Pennsylvania is known for its scenery and culture. It offers outdoor fun and excellent health care, all for a low cost of living. However, if you own a vehicle, you will need cheap car insurance in Pennsylvania, which can be expensive. Shop around for Pennsylvania cheap car insurance quotes.
Pennsylvania Car Insurance Facts
With more than 13 million people, Pennsylvania is the fifth most populated state in the U.S.
As of 2021, 9,133,540 people in Pennsylvania were licensed to drive. This amounts to approximately 70% of Pennsylvanians.
With 2,300 companies specializing in food processing, Pennsylvania is the largest producer among the 50 states of canned fruit and vegetable-specialty products, chocolate and cocoa products, potato chips, and pretzels.
It’s known as the “Snack Food Capital of the World” because snacks, food, and confectionery sales total more than $5 billion per year.
Keystone State Cruising: Updates & Insights For Pennsylvania Cheap Car Insurance
Get ready to explore vibrant cities, rolling hills, and charming towns in Pennsylvania with these recent updates for drivers.
Pennsylvania Vehicle Code Changes:
- Increased fines for certain traffic violations: Expect harsher penalties for speeding, disregarding stop signs, and other infractions. (Source: Pennsylvania Vehicle Code Section 75)
- Expansion of “Move Over” law: New requirement for drivers to slow down and move over for emergency vehicles on all roads, not just divided highways. (Source: Pennsylvania Vehicle Code Section 3335)
- No major changes to distracted driving laws: Existing prohibitions on texting and holding phones while driving remain in place. (Source: Pennsylvania Vehicle Code Section 3532)
These are just highlights, and other changes may apply. Visit the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation website for complete information.
Choosing Auto Insurance
You are required by law to obtain auto insurance for your vehicle. While each of the insurance providers has individual perks and benefits, most Pennsylvania drivers opt for a policy based on price and the degree of coverage offered.
Pennsylvania is one of 12 states that has implemented no-fault auto insurance.
No-fault insurance will cover passengers medical expenses and loss of income in the event of an accident, no matter who is at fault.
When driving a car in Pennsylvania, you are responsible for showing proof of insurance and a driver’s license. You will receive an ID card from your insurance company in the mail, but it’s also acceptable to carry a copy of your policy’s declaration page or a signed, official letter from the insurance company.
Individual rates in Pennsylvania can vary significantly based on factors like driving history, location, vehicle type, and desired coverage. Consider the mandatory 15/30/5 liability coverage limit when comparing options.
What Is The Pennsylvania Assigned Risk Plan?
If you are a high-risk driver, those who are inexperienced or have a number of tickets, accidents, DUI/DWI convictions, or lapses in coverage, and you are battling to find auto insurance coverage, you can make use of the Pennsylvania Assigned Risk Plan (PA ARP). They will provide you with auto insurance.
A policy obtained from the PA ARP is almost always more expensive than an equivalent policy from an insurance company.
The good news is that as soon as you have built up an improved driving record, you can use a commercial auto insurance company instead.
Pennsylvania Vehicle Insurance Coverage
In Pennsylvania, all motor vehicles subject to registration such as cars, vans, motorcycles, recreational vehicles, trucks, and buses must have liability insurance for vehicles. Your liability insurance is designed to cover third parties and their property in the event of an accident that you’ve caused while driving.
If, for example, you damage another person’s property, you’ll be liable for the cost of repairs or replacement. These costs can mount up fast and run into thousands of dollars, and the state knows that most drivers don’t have enough money saved to cover these costs. It’s for this reason that almost every U.S. state mandates the need for drivers’ liability car insurance.
Every state has different minimum liability insurance requirements for drivers, but it always covers three key aspects:
- Bodily injury coverage per person.
- Bodily injury coverage per accident.
- Property damage coverage per accident.
Minimum Liability Car Insurance
Minimum liability insurance is the least amount of coverage you must have for any damages you cause.
If you drive every day, a minimum liability plan may not provide you with enough cover.
Liability insurance includes:
- Bodily injury liability: covers other people’s physical injuries in an accident.
- Property damage liability: damage to the other driver’s property is covered.
Pennsylvania requires that you have liability insurance in the following amounts:
- $15,000 for injury or death of one person in an accident.
- $30,000 for injury or death of more than one person in an accident.
- $5,000 for damage to property of another person.
A minimum policy may get you low-cost car insurance in Pennsylvania, but we recommend that motorists consider additional coverages.
Where to Find Pennsylvania Cheap Minimum Liability Car Insurance Quotes
Most car insurance companies offer liability insurance plans that meet these minimums, and these are usually some of the cheapest car insurance premiums around. An online auto insurance quote tool, or a local agent are great places to start your search.
Full Coverage Car Insurance Quotes
While liability insurance protects your finances in the event of a car accident, it doesn’t cover your own vehicle from damage, theft, or natural disasters like floods, hail storms, or tornadoes.
In order to make sure your car is fully covered, you’ll need a full coverage auto insurance policy.
As previously mentioned, full coverage insurance covers your car for theft, natural disasters, and vandalism.
What is Full Coverage Car Insurance?
Full coverage car insurance generally combines:
- Liability Insurance (Mandatory): This covers bodily injury and property damage you cause to others in an accident. New York has specific minimum liability requirements, and exceeding these is often advisable.
- Collision Coverage: This pays for damage to your vehicle resulting from a collision, regardless of fault.
- Comprehensive Coverage: This covers damage to your vehicle from non-collision events, such as theft, vandalism, weather (including those harsh New York winters), and animal collisions.
A full coverage insurance policy with comprehensive coverage will protect your vehicle when:
- Stolen.
- Damaged by hail, fire, wind, or falling objects.
- Damaged due to flooding.
- Vandalized.
Cheap Car Insurance for Drivers with Clean Driving Records
If you have a clean driving record and haven’t been found guilty of serious traffic offenses over the past five years, you are perfectly positioned to find the Pennsylvania best cheap car insurance.
To reward you for having a clean driving record, some auto insurance companies will offer a good driver discount, further decreasing the cost of your car insurance quote.
Key Point: What Is a Good Driver Discount?
A good driver discount, also referred to as a safe driver discount, is a discount offered by some auto insurance companies to drivers who have a clean record and who do not have any records of:
- Accidents.
- Major violations.
- Speeding tickets.
- Reckless driving charges.
- Major auto insurance claims.
Some auto insurance companies also offer additional discounts to drivers who have completed a registered defensive driving course.
If you aren’t sure whether your car insurance company offers this, call your insurance agent to find out which courses make you eligible for this auto insurance discount.
According to the CDC, drivers aged 16-19 are three times as likely to be involved in a fatal crash compared to drivers over 20 years old.
Young drivers pay higher auto insurance rates because they are less experienced on the road, thus have a higher chance of being in an accident.
The higher rates compensate insurers for the increased risk of providing the insurance coverage.
Your Unique Needs
If most of the driving you do is to work, to visit friends and family, and going to the local grocery store, then you possibly won’t need any add-ons to your car insurance policy.
If you use your car for long distance driving, or work (such as ridesharing or deliveries), you may find that some of the best car insurance companies may not cover you for this.
Lender Requirements For Car Insurance
If you’re financing or leasing your car, your auto insurance company is likely to require you to have comprehensive and collision insurance.
If you don’t have the required coverage, your car insurance company will add single interest insurance to the total cost of the loan repayment.
Single interest insurance protects the lender but not the borrower of home, car, or other loans.
Over time, this is much more expensive than traditional insurance because you will also be paying off the additional interest.
Get Multiple Car Insurance Quotes
Even if you think you’ve found a great car insurance deal, always shop around for a low car insurance quote.
You can do this yourself, but going through an insurance agent can save you a lot of time and money.
Get multiple cheap auto insurance quotes from different providers.
Pennsylvania law requires all Pennsylvania motor vehicle owners to have minimum liability insurance (financial responsibility) on currently registered vehicles.
Minimum liability insurance covers property damage or injuries you may cause others in a crash.
Does insurance follow the car or driver?
Comprehensive and collision auto insurance coverage are tied to the insured vehicle.
What this means is that if someone borrows your car and has an accident, your policy’s liability coverage will cover them. If you rent a car, the insurance covers the driver.
This coverage pays for damage sustained by the insured vehicle as a result of an accident or vandalism. In other words, if someone else drivers your car.
The types of insurance that cover cars in Pennsylvania are collision, comprehensive, and property damage liability.
It is necessary to carry property damage liability and personal injury protection in Pennsylvania.
What happens if you don’t have vehicle insurance in Pennsylvania?
If your motor vehicle is not insured with liability insurance, you could face the following penalties and expenses:
- A minimum of $300 fine for driving uninsured.
- A three-month suspension of your vehicle registration.
- A three-month suspension of your driver’s license.
Since Pennsylvania is a no-fault state, each driver’s insurance pays for their own medical bills after an accident, regardless of fault. However, Pennsylvania law only requires $5,000 in property damage coverage, which may not be enough to pay for the repairs.
We recommend comparing inexpensive car insurance quotes from various insurers to help you find the best price on an insurance policy that meets your needs.
The total cost of auto insurance will depend on a range of personal factors, including:
- Age.
- Driving history.
- The Pennsylvanian county lived in.
- Total value of your car.
- Credit record.
What are the best car insurance companies in Pennsylvania?
That depends on your pocket and your individual needs. To find a provider that best meets your requirement, consider which aspects of insurance are the most important to you:
- Best pricing.
- Excellent customer service.
- Digital app or online website.
- Customizable coverage.
- Benefits.
- Good driver discounts.
Once you know what you’re looking for, you can compare affordable vehicle insurance quotes from a number of insurance companies to find the best suited policy.
