You have surely seen all the ads from companies like Liberty Mutual, Allstate, and GEICO promising enormous savings. So you should just choose the one with the most memorable commercial, right?
That is not the case, however, as there are a whole bunch of unknown elements such as what level of deductibles you need, if you are a man or woman, and what coverage limits you want. This article will detail the different ways you can keep rates low and will hopefully give you a jump start in finding the best auto insurance.
For teachers and educators, one of the more important things that determine the annual cost of car insurance is where you keep your vehicle in Pittsburgh. Areas with a lot of weather claims or more people will most likely have higher rates, whereas less populated areas have the gratification of cheaper auto insurance rates.
The following table shows the highest-priced areas in Pennsylvania for teachers to purchase car insurance in. Pittsburgh shows up at #9 with an annual rate of $1,085 for the average policyholder, which is around $90 per month.
| Rank | City | Average Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philadelphia | $2,037 |
| 2 | Drexel Hill | $1,504 |
| 3 | Chester | $1,421 |
| 4 | Levittown | $1,421 |
| 5 | Norristown | $1,307 |
| 6 | Erie | $1,115 |
| 7 | Allentown | $1,108 |
| 8 | Plum | $1,089 |
| 9 | Pittsburgh | $1,085 |
| 10 | Wilkes-Barre | $1,079 |
| 11 | Easton | $1,069 |
| 12 | Reading | $1,066 |
| 13 | Municipality of Monr | $1,059 |
| 14 | Bethlehem | $1,055 |
| 15 | Scranton | $1,049 |
| 16 | Hazleton | $1,046 |
| 17 | New Castle | $1,015 |
| 18 | Altoona | $1,012 |
| 19 | Bethel Park | $1,009 |
| 20 | Lancaster | $995 |
| 21 | Harrisburg | $995 |
| 22 | Williamsport | $986 |
| 23 | Lebanon | $950 |
| 24 | York | $926 |
| 25 | State College | $905 |
| Quote Best Rates Go | ||
Prices are approximated as the specific area where the vehicle is garaged can impact price quotes significantly.
Deciphering which company offers the best car insurance rates for teachers will require more time than just quoting one company’s rates. Each insurer has their own formula for establishing rates, so to begin we’ll rank the most competitive car insurance companies in Pennsylvania.
It’s important that readers know that Pennsylvania car insurance rates are impacted by many things that may substantially change the cost of your policy. Simply improving your credit, buying a home, or getting into an accident can trigger rate changes that can make some companies much cheaper than others.
Best Car Insurance Prices for Educators
| Rank | Company | Cost Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | General Casualty | $740 |
| 2 | Travelers | $779 |
| 3 | Erie | $800 |
| 4 | USAA | $817 |
| 5 | Penn National | $832 |
| 6 | Auto-Owners | $973 |
| 7 | Amica | $982 |
| 8 | Atlantic States | $1,005 |
| 9 | Donegal Mutual | $1,069 |
| 10 | GEICO | $1,111 |
| 11 | Allied | $1,179 |
| 12 | State Farm | $1,198 |
| 13 | California Casualty | $1,234 |
| 14 | State Auto | $1,241 |
| 15 | Encompass | $1,344 |
| 16 | Harleysville | $1,396 |
| 17 | Mutual Benefit Group | $1,411 |
| 18 | Nationwide | $1,433 |
| 19 | Progressive | $1,472 |
| 20 | Chubb | $1,598 |
| Find Cheaper Rates Go | ||
General Casualty offers some of the most affordable car insurance rates in Pittsburgh at around $740 each year. Travelers, Erie, USAA, and Penn National would also make the list of some of the more affordable Pittsburgh, PA auto insurance companies.
As shown above, if you have coverage with Travelers and switched to General Casualty, you could earn savings of about $39. Pennsylvania drivers with Erie may save as much as $60 a year, and USAA insureds might lower prices by $77 a year.
It’s important to note that these premium estimates are averages across all types of insureds and vehicles and and are not figured with a vehicle location for teachers. So the insurer that can offer the best rates for your situation may not even be in the list above. That point stresses why you need to quote rates from as many companies as possible using your own personal information and vehicle type.
Cost comparison with and without full coverage
Lowering the price of car insurance is probably important to most people, and one great way to reduce the cost of insurance for teachers is to not pay for full coverage. The chart below shows the comparison of insurance premiums with full coverage and liability only. The prices are based on no accidents or driving violations, $1,000 deductibles, single status, and no discounts are factored in.
If averaged for all ages, full coverage costs $1,385 per year over and above liability only. Lot’s of drivers question when is it a good idea to stop buying full coverage. There isn’t a written rule of when to phase out full coverage on your policy, but there is a general guideline. If the yearly cost of full coverage is 10% or more of any settlement you would receive from your insurance company, then it could be time to drop full coverage.
For example, let’s pretend your vehicle’s book value is $6,500 and you have $1,000 full coverage deductibles. If your vehicle is damaged in an accident, the most your company would pay you is $5,500 after paying your deductible. If it’s costing you more than $550 annually for full coverage, then it might be time to consider dropping full coverage.
Discounts on Pittsburgh auto insurance
Insurers that provide policies for teachers may also provide price discounts that can lower rates by 40% or more if you meet eligibility requirements. A list of car insurance companies and a selection of discounts are included below.
- American Family may include discounts for multi-vehicle, Steer into Savings, TimeAway discount, early bird, defensive driver, air bags, and good student.
- State Farm includes discounts for good student, good driver, Drive Safe & Save, passive restraint, driver’s education, multiple autos, and defensive driving training.
- 21st Century has savings for defensive driver, student driver, theft prevention, anti-lock brakes, and early bird.
- Travelers offers discounts including student away at school, early quote, IntelliDrive, new car, driver training, and multi-policy.
- GEICO may offer discounts for seat belt use, federal employee, military active duty, anti-lock brakes, daytime running lights, and multi-vehicle.
The illustration below shows the difference between premium costs with and without discounts being applied to the rates. The premiums are based on a female driver, a clean driving record, no claims, Pennsylvania state minimum liability limits, full physical damage coverage, and $250 deductibles.
The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with passive restraint, claim-free, vehicle safety, multiple vehicle, accident-free, and homeowner discounts applied. When discounts are factored in, the average savings per year on car insurance for teachers is 28% or $620.
How to find the cheapest car insurance for teachers
It’s not impossible to find cheaper rates, and here are some money-saving suggestions that can help drivers locate cheap coverage.
- Good credit can help you save money
- Bundle home or renters insurance to earn a discount on car insurance
- Full coverage is expensive so only insure older vehicles for liability only
- Remain accident-free and save
- Drive a car with a high safety rating
- Comparison shop at least every other year
That last idea is certainly crucial, as was noted in this article. Prices charged by companies change frequently, so you should be ready to buy a different policy if a lower-cost policy is available.
Staying with the same car insurance company is fine, but is isn’t recommended if it’s costing you lots of hard earned cash every month. In just a few minutes you could compare prices to find cheaper car insurance for teachers in Pittsburgh.
The Pittsburgh, PA, insurance agents below are a good start to help you decide which coverage fits your budget, as some people prefer to have a professional recommendation when trying to find the best insurance rates for teachers. It’s not always easy to do it yourself, and getting advice from a licensed agent can provide peace of mind knowing you have adequate coverage when you need it most.
To find a Pittsburgh insurance agency close to where you live, click the button following the list.
- Chad Gregorini – State Farm Insurance Agent
7 Brilliant Ave – Pittsburgh, PA 15215 – (412) 784-8855 - Nationwide Insurance: Swenson Insurance Inc
234 Shady Ave – Pittsburgh, PA 15206 – (412) 362-8340 - Lindsay Brown – State Farm Insurance Agent
300 Cedar Blvd #205 – Pittsburgh, PA 15228 – (412) 344-3030