Low-Income Car Insurance
If your auto insurance budget is tight, there are a few ways to save.
Car insurance for low-income drivers: everything you need to know
Car insurance safeguards your property from theft, accidents and mechanical breakdowns. But safety has its price, and affordable auto insurance for low-income families and individuals isn't always easy to find. Our data shows people who earn between $10,000 and $19,000 per year pay nearly as much as those who earn more than $200,000 per year. Based on the necessity and expense of car insurance, it's not hard to understand why people are looking for car insurance they can afford on a low income. This is where it gets tricky.
Policies built specifically for low-income families are a bit of a gray area for insurance companies because your income isn’t technically a factor in setting your rates. Insurers use your credit score, education level, homeownership status, insurance history and ZIP code (among other factors) to determine the insurance rate reflected in your quote — each of which could be correlated with your income level.
Key takeaways
- Income is not a factor in your car insurance rates
- Some states offer assistance programs, so it's worth checking with your state's insurance department to see if you qualify
- Comparison shopping for car insurance is crucial for low-income individuals to find the best rates and coverage for their needs
- Increasing deductibles and reducing coverage on older or less valuable vehicles can help reduce the cost of car insurance for low-income individuals
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How to find low-income car insurance
If you’re on a tight budget, finding cheap car insurance is important. One of the best ways to find affordable auto insurance is to compare rates from multiple companies.
Insurance companies assess your driving profile and their own loss/revenue ratio in order to profile a premium. This means that your rate with one company isn't the same for all companies. Below are some average rates based on an average driver profile in our methodology. As you can see, rates vary substantially depending on which carrier you choose.
One of the best ways to find affordable auto insurance is to compare rates from multiple companies.
| Insurance Company | 6-Month Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Allstate | $1,019 | $170 |
| Farmers | $788 | $131 |
| GEICO | $562 | $94 |
| Liberty Mutual | $863 | $144 |
| Nationwide | $541 | $90 |
| Progressive | $627 | $104 |
| State Farm | $646 | $108 |
| USAA | $636 | $106 |
Zebra tip: Buy an older vehicle
Buy an older vehicle to keep your insurance costs down. Newer vehicles cost more than used cars, meaning they also carry a higher insurance bill. If your car has a value of less than $4,000, you might consider dropping "full coverage" (comprehensive and collision). Find more information in our guide to the cheapest cars to insure, including average costs.
Recommended coverage for low-income drivers: Everything you need to know
Finding the right price might seem like the priority, but your coverage levels are crucial if you want to stay protected. Even if you are on a budget, you need to think about the potential risks of not carrying enough coverage
Most insurance professionals suggest liability limits of at least 50/100/50 in order to be well protected. We'll break down what this means below:
- Bodily injury per person ($50,000): This is the maximum amount your policy will pay if you injure someone in an accident.
- Bodily injury per accident ($100,000): This is the maximum amount your insurance will pay out for all of those harmed by you in the same accident.
- Property damage ($50,000): This is the total amount paid out for physical damage to property you cause in an accident.
In most cases, these limits are much higher than what states require. Some states have dramatically lower levels, so think twice before just accepting the lowest amount of coverage as it could have devastating financial consequences down the road.
Do I have to get full coverage?
Adding comprehensive and collision coverages to cover damage to your own vehicle can seriously increase the cost of your policy. If you're thinking about forgoing these coverage types, ask yourself the following questions:
- Would most out-of-pocket repairs be too expensive?
- Do you rely on your car for work or other needs?
- Is your car worth more than $4,000?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may want to consider adding these optional collision and non-collision coverages to your policy.
Government insurance programs for low-income drivers
Because household income isn't directly used to determine monthly rates, most companies don't create special programs for low-income families. But there are state-operated programs and companies that are specifically designed to help low-income drivers find more affordable car insurance.
California
California has a program called California’s Low-Cost Automobile Insurance Program, or CLCA, and is designed to provide low-cost insurance rates for eligible drivers[1].
What are the requirements for CLCA eligibility?
- Combined household income, based on the number of people:
- 1 = $30,150
- 2 = $40,600
- 3 = $51,050
- 4 = $60,500
- A good driving record
- No at-fault accidents in the past three years
- Must be at least 19 years old
- Must own a valid driver’s license
- Must own a vehicle that is valued at less than $25,000
- And, naturally, a California resident
If you meet the above qualifications and decide to opt to participate in CLCA, your insurance limits for bodily injury liability and property damage liability would actually be lower than the state limits. As participants in this program are exempt from state requirements, your limits would be $10,000 for bodily injury or death per person, $20,000 total for bodily injury or death, and $3,000 total for property damage. The amount of the premium ranges based on your insurance history and your county.
Hawaii's AABD program eligibility
- You are blind
- You have suffered from a physical or mental disability for at least 12 months which causes you to be unable to work
- You live with and take care of someone who receives AABD benefits
- You have a terminal condition that prevents you from working
- Your Social Security or Supplemental Security Income doesn’t provide you with enough money
How to get coverage under Hawaii's AABD program:
Because this is a government program, you would need to speak with the Hawaiian Department of Human Services in order to receive any benefits from AABD.
New Jersey
New Jersey’s plan, Special Automobile Insurance Policy (SAIP), provides only the medical coverage portion of your auto insurance after a car accident[3]. Eligibility is dependent upon you already being qualified for federal Medicaid with hospitalization, which an insurance agent can determine from your Medicaid ID card.
How much does SAIP cost and what are the requirements?
SAIP costs $365 per year. This coverage is also contingent upon the annual renewal of your Medicaid benefits. For example, if your Medicaid benefits were to lapse mid-year, your SAIP benefits would continue until the next renewal.
What does SAIP cover?
This coverage pays for emergency medical treatment immediately following an accident, including the treatment of serious brain and spinal injuries up at $250,000. In the event of death, a $10,000 benefit is available.
What doesn’t SAIP cover?
As stated, this policy is for medical coverage only — so things like comprehensive or collision coverage aren't provided.
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Non-state-affiliated programs for low-income car insurance
CURE
CURE, or Citizens United Reciprocal Exchange, advertises itself as an insurance provider in New Jersey and Pennsylvania that only uses your driving record as a factor for your rate[4]. It works similarly to other insurance providers in terms of coverage options, discounts and payment plans.
The Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund
The Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund is a government-created program in the state of Maryland specifically designed to provide liability insurance for residents who are unable to receive auto insurance on the open market[5]. Independent from the actual state government, they cater to people who have been denied coverage because of poor or no credit, lapses in insurance or a poor driving record.
The Zebra's resources for drivers with poor credit
While credit is a major rating factor in most states, there are definitely ways to find affordable car insurance coverage. The Zebra has compiled resources with information on car insurance with bad credit or no credit history, including car insurance company rates.
Other ways to find auto insurance with a lower income
Insurance companies can’t legally use your income to determine your rate, but they may use other metrics that are often — but not always — correlated to your income level. Car insurance data suggests that people with higher incomes file fewer claims, but that could be because they simply are able to pay for damages out of pocket rather than filing a claim.
Because these factors are not necessarily within your control, here are some actionable ways to save on car insurance.
Pay for claims out of pocket
Use your car insurance only if the value of damage in an accident exceeds your reasonable ability to pay for it. Unless you have some form of accident forgiveness in your car insurance policy, your company will raise your rate for three to five years after an at-fault incident. See below how much this would impact your rate.
| At-Fault Accident Surcharge | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|
| No Violation | $1,483 | $124 |
| After Violation | $2,153 | $179 |
| 2nd Year after Charge | $2,823 | $235 |
| 3rd Year after Charge | $3,493 | $291 |
Over the course of three years, this claim could cost you over $2,000 in surcharges. Adding in a $500 deductible, your total amount paid for an at-fault accident is over $2,500. If you have an accident and the out-of-pocket costs are less than $2,500, it makes more financial sense to pay for the damages yourself. Below is a helpful guideline to do so.
- Get a cost estimate for the repairs.
- Use The Zebra's State of Insurance study to see how much an at-fault accident raised rates in your state, and consider that value over the course of three years.
- Compare the value of the out-of-pocket repairs to the rate increase over three years plus your deductible. If it's cheaper to file a claim, go for it.
Consider usage-based insurance companies
Usage-based auto insurance policies are designed to create your premium based on how you drive rather than who you are. In theory, if you're a safe driver, you can save. Below are some estimates from popular insurance companies. While not available in every state, these insurtech companies might offer some savings on telematics programs.
| Telematics Program | Estimated Savings |
|---|---|
| Progressive Snapshot | Average of $130 |
| Allstate Drivewise | Average of 10-25% |
| State Farm Drive Safe & Save | Up to 15% |
| Esurance DriveSense | Varies |
| Nationwide SmartRide | Up to 40% |
| Liberty Mutual RightTrack | Average of 5-30% |
| GEICO DriveEasy | Varies |
Be conservative with your coverage
If your vehicle is worth less than $4,000, you should consider dropping collision and comprehensive coverage from your insurance policy. These coverages are designed to protect the physical integrity of your vehicle. But if the vehicle isn’t worth much to begin with, you might be paying for coverage you do not need.
If you do decide to drop comprehensive and collision, consider if underinsured or uninsured motorist property damage is right for you. This will protect your vehicle if it’s damaged by another driver with any insurance or not enough to repair or replace it. Bear in mind, you still have to keep your state’s liability coverage by law.
Avoid letting your coverage lapse
Even small gaps in your insurance history can increase your rates when trying to find a new policy. If you are going to be without a vehicle temporarily, consider purchasing a non-owners policy to keep continuous coverage. That way, when you are ready to get insurance again, your rates will be more reasonable.
Double-check for discounts
Although some of the following discounts are automatically added, you will still want to comb through your insurance policy to ensure you’re getting the best auto insurance rates. Here are some of the most common car insurance discounts:
This discount refers to having two types of insurance policies under one insurance company. This is often known as bundling. Common policies are home/auto or renters/auto. The discounts affect both your policies, typically.
If you’ve taken a defensive driving course, your insurance company may reward you with a discount on your premium. Learn more about what the big companies will offer you for your good driving record.
If your vehicle comes with an anti-theft device or services like LoJack, your insurance company usually provides a discount.
This discount is typically added automatically to your policy and tends to be beneficial. Just like its name implies, this discount refers to having a safe driving record.
A multi-car discount refers to having more than one vehicle on the same insurance policy. This can often lead to savings. While it may vary by provider, the limit of vehicles on the same policy is typically four.
This method refers to the manner you choose to pay your insurance premiums. While it varies by company, you can usually receive a discount if you pay your premium upfront, pay through your bank account or opt for paperless billing.
If you pay your insurer your premium ahead of its policy inception date, a lot of companies will give you a discount on your premium.
Statistically, some occupations like teachers, physicians or police officers are less likely to file a claim. Additionally, many companies like GEICO and Nationwide offer discounts to certain groups or organizations. Because of this, some insurers return the savings back to you.
For more information, see our guide to insurance affinity discounts.
Most companies will require the student on your policy to have a GPA above 3.0 in order to receive this discount. You can provide the insurance companies with a transcript or report card for each policy period as proof.
For more information, see our guide to student insurance discounts.
It might be a fairly obvious suggestion, but if you're already struggling to pay for car insurance you really need to take care while driving. A poor driving record is a major red flag to any insurance company. Depending on your violation type, you could end up paying surcharges on your premiums for between three and ten years.
Compare companies and find the best policy for your budget.
How personal factors might impact your auto insurance rates
There are a few things insurance companies use to set insurance rates that could be indirectly tied to a driver's income. Bear in mind that each insurance company may weigh these factors differently. Plus, some states do not allow certain factors to be used in the underwriting process.
Zebra tip: Be careful with non-standard carriers
If you are looking for rock-bottom car insurance prices, it's likely that you'll encounter non-standard carriers. A non-standard car insurance company focuses on customers who typically have a high number of accidents or otherwise struggle to find a policy. While coverage may be cheaper, you aren't likely to have as many coverage options and customer service may be lacking. Bottom line: do your research to avoid companies with poor customer service ratings.
Low income car insurance: FAQs
Below you'll find answers to some of the most common questions regarding auto insurance for low-income drivers.
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About The Zebra
The Zebra is not an insurance company. We publish data-backed, expert-reviewed resources to help consumers make more informed insurance decisions.
- The Zebra’s insurance content is written and reviewed for accuracy by licensed insurance agents.
- The Zebra’s insurance content is not subject to review or alteration by insurance companies or partners.
- The Zebra’s editorial team operates independently of the company’s partnerships and commercialization interests, publishing unbiased information for consumer benefit.
- The auto insurance rates published on The Zebra’s pages are based on a comprehensive analysis of car insurance pricing data, evaluating more than 83 million insurance rates from across the United States.