The words “affordable” and “insurance” really shouldn’t be used in the same sentence, specifically when searching for the best car insurance for drivers with a DUI. To help control this cost, let’s introduce you to some of the factors that have a considerable impact on car insurance premiums, and come up with some ideas to cut the cost of your next policy.
The car, truck, or SUV to be insured is a large consideration when looking for the best insurance for drivers with a DUI. Vehicles with high performance, a lack of modern safety features, or a high likelihood of having liability claims will cost quite a bit more to insure than more modest models.
The data below presents insurance costs for the most budget-friendly automobiles to insure.
| Make and Model | Estimated Cost for Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Honda CR-V EX 2WD | $1,412 |
| Ford Escape XLS 2WD | $1,526 |
| Jeep Wrangler Sport 4WD 2-Dr | $1,561 |
| Toyota Tacoma 4WD | $1,578 |
| Ford F-150 XLT Super Cab 2WD | $1,585 |
| Toyota Prius | $1,666 |
| Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 4WD | $1,668 |
| Chevrolet Impala LT | $1,674 |
| Dodge Grand Caravan SE | $1,701 |
| Hyundai Elantra GLS 4-Dr Sedan | $1,761 |
| Toyota Camry XLE | $1,768 |
| Toyota Corolla LE | $1,761 |
| Ford Edge SEL AWD | $1,765 |
| Toyota RAV4 Sport 4WD | $1,775 |
| Nissan Rogue S AWD | $1,784 |
| Nissan Altima Hybrid 4-Dr Sedan | $1,794 |
| Chevrolet Malibu LS | $1,803 |
| Compare Cheap Rates Go | |
Premium data assumes married male driver age 30, two speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and Pennsylvania minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, claim-free, multi-policy, and homeowner. Premium costs do not factor in specific Pittsburgh, PA garaging location which can affect premiums greatly.
Based upon the table data, you can conclude that makes and models like the Honda CR-V, Ford Escape, Jeep Wrangler, and Toyota Tacoma will definitely be the most economical vehicles to insure after getting a DUI. Auto insurance rates will trend higher just because there is more exposure for drivers with a DUI, but in general those models will probably have the lowest insurance prices available.
Comparing quotes for cheap auto insurance is not always easy, and determining which companies offer the best auto insurance rates for drivers with a DUI may require a little more work.
Each company uses slightly different criteria for determining rates in each state, so let’s take a look at the auto insurance companies with the overall cheapest rates in Pennsylvania. We do need to point out that Pennsylvania auto insurance rates are calculated based on many things that will increase or decrease the cost of coverage. Simply having another birthday, having a claim, or getting a driving violation can trigger rate changes that can cause some rates to be higher when they were quite affordable.
Cheap Insurance Rates after a DUI
| Rank | Company | Cost Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | General Casualty | $740 |
| 2 | Travelers | $787 |
| 3 | Erie | $800 |
| 4 | Penn National | $808 |
| 5 | USAA | $817 |
| 6 | Amica | $982 |
| 7 | Auto-Owners | $1,003 |
| 8 | Atlantic States | $1,016 |
| 9 | Donegal Mutual | $1,069 |
| 10 | GEICO | $1,145 |
| 11 | State Farm | $1,174 |
| 12 | Allied | $1,179 |
| 13 | California Casualty | $1,198 |
| 14 | State Auto | $1,267 |
| 15 | Encompass | $1,357 |
| 16 | Mutual Benefit Group | $1,411 |
| 17 | Harleysville | $1,438 |
| 18 | Progressive | $1,472 |
| 19 | Nationwide | $1,491 |
| 20 | Chubb | $1,536 |
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General Casualty has some of the most affordable car insurance rates in Pittsburgh at around $740 annually. Travelers, Erie, Penn National, and USAA also make the cut as some of the most economical Pittsburgh, PA insurance companies.
As illustrated above, if you are insured with Travelers and switched to General Casualty, you might realize an annual savings of in the vicinity of $47. Policyholders with Erie might save as much as $60 a year, and Penn National policyholders might reduce prices by as much as $68 a year.
Understand that those estimates are averages across all types of drivers and the different vehicles they drive and do not take into consideration an exact zip code location for drivers with a DUI. So the auto insurance company that can offer you the best price may not even be in the top 30 companies shown above. That emphasizes why you need to compare prices as often as possible using your own driver and vehicle profiles.
One of the more important criteria that are looked at to determine the price you pay for insurance is where you live. Cities with larger populations tend to pay more, whereas areas with lower crime rates and fewer weather claims have the benefit of cheaper auto insurance prices.
The table below lists the most expensive areas in Pennsylvania for drivers with a DUI in which to purchase auto insurance. Pittsburgh shows up at #17 with an annual premium of $1,053 for the average insurance policy, which is about $88 per month.
| Rank | City | Annual Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philadelphia | $2,037 |
| 2 | Drexel Hill | $1,504 |
| 3 | Levittown | $1,421 |
| 4 | Chester | $1,379 |
| 5 | Norristown | $1,268 |
| 6 | Allentown | $1,130 |
| 7 | Erie | $1,115 |
| 8 | Easton | $1,102 |
| 9 | Municipality of Monr | $1,091 |
| 10 | Hazleton | $1,088 |
| 11 | Scranton | $1,081 |
| 12 | Plum | $1,079 |
| 13 | Reading | $1,066 |
| 14 | Wilkes-Barre | $1,057 |
| 15 | New Castle | $1,057 |
| 16 | Bethlehem | $1,055 |
| 17 | Pittsburgh | $1,053 |
| 18 | Altoona | $1,042 |
| 19 | Harrisburg | $1,025 |
| 20 | Williamsport | $996 |
| 21 | Lancaster | $995 |
| 22 | Bethel Park | $989 |
| 23 | Lebanon | $960 |
| 24 | York | $944 |
| 25 | State College | $869 |
| Find Cheaper Rates Go | ||
Premium amounts are comparative as specific location information can impact premium rates greatly.
Pennsylvania auto insurance companies
Insuring your vehicle with the best car insurance company is hard considering how many companies there are to choose from in Pittsburgh. The company rank data in the next section may help you select which companies to look at comparing rates with.
These rankings are only comprised of insurance companies that insure vehicles in the majority of U.S. states, so smaller regional companies will not be included in the list. To compare prices from these top insurers and more, click here.
Top 10 Major Auto Insurers in Pittsburgh Ranked by Customer Satisfaction
- Titan Insurance – 93%
- The Hartford – 93%
- The General – 91%
- Progressive – 90%
- 21st Century – 89%
- USAA – 87%
- Erie Insurance – 87%
- State Farm – 87%
- Travelers – 87%
- Safeco Insurance – 86%
Top 10 Major Auto Insurers in Pittsburgh Ranked by Claims Service
- Progressive
- USAA
- Liberty Mutual
- State Farm
- GEICO
- Titan Insurance
- Nationwide
- Allstate
- The General
- 21st Century
The chart below illustrates how choosing a deductible can change insurance rates when searching for cheap insurance for drivers with a DUI. The prices are based on a married male driver, comp and collision included, and no discounts are applied.
As shown above, a 50-year-old driver could pocket $230 a year by changing from a $100 deductible up to a $500 deductible, or save $346 by switching to a $1,000 deductible. Young drivers, such as the 20-year-old chart data, could save as much as $762 each year by choosing a higher deductible. When choosing a higher deductible, it is important to have spare funds to pay the extra out-of-pocket expense. This is the primary disadvantage of choosing high deductibles.
How to find more affordable car insurance for drivers with a DUI
Here are some of the recommended penny-pinching suggestions that can help you quote more affordable auto insurance.
- Buying car and homeowners insurance together can save money
- Save money by observing traffic laws and speed limits
- Don’t have frequent claims
- Prevent rate increases by staying accident-free
- Drive safe vehicles
- Compare rate quotes frequently
The last tip in the list is extremely crucial, as was pointed out in this write-up. Prices charged by car insurance companies in Pittsburgh can be modified anytime, so drivers shouldn’t be resistant to switch carriers if a lower-cost policy is available. Having a favorite company is fine, but we do not recommend it if that faithfulness ends up costing you a wad of cash every year. It only take a few minutes to compare rates and find cheaper auto insurance for drivers with a DUI.