One of the more important considerations that are used to help calculate the cost of insurance is where your car is garaged. Cities with more crime and/or more people tend to have higher rates, whereas areas with fewer weather claims and lower vehicle theft rates have the gratification of cheaper auto insurance rates.
The illustration below rates the most expensive areas in Pennsylvania for college graduates in which to purchase auto insurance. Pittsburgh is ranked at #12 with an annual rate of $1,063 for the average insured, which is around $89 each month.
| Rank | City | Average Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philadelphia | $1,997 |
| 2 | Drexel Hill | $1,489 |
| 3 | Levittown | $1,421 |
| 4 | Chester | $1,393 |
| 5 | Norristown | $1,268 |
| 6 | Allentown | $1,097 |
| 7 | Plum | $1,089 |
| 8 | Hazleton | $1,088 |
| 9 | Erie | $1,082 |
| 10 | Bethlehem | $1,077 |
| 11 | Reading | $1,077 |
| 12 | Pittsburgh | $1,063 |
| 13 | Municipality of Monr | $1,059 |
| 14 | Easton | $1,058 |
| 15 | Wilkes-Barre | $1,057 |
| 16 | New Castle | $1,057 |
| 17 | Scranton | $1,049 |
| 18 | Harrisburg | $1,015 |
| 19 | Lancaster | $1,005 |
| 20 | Altoona | $1,002 |
| 21 | Williamsport | $996 |
| 22 | Bethel Park | $989 |
| 23 | York | $944 |
| 24 | Lebanon | $922 |
| 25 | State College | $878 |
| Find the Best Rates Go | ||
Rate information is estimated as specific Pittsburgh zip code can revise insurance rates substantially.
Comparing rates for low-priced car insurance is easier said than done, and figuring out which insurers offer the cheapest car insurance rates for college graduates calls for even more perseverance. Every insurance company has their own formula for determining rates in each state, so let’s rank the car insurance companies that tend to have lower prices in Pittsburgh.
It’s important to know that Pittsburgh, PA car insurance rates are impacted by many factors that will increase or decrease the cost of a policy. This price variability is why it is important to take the time to shop around to get the most affordable insurance quotes for college graduates. Auto insurance prices can be altered by many factors and can change substantially, so the cheapest option the last time you compared rates may now cost much more than other companies.
Find the Cheapest Auto Insurance for Grads
| Rank | Company | Cost Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | General Casualty | $726 |
| 2 | USAA | $793 |
| 3 | Travelers | $803 |
| 4 | Penn National | $816 |
| 5 | Erie | $816 |
| 6 | Auto-Owners | $963 |
| 7 | Amica | $1,012 |
| 8 | Atlantic States | $1,047 |
| 9 | Donegal Mutual | $1,069 |
| 10 | GEICO | $1,111 |
| 11 | State Farm | $1,174 |
| 12 | Allied | $1,179 |
| 13 | California Casualty | $1,198 |
| 14 | State Auto | $1,267 |
| 15 | Encompass | $1,357 |
| 16 | Mutual Benefit Group | $1,397 |
| 17 | Harleysville | $1,410 |
| 18 | Progressive | $1,414 |
| 19 | Nationwide | $1,477 |
| 20 | Chubb | $1,583 |
| Quote Your Rates Go | ||
General Casualty may offer some of the lowest car insurance rates in Pittsburgh at around $726 annually. USAA, Travelers, Penn National, and Erie would also be considered some of the cheaper Pittsburgh, PA car insurance companies.
As the rates illustrate above, if you buy coverage from Erie and switched to USAA, you might see yearly savings of around $23. Insureds with Auto-Owners could save as much as $170 a year, and Amica policyholders might see rate reductions of $219 a year.
It’s important to note that these policy rates are averaged across all types of drivers and the different vehicles they drive and do not take into consideration a specific location for college graduates. So the auto insurance company that has the cheapest rates for you may not even be in the list above. That is why you need to get rate quotes using your own specific driver and vehicle information.
The car, truck, or SUV you are trying to insure is one of the largest factors that determines if you can find cheap car insurance for college graduates. Vehicles with high performance, poor safety ratings, or a history of substantial liability claims will cost substantially more to insure than more modest models.
The data below estimates coverage premiums for a number of the most budget-friendly vehicles to buy coverage for.
| Vehicle Insured | Estimated Cost for Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Hyundai Elantra GLS Touring Station Wagon | $1,069 |
| Honda CR-V EX-L 2WD | $1,095 |
| Chevrolet Silverado LS Regular Cab 2WD | $1,269 |
| Ford F-150 SVT Raptor Super Cab 4WD | $1,292 |
| Honda Civic LX 4-Dr Sedan | $1,308 |
| Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sahara 2WD 4-Dr | $1,311 |
| Ford Escape XLS 4WD | $1,313 |
| GMC Sierra 2500HD SLE Extended Cab 4WD | $1,358 |
| Nissan Rogue S 2WD | $1,363 |
| Ford Focus SES 2-Dr Coupe | $1,428 |
| Volkswagen Jetta 2.0T Station Wagon | $1,435 |
| Toyota Camry Hybrid | $1,452 |
| Toyota Prius | $1,456 |
| Get a Custom Quote Go | |
Table data assumes single female driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and Pennsylvania minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, multi-policy, homeowner, safe-driver, and claim-free. Premium amounts do not factor in specific location information which can modify coverage prices substantially.
Looking at the numbers, you can figure that vehicles like the Hyundai Elantra, Honda CR-V, Chevrolet Silverado, and Ford F-150 are likely to be some of the cheapest vehicles to insure for college grads.
Discounts on Pittsburgh car insurance
Insurance companies that offer quotes for college graduates may also give you policy discounts that can reduce rates by as much as 25% or more if you meet specific eligibility requirements. A few of the larger companies and a selection of discounts are shown below.
- GEICO has savings for anti-lock brakes, anti-theft, seat belt use, driver training, multi-policy, and multi-vehicle.
- MetLife has discounts for good student, defensive driver, good driver, multi-policy, accident-free, claim-free
- State Farm offers discounts including passive restraint, accident-free, safe vehicle, student away at school, and Drive Safe & Save.
- Progressive discounts include continuous coverage, multi-policy, online signing, homeowner, multi-vehicle, good student, and online quote discount.
- Mercury Insurance offers premium reductions for good driver, annual mileage, multi-policy, multi-car, and good student.
- 21st Century may have discounts that include anti-lock brakes, homeowners, air bags, good student, and driver training.
- Allstate may include discounts for safe driver, anti-lock brakes, defensive driver, good payer, farm vehicle, and eSmart discount.
The example below shows the comparison of insurance premiums with and without discounts. The prices are based on a female driver, no claims, a clean driving record, Pennsylvania state minimum liability limits, full coverage, and $500 deductibles.
The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The lower bar shows the rates with vehicle safety, homeowner, claim-free, defensive driving course, multiple vehicle, and anti-theft discounts applied. When these discounts are applied, the average savings per year on car insurance for college graduates is 28% or $558.
Poor driving habits will raise your car insurance rates
The ideal way to obtain cheap car insurance rates for college grads is to be a safe driver and avoid getting tickets or having accidents. The information below illustrates how violations and accident claims impact insurance rates for different insured age categories. The data is based on a married male driver, full coverage, $1,000 deductibles, and no discounts are applied to the premium.
The chart shows that the average cost of an auto insurance policy in Pennsylvania per year with no accidents and a clean driving record is $1,179. Get two speeding tickets and the average cost hikes up to $1,614, an increase of $435 each year. Then include two accidents along with the two speeding tickets and the yearly cost of car insurance for college graduates jumps again to an average of $3,438. That’s an increase of $2,259, or $188 per month, just for not driving safely!
How to find cheaper car insurance for college graduates
The list below details some of the recommended thrifty ideas that can help drivers buy cheaper coverage.
- Safer vehicles cost less to insure
- Raise physical damage deductibles
- Do not insure for full coverage
- Being accident-free can lower rates significantly
- Save money by observing traffic laws and speed limits
- Higher credit scores may earn you cheaper rates
- Compare rates and switch if you can find a better deal
The last tip in the list is remarkably vital, as we pointed out in the prior information. Auto insurance rates in Pittsburgh can change significantly in a year, so don’t be afraid to buy a policy from a new company if a better rate can be found.
Being loyal to a particular company is commendable, but it isn’t a good idea if that devotion results in you overpaying money that could be spent on other things. Take a few minutes and compare rates and find cheaper auto insurance for college graduates.