The average car insurance rates are about 1/3 lower here than the national average for state required minimum coverage and very close to the US average of $2014 for full coverage. The Keystone State is fairly well populated in a comparably smaller landscape that concentrates traffic movements. The ratio of Uninsured Drivers is at 6%, which is about half the national average. This is pleasing as you are more likely to be paid for your injuries and damages due to a traffic accident caused by someone else.
Minimum Requirements
The minimum liability vehicle insurance coverage required in PA is as follows;
- $15,000 for bodily injury or death per person.
- $30,000 total for bodily injury or death per accident.
- $5,000 for property damage.
Also required;
- $5,000 first party benefits (FPB) for medical benefits for injuries to policyholders and family members.
- $15,000 per person, $30,000 per accident Uninsured/Underinsured Bodily Injury coverage (UM/UIM BI). (This coverage can be rejected).
FPB includes medical, dental, hospitalization, and nursing expenses for you and your passengers regardless of fault. UM/UIM BI covers medical expenses for you and your passengers if you are hit by an uninsured/underinsured driver.
You have the option of Limited or Full Tort Coverage in Pennsylvania. Limited tort offers premium savings. You are still able to recover all out-of-pocket medical and other expenses; however, you are not able to recover certain damages – such as payments for pain and suffering – unless in exceptional conditions. With full tort selection, you retain unrestricted rights to bring suit against the negligent party but spend more at the start.
So, you need to pay attention to what type of a policy you choose here. You have a decision to make when you are given a few options. The state allows you to choose not only what you can insure but also what you could claim from third parties.
Auto Insurance Costs in Pennsylvania
You should have a quick look at average premium expenditure in your zip code and see how your premium compares. The average cost of state required minimum coverage in the Keystone State is $428 and it is $194 cheaper than the US average. The average cost of full coverage vehicle insurance is about the same as the national average at $2,040. If you are paying a lot more than this figure it is probably time to get a few quotes and see if you can save some money.
Philadelphia Automobile Insurance
It is worth mentioning that the largest city in this state is probably pushing up average costs. Rates are twice higher here when you break down premiums by cities. This is hardly a surprising result considering Philadelphia is one of the biggest metropolitans in the US and five times more populated than the next big city in PA. Generally, city premiums are much more expensive, especially if it is a huge one.
Also, some parts of cities can be nightmare zones with much higher rates that it is in your best interest to avoid such areas. You can still get cheap rates in the City of Brotherly Love if you know how to save money. There are so many ways of checking prices from the Internet to local brokers that you shouldn’t buy car insurance without shopping around for the best prices.
Premiums are pretty uniform across all cities and towns except Philadelphia, where motorists need to spend twice more. If you are not a high risk driver with several traffic tickets or recent accidents you should get affordable enough policies outside Philly.
Lowest Priced Insurers in Pennsylvania
Interestingly you cannot see the largest 10 companies in the US within the top 10 cheapest here. They are usually good at competing and preparing affordable packages that it is surprising not even one of them make the list. So, if you want to be insured by one of the largest carriers you probably need to pay a bit more in PA. But if you are rooting for local and regional names you have plenty of alternatives to choose from. Here are the top 3 cheapest car insurance companies in PA.
- Erie, $316
- Harleysvill, $346
- Atlantic States, $362
There are over 200 companies competing in this state. This is in a way good news since it suggests that there are plenty of alternatives in the market. It also stresses the importance of shopping around properly. Otherwise, spending a small fortune for auto insurance is a very real possibility; especially if you are young, have a bad record, poor credit score or high-risk automobile.
Of course it is important to find the right protection and decent customer service. The relation between price and product quality is not always clear-cut. Paying tons of money for a policy doesn’t ensure its effectiveness. The only way you can be sure is by paying attention to details as to what it includes, who underwrites, how good they are in paying claims and is it really worth the money.