One of the many factors that determine the amount you pay each year for auto insurance is where you keep your car in Pittsburgh. More populated areas tend to have higher rates, whereas areas with lower crime rates and fewer weather claims benefit from having to pay less for coverage.
The table below lists the most costly cities in Pennsylvania for state employees to buy an auto insurance policy in. Pittsburgh comes in at #8 having an annual price of $1,095 for the average insured, which is approximately $91 each month.
| Rank | City | Average Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philadelphia | $1,997 |
| 2 | Drexel Hill | $1,549 |
| 3 | Chester | $1,435 |
| 4 | Levittown | $1,365 |
| 5 | Norristown | $1,281 |
| 6 | Allentown | $1,141 |
| 7 | Erie | $1,115 |
| 8 | Pittsburgh | $1,095 |
| 9 | Wilkes-Barre | $1,089 |
| 10 | Municipality of Monr | $1,081 |
| 11 | Scranton | $1,081 |
| 12 | Hazleton | $1,078 |
| 13 | Bethlehem | $1,077 |
| 14 | Easton | $1,069 |
| 15 | Reading | $1,066 |
| 16 | Plum | $1,057 |
| 17 | New Castle | $1,046 |
| 18 | Altoona | $1,012 |
| 19 | Lancaster | $1,005 |
| 20 | Harrisburg | $995 |
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Rates are estimated as vehicle location can increase or decrease premium rates greatly.
The type of vehicle requiring insurance is probably the most important factor when comparing quotes for cheaper car insurance for state employees. Vehicles with lower acceleration and performance, excellent safety ratings, or a positive history of liability claims will cost less to insure than fast, unsafe models. The next list features car insurance rates for the most economical vehicles to insure.
| Make and Model | Estimated Cost for Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Volkswagen Jetta S 2.5 Station Wagon | $1,066 |
| Hyundai Elantra SE Touring Station Wagon | $1,072 |
| Toyota Prius | $1,091 |
| Honda CR-V LX 4WD | $1,100 |
| Honda Accord LX-P 4-Dr Sedan | $1,107 |
| Ford Escape XLT 2WD | $1,100 |
| Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sport 4WD 4-Dr | $1,202 |
| Toyota Corolla S | $1,224 |
| Toyota Tacoma X-Runner 2WD | $1,234 |
| Toyota Camry SE | $1,224 |
| Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD LTZ Crew Cab 4WD | $1,248 |
| Chevrolet Equinox LTZ 2WD | $1,255 |
| Ford F-150 Lariat King Ranch 2WD | $1,248 |
| Ford Fusion Sport 4-Dr Sedan | $1,258 |
| Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid | $1,270 |
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Above prices assume married male driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and Pennsylvania minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, homeowner, multi-vehicle, multi-policy, and claim-free. Premium costs do not factor in zip code location which can decrease or increase coverage prices substantially.
Based on these rates, we can assume that makes and models like the Volkswagen Jetta, Hyundai Elantra, Toyota Prius, Honda CR-V, and Honda Accord are a few of the less-costly vehicles to insure for state workers.
Ratings for Pittsburgh insurance companies
Buying coverage from the highest-rated insurance company is difficult considering how many choices there are in Pennsylvania. The ranking information listed below could help you select which auto insurance companies to look at shopping prices with.
These ratings are for the largest companies in America, so smaller companies that only insure vehicles in Pennsylvania are not included in the list. To compare price quotes from these and other competitive companies, just click here.
| Company | Value | Customer Service | Claims | Customer Satisfaction | A.M Best Rating | Overall Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The General | 96 | 100 | 92 | 91% | A- | 95 |
| Titan Insurance | 87 | 96 | 94 | 93% | A+ | 92.9 |
| The Hartford | 88 | 96 | 91 | 93% | A+ | 92.6 |
| Progressive | 84 | 94 | 99 | 90% | A+ | 92.4 |
| Travelers | 84 | 93 | 100 | 87% | A++ | 92.3 |
| State Farm | 84 | 93 | 95 | 87% | A++ | 91 |
| Farmers Insurance | 87 | 92 | 90 | 85% | A | 90.6 |
| Erie Insurance | 79 | 93 | 90 | 87% | A+ | 88.6 |
| Safeco Insurance | 85 | 91 | 87 | 86% | A | 88.4 |
| USAA | 71 | 93 | 98 | 87% | A++ | 88 |
| GEICO | 73 | 93 | 95 | 85% | A++ | 87.1 |
| 21st Century | 85 | 85 | 91 | 89% | A | 86.9 |
| Liberty Mutual | 72 | 91 | 97 | 83% | A | 86.4 |
| AAA Insurance | 85 | 85 | 88 | 86% | A | 85.8 |
| Nationwide | 71 | 90 | 93 | 83% | A+ | 84.9 |
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Data Source: Insure.com Best Car Insurance Companies
The information below shows how different deductible levels can impact insurance costs when searching for cheap insurance for state employees. The information is based on a married male driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, and no policy discounts are applied.
The data above shows that a 40-year-old driver could reduce rates by $308 a year by changing their physical damage coverage from a $100 deductible to a $500 deductible, or save $466 by switching to a $1,000 deductible. Young drivers, like the Age 20 chart data, could shave as much as $1,042 or even more by using a higher deductible. If you make the decision to raise deductibles, it is essential to have plenty of money set aside to be able to cover the extra out-of-pocket expense that comes with higher deductibles.
Insurance rates are higher with tickets and accidents
One of the best ways to find the best insurance rates in Pittsburgh for state workers is to drive safe and avoid accidents and violations. The diagram below illustrates how speeding tickets and at-fault accidents can affect auto insurance rates for different categories of driver ages. The costs are based on a single male driver, full coverage, $500 deductibles, and no other discounts are factored in.
In the chart above, the average cost of car insurance per year with no accidents or violations is $1,554. Factor in two speeding tickets and the average cost hikes up to $2,050, an increase of $496 each year. Now throw in two accidents along with the two speeding tickets and the 12-month cost of insurance for state employees goes up to an average of $3,992. That’s an increase of $2,438, or $203 per month, just for being a careless driver!
How to find cheaper insurance for state employees
The list below summarizes some of the better thrifty ideas that can help drivers buy lower-cost coverage.
- Better credit scores save money
- Do not get into accidents
- You will pay more if you get tickets or have at-fault accidents
- Earn discounts for being claim-free
- The safer your car, the less it costs to insure
- Comparison shop frequently
That last idea is incredibly significant, as we emphasized in the prior article. Coverage rates in Pittsburgh can be adjusted at any time, so drivers shouldn’t be reluctant to change to a new company if you can find a cheaper rate. Loyalty to a specific company is fine, but it’s not a great idea if that stubbornness costs you a wad of cash every year. Take a couple minutes and shop around to find cheaper car insurance for state employees.