Cheap Car Insurance In Tennessee In 2022
CheapInsurance.com has put together expert tips and quote comparisons to help you find affordable car insurance in Tennessee.
If you’re one of many travelers who believe the most visited national parks in the U.S. are the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, or Yosemite, you may be surprised to learn that the Great Smoky Mountains or “Smokies” in Tennessee are also on the list.
Tennessee is famous for its country music, low cost of living, southern food, and beautiful natural landscape. It’s also rated as one of the cheapest states to live and retire in.
According to a new study that compared driving conditions among the 50 states, Tennessee has better roads and comparatively lower costs for auto repairs than most other states.
In addition, Tennessee motorists enjoy the lowest average costs for owning a car.
Tennessee was judged to have the best road quality among all states, with only 14% of its major roads in poor or mediocre condition.
Tennessee is an “at-fault” state, which means that when an accident occurs, the car insurance company of the person who caused the accident will pay for the resulting injuries and damages.
In Tennessee, the mandatory minimum limits for car insurance are:
- $25,000 for each injury or death per accident.
- $50,000 for total injuries or deaths per accident.
- $15,000 for property damage per accident.
These limits cover injuries suffered by pedestrians, passengers, and other drivers, but they don’t usually cover property damage or injuries suffered by the negligent driver.
Every automobile on the road in Tennessee must have liability coverage car insurance. This is so that everybody involved in an accident is adequately covered if they are not at fault.
Driving without minimum coverage car insurance in Tennessee is a Class C misdemeanor and may result in a penalty of $300.
The state will suspend your license and car registration until you provide proof of insurance or financial responsibility.
The average cost of car insurance in Tennessee is $1,338 for a full coverage policy and $371 for a minimum coverage policy.
If you are at fault in an automobile collision in Tennessee and you do not have auto insurance, your driver’s license may be suspended if you do not pay for the resulting damages and/or injuries.
To help you find the most affordable auto insurance, we’ve compared quotes from car insurers in these Tennessee counties:
- Shelby County.
- Davidson County.
- Knox County.
- Hamilton County.
- Rutherford County.
Some of Tennessee’s cheapest car insurance companies are:
- Mile Auto.
- Grange.
- Midvale.
- Liberty Mutual.
- Elephant.
- Freedom National.
Because the cost of car insurance in Tennessee depends on your unique driving profile, we’ve also compared the cost of auto insurance rates for these types of drivers:
- Good drivers (those with a clean driving record).
- Bad drivers (those with a history of traffic violations).
- Young drivers (those aged between 16-25).
Minimum Liability Insurance in Tennessee
Minimum liability insurance is popular because you pay much cheaper car insurance premiums than other types of insurance, such as comprehensive coverage. However, it only covers the other driver’s injuries and property damage.
It does not include protection for damage to your vehicle or any injuries sustained by you or your passengers.
The low coverage limits could end up costing you more in the long run if you are the cause of an accident.
Key Point: 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:
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Minimum coverage car insurance policies are the cheapest form of insurance in Tennessee because they provide the lowest level of coverage you can legally carry in the state.
Cheap premiums might make minimum coverage auto insurance seem like the best option, but if you’re involved in an accident, you could end up paying more out-of-pocket in the long run.
A minimum coverage policy only covers the other driver’s injuries and property damage. It does not pay for damage to your vehicle or injuries to you and your passengers.
If you want additional protection, you may want to consider the following insurance options:
- Collision insurance: This covers any damage to your vehicle related to the accident.
- Medical payment coverage: This type of insurance will help pay for your medical bills following an accident.
- Uninsured motorist insurance: If you are involved in an accident with a driver who doesn’t have coverage or has too little, this will help cover the costs associated with the accident.
- Rental car coverage: This will help cover the cost of a rental car while your vehicle is beingrepaired.
- Comprehensive insurance: If you purchase this option, you’re covered for damages that are not caused by an accident—for example, vandalism or weather conditions.
If you’re found to be at fault in a car accident and you do not meet the minimum liability insurance requirements, you will be held personally responsible for paying the other party’s medical bills, legal bills, and lost wages.
As a major part of your liability insurance, bodily injury insurance covers medical bills for people other than the policyholder who is injured during an accident.
This basic car insurance coverage pays for medical bills, vehicle damage, and other costs of drivers, passengers, and pedestrians who incur losses from a car accident you cause, up to the coverage limits.
We have found that on average, the cost of a minimum auto insurance coverage policy in Tennessee is $138.44 per month.
Certainly offers the cheapest car insurance rates for minimum liability coverage, which costs on average $83.00 per month.
Cheapest Minimum Liability Car Insurance in Tennessee | ||||||
| Provider | Shelby County | Davidson County | Knox County | Hamilton County | Rutherford County | Average |
| Certainly | $88.00 | $95.00 | $75.00 | $81.00 | $76.00 | $83.00 |
| Midvale | $100.00 | $112.00 | $107.00 | $70.00 | $106.00 | $99.00 |
| Elephant | $151.00 | $139.00 | $127.00 | N/A | $131.00 | $137.00 |
| Liberty Mutual | $154.00 | $171.00 | N/A | N/A | $142.00 | $155.67 |
| Dairyland | $189.00 | $237.00 | $167.00 | $92.00 | $181.00 | $173.20 |
| Freedom National | $235.00 | $200.00 | $184.00 | $88.00 | $207.00 | $182.80 |
Find Cheap Comprehensive Car Insurance in Tennessee
Unless you have significant savings, it would be beneficial to have comprehensive car insurance to cover you in the event of the following scenarios:
- Theft or theft of parts.
- Non-crash damage (e.g., natural disasters, fire, flooding).
- Broken windshield.
- Car damage from hitting an animal.
Key Point: Full Coverage Car Insurance Full coverage car insurance is made up of three different types of car insurance policies:
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Without comprehensive car insurance, you risk finding yourself in a situation where you can’t drive your car because you can’t afford to get it repaired.
To help you find the cheapest comprehensive car insurance in Tennessee, we’ve compared the rates offered by insurers.
We have found that on average, the cost of a comprehensive car insurance policy in Tennessee is $146.02 per month.
The two cheapest average rates for auto insurance are:
- Mile Auto with average rates of $55.50.
- Grange with average rates of $109.60.
Cheapest Full Coverage Insurance In Tennessee | ||||||
| Provider | Shelby County | Davidson County | Knox County | Hamilton County | Rutherford County | Average |
| Mile Auto | $56.00 | $60.00 | $52.00 | N/A | $54.00 | $55.50 |
| Grange | $122.00 | $127.00 | $108.00 | $75.00 | $116.00 | $109.60 |
| Midvale | $116.00 | $125.00 | $117.00 | $79.00 | $117.00 | $110.80 |
| Liberty Mutual | $205.00 | $231.00 | $175.00 | $116.00 | $187.00 | $182.80 |
| Elephant | $241.00 | $216.00 | $195.00 | $211.00 | $203.00 | $213.20 |
| Freedom National | $258.00 | $223.00 | $204.00 | $107.00 | $229.00 | $204.20 |
Cheap Car Insurance in Tennessee for Drivers with Clean Driving Records
The best way to prevent an increase in your annual premium is to maintain a clean driving record free of traffic violations and accidents.
Drivers with a clean driving record are in a good position to find cheap car insurance. Auto insurance companies consider good drivers to be people who:
- Have not been the cause of any car accidents.
- Have no traffic offenses.
- Have a good credit score.
- Have no speeding tickets.
- Have no reckless driving charges.
- Have no DUI convictions.
Some car insurance companies will offer an additional discount if you have completed an accredited defensive driving course.
We’ve looked at the average car insurance rates offered by car insurance companies in Tennessee for good drivers. The two cheapest car insurance companies for good drivers are:
- Mile Auto with average rates of $51.00 per month.
- Certainly with average rates of $93.80 per month.
| Cheapest Car Insurance for Good Drivers in Tennessee | ||||||
| Provider | Shelby County | Davidson County | Knox County | Hamilton County | Rutherford County | Average |
| Mile Auto | $56.00 | $60.00 | N/A | $34.00 | $54.00 | $51.00 |
| Certainly | $100.00 | $107.00 | $85.00 | $91.00 | $86.00 | $93.80 |
| Midvale | $104.00 | $117.00 | $111.00 | $74.00 | $110.00 | $103.20 |
| Grange | $117.00 | $122.00 | $105.00 | $70.00 | N/A | $103.50 |
| Elephant | $165.00 | $151.00 | $138.00 | $153.00 | $142.00 | $149.80 |
| Liberty Mutual | $173.00 | $193.00 | $150.00 | $89.00 | $159.00 | $152.80 |
Cheap Car Insurance in Tennessee for High-Risk Drivers
Drivers with incidents on their record—such as an at-fault accident or a DUI (driving under the influence)—pay higher insurance rates.
Drivers with prior traffic violations are regarded by insurance companies as being a higher risk to insure than those who have a clean traffic record.
Insurance companies believe high-risk drivers are more likely to make future claims against their auto insurance policy.
Some of the offenses that may lead to someone being considered a high-risk driver include:
- Receiving a DUI conviction.
- Reckless driving.
- Speeding tickets.
- Unpaid insurance policy premiums.
- Having a poor credit score.
The cheapest car insurance company for high-risk drivers is Certainly with average rates of $83.00 per month.
The most expensive car insurance company for high-risk drivers is Bristol West with average rates of $433.80 per month.
Cheap Auto Insurance for Bad Drivers in Tennessee | ||||||
| Provider | Shelby County | Davidson County | Knox County | Hamilton County | Rutherford County | Average |
| Certainly | $88.00 | $95.00 | $75.00 | $81.00 | $76.00 | $83.00 |
| Midvale | $137.00 | $155.00 | $147.00 | $89.00 | $145.00 | $134.60 |
| Freedom National | $275.00 | $233.00 | $214.00 | $99.00 | $241.00 | $212.40 |
| The General | $423.00 | $283.00 | $235.00 | $115.00 | $255.00 | $262.20 |
| Bristol West | $639.00 | $534.00 | $394.00 | $184.00 | $418.00 | $433.80 |
| Elephant | N/A | $251.00 | $227.00 | $258.00 | $235.00 | $242.75 |
Cheapest Car Insurance in Tennessee for Young Drivers
Since young drivers have less experience behind the wheel and tend to get into accidents more often than adults, insurers tend to charge them higher rates compared to more mature drivers.
Good student and driver safety course discounts can help young drivers reduce their rates, as can staying on a parent’s policy for as long as possible.
We’ve compared the cost of car insurance for young drivers to help you save on auto insurance costs.
The cheapest car insurance for young drivers is from Elephant with average rates of $83.00 per month.
Cheapest Car Insurance for Young Drivers in Tennessee | ||||||
| Provider | Shelby County | Davidson County | Knox County | Hamilton County | Rutherford County | Average |
| Elephant | $93.00 | $85.00 | $78.00 | $78.00 | $81.00 | $83.00 |
| Dairyland | $107.00 | $133.00 | $88.00 | $108.00 | $99.00 | $107.00 |
| Midvale | $100.00 | $106.00 | $98.00 | $96.00 | $102.00 | $100.40 |
| GAINSCO | $134.00 | $166.00 | $134.00 | N/A | N/A | $144.67 |
| Hugo | $178.00 | $150.00 | N/A | $150.00 | $127.00 | $151.25 |
| Bristol West | N/A | N/A | $133.00 | N/A | N/A | $133.00 |
To find the best insurance rates in other U.S. states, read our articles below:
Top Tips for Finding Affordable Car Insurance
Take note of lender requirements
If your car is financed or leased, your lender is likely to require that you have liability insurance, comprehensive coverage, and collision insurance.
Full coverage car insurance protects your lender if you’re in a car accident or your car is stolen, and you can no longer afford to meet your monthly payments.
You should avoid allowing your car insurance to lapse because single-interest car insurance is much more expensive than standard car insurance.
Want a personalized car insurance quote? Click here!
Compare quotes from different car insurance companies
Even if you think you’ve found a good deal on car insurance, it’s always a good idea to shop around for a lower rate.
The only way to be completely certain that you’re getting the best rates on your car insurance is to compare quotes from multiple insurers.
You can do this yourself, but it is time-consuming. You’ll need to phone each car insurance company or fill out an online form for them to give you a quote.
To save time, you can go through a licensed insurance agent or compare quotes from different insurance providers by using our online quote finder.
Top Car Insurance Companies in Tennessee
1. Elephant
Elephant Insurance is a customer-driven auto insurance company with headquarters in Richmond, Virginia.
Founded in 2009, Elephant is a subsidiary of Admiral Group plc, a Financial Times Stock Exchange 100 company that has over 6 million customers worldwide.
As the name suggests, the company prides itself on looking out for its ‘herd’: the customers. Elephant ensures that submitting a claim is easy and straightforward and processed with as few hassles as possible.
Get the best deal with a free quote.
2. Bristol West
Founded in 1973, Bristol West’s national footprint makes it one of the top ten biggest insurance companies in the U.S.
Bristol West was originally created to provide high-risk drivers with affordable insurance policies and has since expanded its services to all types of drivers.
Some of the benefits offered by Bristol West include:
- Multiple policy bundling discounts.
- Personalized car insurance policies.
- Rideshare coverage.
- Medical payments.
- Gap coverage.
- Towing and roadside assistance.
- Rental car reimbursement.
Tennessee Car Insurance FAQs
How does car insurance work in Tennessee?
Tennessee law requires drivers to carry liability coverage at the very least.
While liability coverage is the only insurance required by the state of Tennessee, a bank or lien holder could require you to carry extra coverage if your vehicle is being financed (usually comprehensive and collision coverage).
What car insurance discounts are available in Tennessee?
You can get car insurance discounts in Tennessee based on how you drive, the car you own, and your relationship with your insurance company.
In Tennessee, car insurance companies consider factors such as employment, credit rating, as well as residential and marital status when setting auto insurance premiums.
What is the cheapest car insurance company in Tennessee?
The cheapest car insurance company is different for everyone. Hundreds of car insurance companies are available on the market, and each one charges a different rate for coverage.
Shop around and get a few quotes before choosing an auto insurance company to make sure you are getting the best rate.
Tennessee is known for some of the best BBQ in the country and the Great Smoky Mountains. If you love country music, don’t forget to visit the Grand Ole Opry. And watch out for bears on mountain trails—they might be coming out of hibernation from one of the estimated 9,000 caves in Tennessee.
The good news is that you can find cheap car insurance in Tennessee. In fact, the state’s insurance rates are less than what many others in the country pay.
But that doesn’t mean you need to settle for just any car insurance coverage. Click the button below for a free quote from Cheap Insurance and see how much you can save.
Quick Tennessee Car Insurance Facts
- Tennessee’s minimum coverage requirement is 25/50/15.
- For full auto insurance coverage in Tennessee, the average cost is $1,338 per year.
- For minimum coverage in Tennessee, you’ll pay about $371 per year.
- In Tennessee, approximately 20% of drivers are uninsured—one of the highest rates across the nation.
Minimum Tennessee Car Insurance Coverage
You need to have a minimum amount of car insurance in Tennessee. You can find the requirements on the state’s Department of Revenue website.
If you drive in the state, you must have at least the following auto insurance coverages for bodily injury and property damage.
Property damage: $15,000 in coverage per accident
Bodily injury/death: $25,000 in coverage for bodily injury per person, $50,000 per accident
Getting Cheap Car Insurance in Tennessee
You can easily find cheap car insurance in Tennessee by following these money-saving tips:
- Compare rates. Cheap Insurance can help you compare car insurance providers with ease. Instead of researching each one, let us provide you with a quote.
- Use your affiliation. Are you a veteran or government employee? If so, you might be able to get a discount on your insurance.
- Consider a different vehicle. An older vehicle may be cheaper to insure overall, but a newer vehicle often comes with safety features that can qualify you for extra discounts. A sports car is more expensive to insure than a sedan. Think about how your vehicle choice will affect insurance rates.
Tennessee Car Insurance Discounts
Even though Tennessee car insurance coverage is already fairly cheap, it’s possible to save even more money. Here are some discounts you might want to look into:
Good Driver: Avoid speeding tickets, and you could get a good discount. Talk with your car insurance provider.
Good Student: While young drivers often pay higher rates, you may be able to get a discount if you’re a young student under age 25 with good grades.
Pay by the Mile: Some car insurance providers offer discounts for safe drivers who don’t drive often.
Higher Deductible: If you have comprehensive and collision coverage, opt for a higher deductible and save money.
FAQ
What is the penalty for driving without insurance in Tennessee?
If you are caught driving without insurance in Tennessee, you will be charged with a Class C misdemeanor. The fine is $300, and the state will suspend your license and car registration until you provide proof of insurance.
What is driving like in Tennessee?
Tennessee has a lot of traffic, especially in Nashville. The city is growing rapidly, making slowdowns even more common, especially during the morning and evening commutes. It’s often better to stick to surface streets. Be wary of driving on “The Dragon’s Tail,” an 11-mile stretch of road on US 129 with 318 curves.
How can I save money on my car insurance policy in Tennessee?
Cheap car insurance in Tennessee is possible with these methods:
- Use the same car insurance provider to insure multiple vehicles.
- Pay your entire premium at once rather than making payments.
- Take a defensive driving course, and you may get a discount.
Other Types of Coverage
While you do need at least the minimum coverage, there are other types of insurance coverages in Tennessee. Here are some coverage options to consider:
Uninsured Motorist Coverage (UMC)/Underinsured Motorist coverage (UIM)
Medical Payments Coverage
Physical Damage Coverage
Additional kinds of coverage
Endorsements and Riders
- Towing and road service: If you break down while on the road, you can get roadside assistance such as gas, battery charges, and tow trucks with this coverage.
- Rental car reimbursement: If you have this coverage, you can get reimbursed for using a rental car.
- Gap insurance: Gap insurance, as the name implies, covers the gap between the balance of your auto loan and the actual value of your vehicle.
Cities We Cover in Tennessee
Cheap Insurance can help you save. We cover these cities throughout Tennessee:
- Clarksville
- Chattanooga
- Nashville
- Knoxville
- Memphis
- Murfreesboro
