The words “cheap” and “insurance” really shouldn’t be used together, specifically when you are shopping around for the best coverage prices for veterans. To save some money, let’s open your eyes to some of the things that help determine car insurance premiums, and come up with some ideas to take a little off the next policy you buy.
For veterans, one of the more important components that are looked at to determine the price you pay for insurance is where you live. Areas with high crime rates or more dense population will most likely have higher rates, whereas less populated areas benefit from having to pay less for coverage.
The illustration below sorts the most expensive areas in Pennsylvania for veterans to buy car insurance in. Pittsburgh comes in at #9 with an annual premium of $1,095 for the average insured, which is around $91 each month.
| Rank | City | Average Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philadelphia | $2,057 |
| 2 | Drexel Hill | $1,534 |
| 3 | Chester | $1,435 |
| 4 | Levittown | $1,421 |
| 5 | Norristown | $1,268 |
| 6 | Erie | $1,104 |
| 7 | Easton | $1,102 |
| 8 | Allentown | $1,097 |
| 9 | Pittsburgh | $1,095 |
| 10 | Hazleton | $1,088 |
| 11 | Municipality of Monr | $1,081 |
| 12 | Scranton | $1,081 |
| 13 | Plum | $1,079 |
| 14 | Bethlehem | $1,077 |
| 15 | Reading | $1,066 |
| 16 | Wilkes-Barre | $1,057 |
| 17 | New Castle | $1,046 |
| 18 | Altoona | $1,012 |
| 19 | Lancaster | $1,005 |
| 20 | Bethel Park | $989 |
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Price information shown is comparative as vehicle location can revise premiums substantially.
The vehicle model you are buying coverage for is a large consideration when looking for the best cheap coverage for veterans. Vehicles with high performance features, a lack of advanced safety features, or an increased likelihood of liability claims will cost more to insure than more modest models.
The next table showcases insurance premiums for a number of the most cost-effective automobiles to insure in Pennsylvania.
| Make, Model, and Trim Level | Estimated Cost for Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Ford Escape XLS 2WD | $983 |
| Honda CR-V EX-L 2WD | $1,005 |
| Toyota Prius | $1,090 |
| Ford Focus SE 4-Dr Sedan | $1,138 |
| Chevrolet Equinox LT AWD | $1,160 |
| Chevrolet Malibu LS | $1,165 |
| Dodge Grand Caravan SXT | $1,184 |
| Hyundai Elantra SE Touring Station Wagon | $1,201 |
| Honda Odyssey EX-L W/Navigation | $1,221 |
| Hyundai Sonata GLS 4-Dr Sedan | $1,247 |
| Nissan Rogue S AWD | $1,254 |
| Chevrolet Silverado LT Extended Cab 2WD | $1,247 |
| Toyota Tacoma Double Cab 4WD | $1,264 |
| Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer 4WD | $1,291 |
| Ford F-150 XLT Crew Cab 4WD | $1,296 |
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Data variables include married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and Pennsylvania minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, homeowner, safe-driver, multi-policy, and claim-free. Information does not factor in vehicle garaging location which can influence rates noticeably.
Looking at the rates, we can tell that models like the Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, and Toyota Prius are likely to be a few of the most budget-friendly vehicles to insure for veterans.
Finding decent, affordable insurance is easier said than done, and figuring out which companies quote the best auto insurance rates for veterans will take even more shopping around.
Each insurance company has a unique formula for determining rates, so first let’s look at the rankings for the auto insurance companies that tend to have lower prices in Pittsburgh, PA. It’s important that readers know that Pittsburgh auto insurance rates are impacted by many things that control the price of your policy. Simply having another birthday, increasing liability limits, or getting into an accident may prompt premium changes that may make certain companies higher-priced than before.
Find the Cheapest Auto Insurance for Vets
| Rank | Company | Cost Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | General Casualty | $718 |
| 2 | Travelers | $779 |
| 3 | USAA | $793 |
| 4 | Erie | $800 |
| 5 | Penn National | $832 |
| 6 | Auto-Owners | $973 |
| 7 | Amica | $982 |
| 8 | Atlantic States | $1,047 |
| 9 | Donegal Mutual | $1,058 |
| 10 | GEICO | $1,157 |
| 11 | State Farm | $1,162 |
| 12 | Allied | $1,190 |
| 13 | California Casualty | $1,198 |
| 14 | State Auto | $1,267 |
| 15 | Encompass | $1,398 |
| 16 | Mutual Benefit Group | $1,411 |
| 17 | Harleysville | $1,452 |
| 18 | Progressive | $1,457 |
| 19 | Nationwide | $1,477 |
| 20 | Chubb | $1,536 |
| Compare Rates Now Go | ||
General Casualty may offer some of the best car insurance rates in Pittsburgh at around $718 per year. This is $939 less than the average price paid by Pennsylvania drivers of $1,657. Travelers, USAA, Erie, and Penn National also rank well as some of the cheapest Pittsburgh, PA auto insurance companies.
As shown in the rates above, if you are a policyholder with Travelers and switched to General Casualty, you may see an annual premium reduction of roughly $61. Drivers with USAA could save as much as $75 a year, and Erie insureds might realize rate reductions of up to $82 a year.
To compare your rates to other Pennsylvania insurance companies, click here to get quotes or click several companies below for low rates.
Bear in mind that those prices are averaged across all drivers and vehicles and are not factoring in an exact zip code location for veterans. So the car insurance company that can offer you the best price may not even be in the list above. That’s why you need to get rate quotes from many companies using your own driver data and vehicle information.
Responsible drivers pay cheaper Pittsburgh auto insurance rates
The recommended way to receive good auto insurance premiums in Pennsylvania for veterans is to be a careful driver and avoid at-fault accidents and violations. The information below demonstrates how traffic citations and accident claims can influence auto insurance costs for different ages of insureds. The data is based on a single male driver, full coverage, $500 deductibles, and no discounts are applied to the premium.
In the previous chart, the average cost of car insurance per year with a clean driving record and no accidents is $2,070. Factor in two speeding tickets and the average cost rises to $2,737, an increase of $667 each year. Then throw in one accident along with the two speeding tickets and the annual cost of auto insurance for veterans goes up to an average of $3,420. That’s an increase of $1,350, or $112 per month, just for not keeping your driving record clean!
Does full coverage make sense?
Finding cheaper auto insurance is probably important to most people, and one easy way to save on the cost of insurance for veterans is to not pay for full coverage. The example below shows the comparison of insurance costs with full physical damage coverage compared to only buying the minimum liability limits required in Pennsylvania. The premium estimates are based on no violations or claims, $1,000 deductibles, single status, and no other discounts are factored in.
Averaged out for all age groups, physical damage insurance costs $1,499 per year over and above liability only. At some point, about every driver wonders when is the right time to remove full coverage. There is no specific rule of when to drop comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, but there is a general convention. If the yearly cost of full coverage is 10% or more of the settlement you would receive from your company, the it may be a good time to stop paying for full coverage.
Are you paying too much for car insurance in Pittsburgh?
Pittsburgh auto insurance rates are impacted by many factors which can significantly increase or decrease the cost of coverage. Simply getting older, moving to a new city, or getting a few speeding tickets can trigger rate changes that may make certain companies more affordable than competitors.
Not only that, but car insurance companies file new Pennsylvania auto insurance rates without warning to adjust for heavy claims or excess profits. Heavier than normal losses can cause high rates, while profitable underwriting may result in cheaper Pittsburgh car insurance rates.
For instance, the graph below compares the cheapest car insurance in Pittsburgh, PA for a 40-year-old female driver with no prior accidents, a clean driving record, and good financial standing. If we look at prices based on her current risk factors, General Casualty may have the lowest car insurance rates in Pittsburgh at $879 a year. This is $778 less than the average policy premium paid by Pennsylvania drivers of $1,657. USAA, Erie, Travelers, and Penn National are also on the list of the most affordable Pittsburgh, PA auto insurance companies.
In this example, we will give the driver from the first example a chargeable claim, less-than-perfect credit, and a traffic citation. Due to the fact that each insurance company has their own guidelines to establish rates, comparing insurance quotes may result in a new list of companies as shown below.
Amica now has the best price on car insurance in Pittsburgh with Atlantic States, USAA, Donegal Mutual, and Travelers completing the list. This example illustrates why it is critical to shop around to get the lowest insurance rates for veterans.
Car insurance prices are made up of many factors and can increase or decrease at any time, so the cheapest option when you last compared rates may now be one of the higher cost companies.
If you like to get help from a professional when comparing insurance rates for veterans, the insurance agencies listed below are a good start to answer your questions and help you decide which coverages are best.
To find an agent in your neighborhood, click the button after the list.
Nationwide Insurance: Joshua Michael Dott Agency
513 Towne Square Way – Pittsburgh, PA 15227 – (412) 927-2400
Rodgers Andrew F Insurance Agency Inc
Foster Plaza V, 651 Holiday Dr – Pittsburgh, PA 15220 – (412) 922-1651
Paul Lukitsch – State Farm Insurance Agent
200 Fleet St #100 – Pittsburgh, PA 15220 – (412) 921-2008
Find a Pittsburgh, PA insurance agent near you
How to find low-cost insurance for veterans
The list below summarizes some of the better money-saving ideas that can help Pittsburgh drivers locate lower-cost coverage.
- Raise your deductibles
- Drivers with good credit ratings often pay less
- Do not get traffic tickets
- Do not insure for full coverage
- Buy a safer vehicle
- Maintain a safe distance and avoid accidents
- Shop around and save
That final tip is remarkably vital, as was pointed out in the prior information. Prices charged by auto insurers in Pittsburgh can change considerably based on profitability, so you should be ready to switch companies if a more affordable rate is found.
Many consumers stick with the same company and that’s fine, but it isn’t a good idea if it’s costing you a small fortune. If you have a few minutes, compare rates and find cheaper car insurance for veterans.