The words “affordable” and “insurance” really shouldn’t be used in the same sentence, in particular when searching for the cheapest coverage for immigrants. Because it’s not cheap, let’s familiarize you with some situations that can significantly affect insurance premiums, and come up with some ways to cut the cost of the next policy you buy.
The vehicle model on the policy is a large consideration when shopping for the most economical auto insurance for immigrants. Vehicles with more horsepower, poor passenger safety features, or a high likelihood of having liability claims will cost substantially more to insure than more economical and safe models.
The data below shows coverage premiums for a selection of the cheapest automobiles to insure.
| Make and Model | Estimated Cost for Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Ford Escape XLT 4WD | $1,139 |
| Chevrolet Impala LS | $1,295 |
| Ford Focus S 4-Dr Sedan | $1,305 |
| Toyota RAV4 Sport 4WD | $1,319 |
| Honda CR-V LX 4WD | $1,369 |
| Honda Accord EX 4-Dr Sedan | $1,374 |
| Honda Odyssey EX-L W/Rear Entertainment | $1,386 |
| Chevrolet Silverado LS Regular Cab 4WD | $1,403 |
| Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited 2WD | $1,412 |
| GMC Sierra 2500HD SLE Crew Cab 4WD | $1,417 |
| Chevrolet Malibu LTZ | $1,412 |
| Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 4WD 2-Dr | $1,431 |
| GMC Sierra 3500HD SLE Crew Cab 2WD | $1,436 |
| Dodge Ram Quad Cab TRX4 Off Road 2WD | $1,443 |
| Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD LTZ Crew Cab Diesel 4WD | $1,506 |
| Ford Fusion S 4-Dr Sedan | $1,511 |
| Toyota Camry Hybrid | $1,517 |
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Prices above based on single female driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and Pennsylvania minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, claim-free, multi-policy, multi-vehicle, and safe-driver. Prices do not factor in zip code location which can raise or lower rates considerably.
Looking at the numbers, we can infer that models like the Ford Escape, Chevrolet Impala, and Ford Focus are most likely going to be the most affordable vehicles to insure for foreigners.
One of the many components that determine the price you pay for insurance is where you keep your vehicle in Pittsburgh. Areas with high crime rates or more dense population are more likely to pay higher prices, whereas areas with lower crime rates and fewer weather claims have the luxury of cheap car insurance rates.
The next table sorts the priciest cities in Pennsylvania for immigrants in which to purchase auto insurance. Pittsburgh makes the list at #8 costing $1,095 for coverage, which is approximately $91 monthly.
| Rank | City | Premium Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philadelphia | $1,997 |
| 2 | Drexel Hill | $1,489 |
| 3 | Levittown | $1,407 |
| 4 | Chester | $1,393 |
| 5 | Norristown | $1,281 |
| 6 | Allentown | $1,130 |
| 7 | Reading | $1,099 |
| 8 | Pittsburgh | $1,095 |
| 9 | Hazleton | $1,088 |
| 10 | Erie | $1,082 |
| 11 | Scranton | $1,071 |
| 12 | Easton | $1,069 |
| 13 | Plum | $1,057 |
| 14 | Wilkes-Barre | $1,057 |
| 15 | New Castle | $1,057 |
| 16 | Bethlehem | $1,055 |
| 17 | Municipality of Monr | $1,049 |
| 18 | Altoona | $1,042 |
| 19 | Harrisburg | $1,025 |
| 20 | Bethel Park | $1,019 |
| Compare Rates Now Go | ||
Rates are comparative as vehicle location can lower or raise rates considerably.
Discounts on Pittsburgh car insurance
Insurance companies that offer quotes for immigrants may also offer rate discounts that could potentially reduce rates by as much as 35% if you meet the requirements. A few popular companies and some of the premium reductions they offer are:
- State Farm offers discounts for student away at school, multiple autos, good student, Drive Safe & Save, and accident-free.
- GEICO offers premium reductions for good student, anti-lock brakes, military active duty, defensive driver, air bags, and emergency military deployment.
- Allstate discounts include passive restraint, farm vehicle, senior citizen, economy car, and safe driver.
- SAFECO may have discounts that include multi-car, safe driver, teen safe driver, bundle discounts, anti-theft, teen safety rewards, and accident prevention training.
- Farm Bureau policyholders can earn discounts including youthful driver, renewal discount, multi-policy, good student, 55 and retired, multi-vehicle, and safe driver.
- Progressive has savings for good student, online signing, homeowner, multi-vehicle, multi-policy, online quote discount, and continuous coverage.
- AAA offers discounts including pay-in-full, education and occupation, good driver, anti-theft, good student, multi-policy, and multi-car.
The example below visualizes the comparison of auto insurance costs with and without discounts being applied to the rates. The premiums are based on a male driver, a clean driving record, no at-fault accidents, Pennsylvania state minimum liability limits, full physical damage coverage, and $500 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows insurance cost with no discounts. The second shows the rates with accident-free, defensive driving course, vehicle safety, homeowner, multiple policy, and multiple vehicle discounts applied. When taking advantage of discounts, the average savings per year on insurance for immigrants is 28% or $585.
Impact of citations and accidents on insurance rates
The obvious way to receive affordable insurance prices for foreigners is to be a safe driver and avoid tickets and accidents. The information below demonstrates how traffic citations and accidents can affect annual premium costs for different categories of driver ages. The data assumes a married male driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, $250 deductibles, and no discounts are taken into consideration.
In the previous chart, the average cost of an auto insurance policy per year with no violations or accidents is $1,480. Add in one speeding ticket and the average cost hikes up to $1,697, an increase of $218 each year. Then include two accidents along with the one speeding ticket and the annual cost of insurance for immigrants jumps again to an average of $3,585. That’s an increase of $2,106, or $175 per month, just for being a careless driver!
The diagram below demonstrates how deductible levels can influence insurance prices when trying to find cheap insurance for immigrants. The data assumes a married male driver, full physical damage coverage, and no discounts are applied to the premium.
The data above shows that a 40-year-old driver could cut expenses by $308 a year by increasing from a $100 deductible up to a $500 deductible, or save $466 by using a $1,000 deductible. Even younger insureds, such as the 20-year-old example, could save $1,042 or even more just by choosing larger deductibles.
When raising deductibles, it will be necessary to have enough in a savings account to allow you to pay the extra out-of-pocket expense, which is the one inconvenience of using high deductibles.
How to find low-cost car insurance for immigrants
The list below details many thrifty suggestions that can help Pennsylvania drivers get more affordable car insurance.
- Avoid getting tickets or violations
- Accident-free drivers may qualify for discounts
- Safe vehicles generally have lower rates
- Pay for smaller claims out-of-pocket
- Higher credit scores can equal lower rates
- Ensure you have the best deal by shopping around regularly
That last piece of advice is remarkably valuable, as was noted in the prior information. Insurance prices can be changed at any time, so don’t be tentative to change insurance companies if a lower price can be found. Having brand loyalty is commendable, but it’s not a good idea if that inflexibility results in costing you a wad of cash every year. If you have a few minutes, shop around and find cheaper insurance for immigrants in Pittsburgh.