Key Takeaways
- Liability-only car insurance is the most basic type of car insurance, and it's also the cheapest.
- Liability-only car insurance is a good option for drivers with older cars worth less than a comprehensive policy's deductible.
- It's important to compare quotes from different insurance companies before choosing liability-only car insurance.
Introduction to Liability Only Car Insurance
Liability-only car insurance is the most basic type of car insurance, and it's also the cheapest. It only covers the cost of damage to someone else's property or injuries to other people if you're at fault for an accident. It does not cover damage to your car or injuries to you or your passengers.
Liability-only car insurance is like a bare-bones bodyguard for your car. So, if you need clarification on whether liability-only car insurance is right for you, talk to your insurance agent. They can help you analyze your needs and determine the best coverage.
Cheapest Liability Only Car Insurance Companies
Auto-Owners and Erie are less expensive regional businesses, with annual liability premiums below $648. With an average annual premium of $384, USAA offers liability-only coverage at the most affordable price.
Enrollment is restricted to current or former military personnel and their families.
| Insurance Company | Average Monthly Rate | Average Annual Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Auto-Owners | $48 | $444 |
| Erie | $51 | $480 |
| State Farm | $54 | $507 |
| Farm Bureau | $57 | $528 |
| American Family | $66 | $648 |
| Travelers | $78 | $771 |
| Progressive | $78 | $771 |
| Nationwide | $81 | $840 |
| Allstate | $93 | $960 |
| Farmers | $105 | $1113 |
| USAA | $45 | $384 |
Frequently, local auto insurers are less expensive than national brands. On average, some main insurance providers, including Nationwide and Allstate, can be quite pricey. Your liability insurance premium may fluctuate depending on your geographic location, credit rating, and accident record.
How to Find the Cheapest Liability-Only Car Insurance
- To find the most cost-effective liability-only auto insurance providers, get quotes from multiple insurers for your specific needs.
- While liability-only coverage is often cheaper, full coverage policies may not always be the best value from the same companies.
- Just because an insurer offers competitive rates for comprehensive auto insurance doesn't guarantee they'll have the best rates for liability-only coverage.
Cheapest Liability-Only Car Insurance by State
Where you live greatly impacts how much liability-only car insurance costs. In some places, the price difference between the cheapest insurance company and the average price can be several hundred or even several thousand dollars a year.
Where you live makes a big difference in which liability car insurance company is the cheapest. This makes it even more important to get quotes from several companies before you buy insurance.
| State | Cheapest company | Average monthly cost | Annual Rates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Travelers | $81 | $972 |
| Alaska | State Farm | $78 | $936 |
| Arizona | GEICO | $75 | $900 |
| Arkansas | USAA | $81 | $972 |
| California | Wawanesa | $93 | $1116 |
| Colorado | American National | $72 | $864 |
| Connecticut | Travelers | $69 | $828 |
| Delaware | Travelers | $93 | $1116 |
| D.C. | Travelers | $81 | $972 |
| Florida | Travelers | $111 | $1332 |
| Georgia | Auto-Owners | $81 | $972 |
| Hawaii | Travelers | $66 | $792 |
| Idaho | American National | $48 | $576 |
| Illinois | Pekin | $66 | $792 |
| Indiana | USAA | $63 | $756 |
| Iowa | West Bend | $66 | $792 |
| Kansas | USAA | $78 | $936 |
| Kentucky | Travelers | $87 | $1044 |
| Louisiana | USAA | $129 | $1548 |
| Maine | Travelers | $54 | 648 |
| Maryland | USAA | $66 | $792 |
| Massachusetts | USAA | $90 | $1080 |
| Michigan | Travelers | $87 | $1044 |
| Minnesota | Farm Bureau | $72 | $864 |
| Mississippi | USAA | $78 | $936 |
| Missouri | USAA | $66 | $792 |
| Montana | USAA | $75 | $900 |
| Nebraska | Auto-Owners | $78 | $936 |
| Nevada | Travelers | $84 | $1008 |
| New Hampshire | State Farm | $63 | $756 |
| New Jersey | Travelers | $87 | $1044 |
| New Mexico | State Farm | $75 | $900 |
| New York | American Family | $96 | $1152 |
| North Carolina | Travelers | $57 | $684 |
| North Dakota | USAA | $66 | $792 |
| Ohio | Erie | $54 | $648 |
| Oklahoma | USAA | $81 | $972 |
| Oregon | State Farm | $87 | $1044 |
| Pennsylvania | Erie | $66 | $792 |
| Rhode Island | State Farm | $84 | $1008 |
| South Carolina | American National | $63 | $756 |
| South Dakota | Kemper | $78 | $936 |
| Tennessee | USAA | $75 | $900 |
| Texas | Farm Bureau | $87 | $1044 |
| Utah | Travelers | $72 | $864 |
| Vermont | USAA | $66 | $792 |
| Virginia | USAA | $72 | $864 |
| Washington | USAA | $84 | $1008 |
| West Virginia | USAA | $78 | $936 |
| Wisconsin | USAA | $63 | $756 |
| Wyoming | American National | $66 | $792 |
Cheapest Liability-Only Car Insurance by Age
One of the most important things that affects how much car insurance costs is your age. Because they are less experienced and pose more risk, teens, young drivers, and adults tend to have higher insurance rates.
For example, the National Safety Council says that only 3.5% of qualified drivers are between 16 and 19. However, 8.9% of drivers in car accidents are in this age range. 6.9% of all accidents are caused by drivers aged 65 to 74, and 3.4% are caused by drivers aged 75 and up.
You can use the table below to see how the average rates for different liability-only policies, such as state minimum and increased coverage choices, change based on age.
Cheap Liability Car Insurance for High-Risk Drivers
People who have never been in an accident or gotten a ticket usually pay less for car insurance than people who have done these things in the past.
Auto insurance costs more for people with bad credit as well.
- Cheapest for Drivers with a Ticket: State Farm
- Cheapest for Drivers with an At-Fault Accident: State Farm
- Cheapest for Drivers with a DUI: State Farm
- Cheapest for Drivers with Poor Credit:
Cheapest Liability-Only Car Insurance for Drivers With a Ticket
If you have a ticket on your record, the best liability car insurance may change based on your age.
- 22-29 years old: State Farm
- 30-59 years old: State Farm
- 60+ years old: State Farm.
There are a few things you should think about when looking for the cheapest car insurance after getting a ticket. See the table below to find the cheapest plans and their coverage levels for people of different ages.
| Age | Company | Monthly Premium | Annual Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | State Farm | $147 | $1779 |
| 17 | State Farm | $129 | $1557 |
| 18 | State Farm | $111 | $1368 |
| 19 | State Farm | $99 | $1161 |
| 20 | State Farm | $87 | $1017 |
| 21 | State Farm | $72 | $801 |
| 22 | State Farm | $66 | $741 |
| 23 | State Farm | $63 | $645 |
| 24 | State Farm | $60 | $615 |
| 25 | State Farm | $54 | $546 |
| 26 | State Farm | $57 | $528 |
| 27 | State Farm | $54 | $507 |
| 28 | State Farm | $54 | $501 |
| 29 | State Farm | $48 | $489 |
| 30 | State Farm | $45 | $477 |
| 35 | State Farm | $45 | $471 |
| 40 | State Farm | $45 | $455 |
| 45 | State Farm | $48 | $462 |
| 50 | State Farm | $48 | $453 |
| 55 | Nationwide | $45 | $450 |
| 60 | Nationwide | $45 | $444 |
| 65 | State Farm | $45 | $444 |
| 70 | State Farm | $51 | $465 |
| 75 | State Farm | $48 | $510 |
| 80 | State Farm | $51 | $570 |
| 85 | State Farm | $60 | $630 |
| 90 | Nationwide | $57 | $657 |
Cheapest Liability-Only Car Insurance for Drivers With an Accident
This is even more likely to happen if you get a speeding ticket than if you cause the accident. This is unless you have accident forgiveness coverage.
Based on average prices, these are the best ways for drivers who have been in an accident to get cheap car insurance:
- 22-29 years old: State Farm
- 30-59 years old: State Farm
- 60+ years old: State Farm.
The table below shows the least expensive liability car insurance for people of different ages and levels of coverage.
| Company | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|
| State Farm | $537 | $54 |
| Travelers | $720 | $72 |
| Nationwide | $720 | $72 |
| Progressive | $810 | $78 |
| Allstate | $849 | $81 |
| Farmers | $909 | $90 |
Cheapest Liability-Only Car Insurance for Drivers With a DUI
When you drive while drunk, your insurance rates usually go up by a lot.
These companies offer the best liability-only car insurance for people who have been DUI:
- 22-29 years old: Progressive
- 30-59 years old: State Farm
- 60+ years old: State Farm.
To find the best insurance company for you, enter your age and the amount of coverage you want below.
| Company | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|
| State Farm | $614 | $51 |
| Progressive | $644 | $54 |
| Farmers | $791 | $66 |
| Travelers | $795 | $66 |
| Allstate | $903 | $75 |
| Nationwide | $958 | $80 |
Cheapest Liability-Only Car Insurance for Drivers With Poor Credit
Insurance companies in most states, except California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, and Michigan, look at a driver's credit past when figuring out their rates. Insurance companies usually charge more for people with bad credit because they see them as a bigger risk.
If you have bad credit and need only state minimum liability insurance, the best company for you is:
- 22-29 years old: Nationwide
- 30-59 years old: Nationwide
- 60+ years old:
| Company | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Nationwide | $621 | $52 |
| Farmers | $889 | $74 |
| Allstate | $897 | $75 |
| Progressive | $905 | $75 |
| Travelers | $908 | $76 |
| State Farm | $1,114 | $93 |
Liability-only vs. Full Coverage Car Insurance
Regarding car insurance, you have two main options: liability-only and full coverage. Liability-only insurance is like a minimalist's dream - it covers the basics but not much else. Full coverage is like a safety net for your car - it protects you from all sorts of damage, even if you're not the one at fault.
So, which one is right for you? Well, that depends on a few factors, such as how old your car is, how much you owe, and your risk tolerance. Full coverage is probably a good idea if you have a newer car or a car loan. But if you have an older car worth less than your deductible, you might save some money by going with liability-only.
And remember, no matter which type of insurance you choose, it's always a good idea to shop around for the best rates. You might be surprised at how much you can save.
When Should I Get Liability-Only Car Insurance?
Liability-only car insurance is like a safety net for your finances in case you cause an accident. It covers injuries or damages to others but not your own car or medical bills. Think of it like a superhero cape for your car, protecting others from your unintentional oops.
So, when should you switch to liability-only? If your car is older than Methuselah or worth less than a bag of chips, it might be time to ditch the comprehensive coverage. And if you're a driving expert who has never had accidents, you might be able to save some money, too.
INSURANCE AGENT EXPERTS




Auto Insurance Data Methodology
The auto insurance rates published in this guide are based on the results of research completed by Way.com’s data team. Using a mix of public and internal data, we analyzed millions of rate averages across U.S. ZIP codes.
Quotes are typically based on a full coverage policy average unless otherwise noted within the content.
These rates were publicly sourced from insurer filings and should be used for comparative purposes only — your own quotes will differ. Given this, it’s important to go through our insurance steps form to find how much you can save with way.com
DATA SOURCES
Way.com’s Insurance Broker Quote Data
Frequently Answered Questions
How much is liability-only car insurance?
The cost of liability-only car insurance can vary depending on your location, driving record, and the type of car you drive. However, on average, you can expect to pay between $300 and $600 per year for liability-only coverage.
When should you switch to liability-only car insurance?
You should consider switching to liability-only car insurance if your car is older, worth less than the deductible of a full coverage policy, and you have a clean driving record. This will save you money on your monthly premiums, but weighing the risks and benefits before deciding is important.
What does liability only cover?
Liability-only car insurance covers bodily injury and property damage to others if you are at fault for an accident. It does not cover damage to your own car or injuries to you or your passengers.
What does liability only mean in car insurance?
Liability-only car insurance is the most basic type of car insurance. It only covers the cost of damage to someone else's property or injuries to other people if you're at fault for an accident. It does not cover damage to your car or injuries to you or your passengers. It is a good option for drivers with older cars that are worth less than the deductible of a comprehensive policy.
Can you have only liability insurance on a financed car?
No, you cannot have only liability insurance on a financed car. Lenders typically require borrowers to carry comprehensive and collision coverage in addition to liability insurance to protect their investment in the vehicle.
Who has the cheapest liability-only car insurance?
The cheapest liability-only car insurance companies vary by state, but some of the most affordable options include State Farm, USAA, Auto-Owners, and Erie Insurance. It is important to compare quotes from multiple companies to find the best rate for your individual needs.
Can you rent a car with liability insurance only?
Yes, you can rent a car with liability insurance only. Liability insurance covers injuries or damages to others but not your own car or medical bills. However, most rental car companies require you to purchase additional insurance coverage, like a collision damage waiver (CDW) or loss damage waiver (LDW), to protect the rental car in case of damage.
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