, Nationwide and Erie both provide cheap car insurance in Pennsylvania. 

What Is The Average Cost Of Pennsylvania Car Insurance?

According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), the cost of Pennsylvania car insurance was $991 in 2018, while the national average was $1,057. Here’s a closer look at the cost of liability, collision, and comprehensive auto insurance in Pennsylvania:

*Most drivers carry liability coverage but not necessarily other types of auto insurance. Total average annual expenditure measures what Pennsylvania drivers actually spent on auto insurance in 2018.

Annual Pennsylvania Car Insurance Estimates By Age

According to our cost estimates, a 24-year-old driver may pay 60 percent more for car insurance than a 35-year-old driver in Pennsylvania.

Annual Pennsylvania Car Insurance Estimates For Drivers With Bad Credit

In Pennsylvania, your car insurance rates can increase by about 18 percent for having a fair credit score. However, if you have a poor score, your rates can increase by 70 percent. 

Annual Pennsylvania Car Insurance Estimates For Bad Drivers

If you don't have a clean driving record, expect to pay more for Pennsylvania insurance. A speeding ticket can make your rates for car insurance in Pennsylvania increase by 16 percent, while a DUI can make them increase by 72 percent. 

The 5 Best Pennsylvania Car Insurance Providers

You have options for affordable car insurance in Pennsylvania. In fact, you may feel like you have too many options. To help save you time and effort, we have found the top five choices for car insurance providers in Pennsylvania. All of them performed well in our research of the best car insurance companies, where we ranked providers on the following:

• Financial strength
• Availability
• Customer service
• Cost
• Coverage
• Technology

Overall, we think Erie Insurance is the best choice for Pennsylvania car insurance because of its reputation for quick claims and low average cost.

*Not all providers were included in our rate estimates for each state. Also, you may notice that some car insurance companies are listed above those with higher star ratings. This is because our ratings take into account nationwide factors, while our ranking for this article looks specifically at what insurance providers are best for car insurance in Pennsylvania.

#1 Erie Auto Insurance

Our top recommendation for Pennsylvania car insurance is Erie auto insurance. It provides a wide range of coverage options and low prices for Pennsylvania drivers. Most drivers in other states can’t receive coverage from Erie, but Pennsylvania residents lucked out. 

Several customers rave about the support received. Here’s what a customer had to say. 

“Erie has been my auto insurance provider for since I got my first car and has been my parents before me for 30+ years. We have had nothing but positive things to say about Erie and their customer service. My family has been hit several times over the last decades and has had some run-ins with the icy North East weather. Erie has always taken care of everything for us and kept us well informed. They also have always had the best value for dollar/coverage around. I have had more than one competitor salesman hangup when they hear I have Erie.”

-Christopher L. via BBB

Erie also performed well in the J.D. Power 2020 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study^SM and the 2021 U.S. Auto Insurance Study^SM in the mid-atlantic region. It also ranked third among mid-size insurers in the 2021 U.S. Insurance Shopping Study^SM. Erie has an A+ Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating and an A+ from AM Best for financial strength.

Here are some unique policy options available through Erie auto insurance for Pennsylvania.

• Rate lock: With this protection, your insurance rates are locked in until you add/remove drivers or add/remove vehicles.
• Diminishing deductible: Every year that you don’t file a claim, you receive a lower deductible by $100. This occurs until you reach the $500 limit.
• Accident forgiveness: There is no additional surcharge after an at-fault accident, as long as you’ve been an Erie customer for at least three years.
• Pet injury coverage: Receive up to $500 for pet veterinary care if it was injured during an accident.
• New car protection: If your car is 24 months old or newer and is declared a total loss, Erie replaces it with a new model instead.
• Better car protection: If the car is 24 months old or newer and is declared a total loss, Erie pays for a model two years newer or pays off the auto loan.
• Rental car coverage: This plan is included with comprehensive coverage, but you can pay extra to add upgrades such as an SUV instead of a sedan or for luxury cars.

If you are shopping car insurance quotes, it makes sense to add Erie to the list of providers you check out.

To learn more about the auto insurance provider, check out our review of Erie auto insurance.

#2 State Farm Car Insurance

State Farm car insurance is the largest and most popular car insurance company in the United States, and with good reason: The provider offers reasonable rates, a large assortment of rewards programs, a variety of coverage options, and good customer service.

Being a good insurance provider starts with having a strong financial backing, which makes it easy to cover claims, and State Farm excels on this front. State Farm received the highest financial strength rating possible from AM Best: an A++.

The provider offers a vast array of coverage options ranging from standard coverage to antique and sports car coverage. Its rental and travel coverage is particularly noteworthy. Not only will State Farm reimburse you for the cost of a rental car if your car is undrivable for 24 hours or more, but the company will also pay for the cost of lodging, meals, and transportation if you’re stranded at least 50 miles from home.

Other notable programs include the Steer Clear program, which provides discounts to drivers under 25 who complete a State Farm driving course and have not had accidents in the past three years.

It also has a rewards program specifically for teens as well as a student discount, which makes it a great choice for both new and younger drivers. In fact, we rated State Farm the best insurance company for students and one of the top three best providers for teens. 

Customer service is also quite good with State Farm. We found that State Farm had fewer than the median number of complaints for an insurance company of its size. 

Unfortunately, although we are generally quite impressed with State Farm’s plans, we weren’t happy with the lack of an accident forgiveness program, which is a fairly standard feature. 

To learn more about the car insurance provider, check out our review of State Farm car insurance.

#3 Geico Car Insurance

Geico is the second most popular car insurance provider in the United States and another good choice for Pennsylvanians. We awarded Geico 4.5 out of 5.0 stars and have ranked it as one of the best choices for students and military personnel. 

Financially, Geico is a very strong company, which means you’re more likely to get claims covered when you submit them. The company has an A++ financial strength rating from AM Best, and it wrote over $33 billion in premiums in 2020. Clearly, Geico has the financial wherewithal to fulfill claims, and unlike some smaller companies, it is a better business decision on the company’s part to ensure customer satisfaction than it is to pinch pennies. 

Geico’s premiums average a bit higher than State Farm’s, but it is still very reasonable and much cheaper than most other providers we reviewed. 

Geico is very tech-centric, making it quick and easy to get a quote, purchase a policy, or file a claim online. This, coupled with the availability of local Geico agents, is likely one of the main reasons for its high customer satisfaction. In fact, according to a 2017 study by Alan Newman Research, 97 percent of Geico customers reported they were satisfied with their service. 

Geico also provides a number of discounts to its customers including: 

Unfortunately, there is no discount for hybrid or electric vehicles, and a low credit score may increase your premium in some cases. 

That said, Geico’s great customer service, good coverage, reasonable rates, and numerous discounts make it a winner in our book. 

To learn more about the car insurance provider, check out our review of Geico auto insurance.

#4 Amica Mutual

Amica Mutual is another highly rated insurance provider for Pennsylvania drivers. According to a J.D. Power Customer Satisfaction Study^SM, Amica received a 5.0 out of 5.0 rating for its Pennsylvania policies. We also gave the insurance provider a 4.0-star rating in our review.

The company received an A+ financial strength rating from AM Best, indicating Amica Mutual's superior ability to pay out customer claims. According to the company's chairman, the insurer's premiums totaled $2.4 billion in 2019. While this is definitely a smaller figure than Geico's or State Farm's annual premiums, it's still respectable among small insurance companies.

Amica offers an upgrade plan with its six standard coverage options called Platinum Choice Auto^®. It includes:

Amica also offers affordable rates and an array of discounts to drivers, including:

• Loyalty discount
• Multi-Line discount
• Claim-Free discount
• Multiple Auto discount
• Homeowner discount
• Family discount
• Paid in full discount
• Autopay discount
• E-Discount

However, Amica Mutual may not be the best option for new, teen, or high-risk Pennsylvania drivers based on customer reports.

To learn more about the car insurance provider, check out our review of Amica Mutual insurance.

#5 Penn National Insurance

Headquartered in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Penn National is a locally-focused insurance company for Pennsylvania drivers. The company sells policies to six states through independent agents, and it's known for its helpful customer service representatives and low numbers of customer complaints.

AM Best gave Penn National an A- financial strength rating, which is considered "Excellent." The insurance company has maintained this rating since 2007. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) gave Penn National an A+ rating for its ability to effectively handle customer needs, complaints, and queries.

We like Penn National for its reputability among customers. Smaller insurance companies tend to have a better customer service track record, and that rings true in Penn National's case. According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), the company receives far fewer annual customer complaints than average.

The insurer is also known for its affordability. Here are a few of the discounts the company offers:

• Bundling home and auto
• Passive restraints
• Daytime running lights
• Anti-lock brakes
• Good student
• Student away at school
• Driver’s education course
• Multi-vehicle
• Pay in full

To learn more about the car insurance provider, check out our review of Penn National Insurance.

Enter your zip code in the tool below to collect and compare car insurance quotes from providers available in Pennsylvania:

Pennsylvania Car Insurance Law

Car insurance requirements are set at the state level, which means that each state gets to decide for itself what is and isn’t required. Almost every state requires drivers to take out car insurance to some degree, except for Arizona and Virginia, which waive the car insurance requirements in specific cases. 

To understand what’s required for Pennsylvania car insurance, we’ll first need to clarify what the different types of car insurance are. There are six types of car insurance you’ll need to be aware of:

• Liability coverage: Coverage for any injuries and damages you cause to other drivers and vehicles, as well as the fees for your legal defense
• Comprehensive coverage: Coverage for non-collision damages such as theft, vandalism, storms, etc.
• Collision coverage: Coverage for collision-related damages to your vehicle, regardless of who is at fault
• Personal injury protection: Coverage for medical payments and occasionally lost wages because of an automobile accident
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: Coverage for accidents with an uninsured or underinsured driver
• Medical payments coverage: Coverage for the medical expenses of everyone that was injured in your vehicle

Each state picks and chooses which of these six types of insurance coverages are required, as well as the minimum monetary amount you need to be covered for. Based on what’s required, the average cost of car insurance will increase or decrease depending on what state you’re in. 

What Are The Requirements For Pennsylvania Car Insurance?

Pennsylvania requires all motorists to take out three types of insurance. These requirements are referred to as financial responsibility laws. The minimum requirements are:

• Property damage liability: $5,000
• Bodily injury liability: $15,000/$30,000
• Medical benefits: $5,000

The number to the right indicates the minimum monetary amount you must be covered for. So, in Pennsylvania, your insurance must cover you for at least $15,000 in property damage liability before you get on the road, for example.  

In the case of bodily injury liability, Pennsylvania stipulates two minimums: one for a single person, $15,000, and a second for everyone in the accident, $30,000. 

Pennsylvania is a no-fault state, which means that no matter who caused an accident, the insurance will cover the driver’s medical bills. Motorists in Pennsylvania can also purchase full tort insurance, which allows them to sue the at-fault driver if an accident occurs. 

However, while these are the minimum requirements, it’s generally recommended that you take out more comprehensive coverage. Serious accidents can easily surpass these minimum coverage amounts and leave you in serious trouble if you can’t afford the excess that your insurance company won’t cover. For example, if you stuck with the minimum coverage and caused $30,000 of bodily injury to someone, you’d still be on the hook for $15,000. 

Motorists who drive without minimum insurance may be subject to:

• A minimum $300 fine
• Impoundment of your car
• A three-month license suspension

How Does Pennsylvania Car Insurance Compare To Other States?

Pennsylvania is fairly middle-of-the-road when it comes to their car insurance requirements – some states, like New Jersey, have significantly more minimum coverage requirements, while others, like New Hampshire, have far fewer. 

What Is It Like Driving In Pennsylvania?

The minimum coverage requirements aren’t the only thing that affect the average car insurance premiums across different states. Statistics like the average number of miles driven and the frequency of accidents also affect your premium. It makes sense – a high accident rate coupled with a longer average daily driving distance significantly increases the risk of insurance companies having to file a claim. 

Pennsylvanians drive less than the average American. While the average American puts about 13,500 miles on their car each year, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration, Pennsylvanians drive about 12,500 miles per year. Even though this isn’t a particularly big difference, it can add up over the lifetime of a vehicle. Some experts estimate that repairs and maintenance cost about $0.26 per mile, so over 10 years, the average American will spend $35,100 on maintenance, but the average Pennsylvanian will spend only $32,500. 

Pennsylvanians are known for speeding, with most drivers traveling about 10 miles over the speed limit on average. Furthermore, Pennsylvania is a largely rural state, and rural areas tend to have more serious accidents due to the higher speeds and greater distance from medical facilities, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Although only 36 percent of miles traveled in Pennsylvania in 2015 were in rural areas, accidents in those same areas accounted for over 50 percent of all crashes. 

Rural driving also brings along a unique set of issues. In Pennsylvania, drivers must know how to safely pass an Amish buggy and always be on the lookout for deer and other wild animals that could jump out into the road. 

Pennsylvania currently has fairly lax laws regarding distracted driving. While in most states handheld devices are not allowed to be used while driving, period, in Pennsylvania, you can use phones and other handheld gadgets so long as you aren’t texting. 

All these risks in Pennsylvania raise the average premium in the state.

Final Thoughts

To recap, we recommend Erie as the best car insurance in Pennsylvania, followed by State Farm and Geico. What you pay for insurance depends on many factors in your situation. Compare as many companies as you can to find the best option. 

To see how your specific location in Pennsylvania will affect your premium, enter your zip code:

Methodology

In an effort to provide accurate and unbiased information to consumers, our expert review team collects data from dozens of auto insurance providers to formulate rankings of the best insurers. Companies receive a score in each of the following categories, as well as an overall weighted score out of 5.0 stars.

• Industry Standing: Insurers with strong financial ratings and customer-first business practices receive the highest scores in this category.
• Availability: We consider availability by state as well as exclusions for specific groups of drivers.
• Coverage: This rating is based on types of insurance available, maximum coverage limits, and add-on policies.
• Cost and Discounts: Our research team reviews auto insurance rate estimates generated by Quadrant Information Services for a variety of drivers in every state. Companies with lower prices and many car insurance discount opportunities receive the best scores.
• Customer Service: We comb through customer reviews and consumer feedback studies from experts like J.D. Power.
• Technology: Auto insurers with mobile apps, advanced online services and telematics are more likely to meet consumer needs.

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