The Best Delaware Auto Insurance Companies
Delaware’s high traffic density and expensive auto repairs put its typical auto insurance premium about $208 above the national average. That said, every company weighs your application a little differently, and by setting aside time to get quotes from a few insurers, you can find the company that offers you the best deal on the most coverage. Start by reading our reviews of the best auto insurers in Delaware, and then use our quote tool above to see what each of them can offer you.
How We Found the Best Delaware Auto Insurance Companies
We chose the best auto insurance companies in Delaware using a methodology similar to our national auto insurance review. First, we found the largest companies in the state by market share. Then, we checked with independent ratings agencies like A.M. Best and Moody’s to ensure that the companies were financially strong enough to pay out their claims.
Finally, we evaluated the coverage options, endorsements, and discounts each provider had to offer. We wanted to make sure that they provided adequate protection and opportunities for customization, plus plenty of ways to save. To check our hunches, we looked to the latest customer satisfaction surveys from J.D. Power and Consumer Reports. We also set aside time to get some quotes and speak to agents ourselves.
The 4 Best Auto Insurance Companies in Delaware
Delaware Auto Insurance Companies Reviews
State Farm
State Farm should be your first stop if you’re looking for a policy with high coverage limits. You can purchase up to 500/500/500 — $500K each in bodily injury coverage per person, bodily injury coverage per accident, and property-damage coverage — which is the most any insurance company offers. Unfortunately, while State Farm gives you plenty of options for liability coverage, it doesn’t do the same for deductibles. There are only five options available, ranging from $100 to $2,000, but most people should be able to find something that they’re comfortable with here.
State Farm’s rates are normally pretty affordable, and you may be able to bring them down even further if you qualify for discounts. In addition to the standard multi-policy, protective device and safe driver discounts, State Farm also offers some more unique options, like a new car discount. If you’re willing to put your driving skills to the test, you can also sign up for its Drive Safe & Save program. This monitors your driving through a mobile app and gives you savings for driving responsibly. There’s also the Steer Clear program, only available to drivers under 25, which provides a refresher course on safe driving.
Liberty Mutual
Liberty Mutual offers several endorsements designed to help you save money in the event of an accident. First, there’s vanishing deductible. Every year you go without an accident, your collision deductible will decrease by $100 until it is gone. There’s also accident forgiveness to prevent your rates from going up following your first at-fault accident. Finally, there’s a lifetime repair guarantee when you get your car fixed at one of Liberty Mutual’s approved repair centers. If the repaired parts break, you can bring the car back in and you won’t pay a dime out of pocket.
You may also want to give Liberty Mutual a closer look if you drive a new car. It’s the only company on this list to offer new car replacement, which pays to replace your totaled car with the same make and model. If your car’s more than a year old, you’ll want to check out better car replacement. This pays to replace your totaled car with one that’s a model year newer with 15,000 fewer miles on it. State Farm also a similar option in Payoff Protector®, but it only applies if you have a loan from State Farm Bank.
Liberty Mutual didn’t fare as well as some of the others in the customer satisfaction surveys. While it received good overall scores, its claims handling was a step behind the rest, earning a ⅖ from J.D. Power. The process was noted to be pretty smooth and efficient, but not everyone was satisfied with the amount that they received. Every insurer receives these complaints to some extent, but if this concerns you, you may feel more comfortable going with a company like State Farm, which received ⅘ for its claims handling.
Progressive
Progressive has some standout coverages that we really liked. It offers GAP coverage, which pays off the balance of your lease or loan if your vehicle is totaled in an accident. There’s also pet injury coverage and custom parts coverage, which pays to replace any paint jobs, stereos, or other upgrades you made to your vehicle.
That said, Progressive isn’t the right choice if you’re looking for a policy with high coverage limits. The most you can purchase is 250/500/100. The $100K maximum property damage liability coverage, in particular, is low compared to the other companies listed here. It will probably still be enough to cover most accidents, but if you’d like to be on the safe side, you may feel more comfortable with State Farm or Nationwide, both of which offer up to $500K of property damage liability coverage.
Progressive doesn’t have many discounts to help you save on your auto insurance, but we found our quote to be pretty affordable anyway. You can also take advantage of Progressive’s Snapshot program, which monitors your driving for several months and offers you savings based on how responsible you are.
Nationwide
If you’re looking to purchase auto insurance for your entire family, Nationwide is the best option we found. Its Family Plan program enables you to share discounts among all members of your family, which is especially nice if you have an expensive teen driver on your policy. If you qualify for a safe driving discount, for example, all the other drivers on your policy will get that discount, too.
We also appreciated that Nationwide gives you nine deductible options to choose from, starting at $100 and going as high as $5,000. If you’re looking to lower your premiums, you can opt for a higher deductible. And if you’re a safe driver, you could see your deductible decrease over time if you sign up for Nationwide’s Vanishing Deductible endorsement. Every year you go without an accident, you’ll receive $100 off of your collision deductible up to a maximum of $500.
Guide to Delaware Auto Insurance Companies
Delaware minimum liability
The first thing you’ll need to know when looking for a good Delaware auto insurance company is the minimum liability. In Delaware, you must have at least:
- $25,000 bodily injury coverage per person
- $50,000 bodily injury coverage per accident
- $10,000 property damage coverage per accident
This is usually written as 25/50/10 coverage. You’re also required to purchase at least $15,000 worth of personal injury protection (PIP). This coverage pays for any medical expenses you incur as the result of a crash, regardless of who is at fault. You can learn more on that below.
Go beyond the minimum
It’s always best to purchase more than the minimum coverage if you can. In fact, you should purchase as much coverage as you can afford. Expenses add up quickly in an accident, and if you don’t have enough insurance, you’ll be left to pay the rest on your own. Say you cause $30,000 worth of property damage. Your state-minimum insurance is only responsible for $10,000, leaving you with the remaining $20,000. But you can avoid all that by purchasing higher coverage limits.
Compare quotes
The best way to get a good deal on auto insurance is to compare your options. Each company weighs each factor differently, which is why they all give you different every company weighs your application a little differently, Look into a few of them and play around with coverage limits until you find the one that offers you the best price on the most coverage.
Delaware Auto Insurance Companies FAQ
Which Delaware auto insurance company is the best?
This will largely depend on what you’re looking for, the amount you’re willing to pay, and just how much coverage you need. Our top four picks are a great place to start looking, but you’ll want to gather as many quotes from as many providers in the First State as you can.
Why is auto insurance in Delaware so expensive?
Delaware has the eighth highest traffic density in the nation, with over 1.4 million vehicle miles per highway mile driven each year. This is a concern for insurance companies, because with so many drivers on the road, there’s an increased chance of accidents. This is one of the main reasons Delaware’s auto insurance rates are as high as they are.
Another factor is the cost of auto repairs. In Delaware, you can expect to pay $388 for a standard check-engine light fix — the eighth highest rate in the nation. Because repairs are more expensive, insurance companies end up paying out more in the event of a claim, and they need to raise premiums in order to to keep up.
Will my auto insurance pay for my medical bills?
Delaware requires its residents to carry at least $15,000 of personal injury protection (PIP). This is usually associated with no-fault states, which limit your ability to sue for damages in an accident. Delaware isn’t a no-fault state, but it borrows some of their ideas when it comes to medical bills.
In most states, the person who caused the crash is held responsible for all medical bills. But when you have PIP, you look to your own insurance company for payment. Because Delaware isn’t a no-fault state, you are free to sue the other driver for things like pain and suffering and auto repair costs. The only catch is you can’t sue them for the reimbursement of expenses that were covered under your PIP, like medical bills or lost wages.
For this reason, it’s important to make sure you purchase enough PIP to ensure that you’re adequately protected even in the event of a serious accident. Your insurance is only responsible for paying up to the limit listed in your policy, and anything over that will be up to you. Going with higher coverage limits will raise your premium slightly, but you’ll be grateful you did if you end up seriously injured in a crash.
