Cheap Tennessee Car Insurance

Here's what you need to know when driving in Tennessee

Across the Volunteer State, there are 194,755 miles of road just waiting to be driven. We’ll get you prepped, then you take the wheel.

Cheap Car Insurance

Cheap Insurance for Good Drivers in Tennessee

Drivers with good driving records typically enjoy lower car insurance costs than drivers with histories of speeding tickets, at-fault accidents, or DUI citations. Unfortunately, Tennessee state drivers without a recent at-fault accident save only 26% on their car insurance premiums, on average — well below the US average of 32%. In addition to earning a cheaper premium for driving incident-free, you may qualify for a safe-driving bonus through your car insurance company. The amount of these discounts may vary, but they typically run between 5 and 10%.

Cheap Insurance for Young Drivers in Tennessee

Young drivers — aged between 16 and 25 — pay very high car insurance rates, with those aged 16-19 paying the most expensive premiums of all. Because of the risk presented by inexperienced drivers, teen drivers pay more than three times the national average for car insurance. In Tennessee, teen drivers pay insurance rates in line with the national average: $4,741 per year.

Cheap Car Insurance for Bad Drivers in Tennessee

If you have a clean driving record — no at-fault accidents, speeding tickets, DUIs, or other recent citations — you'll probably enjoy relatively cheap car insurance rates. Conversely, a bad driving record will cause your costs to skyrocket: car insurance premiums typically increase by 31% after a DUI, 26% after an at-fault accident, and 15% after a speeding ticket in Tennessee. The post-citation penalties assessed by car insurance companies in Tennessee are slightly more forgiving than nationwide averages. If you have a clean driving history, be sure to inquire about your insurance company's safe driver discount.

What are the Best Car Insurance Companies in Tennessee?

Every auto insurer advertises its low premiums. But as with any product, the cheapest car insurance option isn't always the best choice. Considering what's at stake, it's worth doing your research to discover an auto insurance policy that insures your car completely after a collision. Find a great value, rather than settling for the most affordable auto insurance in your state.

Compare top insurance companies' financial strength and claims satisfaction ratings to better predict the level of service you'll receive. Claims satisfaction — measured by J.D. Power — is ranked on a scale of 2 to 5, with 5 being "among the best" and 2 being "the rest." Financial strength — calculated by A.M. Best and running from "Poor" to "Superior" — evaluates an insurer's financial strength and ability to meet its policy and contractual obligations.

What is the Best Auto Insurance Coverage in Tennessee?

The minimum insurance requirement in Tennessee is $25,000 Bodily Injury per person, $50,000 Bodily Injury per accident, and $15,000 Property Damage per accident.

If you opt for the minimum allowed coverage in Tennessee, you can expect to pay a mean of $500 annually. This is cheaper than the national average by 24%. If you choose better auto insurance coverage, you can choose a policy with comprehensive and collision coverage, protecting against damages caused by car-vs.-car collisions, theft, or weather incidents. Better coverage has a price: in Tennessee, a comprehensive policy with a $1,000 deductible costs $1,153, 131% more than basic coverage. For comprehensive insurance coverage with a $500 deductible, expect to pay 163% more than for liability-only coverage.

Compare average expenditures for liability-only and comprehensive auto insurance levels below.

Car Insurance Laws

State minimum insurance requirements in Tennessee

In Tennessee, the state minimum coverage requirement is liability with limits of:

• Bodily Injury $25,000 per person
• Bodily Injury $50,000 per accident
• Property Damage $15,000 per accident

Optional coverage in Tennessee (varies by carrier):

• Comprehensive
• Collision
• Loan/Lease Payoff
• Medical Payments
• Rental Car Reimbursement
• Roadside Assistance
• Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury
• Uninsured Motorist Property Damage

Liability coverage is legally required in Tennessee and pays for injury and lost wages that you cause to another driver or their passengers as well as damage to the other driver’s vehicle in the event that you are considered “at fault” in an accident. The coverage limits are determined by each individual state and normally split into three categories. In Tennessee, the minimum is listed as 25/50/15 and explained below:

• $25,000 bodily injury coverage per person. This is the maximum dollar amount that pays for a single person that you injure in an auto accident.
• $50,000 bodily injury coverage per accident. This is the maximum dollar amount that pays for all injuries that you cause in an accident if more than one person is hurt.
• $15,000 property damage per accident. This is the maximum dollar amount that pays for damage that you cause in an accident.

These numbers reflect the minimum limits required in Tennessee but higher coverage amounts are available with most companies.

Tennessee Car Insurance FAQs

Is car insurance required in Tennessee?

Yes — car insurance is a legal requirement in the state of Tennessee.

When did car insurance become mandatory in Tennessee?

Auto insurance became compulsory in Tennessee in 1927. Tennessee started tracking uninsured drivers digitally in 2016.

What percentage of people in Tennessee don't have car insurance?

Approximately 20 percent of Tennesseean drivers don't have car insurance. This makes Tennessee one of the least-insured states in the US.

Driving Laws

Tennessee Texting and Driving Laws

1. Ban on all cell phones for school bus drivers
2. Ban on all cell phones for drivers with Learner or Intermediate Licenses
3. Ban on text messaging for all drivers

Tennessee DUI Laws

Tennessee has a 10-year DUI lookback period. Multiple DUI offenses within 10 years subjects violators to increased penalties and fines.

In addition, penalties are enhanced for any DUI leading to an injury or death or for a DUI in which a passenger is under 18 years old. Penalties are also enhanced for any DUI offense in which the driver has a BAC of 0.20% or higher.

First-time DUI offenses in Tennessee lead to:

• 48 hours to 11 months and 29 days in jail
• $350 to $1,500 in fines
• License revocation for one year
• Must install and use an ignition interlock device
• Must participate in an alcohol and drug treatment program
• Must pay restitution, if applicable