Tennessee is known for its whiskey, Nashville music scene, and some of the finest barbeque in America – but did you know its car insurance rates are significantly below national average due to a combination of factors, including mandatory minimum liability coverage requirements? Even with low rates in Tennessee it remains essential to obtain adequate protection should an accident occur – but no matter how low they may be.
Age and driving history are two key determining factors in car insurance rates for drivers of all ages. Younger drivers tend to pay more because they’re statistically more likely to get into an accident; however, as drivers get older and gain experience behind the wheel their risks tend to reduce over time. Furthermore, insurers also take credit score into consideration when setting rates; typically those with excellent scores tend to receive the lowest quotes.
Tennessee is an “at fault” state, meaning the driver found responsible in an auto accident must cover both property damage and medical bills. Many drivers opt to purchase additional liability coverage beyond what is mandated by state minimum policies in order to safeguard themselves financially from an incident that they cause. Leasing or financing your car might require comprehensive and collision coverage as well.
Tennessee law sets minimum requirements for car insurance to cover $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury liability coverage and $10,000 for property damage liability coverage. In general, policies meeting this minimum can cost over $1,000 less each year than full coverage policies; however, as evidenced in the table below demonstrates these limits are often insufficient in covering expensive accidents.
If you have an excellent driving record in Tennessee, liability-only car insurance could be an attractive choice. Below we estimate what such a policy would cost for our hypothetical driver:
Drivers with recent claims or violations tend to pay more than drivers with clean records for car insurance coverage, according to Money Geek. Tennessee drivers with speeding tickets could see their premium increase by 26%.
To assist Tennessee drivers in selecting the optimal car insurance, we analyzed over 30 of the largest insurers operating within Tennessee. To qualify, companies must be licensed within Tennessee and offer both online quote tools and local agents. As part of our selection criteria, we considered consumer reviews and ratings. To select our top picks, we searched for companies with high consumer scores in each category. Below is our selection of Tennessee’s best auto insurance providers, along with an in-depth explanation of each provider’s offerings and pricing. If you have any inquiries or issues with a particular provider, contact the Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance for guidance or to file a formal complaint against an insurer; alternatively you may also reach out to the Better Business Bureau for support.