The vehicle you are trying to insure is probably the largest consideration that determines the availability of low-cost auto insurance for a school permit. Vehicles with high performance features, poor crash test ratings, or high incidents of liability claims will cost significantly more to insure than more economical and safe models.
The next table outlines auto insurance rates for a number of the cheaper vehicles to buy coverage for.
| Make and Model | Estimated Cost for Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Honda Accord LX-P 4-Dr Sedan | $4,470 |
| Ford Escape XLS 4WD | $4,479 |
| Honda CR-V EX 2WD | $4,470 |
| Toyota Prius | $4,855 |
| Dodge Grand Caravan SE | $5,011 |
| Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 4WD 2-Dr | $5,019 |
| Chevrolet Impala LS | $5,258 |
| Volkswagen Jetta S 4-Dr Sedan | $5,303 |
| Toyota RAV4 Limited 2WD | $5,312 |
| Chevrolet Malibu LS | $5,303 |
| Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 2WD | $5,310 |
| Ford Fusion S 4-Dr Sedan | $5,303 |
| Chevrolet Equinox LS 2WD | $5,308 |
| Ford F-150 FX4 Super Cab 4WD | $5,351 |
| Ford Explorer Limited AWD | $5,358 |
| Toyota Tacoma Double Cab 4WD | $5,351 |
| Hyundai Elantra Blue 4-Dr Sedan | $5,550 |
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Data based on single male driver age 17, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and Pennsylvania minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, and safe-driver. Rates do not factor in vehicle location which can alter coverage rates substantially.
Looking at the data, you can expect cars like the Honda Accord, Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, Toyota Prius, and Dodge Grand Caravan will be the cheaper vehicles to insure for a learners permit. The price for an auto insurance policy will be higher anyway just because there is more claim risk for a school permit, but overall those makes and models will have the lowest insurance prices compared to all other vehicles.
Determining which insurers offer the cheapest insurance rates for a school permit will involve a bit more effort than just comparing a company or two. Every car insurance company uses a different method to determine premium rates, so let’s take a look at the most competitive insurance companies in Pittsburgh.
It’s important to understand that Pittsburgh insurance rates are influenced by many factors which can substantially decrease or increase the price you have to pay for coverage. Simply improving your credit, adding a teenager to your policy, or getting a ticket for careless driving can trigger rate changes resulting in some rates now being cheaper in comparison to the competition.
Lowest Insurance Price Quotes for Students
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General Casualty normally has some of the most affordable car insurance rates in Pittsburgh at around $740 a year. This is $917 less than the average price paid by Pennsylvania drivers of $1,657. Travelers, Erie, USAA, and Penn National also make the cut as some of the cheaper Pittsburgh, PA car insurance companies.
In this example, if you are insured with Travelers and switched to General Casualty, you might realize savings of around $39. Insureds with Erie could save as much as $60 a year, and USAA insureds might realize rate reductions of up to $69 a year.
To find the cheapest rates for your vehicle, click here to start a quote or feel free to get quotes from the companies below.
These prices are averages across all drivers and vehicles in Pennsylvania and and are not figured with an exact zip code location for a school permit. So the insurer that is most affordable for your situation may not even be in the top 30 companies shown above. That illustrates why you need to compare as many prices as possible using your own personalized driver profile and vehicle information.
One of the many factors that aid in calculating auto insurance rates is your zip code. Regions with more people or even just more weather-related claims likely pay more, whereas areas with less people or fewer weather incidents have the luxury of cheap car insurance rates.
The information below lists the most expensive places in Pennsylvania for a school permit in which to purchase auto insurance. Pittsburgh shows up at #10 with a yearly cost of $1,095 for the average policy, which is about $91 each month.
| Rank | City | Premium Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philadelphia | $2,057 |
| 2 | Drexel Hill | $1,489 |
| 3 | Chester | $1,379 |
| 4 | Levittown | $1,365 |
| 5 | Norristown | $1,320 |
| 6 | Allentown | $1,130 |
| 7 | Erie | $1,115 |
| 8 | Reading | $1,110 |
| 9 | Easton | $1,102 |
| 10 | Pittsburgh | $1,095 |
| 11 | Municipality of Monr | $1,091 |
| 12 | Hazleton | $1,078 |
| 13 | Bethlehem | $1,077 |
| 14 | Scranton | $1,071 |
| 15 | Plum | $1,057 |
| 16 | Wilkes-Barre | $1,057 |
| 17 | Altoona | $1,032 |
| 18 | New Castle | $1,026 |
| 19 | Bethel Park | $1,009 |
| 20 | Harrisburg | $985 |
| 21 | Lancaster | $975 |
| 22 | Williamsport | $956 |
| 23 | Lebanon | $950 |
| 24 | York | $926 |
| 25 | State College | $878 |
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Annual rates are estimated as the specific zip code location can revise insurance rates noticeably.
The chart below demonstrates how choosing different deductibles can change insurance prices when quoting cheap insurance for a school permit. The information is based on a married female driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, and no discounts are factored in.
A 40-year-old driver could lower rates by $304 a year by changing their physical damage coverage from a $100 deductible up to a $500 deductible, or save $456 by switching to a $1,000 deductible. Youthful drivers, like the 20-year-old, can save up to $750 or even more by choosing larger deductibles on their policy. When increasing deductibles, it is necessary to have enough in a savings account to satisfy the extra out-of-pocket expense associated with higher deductibles.
Best insurance in Pennsylvania
Selecting a highly-rated insurer can be difficult considering how many different companies sell coverage in Pennsylvania. The rank data displayed below can help you select which insurers to look at comparing prices from. These ratings include companies that insure vehicles across America, so companies that may only write in Pennsylvania are not taken into consideration for the list.
Top 10 Large Auto Insurance Companies in Pittsburgh Ranked by Customer Satisfaction
- Titan Insurance – 93%
- The Hartford – 93%
- The General – 91%
- Progressive – 90%
- 21st Century – 89%
- USAA – 87%
- Erie Insurance – 87%
- State Farm – 87%
- Travelers – 87%
- Safeco Insurance – 86%
Top 10 Large Auto Insurance Companies in Pittsburgh Ranked by A.M. Best Rating
- USAA – A++
- GEICO – A++
- Travelers – A++
- State Farm – A++
- Allstate – A+
- Nationwide – A+
- Esurance – A+
- Erie Insurance – A+
- Progressive – A+
- Titan Insurance – A+
Comparison of full coverage and liability-only policies
Paying a lower price for insurance is probably important to the majority of vehicle owners, and a good way to buy cheaper insurance for a school permit is to not pay for full coverage. The illustration below shows the difference between insurance costs with full physical damage coverage and with liability coverage only. The prices are based on no claims or violations, $500 deductibles, single status, and no discounts are taken into consideration.
As an average, physical damage coverage on your policy costs $1,554 per year more than buying just liability insurance. At some point, about every driver wonders when is the right time to remove full coverage. There is no clear-cut rule that is best for determining when to drop full coverage on your policy, but there is a general convention. If the annual cost of your full coverage insurance is 10% or more of the replacement cost minus the deductible, then it might be time to buy liability only.
There are some cases where buying only liability insurance is not financially feasible. If you have an outstanding loan on your vehicle, you are required to maintain full coverage as part of the loan requirements. Also, if your savings is not enough to buy a different vehicle if your current one is in an accident, you should not eliminate full coverage.
How to find more affordable car insurance for a school permit
It’s not impossible to find cheaper rates, and here are many thrifty solutions that can help Pittsburgh drivers find cheaper car insurance.
- Increase your deductibles
- Vehicles with good safety ratings have lower liability rates
- Clean up your credit rating
- Full coverage is expensive so only insure older vehicles for liability only
- Drive attentively and avoid accidents
- Speeding tickets and other violations increase rates
- Shop your coverage around for the best deal
The last tip is especially significant, as we hit on in this piece. Prices charged by car insurance companies fluctuate constantly, so you should be ready to buy from a different company if a lower-cost policy is available. Many drivers tend to have loyalty to a certain company, but it’s not recommended if that dedication is costing thousands of dollars over several years. It takes less than five minutes to compare rates and find cheaper auto insurance for a school permit in Pittsburgh.