Cheap Car Insurance
It's expensive to get car insurance in Tennessee!
Dang! Tennessee is definitely not one of the cheapest states for car insurance. Don't worry, we got your back!
At The Zebra we're all about helping you save money on car insurance. Our engine looks for the cheapest insurance provider to find the best fit for you and your vehicle. Since Tennessee might have cheaper premiums that makes our job a breeze! It's easy to get started—we just need some basic information to begin finding the best auto discounts for you.
What's the cheapest car insurance in Tennessee?
| Rank | Company Name | Avg. Annual Premium |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Utica National | $752 |
| 2 | Auto-Owners | $844 |
| 3 | Cincinnati Insurance | $867 |
| 4 | Penn National | $917 |
| 5 | USAA | $938 |
| 6 | Tennessee Farmers | $942 |
| 7 | Erie | $977 |
| 8 | Nationwide | $1,022 |
| 9 | Allied | $1,039 |
| 10 | Westfield | $1,058 |
| 11 | GEICO | $1,133 |
| 12 | State Farm | $1,189 |
| 13 | Travelers | $1,189 |
| 14 | Progressive | $1,202 |
| 15 | Shelter | $1,211 |
| 16 | Direct General | $1,226 |
| 17 | State Auto | $1,229 |
| 18 | The Hartford | $1,233 |
| 19 | 21st Century | $1,287 |
| 20 | Chubb | $1,303 |
| 21 | Cal Casualty | $1,450 |
| 22 | Safe Auto | $1,513 |
| 23 | MetLife | $1,571 |
| 24 | Farmers | $1,645 |
| 25 | Celina Insurance | $1,841 |
| 26 | Allstate | $1,859 |
| 27 | Liberty Mutual | $1,925 |
| 28 | Grange Mutual | $1,928 |
| 29 | Encompass | $2,238 |
| 30 | Safeco | $2,315 |
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%.
| Rating Factor | $ Savings | % Savings |
|---|---|---|
| No Traffic Tickets | $238 | 15.49% |
| No Accidents | $464 | 26.30% |
| Good Credit | $1,379 | 51.48% |
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.
| Age | Annual Rate with Parents | Annual Rate Alone |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | $4,454 | $7,926 |
| 17 | $4,153 | $5,945 |
| 18 | $3,832 | $4,948 |
| 19 | $3,457 | $3,215 |
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.
| Rating Factor | Annual Rate | % Increase |
|---|---|---|
| At-Fault Accident | $1,764 | 26.30% |
| DUI | $1,903 | 31.71% |
| Speeding Violation | $1,538 | 15.49% |
| Bad Credit | $2,679 | 51.48% |
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.
Cheap Tennessee Car Insurance Companies
The Zebra compares over 200 companies & 1,800 products, so you can save way more than 15% and find the cheapest car insurance in Tennessee.
Car Insurance FAQs
Are digital insurance cards accepted in Tennessee?
What does this mean for you?
If you happen to find yourself pulled over by a police officer in Tennessee you won't have to rifle through your glovebox wondering if you remembered to replace that expired insurance card last month. Instead, you can provide proof of coverage with your smartphone.
Do I need uninsured motorist coverage in Tennessee?
Uninsured Drivers in Tennessee
20%
12%
Did you know?
Uninsured motorist coverage protects you from damage caused by other drivers without insurance and hit-and-runs.How much does car insurance cost in Tennessee cities?
Car insurance companies calculate your rate based on many factors, location of the vehicle being an important one. The cheapest car insurance is found in Kingsport, Tennessee, and the most expensive in Memphis, Tennessee.
| Rank | City | Avg. Annual Premium |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Memphis | $1,475 |
| 2 | Bartlett | $1,391 |
| 3 | Germantown | $1,347 |
| 4 | Collierville | $1,336 |
| 5 | Jackson | $1,279 |
| 6 | Oak Ridge | $1,235 |
| 7 | Knoxville | $1,206 |
| 8 | Columbia | $1,202 |
| 9 | Nashville | $1,189 |
| 10 | Maryville | $1,184 |
| 11 | Clarksville | $1,182 |
| 12 | Spring Hill | $1,181 |
| 13 | La Vergne | $1,174 |
| 14 | Smyrna | $1,171 |
| 15 | Murfreesboro | $1,171 |
| 16 | Cookeville | $1,159 |
| 17 | Brentwood | $1,156 |
| 18 | Franklin | $1,152 |
| 19 | Morristown | $1,148 |
| 20 | Hendersonville | $1,147 |
| 21 | Gallatin | $1,144 |
| 22 | Chattanooga | $1,138 |
| 23 | Cleveland | $1,113 |
| 24 | Johnson City | $1,052 |
| 25 | Kingsport | $1,047 |
Recent Tennessee Car Insurance Questions and Answers
One deductible for two accidents?
Two accidents w/ objects 2 weeks apart. One damaged front bumper, other the back bumper. Can I file 1 claim ...
I let someone borrow my car and they ended up stealing it
My mom owns this vehicle but we’ve both been paying for the financing of it – half and half. Well, ...
Does my son need to be on my car insurance policy or his own?
We live in FL and my son was a full time student for the past three year in FL and ...
Insurance increase due to increased cost of parts and labor?
I have a 1997 BMW Z3 1.9L 2-door convertible fully insured with GEICO. In 2017, I paid $640 and for ...
Driving Laws
Tennessee Texting and Driving Laws
- Ban on all cell phones for school bus drivers
- Ban on all cell phones for drivers with Learner or Intermediate Licenses
- Ban on text messaging for all drivers
Alcohol Related Fatalities
295
Per Year in TennesseeAnnual DUI Arrests
Tennessee26,322
US Average23,438
DUI Legal Limit
0.08%
Blood Alcohol ContentAverage DUI Cost
10k
Nationally, For First OffendersWhat does this mean for you?
Driving with a blood alcohol content higher than the number above will put you at risk of being arrested for driving under the influence. If arrested you’ll face harsh consequences and may face varying degrees of jail time, fines, driver’s license suspensions, and reinstatement requirements.
If convicted of a DUI, you can expect the financial obligations to extend beyond the DUI ticket to court costs, attorney fees, higher insurance rates, and potentially the installation of a Ignition Interlock Device to serve as a breathalyzer test each time you start your vehicle.
