Nina Rodríguez-Quirós

Last updated on Jul 15, 2021

The best auto insurance companies  in Colorado should cover yourself against a lawsuit and your car against theft or natural disasters. Drivers in colorado should consider comprehensive coverage, which protects you if your car is damaged by weather hazards, your vehicle gets stolen or an underinsured driver hits you. 

We’ve compared car insurance providers and found the top five insurers in the Centennial State. We analyzed rates, discounts, coverage and customer satisfaction scores to determine the best provider for your needs. Some of the providers that made the cut are part of our best car insurance companies in the U.S.: State Farm, USAA and Progressive. While American Family and Allstate are not on the national list, these companies are worth comparing because of their comprehensive coverages. Check out our picks.

The 5 Best Auto Insurance Companies in Colorado

• State Farm: Best for customer service
• USAA: Best for military members
• American Family: Best for customizable coverage
• Allstate: Best for wide coverage
• Progressive: Best for discounts

Information accurate as of July 2021

*Data provided by Coverage.com

* Data provided by Coverage.com, price based on the state minimum required policy.

** J.D. Power 2021 Auto Insurance Satisfaction Study rating for the Southwest region. Based on a 1,000-point scale.

The Average Cost of Car Insurance in Colorado

The national average cost of car insurance in 2020 is $1,555, while Colorado’s average is $1,720 according to Coverage.com. Premium prices in this state are higher than the national average because of the low standards on the minimum coverage. Many drivers may not be as covered as they should be, and that means higher premiums for all drivers.

Another factor that plays a significant role in the premiums is Colorado’s weather. This state has intermittent snow and sleet, which adds risk to Colorado drivers, impacting their rates to protect their cars. Along with a high number of auto theft, just in 2019, the Colorado Stolen Vehicle Database Repository captured a total of 20,271 motor vehicle thefts statewide. But remember that other essential factors like gender, age, credit scores, insurance history, and annual mileage could impact your car insurance premiums.

Top 3 Cheapest Car Insurance Companies in Colorado

*Data provided by Coverage.com, price based on the state minimum required policy.

Top 3 Most Expensive Car Insurance Companies in Colorado

*Data provided by Coverage.com, price based on the state minimum required policy.

Top 3 Cheapest Cities for Car Insurance in Colorado

*Data provided by Coverage.com, price based on the state minimum required policy.

Top 3 Most Expensive Cities for Car Insurance in Colorado

*Data provided by Coverage.com, price based on the state minimum required policy.

Guide to Colorado Car Insurance 

Colorado’s most common natural disasters are floods, wildfires, tornados, droughts, winter storms and severe storms, which means drivers should be extra careful due to natural hazards. The Colorado Department of Transportation has created a travel center overview for safe travel tips across this state. For example, if you drive through the mountains during the winter, a code 15 can be issued, which means that cars should have snow tires and preferably 4-wheel drive or all-wheel drive and tire chains should be used. Not having these make drivers more prone to accidents, and if you are caught without those precautions, you could be fined $130 or more.

Key things to know about car insurance in Colorado

• Colorado drivers must carry liability insurance coverage
• The required liability is 25/50/15 on auto insurance coverage
• The penalties for driving without a license include: 4 points on your driving record, a $500 minimum fine with up to $1,000 in additional offenses, possible license suspension and up to 40 hours of community service
• In 2019, Colorado had 500 traffic deaths

Car Insurance Add-Ons That Will Further Protect You 

Here are some types of additional coverage recommended based on common risk across Colorado and a brief explanation of why our team recommends it. We are aware that Colorado’s auto insurance premiums are higher than the national average, but adding these coverages may help you lower out of pocket expenses in the long run.

• Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: This add-on covers your property or medical care if someone hits you and doesn’t have enough insurance to foot the bill. Colorado ranks 19th nationally for uninsured/underinsured motorists, which means rolling the dice on an accident isn’t in the best interest of your safety or your wallet.
• Medical payments coverage: Having this extra coverage will pay for expenses if you are injured in a car accident. When you have this protection, it doesn’t matter which party caused the incident.
• Comprehensive and collision insurance: Even if Colorado does not require that you have this coverage, your car leasing company or lender can ask you to add it. This add-on coverage is more holistic and includes unexpected situations like car accidents, collisions with animals, vandalism, falling objects, among others. 

Colorado Minimum Insurance Requirements

Colorado’s insurance requirements are having liability insurance for property damages caused to another party, even bodily injuries. That coverage also protects you and another driver who uses your vehicle with your permission and causes an accident.

Minimum liability required in the state of Colorado is divided as follows:

• $25,000 bodily injury coverage per person
• $50,000 bodily injury coverage per accident
• $15,000 for property damage

Colorado’s No-Fault Law 

Colorado does not have a no-fault law, so if you have an accident, you can sue the responsible party if you get hurt or your car is damaged. The same goes if you are the responsible party if you rear-end someone, the other party can file a claim against your insurance company to pay for their damages and injury. The at-fault driver will also have to file a claim to their provider, meaning the at-fault driver will pay for two claims instead of just one.

Colorado Car Insurance FAQ

Methodology 

Reviews.com scores products, services and companies using five quantifiable criteria to help readers choose the best one for them. For the best car insurance in Colorado, our editorial team compared affordability, customer support, coverage options, customer satisfaction scores and online resources from each company and averaged the scores to produce our very own Reviews.com score. These scores were created with our readers in mind and are meant to be a helpful tool to simplify the process of choosing which car insurance company is best for you. 

As for average pricing, we used Coverage.com’s data, based on the profiles of 30-year male and female. For full coverage, the details used were the following:

• $100k bodily injury liability per person
• $300k bodily injury liability coverage per crash
• $100k property damage liability coverage per crash
• $500 collision coverage deductible
• $500 comprehensive coverage deductible

Minimum coverages were applied to match state requirements. Both drivers used a new, financed 2018 Toyota Camry, commuting five days a week and driving 12,000 miles per year. Since auto insurance rates vary widely among different profiles, we encourage you to compare options that fit your specific needs.

About the Authors

Nina Rodríguez-Quirós Feature Writer

Nina Rodríguez-Quirós is a feature writer for Reviews.com. Over the last year, she has covered insurance providers, claims handling, coverage and more. She has been featured in Allconnect.com and holds a Master’s Degree in Theory and Research of Communications from the University of Puerto Rico. Her favorite review is Millennials and Auto Insurance.

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