The car, truck, or SUV you are seeking coverage for is one of the main factors when comparison shopping for low-cost auto insurance for a learners permit. Vehicles with economical engines, modern passenger safety features, or low incidents of liability claims will cost significantly less to insure than high performance models. The next list ranks car insurance premiums for the cheapest vehicles to buy coverage for.
| Make and Model | Estimated Cost for Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Ford Escape XLT 4WD | $4,654 |
| Honda CR-V EX 4WD | $4,659 |
| Toyota Prius | $4,976 |
| Jeep Wrangler Sahara 4WD 2-Dr | $5,189 |
| Chevrolet Impala LS | $5,429 |
| Ford Focus S 4-Dr Sedan | $5,434 |
| Ford Edge SEL 2WD | $5,429 |
| Chevrolet Malibu LS | $5,470 |
| Toyota Camry LE | $5,478 |
| Chevrolet Equinox LT 2WD | $5,470 |
| Toyota RAV4 Sport 4WD | $5,478 |
| Dodge Grand Caravan Crew | $5,512 |
| Toyota Tacoma Double Cab TRD Off-Road Package 4WD | $5,522 |
| Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer AWD | $5,512 |
| Honda Odyssey EX-L | $5,749 |
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Data rating is based on single female driver age 16, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and Pennsylvania minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, and safe-driver. Rate quotes do not factor in your specific Pittsburgh, PA location which can alter premiums greatly.
Looking at the numbers, we can infer that cars like the Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, Toyota Prius, and Jeep Wrangler are going to be the cheapest vehicles to insure for new drivers. The price for an auto insurance policy will tend to be higher because there is more risk for a learners permit, but overall those specific models will have the lowest insurance prices that you are likely to find.
Finding dependable, affordable auto insurance is not always easy, and deciding which company quotes the cheapest car insurance rates for a learners permit will take a bit more work. Each insurer uses slightly different criteria to set premium rates, so we’ll take a look at the car insurance companies with the overall best prices in Pittsburgh, PA.
Keep in mind that Pittsburgh, PA car insurance rates are influenced by many factors which can substantially decrease or increase the cost of your policy. Simply turning a year older, buying a home, or getting a speeding ticket can trigger rate changes that can now make some companies more expensive than competitors.
Best Cheap Insurance Rates in Pennsylvania
| Rank | Company | Cost Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | General Casualty | $740 |
| 2 | USAA | $785 |
| 3 | Travelers | $787 |
| 4 | Erie | $792 |
| 5 | Penn National | $808 |
| 6 | Auto-Owners | $993 |
| 7 | Atlantic States | $1,005 |
| 8 | Amica | $1,012 |
| 9 | Donegal Mutual | $1,091 |
| 10 | Allied | $1,144 |
| 11 | GEICO | $1,145 |
| 12 | State Farm | $1,174 |
| 13 | California Casualty | $1,222 |
| 14 | State Auto | $1,241 |
| 15 | Encompass | $1,344 |
| 16 | Harleysville | $1,396 |
| 17 | Mutual Benefit Group | $1,397 |
| 18 | Progressive | $1,414 |
| 19 | Nationwide | $1,433 |
| 20 | Chubb | $1,536 |
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General Casualty normally has some of the lowest car insurance rates in Pittsburgh at around $740 per year. This is $917 less than the average premium paid by Pennsylvania drivers of $1,657. USAA, Travelers, Erie, and Penn National also are some of the cheapest Pittsburgh, PA auto insurance companies.
As the example above demonstrates, if you are a policyholder with USAA and switched to General Casualty, you might see an annual savings of about $45. Policyholders with Travelers might save as much as $47 a year, and Erie customers might see rate reductions of $52 a year.
Bear in mind that those premiums are averages across all types of drivers and the different vehicles they drive and and are not calculated with an exact location for a learners permit. So the car insurance company that fits you best may not even be in the list above. That illustrates why you need to get auto insurance quotes using your own driver data and vehicle information.
One of the more important components that are looked at to help calculate the amount you pay for auto insurance is where you keep your car in Pittsburgh. Cities with larger populations or higher claim trends tend to have more expensive auto insurance rates, whereas areas with less congestion have the gratification of cheaper auto insurance rates.
The following table ranks the most expensive places in Pennsylvania for a learners permit in which to purchase auto insurance. Pittsburgh is ranked #7 having an annual price of $1,085 on average, which is around $90 monthly.
| Rank | City | Annual Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philadelphia | $1,977 |
| 2 | Drexel Hill | $1,549 |
| 3 | Chester | $1,421 |
| 4 | Levittown | $1,379 |
| 5 | Norristown | $1,320 |
| 6 | Allentown | $1,097 |
| 7 | Pittsburgh | $1,085 |
| 8 | Erie | $1,082 |
| 9 | Scranton | $1,081 |
| 10 | Plum | $1,079 |
| 11 | Wilkes-Barre | $1,079 |
| 12 | Hazleton | $1,078 |
| 13 | Reading | $1,066 |
| 14 | Municipality of Monr | $1,059 |
| 15 | Easton | $1,058 |
| 16 | Bethlehem | $1,055 |
| 17 | New Castle | $1,015 |
| 18 | Altoona | $1,002 |
| 19 | Bethel Park | $989 |
| 20 | Harrisburg | $985 |
| 21 | Lancaster | $965 |
| 22 | Williamsport | $956 |
| 23 | Lebanon | $922 |
| 24 | York | $916 |
| 25 | State College | $896 |
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Table data uses estimated as the specific Pittsburgh residence address can modify price quotes considerably.
Liability-only versus full coverage
Finding the cheapest car insurance is important to the majority of people, and one way to pay lower rates for insurance for a learners permit is to buy liability only. The example below illustrates the comparison of yearly insurance costs with full coverage and liability only. The data is based on no claims or violations, $500 deductibles, drivers are single, and no other discounts are factored in.
Averaged out for all age groups, physical damage insurance costs $2,070 per year more than just buying liability insurance. That is a large expense and it proposes the question if you should buy full coverage at all. There is no exact rule to eliminate comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, but there is a guideline you can use. If the annual cost of having full coverage is more than about 10% of the settlement you would receive from your company, then you may want to consider only buying liability coverage.
There are some situations where eliminating full coverage is not a good plan. If you still owe a portion of the original loan, you have to maintain full coverage as part of the loan requirements. Also, if your finances do not allow you to purchase a different vehicle in the event your current vehicle is totaled, you should not opt for liability only.
Types of discounts on Pittsburgh insurance
Car insurance companies that offer quotes for a learners permit may have special discounts that could potentially reduce rates by 25% or more if you are eligible. Larger car insurance companies and a selection of discounts can be read below.
- State Farm offers premium reductions for multiple policy, Steer Clear safe driver discount, multiple autos, safe vehicle, good driver, passive restraint, and student away at school.
- GEICO may include discounts for multi-policy, air bags, military active duty, daytime running lights, and good student.
- Liberty Mutual discounts include new vehicle discount, multi-policy, new move discount, good student, hybrid vehicle, and new graduate.
- The Hartford includes discounts for vehicle fuel type, defensive driver, bundle, air bag, good student, driver training, and anti-theft.
- MetLife has savings for multi-policy, good student, accident-free, good driver, claim-free, defensive driver
- Progressive policyholders can earn discounts including multi-policy, online signing, good student, continuous coverage, homeowner, and multi-vehicle.
The diagram below compares insurance costs with and without discounts. The premiums assume a female driver, a clean driving record, no claims, Pennsylvania state minimum liability limits, comp and collision included, and $250 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows the average annual price with no discounts. The second shows the rates with paperless filing, vehicle safety, continuous coverage, passive restraint, paid-in-full, and anti-theft discounts applied. When these discounts are applied, theaverage yearly reduction on car insurance for a learners permit is 28% or $585.
Pittsburgh car insurance rates
Pittsburgh, PA car insurance rates are influenced by many factors that will increase or decrease the cost of coverage. Simply having a birthday, getting married, or getting a ticket for careless driving can produce rate changes that can cause some rates to be cheaper in comparison to the competition.
Not only may things change on your end, but car insurance companies change their prices every year to reflect underwriting profits or losses. Heavy losses may cause increased policy costs, while a profitable period can cause more affordable Pittsburgh car insurance rates.
To illustrate this point, the bar chart below analyzes the cheapest car insurance in Pittsburgh, PA for a 35-year-old male driver with a good driving record, no prior claims, and a good credit history. When quoting prices based on his current rating profile, General Casualty quotes the most affordable car insurance rates in Pittsburgh at $878 per year. This is $779 less than the average premium paid by Pennsylvania drivers of $1,657. USAA, Erie, Travelers, and Penn National are also included in the cheapest Pittsburgh, PA auto insurance companies.
The example below compares rates after we give the driver from the first example a couple of claims, a lower credit rating, and an imperfect driving record. Since each insurance company has a different process for filing rates in each state, comparing insurance quotes will most likely result in a significantly different list of affordable companies as shown below.
Amica now has the cheapest price in Pittsburgh, PA with Atlantic States, Donegal Mutual, USAA, and GEICO also having competitive pricing. This illustrates why it is so important to perform a complete rate comparison to find the best auto insurance quotes for a learners permit.
Rates consist of many risk factors and can change without notice, so the cheapest rate the last time you checked may now be one of the more expensive options.
The agents listed below are a good start to aid you in deciding which coverage meets your needs best, as some drivers have questions and prefer to have a little guidance when comparing insurance rates for new drivers. It’s not always easy to find the best coverage yourself, and getting professional guidance from a licensed agent can provide you satisfaction knowing your policy gives you sufficient coverage for your assets.
To find a Pittsburgh insurance agent near you, click the link at the bottom or click here to get price quotes now.
- Kartsonas Agency, Inc.
421 Cochran Rd – Pittsburgh, PA 15228 – (412) 563-5900 - Eric Morris – State Farm Insurance Agent
2015 Babcock Blvd – Pittsburgh, PA 15209 – (412) 821-0225 - McGroarty and Bradburn Insurance
4175 Steubenville Pike – Pittsburgh, PA 15205 – (412) 444-4470 - Crawford Insurance Agency
11743 Frankstown Rd – Pittsburgh, PA 15235 – (412) 244-8888
More insurance agents in Pittsburgh, PA
Ideas for finding budget-friendly auto insurance for a learners permit
It is possible to find better rates, and here are many thrifty solutions that can help Pittsburgh drivers get lower-cost car insurance.
- Vehicles with safetly features generally cost less to insure
- Increase deductibles to save money
- Speeding tickets and other violations increase rates
- Remain accident-free and save
- Higher credit scores can equal lower rates
- Compare rates regularly and switch companies to save money
The last tip is highly significant, as we stressed in the article above. Car insurance rates adjust frequently, so don’t be tentative to change to a new company if you find a cheaper price.
Loyalty to a specific company is fine, but is isn’t recommended if that dedication is costing a lot of money every month. Now is a great time to compare prices to find cheaper car insurance for a learners permit in Pittsburgh.