After comparing more than a dozen major insurance carriers, we were able to narrow our list down to the best car insurance companies in Tennessee. We examined everything from price to customer satisfaction to financial strength. The state’s drivers already enjoy below-average insurance rates, and the best car insurance in Tennessee is surprisingly affordable.
The 5 Best Auto Insurance Companies in Tennessee
- Geico: Best for low prices
- USAA: Best for military families
- Erie: Best for customer satisfaction
- State Farm: Best overall
- Progressive: Best for high-risk drivers
Compare the Best Car Insurance Companies in Tennessee
| Average Price for State Minimum* | Average Price for Full Coverage* | Reviews.com Score Score is based on company’s customer experience, financial stability, and coverage options. | AM Best Financial Strength AM Best rates insurance providers creditworthiness. Ratings are based on the provider’s ability to follow through with a payout when a consumer files a claim. | J.D. Power Overall Customer Satisfaction J.D. Power scores are based on surveys for customer satisfaction and product quality. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pin Geico | $445.44 | $1,783.56 | 4.4/5 | A++ | 857/1,000 | |
| Pin USAA | $615.04 | $1,886.09 | 4.8/5 | A++ | 909/1,000 | |
| Pin Erie | $754.74 | $2,487.21 | 4/5 | A+ | 871/1,000 | |
| Pin State Farm | $615.98 | $2,077.34 | 4.2/5 | A++ | 835/1,000 | |
| Pin Progressive | $554.59 | $1,956.12 | 4.4/5 | A+ | 848/1,000 |
Information accurate as of 11/13/2020
* Data provided by Coverage.com
Geico
Best for low prices
Why we chose it
Why we chose it
Pros
- Low annual premiums
- Excellent customer satisfaction
- Extensive discounts
Cons
- No gap coverage
- Can be expensive for poor driving records or bad credit
Types of Coverage Offered
- Liability
- Medical payments
- Uninsured & underinsured motorist
- Collision
- Comprehensive
- Roadside assistance
- Rental reimbursement
- Mechanical breakdown
Discounts Available
- Vehicle equipment features
- New vehicle
- Good driver
- Seat belt use
- Defensive driving
- Driver’s education course
- Good student
- Emergency deployment
- Membership & employee
- Military
- Multi-vehicle
- Multi-policy
* Data provided by Coverage.com, price based on the state minimum required policy.
**J.D. Power’s 2020 U.S. Auto Insurance Study rating for the Southeast region. Based on a 1,000-point scale.
Further Reading on Geico:
USAA
Best for military families
Why we chose it
Why we chose it
Pros
- Excellent customer satisfaction
- Financially strong
Cons
- Only available to military members and their families
Types of Coverage Offered
- Collision
- Comprehensive
- Liability
- Personal injury protection
- Extended benefits
- Uninsured & underinsured motorist
- Roadside assistance
- Rental reimbursement
- Accident forgiveness
Discounts Available
- Safe driver
- Defensive driving
- Driver training
- Good student
- New vehicle
- Multi-vehicle
- Annual mileage
- Vehicle storage
- Family discount
- Length of membership
- Military installation
- Full pay
* Data provided by Coverage.com, price based on the state minimum required policy.
**J.D. Power’s 2020 U.S. Auto Insurance Study rating for the Southeast region. Based on a 1,000-point scale.
Further Reading on USAA:
Erie
Best for customer satisfaction
Why we chose it
Why we chose it
Pros
- Top-rated customer satisfaction
- Many available discounts
- Erie Rate Lock
Cons
- High annual premiums
- No mobile app
Types of Coverage Offered
- Collision
- Liability
- Comprehensive
- Transportation expense/rental car coverage
- Roadside assistance
- New car protection
- Better car protection
- Rideshare
Discounts Available
- Erie Rate Lock
- Multi-policy
- First accident forgiveness
- Diminishing deductible
- Vehicle storage
- Safety savings
- Payment perks
- Youthful driver discount
- College credit
* Data provided by Coverage.com, price based on the state minimum required policy.
**J.D. Power’s 2020 U.S. Auto Insurance Study rating for the Southeast region. Based on a 1,000-point scale.
Further Reading on Erie:
State Farm
Best overall
Why we chose it
Why we chose it
Pros
- Innovative coverage options include rideshare
- Above-average claims satisfaction
- Financially strong
Cons
- Limited discounts
- Below-average customer satisfaction
Types of Coverage Offered
- Collision
- Comprehensive
- Liability
- Rental and travel expense
- Uninsured & underinsured motorist
- Medical payments
- Roadside assistance
- Rideshare driver
Discounts Available
- Drivewise
- Steer Clear
- Accident-free
- Defensive driving
- Student discounts
- Driver training
- Good driving
- Vehicle safety features
- Multi-car
- Multiple-policy
* Data provided by Coverage.com, price based on the state minimum required policy.
**J.D. Power’s 2020 U.S. Auto Insurance Study rating for the Southeast region. Based on a 1,000-point scale.
Further Reading on State Farm:
Progressive
Best for high-risk drivers
Why we chose it
Why we chose it
Pros
- Excellent discounts
- Many digital tools available
- Coverage for high-risk drivers
Cons
- Just below average customer satisfaction
- Discounts aren’t available in all states
Types of Coverage Offered
- Liability
- Comprehensive
- Collision
- Uninsured & underinsured motorist
- Medical payments
- Roadside assistance
- Loan/lease payoff
- Rental car reimbursement
- Customer parts and equipment value
- Rideshare coverage
- Deductible savings bank
Discounts Available
- Multi-policy
- Multi-car
- Continuous insurance
- Safe driver
- Teen & student driver discounts
- Homeowner
- Online quote
- Sign online
- Paperless billing
- Pay in full
- Automatic payment
* Data provided by Coverage.com, price based on the state minimum required policy.
**J.D. Power’s 2020 U.S. Auto Insurance Study rating for the Southeast region. Based on a 1,000-point scale.
Further Reading on Progressive:
- Progressive auto insurance review
- Progressive homeowners insurance review
- Progressive renters insurance review
The average cost of car insurance in Tennessee
Tennessee drivers enjoy relatively affordable car insurance. Minimum coverage as required by the state can cost an average of $358, while full coverage can run you about $1,281. Of the companies we compared, prices ranged from $455 to $754 for the state minimum requirements.
The cost of car insurance can vary from one company to another and from one person to the next. Location plays a role, as those who live in areas with inclement weather or notoriously dangerous drivers may pay higher rates. Factors such as driving history, credit score, and age can also help determine your rates — the cleaner your driving record and higher your credit, the cheaper the car insurance you can get.
Top 3 Cheapest Car Insurance Companies in Tennessee
| Company | Average Annual Premium |
| Trustgard Insurance Company | $273.03 |
| Tennessee Farmers Mutual | $331.01 |
| Geico | $445.44 |
* Data provided by Coverage.com, price based on the state minimum required policy.
Top 3 Most Expensive Car Insurance Companies in Tennessee
| Company | Average Annual Premium |
| Erie Insurance | $754.74 |
| Garrison Property & Casualty | $724.95 |
| Mountain Laurel Assurance Company | $721.37 |
* Data provided by Coverage.com, price based on the state minimum required policy.
Top 3 Cheapest Cities for Car Insurance in Tennessee
| City | Average Annual Premium* |
| Hohenwald | $460.43 |
| Martin | $466.59 |
| Lafayette | $466.97 |
* Data provided by Coverage.com, price based on the state minimum required policy.
Top 3 Most Expensive Cities for Car Insurance in Tennessee
| City | Average Annual Premium* |
| Germantown | $697.79 |
| Bartlett | $708.97 |
| Memphis | $763.10 |
* Data provided by Coverage.com, price based on the state minimum required policy.
Car Insurance Add-Ons That Will Further Protect You
- Gap insurance: Cars lose their value fairly quickly, meaning it’s not impossible to be in a situation where you owe more on your car than it’s worth. If you’re in an accident, gap insurance ensures your provider will cover the full owed amount.
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist: If you’re in an accident where the at-fault driver doesn’t have insurance, this coverage, required in some states, will cover the damage.
- Rideshare: Rideshare drivers may need special coverage, which a handful of insurance companies provide.
- Roadside assistance: Most insurance companies offer this optional coverage, which you can call for a tow, tire change, battery jump, etc.
- Accident forgiveness: While auto insurance rates usually increase after an accident, this optional coverage can keep them low after just one accident.
Guide to Tennessee Car Insurance
Drivers should always familiarize themselves with their state’s unique car insurance laws before getting on the road. The laws vary from state to state.
Tennessee Minimum Insurance Requirements
The state of Tennessee requires that all drivers cover minimum liability insurance. As of 2017, uninsured drivers in the state will be subject to fines and vehicle registration suspension.
Minimum liability required in the state of Tennessee is divided as follows:
- $25,000 per accident for bodily injury/death of one person
- $50,000 per accident for bodily injury/death of multiple persons
- $15,000 per accident for property damage
While the state of Tennessee doesn’t require that drivers carry collision or comprehensive insurance, car lenders may require it.
Tennessee’s At-Fault Law
Tennessee is a “fault” state, meaning the person who causes an accident bears any financial responsibility. The liability insurance that Tennessee requires is intended to cover any bodily injury or property damage for the at-fault driver.
Tennessee Car Insurance FAQ
What is the minimum car insurance required in Tennessee?
Tennessee is an at-fault state and requires all drivers to carry 25-50-15 bodily injury and property damage liability insurance. This translates to 25,000 bodily injury per person, per accident, 50,000 bodily injury for multiple people and 15,000 per accident for property damage.
What is the average auto insurance cost in Tennessee?
The average car insurance policy in Tennessee cost is $358 for the state minimum liability policy and $1,281 for full coverage. Both types of policies in Tennessee are below the national average, which are $548 for minimum liability and $1,555 for full coverage.
What is the cheapest car insurance company in Tennessee?
The cheapest car insurance in Tennessee is offered by Trustgard with an average of $273 for a minimum liability coverage. Nonetheless, each insurer has its own algorithm to calculate your premium, and factors such as your address, age and the car you drive influence your final cost. To find the cheapest car insurance for your needs, you should gather quotes from several companies and select the one that offers the coverage you need at the lowest price.
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 Tennessee, 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 of car insurance in Tennessee, based on the profiles of a 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.
