For bad drivers, one of the largest components that are looked at to help calculate the amount you pay each year for auto insurance is your address. More populated areas tend to have higher rates, whereas more rural areas tend to receive cheaper rates.
The illustration below rates the most expensive places in Pennsylvania for drivers with a bad driving record to buy an auto insurance policy in. Pittsburgh shows up at #8 with the yearly price of $1,095 for the average policyholder, which is around $91 monthly.
| Rank | City | Annual Premium |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philadelphia | $2,037 |
| 2 | Drexel Hill | $1,549 |
| 3 | Chester | $1,421 |
| 4 | Levittown | $1,379 |
| 5 | Norristown | $1,307 |
| 6 | Allentown | $1,108 |
| 7 | Reading | $1,099 |
| 8 | Pittsburgh | $1,095 |
| 9 | Municipality of Monr | $1,091 |
| 10 | Easton | $1,091 |
| 11 | Hazleton | $1,078 |
| 12 | Scranton | $1,071 |
| 13 | Erie | $1,071 |
| 14 | Wilkes-Barre | $1,057 |
| 15 | Plum | $1,047 |
| 16 | Bethlehem | $1,045 |
| 17 | Harrisburg | $1,025 |
| 18 | New Castle | $1,015 |
| 19 | Altoona | $1,012 |
| 20 | Bethel Park | $989 |
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Table data uses comparative as the vehicle garaging location can influence coverage rates noticeably.
The type of vehicle that needs insurance is one of the biggest factors when trying to find low-priced insurance for drivers with a bad driving record. Vehicles with average performance, modern passenger safety features, or a low likelihood of having liability claims will cost substantially less to insure than fast, unsafe models. The next list presents insurance premiums for a number of the more affordable automobiles to insure in Pennsylvania.
| Vehicle Make and Model | Estimated Cost for Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Ford Escape XLS 4WD | $4,031 |
| Honda Accord EX 4-Dr Sedan | $4,130 |
| Honda CR-V EX 4WD | $4,182 |
| Hyundai Elantra SE Touring Station Wagon | $4,294 |
| Toyota Tacoma 4WD | $4,355 |
| Ford Explorer XLT 4WD | $4,362 |
| Toyota Prius | $4,456 |
| Ford Focus S 4-Dr Sedan | $4,515 |
| Dodge Grand Caravan CV | $4,557 |
| Chevrolet Malibu LS | $4,560 |
| Toyota RAV4 4WD | $4,569 |
| Ford F-150 XL Regular Cab 4WD | $4,668 |
| Ford Edge Sport 2WD | $4,766 |
| Volkswagen Jetta S 4-Dr Sedan | $4,774 |
| Chevrolet Equinox LTZ AWD | $4,809 |
| Chevrolet Silverado LS Regular Cab 2WD | $4,929 |
| Nissan Rogue S 2WD | $4,959 |
| Dodge Ram Quad Cab ST 2WD | $4,976 |
| Honda Odyssey EX-L | $4,990 |
| Toyota Corolla XLE | $4,997 |
| GMC Sierra SL Crew Cab 4WD | $5,037 |
| Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD LT Crew Cab 2WD | $5,084 |
| Chevrolet Impala LTZ | $5,116 |
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Prices based on single female driver age 30, two speeding tickets, two at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and Pennsylvania minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, homeowner, and multi-vehicle. Premium amounts do not factor in specific location which can alter coverage rates noticeably.
Looking at the numbers, you can figure that cars like the Ford Escape, Honda Accord, Honda CR-V, Hyundai Elantra, and Toyota Tacoma are most likely to be some of the most affordable vehicles to insure for bad drivers. The cost of auto insurance will be higher anyway because of the fact that there is more risk for drivers with a bad driving record, but in general those models will tend to have the lowest prices available.
Finding decent, cost effective auto insurance is confusing at best, and figuring out which insurers offer the lowest-priced car insurance rates for drivers with a bad driving record takes more quotes for comparison. Each company uses their own method to set policy rates, so first let’s look at the rankings for the car insurance companies with the overall best prices in Pittsburgh.
Find the Cheapest Car Insurance for Imperfect Drivers
| Rank | Company | Cost Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | General Casualty | $748 |
| 2 | Erie | $800 |
| 3 | Travelers | $803 |
| 4 | USAA | $809 |
| 5 | Penn National | $832 |
| 6 | Auto-Owners | $1,003 |
| 7 | Amica | $1,012 |
| 8 | Atlantic States | $1,016 |
| 9 | Donegal Mutual | $1,102 |
| 10 | GEICO | $1,123 |
| 11 | Allied | $1,155 |
| 12 | State Farm | $1,174 |
| 13 | California Casualty | $1,198 |
| 14 | State Auto | $1,229 |
| 15 | Encompass | $1,344 |
| 16 | Harleysville | $1,438 |
| 17 | Mutual Benefit Group | $1,454 |
| 18 | Progressive | $1,472 |
| 19 | Nationwide | $1,491 |
| 20 | Chubb | $1,551 |
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General Casualty may have some of the lowest car insurance rates in Pittsburgh at around $748 each year. This is $909 less than the average price paid by Pennsylvania drivers of $1,657. Erie, Travelers, USAA, and Penn National are also some of the most economical Pittsburgh, PA insurance companies.
In the rate table above, if you are a policyholder with USAA and switched to Erie, you might see a yearly price reduction of approximately $9. Insureds with Penn National may save as much as $32 a year, and Auto-Owners insureds might cut rates by $203 a year.
Remember that these premiums are averages across all ages of drivers and types of vehicles and do not take into consideration a specific zip code for drivers with a bad driving record. So the auto insurance company that has the lowest price for you may not even be in the top 30 companies shown above. That is why you need to compare as many prices as possible using your own individual information.
How much more does full coverage cost?
Reducing the cost of car insurance is the goal of the majority of people, and one of the easiest ways to lower the cost of insurance for drivers with a bad driving record is to buy only liability coverage. The example below illustrates the comparison of premium costs when comparing full coverage to liability only. The costs are based on no violations or accidents, $250 deductibles, drivers are single, and no additional discounts are factored in.
If the expense is averaged for all age categories, comp and collision coverage costs an additional $2,311 per year over liability only. A very common question is if full coverage is worth the money. There is no set guideline to exclude comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, but there is a general guideline you can use. If the annual cost of your full coverage insurance is 10% or more of the replacement cost minus the deductible, then it’s probably a good time to buy liability coverage only.
There are a few cases where dropping physical damage coverage is not advised. If you have an outstanding loan on your vehicle, you have to carry full coverage to protect the lienholder’s interest. Also, if you can’t afford to buy a different vehicle if your current one is in an accident, you should maintain full coverage.
Impact of careless driving on Pittsburgh car insurance rates
A great way to receive affordable car insurance prices in Pittsburgh for bad drivers is to be an attentive driver and not get tickets or have accidents. The illustration below demonstrates how citations and accidents influence yearly insurance costs for each age group. The prices are based on a married female driver, full physical damage coverage, $500 deductibles, and no additional discounts are factored in.
In the example above, the average cost of auto insurance in Pennsylvania per year with a clean driving record and no accidents is $1,617. Factor in two speeding tickets and the average cost jumps to $2,294, an increase of $677 each year. Now throw in two accidents along with the two speeding tickets and the yearly cost of car insurance for drivers with a bad driving record increases to an average of $4,923. That’s an increase of $3,306, or $276 per month, just for not maintaining a clean driving record!
Ending up with a high-quality insurance provider can be rather challenging considering how many companies sell insurance in Pennsylvania. The company rank data displayed below can help you select which car insurance companies to look at purchasing from.
The ratings below are only comprised of large, nationwide insurance companies, so smaller companies are not factored into this list. To compare prices from these top-rated insurers and more, just click here.
Top 10 Major Auto Insurance Providers Overall in Pittsburgh
- The General
- Titan Insurance
- The Hartford
- Progressive
- Travelers
- State Farm
- Farmers Insurance
- Erie Insurance
- Safeco Insurance
- USAA
Top 10 Major Auto Insurance Providers in Pittsburgh Ranked by Customer Service
- Titan Insurance
- The Hartford
- American Family
- Progressive
- USAA
- Travelers
- State Farm
- GEICO
- Erie Insurance
- Allstate
What aren’t you shopping around?
Pittsburgh car insurance rates are determined by lots of factors that will increase or decrease the price you have to pay. Turning one year older, adding a teenager to your policy, or getting a speeding ticket can produce rate changes that can make some companies cheaper than competitors.
Not only may your situation change, but car insurance companies change rates as often as every three months to ensure their profitability. Higher than normal claim frequency or severity can cause increased rates, while a lower level of claims can cause lower-priced Pittsburgh car insurance rates.
For example, the chart below demonstrates which company has the cheapest car insurance in Pittsburgh, PA for a 35-year-old male driver with no violations or accidents, and a high credit rating. If we compare prices based on his current risk profile, General Casualty might quote the best car insurance rates in Pittsburgh at $870 a year. This is $787 less than the average premium paid by Pennsylvania drivers of $1,657. USAA, Erie, Travelers, and Penn National also make the list of the best Pittsburgh, PA auto insurance companies.
The next chart shows rates after we give the driver in the first example a chargeable claim, poor credit, and a couple of points charged on his driving record. Since each company has a proprietary method for establishing rates, getting updated rate quotes may now show a new list of the cheapest Pittsburgh car insurance companies as shown below.
Amica now has the lowest price on auto insurance in Pittsburgh with Atlantic States, USAA, Donegal Mutual, and Travelers also having competitive pricing. This example shows why consumers need to take the time to take the time to shop around to find the most economical insurance rates for drivers with a bad driving record.
Prices are calculated by many risk factors and can change substantially, so the most economical option six months ago may now be priced much higher than other options.