Cheap Pittsburgh Auto Insurance
Despite the high cost, car insurance is a good idea for several reasons.
First, just about all states have minimum mandated liability insurance limits which means state laws require a specific minimum amount of liability insurance coverage if you want to drive legally. In Pennsylvania these limits are 15/30/5 which means you must have $15,000 of bodily injury coverage per person, $30,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $5,000 of property damage coverage.
Second, if you bought your vehicle with a loan, most lenders will require that you have full coverage to ensure loan repayment if the vehicle is totaled. If you let the policy lapse, the bank or lender will purchase a policy for your vehicle at a more expensive rate and make you pay for the much more expensive policy.
Third, car insurance preserves both your vehicle and your personal assets. It will also pay for medical bills for you, your passengers, and anyone else injured in an accident. Liability insurance, one of your policy coverages, also pays expenses related to your legal defense if you are sued as the result of an accident. If your car is damaged in a storm or accident, comprehensive and collision coverage will cover the repair costs.
The benefits of carrying enough insurance are definitely more than the cost, particularly when you have a large claim. The average driver in Pennsylvania is overpaying more than $865 each year so compare rate quotes at least once a year to ensure rates are competitive.
How much you pay for auto insurance coverage is dependent on a lot of factors, but the average rate in Pittsburgh is right around $1,200 for an annual policy. The average for other states is roughly $1,250, so Pittsburgh drivers pay about $1 less every month than drivers in surrounding states.
Insurance rates in Pittsburgh are dependent upon many variables, and one important factor is the vehicle you are insuring. The information below shows policy rates for the top-selling vehicles bought in Pittsburgh.
| Make, Model, and Trim Level | Annual Cost | Semi-Annual Cost | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chevrolet Colorado LT Crew Cab 4WD | $800 | $400 | $67 |
| Chevrolet Equinox LS AWD | $870 | $435 | $73 |
| Chevrolet Malibu LT | $886 | $443 | $74 |
| Chevrolet Silverado LS Crew Cab 2WD | $994 | $497 | $83 |
| Dodge Ram Quad Cab Laramie 2WD | $1,012 | $506 | $84 |
| Ford Escape XLT 2WD | $736 | $368 | $61 |
| Ford F-150 XLT Regular Cab 2WD | $806 | $403 | $67 |
| Ford Focus SES 2-Dr Coupe | $978 | $489 | $82 |
| GMC Sierra SL Crew Cab 4WD | $934 | $467 | $78 |
| Honda Accord EX 4-Dr Sedan | $736 | $368 | $61 |
| Honda CR-V EX 2WD | $736 | $368 | $61 |
| Honda Civic EX 4-Dr Sedan | $900 | $450 | $75 |
| Hyundai Sonata SE 4-Dr Sedan | $978 | $489 | $82 |
| Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited 2WD | $934 | $467 | $78 |
| Jeep Wrangler Sport 4WD 2-Dr | $758 | $379 | $63 |
| Nissan Altima 3.5 SR 2-Dr Coupe | $1,040 | $520 | $87 |
| Toyota Camry Hybrid | $994 | $497 | $83 |
| Toyota Corolla S | $918 | $459 | $77 |
| Toyota Prius | $816 | $408 | $68 |
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Table data represents married female driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1000 deductibles, and Pennsylvania minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, homeowner, multi-vehicle, safe-driver, and multi-policy. Price estimates do not factor in the specific area where the vehicle is garaged which can revise insurance rates substantially.
The illustration below shows how different deductible levels and can raise or lower yearly insurance costs for different categories of driver ages. The prices are based on a single female driver, full coverage, and no discounts are factored in.
How to find cheaper Pittsburgh car insurance rates
The recommended way to find low-cost prices for car insurance prices in Pittsburgh is to make a habit of comparing prices annually from different companies that insure vehicles in Pennsylvania. Rates can be compared by following these steps.
- Try to comprehend how companies price auto insurance and the modifications you can make to prevent high rates. Many factors that cause high rates such as at-fault accidents, careless driving, and bad credit can be amended by making small lifestyle or driving habit changes.
- Obtain price quotes from independent agents, exclusive agents, and direct companies. Direct and exclusive agents can provide rates from a single company like GEICO and Allstate, while independent agencies can quote rates from many different companies.
- Compare the new rates to the price on your current policy to determine if switching companies saves money. If you find better rates, ensure coverage does not lapse between policies.
The most important part of shopping around is that you’ll want to compare the same amount of coverage on each quote request and and to get rate quotes from as many companies as feasibly possible. Doing this guarantees an apples-to-apples comparison and a complete price analysis.
| Company | Value | Customer Service | Claims | Customer Satisfaction | A.M Best Rating | Overall Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The General | 96 | 100 | 92 | 91% | A- | 95 |
| Titan Insurance | 87 | 96 | 94 | 93% | A+ | 92.9 |
| The Hartford | 88 | 96 | 91 | 93% | A+ | 92.6 |
| Progressive | 84 | 94 | 99 | 90% | A+ | 92.4 |
| Travelers | 84 | 93 | 100 | 87% | A++ | 92.3 |
| State Farm | 84 | 93 | 95 | 87% | A++ | 91 |
| Farmers Insurance | 87 | 92 | 90 | 85% | A | 90.6 |
| Erie Insurance | 79 | 93 | 90 | 87% | A+ | 88.6 |
| Safeco Insurance | 85 | 91 | 87 | 86% | A | 88.4 |
| USAA | 71 | 93 | 98 | 87% | A++ | 88 |
| GEICO | 73 | 93 | 95 | 85% | A++ | 87.1 |
| 21st Century | 85 | 85 | 91 | 89% | A | 86.9 |
| Liberty Mutual | 72 | 91 | 97 | 83% | A | 86.4 |
| AAA Insurance | 85 | 85 | 88 | 86% | A | 85.8 |
| Nationwide | 71 | 90 | 93 | 83% | A+ | 84.9 |
| Allstate | 69 | 92 | 92 | 83% | A+ | 84.4 |
| American Family | 77 | 96 | 80 | 85% | A | 83.8 |
| Esurance | 70 | 80 | 89 | 77% | A+ | 79.2 |
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Five tips to get lower Pittsburgh car insurance rates
Many different elements are used when premium rates are determined. Some factors are common sense such as traffic violations, although others are more transparent such as your credit history or how financially stable you are. One of the most helpful ways to save on car insurance is to to have a grasp of the rating factors that aid in calculating the level of your policy premiums. If you understand what controls the rates you pay, this empowers consumers to make smart changes that will entitle you to lower rates.
Safer vehicles mean better rates – Vehicles with high crash test scores get lower rates. Vehicles engineered for safety reduce injuries and reduced instances of injuries means lower claim amounts and more competitive rates for policyholders. If your car or truck has at least an “acceptable” rating on the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety website it is probably cheaper to insure.
With age comes responsibility – Drivers with little experience have been known to be less responsible with other occupants in the car therefore car insurance rates are much higher. If you’ve ever had to add a teen driver to your car insurance policy can really hurt. Older drivers are proven to be safer behind the wheel, tend to cause fewer accidents, and tend to be get fewer driving tickets.
Drive less and save – The higher the mileage driven each year the more you’ll pay to insure your vehicle. Most companies charge rates based upon how the vehicle is primarily used. Cars and trucks that are left in the garage can get a lower rate than those used for commuting. Ask your agent if your policy shows annual mileage, because improper ratings can cost you money.
Allowing your coverage to lapse raises premiums – Not maintaining insurance is illegal and you may have a hard time finding new coverage because you let your coverage cancel without a new policy in place. In addition to paying higher rates, getting caught without coverage can result in a revoked license or a big fine.
Your address can push rates up or down – Residing in less populated areas has definite advantages when shopping for auto insurance. Less people living in that area means fewer accidents as well as less vandalism and auto theft. People who live in big cities have to deal with more road rage incidents and higher rates of accident claims. Longer commute distances means a statistically higher chance of an accident.