In a Nutshell
The average cost of car insurance in Tennessee varies based on several factors, such as your credit scores, vehicle, age and driving history. We’ve done the heavy lifting to find some of the cheapest car insurance in the Volunteer State for several different driver profiles.Note from our editor: Maybe you’re searching for car insurance for the first time or want to do some insurance shopping to help lower your monthly premium? This article can serve as a starting point for your car insurance research. There are a lot of factors when it comes to the cost of car insurance, so while you may not see the exact premiums we’ve researched, they can give you an idea of some of the insurers offering the cheapest rates in your state.
From Graceland to the Great Smoky Mountains, there are plenty of places to drive in Tennessee.
But is your ride protected with the right coverage? If you’re looking to save money on your premium, read on. We’ve calculated average insurance rates against basic coverage for Tennessee drivers with different needs and profiles.
Unless otherwise noted, we made our calculations using a driver profile with no accidents, claims or tickets (see our full methodology). Your own rates may be higher or lower depending on your driving history, age, vehicle type, mileage, coverage options and other factors that affect car insurance.
Read on to learn about Tennessee’s average car insurance rates and our findings for the cheapest options.
- Cost of car insurance in Tennessee
- 5 cheapest car insurance companies in Tennessee
- Cheapest state-minimum car insurance in Tennessee
- Cheapest car insurance for good credit in Tennessee
- Cheapest car insurance for poor credit in Tennessee
- Cheapest car insurance for drivers with multiple claims in Tennessee
- Cheapest car insurance for young drivers in Tennessee
- Tennessee auto insurance requirements
- Is usage-based insurance available in Tennessee?
- FAQs about the cheapest car insurance rates in Tennessee
- Methodology
Cost of car insurance in Tennessee
Monthly premiums for car insurance in Tennessee range from just over $40 up to just under $100, depending on type of coverage and driver profile.
Average monthly auto insurance premiums in Tennessee
| Driver or coverage | Avg. monthly cost |
|---|---|
| State-minimum car insurance in Tennessee | $43.25 |
| Drivers with poor credit in Tennessee | $78.21 |
| Drivers with multiple claims in Tennessee | $95.01 |
| Young drivers inTennessee | $73.25 |
5 cheapest car insurance companies in Tennessee
We found Auto-Owners Insurance and Tennessee Farmers offered the lowest insurance rates on basic coverage for most driver profiles. As detailed in our methodology, we used a specific Tennessee driver profile to assess insurers evenly and get the best idea of average costs for our Tennessee driver. That means your rates could differ.
Unless otherwise noted, our Tennessee driver has credit score between 680 and 719, is 36 to 45 years old, has no tickets or coverage gaps and drives a car worth $20,000 to $30,000.
We’ve also calculated the most affordable insurers for drivers with different ages, driving histories, coverage options and credit outlooks.
1. Auto-Owners Insurance
Auto-Owners provides car insurance through independent agents, and could offer our Tennessee driver profile a policy for as little as $24.29 per month for minimum coverage. Drivers can choose from a full suite of standard coverage options, plus additional benefits like at-fault accident forgiveness, common loss deductible, rental coverage and collision coverage advantage, which waives your deductible if you’re in an accident with another vehicle covered by Auto-Owners.
Read reviews of Auto-Owners Insurance.2. Tennessee Farmers
Our Tennessee driver profile could see basic coverage from Tennessee Farmers, a subsidiary of Farm Bureau Insurance, for as low as $25.50 per month. You don’t have to be a farmer to sign up for coverage from Tennessee Farmers, which offers comprehensive, collision and liability coverages, plus medical payments coverage, uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, emergency road service and rental reimbursement. Drivers aged 16 to 17 could also earn discounts through the First Mile program.
3. Westfield
Westfield may offer our Tennessee driver profile a monthly policy of $26.67 for minimum coverage. The company insures cars, trucks, boats, SUVs, RVs and motorcycles through independent agents. Drivers can choose from all of the standard coverage options as well as some extras, including roadside assistance, loan/lease gap coverage and uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance.
4. Penn National
Our Tennessee driver profile could find basic coverage for as low as $28.17 per month with Penn National. In addition to the range of standard coverage options, drivers may be eligible for a handful of car insurance discounts for things like bundling multiple policies or multiple cars, paying their premium in full, having certain safety features like antilock brakes and seatbelts and maintaining good grades.
5. USAA
Finally, our Tennessee driver profile could choose minimum coverage from USAA for as low as $29.21 per month. USAA provides insurance and other benefits to U.S. military members and their families. Drivers can choose collision, comprehensive, liability and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. USAA offers several possible discounts, plus the SafePilot usage-based insurance program.
Read reviews of USAA auto insurance.Cheapest state-minimum car insurance in Tennessee
Drivers in Tennessee are required to carry a minimum amount of car insurance determined by the state. Known as state-minimum coverage, this is often the least expensive type of insurance you can select.
The following insurers offer the cheapest car insurance for Tennessee drivers looking for state-minimum coverage only.
5 cheapest car insurance companies in Tennessee for state-minimum coverage
| 1 | Auto-Owners Insurance | $24.29/month |
| 2 | Tennessee Farmers | $25.50/month |
| 3 | Westfield | $26.67/month |
| 4 | Penn National | $28.17/month |
| 5 | USAA | $29.21/month |
Cheapest car insurance for good credit in Tennessee
Your credit is one of several factors insurers look at when calculating your rate. You’ll likely pay less for car insurance if you have good credit.
Here are the companies that have the lowest estimated rates on basic auto insurance coverage for drivers considered to have good credit.
5 cheapest car insurance companies in Tennessee for those with good credit
| 1 | Auto-Owners Insurance | $18.68/month |
| 2 | Penn National | $20.67/month |
| 3 | Westfield | $21.71/month |
| 4 | State Farm | $24.13/month |
| 5 | Tennessee Farmers | $24.72/month |
Cheapest car insurance for poor credit in Tennessee
Unfortunately, having lower credit scores often translates into a higher monthly car insurance premium. But there are ways you can reduce the cost of your insurance, like maintaining a history of safe driving and avoiding gaps in coverage.
If you’re a Tennessee driver and you don’t have great credit, you may want to check out the estimated rates on basic coverage from the following car insurers.
5 cheapest car insurance companies in Tennessee for those with poor credit
| 1 | Tennessee Farmers | $29.17/month |
| 2 | Nationwide | $39.23/month |
| 3 | Geico | $43.30/month |
| 4 | Westfield | $47.15/month |
| 5 | Safe Auto | $51.17/month |
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with multiple claims in Tennessee
Your claims history is another piece of the puzzle when determining the cost of your car insurance. You may pay more for insurance if you have several accidents or claims on your record.
Here are the cheapest car insurance companies for minimum coverage for drivers with multiple claims in Tennessee.
5 cheapest car insurance companies in Tennessee for multiple claims
| 1 | Tennessee Farmers | $38.33/month |
| 2 | Auto-Owners Insurance | $44.88/month |
| 3 | Penn National | $50.00/month |
| 4 | State Farm | $52.88/month |
| 5 | Nationwide | $62.67/month |
Cheapest car insurance for young drivers in Tennessee
Finally, your age may influence how much you pay for insurance, with younger drivers typically paying more for insurance than drivers over the age of 25.
Here are the five companies that may be the cheapest options for basic coverage for Tennessee drivers between the ages of 18 and 21.
5 cheapest car insurance companies in Tennessee for young drivers
| 1 | Westfield | $38.13/month |
| 2 | Auto-Owners Insurance | $44.63/month |
| 3 | Geico | $48.13/month |
| 4 | Tennessee Farmers | $48.17/month |
| 5 | State Farm | $52.58/month |
Tennessee auto insurance requirements
Tennessee requires drivers to carry a minimum amount of auto insurance. Policies must cover at least $25,000 for each injury or death per accident, $50,000 for total injuries or deaths per accident and $25,000 for property damage per accident. You may be responsible for additional collision or comprehensive coverage if you have a car loan or lease.
Is usage-based insurance available in Tennessee?
Usage-based insurance is a type of vehicle insurance that allows customers to pay premiums based on their driving behavior. In Tennessee, drivers may take advantage of UBI programs their insurers offer to track their driving habits and save money on their monthly payments.
FAQs about the cheapest car insurance rates in Tennessee
According to our findings, most Tennessee driver profiles will find the cheapest car insurance with Auto-Owners and Tennessee Farmers.
Tennessee requires drivers to carry a minimum amount of liability coverage. Drivers must carry at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident of bodily injury insurance, and at least $25,000 of property damage coverage. If you lease your car, your lender may have additional coverage requirements.
There are many ways to lower your car insurance costs, such as bundling several policies or vehicles with one insurer or lowering the amount of coverage you have, particularly on older vehicles. Maintaining a safe driving record is essential — you could save even more money by participating in a usage-based insurance program.
Methodology
This article’s estimated rates are the lowest basic coverage based on the profile of a driver aged 36 to 45 living in Tennessee. Unless otherwise noted, the rates displayed assume a single driver on the insurance policy with no tickets on their driving record and no claims or coverage lapses. The vehicle used in this estimate is valued between $20,000 and $30,000 and has annual mileage of 12,000 to 15,000. Estimated rates for insurance for good credit apply to scores of 720 or higher. Estimated rates for insurance for poor credit apply to scores from 350 to 579. Estimated rates for young drivers include those age 18 to 21. Estimated rates for those with multiple claims are calculated based on two claims.
Note that the rates are provided every six months by Quadrant Information Services. Quadrant Information Services doesn’t include all insurance companies in its rate data. These are estimated rates meant only to provide a frame of reference and comparison. Your rates may vary depending on various factors, such as age, vehicle driving habits and history.
The average monthly premium for full coverage car insurance includes bodily injury, property damage, uninsured motorist, personal injury protection, collision and comprehensive coverages. The average monthly premium for state-minimum car insurance includes a
Tennessee-mandated 25/50/25 insurance policy.