Pennsylvania citizens who are active military members or veterans and their family, have a great option for car insurance in USAA. The rare combination of low prices and high customer satisfaction plus financial strength ratings makes them our top recommended auto insurance provider of all the companies we reviewed. A good second contender, since it is available for everyone, is Erie Insurance with their affordable rates, excellent customer service, and a wide range of discounts.
To choose the top carriers, we analyzed their market share, coverage policies, discounts, customer service ratings, and financial stability.
Our review covers the most popular car insurance providers available to the state of Pennsylvania.
The 5 Best Car Insurance Companies in Pennsylvania
| USAA | Erie Insurance | GEICO | Nationwide | State Farm | |
| Our review | Our review | Our review | Our review | Our review | |
| AM Best Financial Strength Rating | A++ | A+ | A++ | A+ | A |
| J.D. Power 2019 Overall Customer Satisfaction Score (Mid-Atlantic Region) | 5/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 | 2/5 | 3/5 |
| Avg. Annual Premium | $552 | $659 | $635 | $822 | $746 |
| Compare rates | Compare rates | Compare rates | Compare rates | Compare rates |
USAA
Pennsylvania Auto Insurance
Pros
- High customer satisfaction
- Low auto insurance policy rates
Cons
- Available only to active military personnel, veterans, and their families
USAA Insurance has the most competitive prices available on auto insurance policies for Pennsylvania residents—without sacrificing service quality. USAA received a solid 5/5 stars in all categories in the 2019 J.D. Power U.S. Auto Insurance Study for the mid-Atlantic region.
However, to enjoy a USAA policy, you have to be an active military personnel, a veteran, or family of a military member. It caters to its customers by providing unique discounts such as a vehicle storage discount and comprehensive coverage savings when garaging your vehicle on a military base.
Erie Insurance
Pennsylvania Auto Insurance
Pros
- All-inclusive policies
- Local presence
- Rate-lock on premiums
Cons
- No mobile app
Erie Insurance policies include perks not offered by other insurance companies such as pet coverage, locksmith services, and personal item coverage. With ERIE Rate Lock, your auto premiums won’t change just because it’s time to renew your policy.
While there’s no mobile app to manage your policy or file a claim, there are plenty of licensed and local agents in Pennsylvania to help you. With Erie Insurance’s stellar customer satisfaction and A.M. Best rating of A+, you’re sure to get the assistance you need, when you need it.
GEICO
Pennsylvania Auto Insurance
Pros
- Multitude of discounts available
- Robust mobile app
Cons
- Difficult to find local agents
GEICO excels at offering low rates with policies customers can quickly open online or over the phone. If you’d rather see a local agent first, you may have a hard time finding one in your area, as the company’s primary focus is providing service over the phone or digitally.
With GEICO’s laundry list of discounts, almost everyone can save additional money on their auto insurance policy but Pennsylvania residents receive unique savings through the DriveEasy app. The app tracks and measures your driving habits, rewarding you with lower premiums for good driving behavior.
Nationwide
Pennsylvania Auto Insurance
Pros
- Vanishing deductible
- Comprehensive learning center
Cons
- Property damage liability and bodily injury liability packaged together
Whether you’re looking to insure your car, motorcycle, RV, or other vehicle, Nationwide can take care of it with a cost-effective policy. Its vanishing deductible also rewards safe drivers by reducing your deductible $100 every year you’re accident-free.
While Nationwide doesn’t let you choose your property damage liability and bodily injury liability separately, all other coverage options are individual. If you’re looking for a one-stop shop for all your insurance needs, you’ll love Nationwide’s multi-policy discount and other product offerings, like property, life, and specialty insurance.
State Farm
Pennsylvania Auto Insurance
Pros
- Rideshare insurance
- Affordable rates for young drivers
Cons
- Auto claim repairs may use non-OEM or recycled parts
State Farm is the biggest auto insurance company in the U.S. It provides a complete suite of auto insurance coverage, offering even rideshare insurance so that Uber and Lyft drivers can use one policy for work separate from their personal car use policy. If an accident does happen, some customers don’t like that State Farm uses non-OEM or recycled parts for auto repairs.
State Farm’s Steer Clear program also rewards safe drivers under 25 years old with discounts on their car insurance. Its policies are affordable and have strong financial backing. State Farm received AM Best’s strongest financial strength rating of A++.
The Cheapest Car Insurance Companies in Pennsylvania
| Largest Companies by Market Share in Pennsylvania | Average Annual Premium |
| USAA | $552 |
| Penn National Insurance | $571 |
| GEICO | $635 |
| Erie Insurance | $659 |
| Auto-Owners Insurance | $682 |
| State Farm | $746 |
| Progressive | $816 |
| Nationwide | $822 |
| Allied Insurance | $927 |
| AMCO Insurance | $927 |
| Atlantic State Insurance Company | $963 |
| State Farm | $967 |
| Esurance | $1,064 |
| Allstate | $1,199 |
| Credit Rating tier | Average Annual Premium |
| Poor | $1,384 |
| Below Fair | $1,135 |
| Fair | $952 |
| Average | $878 |
| Good | $795 |
| Excellent | $673 |
| Average Across Credit Rating Tiers | $969 |
Top 3 Cheapest Car Insurance Companies in Pennsylvania
- USAA – $552
- Penn National Insurance – $571
- GEICO – $635
Top 3 Most Expensive Car Insurance Companies in Pennsylvania
- Allstate – $1,199
- Esurance – $1,064
- Atlantic States Insurance Company – $967
If you simply want the least expensive auto insurance policies available in Pennsylvania, you’ll find those with USAA, Penn National Insurance, and GEICO. Though their prices are low, they still offer quality insurance options and an extensive array of other products.
While companies like Allstate, Esurance, and Atlantic States Insurance Company rank as having the highest average annual auto insurance premiums, all three offer options to save money, such as good driver discounts and accident forgiveness programs.
Because we based our rates on general profiles, it’s best to ask for a personalized quote to see exactly how much you’ll pay and save on auto insurance policies.
Guide to Pennsylvania Car Insurance
Pennsylvania Minimum Liability
The state of Pennsylvania has minimum liability coverage amounts that you must have on your car insurance policy before you can legally drive. These amounts are sometimes written in shorthand as 15/30/5, and stand for:
- $15,000 bodily injury per person
- $30,000 bodily injury per accident
- $5,000 property damage liability coverage per accident
Pennsylvania is a choice no-fault state. This means you can choose between a no-fault and fault system when purchasing auto insurance. These options are represented by “limited tort” and “full tort,” respectively. If you agree to the no-fault system, it doesn’t matter whose fault the accident was; you’ll file a claim with your car insurance provider and will promptly receive disbursements to pay for your medical and auto repair costs.
If you choose a fault-based system, or the full tort option, you’ll file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver. It’s only after it’s proven who was responsible for the crash that the insurance makes any payouts. That’s because the at-fault driver’s insurance is responsible for paying medical bills or property damages.
Consider the Implications of Limited Tort and Full Tort
Drivers who want more protection in the event of an accident can raise their minimum liability amounts in exchange for higher premiums. While this can be an excellent measure to ensure your financial stability after an accident, it’s also essential to understand how limited tort and full tort options affect you in an accident.
Premiums tend to be lower with limited tort, and you’ll receive financial recovery for medical bills and lost wages faster. But unlike full tort, you won’t be able to sue the other driver for nonmonetary damages like pain and suffering, unless your case is severe and you meet certain conditions.
How We Found the Best Pennsylvania Car Insurance Companies
To find the most relevant auto insurance companies for Pennsylvania residents, we started with the largest companies in the state. Then we evaluated them based on credible data from trusted sources, like J.D. Power, BBB, and AM Best, to judge how satisfied customers were and their financial strength. We also looked at their product offerings, available discounts, and endorsements to bring you the companies with the best value and service.
We worked with Quadrant Information Services to provide data on auto insurance rates by company and credit score. Quadrant makes this information available using rate data that insurers are required to file with the state Department of Insurance. Rates are based on sample profiles created by Reviews.com for comparative purposes.
Pennsylvania Car Insurance Companies FAQ
What Pennsylvania auto insurance company has the lowest premiums?
USAA has the lowest premiums of all the companies we reviewed. It’s also one of our top candidates for the best Pennsylvania car insurance companies.
What is Personal Injury Protection (PIP)?
In most cases, the police determine who was at fault for the crash. If they can’t, or if you live in a no-fault state, your personal injury protection insurance will pay for lost wages, rehabilitation, medical bills, and other expenses relating to the accident for you and your passengers.
Will my auto insurance premiums be lower if I live in rural Pennsylvania?
Very likely, yes. Rural areas typically have lower premiums because there are fewer cars on the road, which means fewer accidents and fewer claims.
About the Authors
Lorraine Roberte is a South Florida-based personal finance writer. Her work has been published on sites such as Thrive Global, Elephant Journal, Red Tricycle and Tweak Your Biz.
Recently Added
