Car Insurance Is a Top-5 Monthly Expense

Car insurance is now one of the biggest monthly costs for most households, and it keeps climbing — premiums are up roughly 40% since 2021 and have nearly doubled since 2015. If you haven't re-shopped in a while, you're almost certainly overpaying.

How to cut your premium

1. Check your current premium so you know your baseline.
2. Run an online comparison across several providers.
3. Submit non-binding info to pull real quotes.
4. Compare the new quotes against what you pay now.
5. Switch or negotiate — loyalty rarely pays; use quotes as leverage.

Coverage types, plainly

• Bodily injury liability — injury costs if you're at fault.
• Property damage liability — damage you cause to others' property.
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist — protects you against drivers who aren't covered.
• Personal injury protection (PIP) — your medical bills and lost wages.
• Comprehensive — theft, weather, and non-crash damage.
• Collision — damage to your car from a crash.

What people pay

Ballpark national averages run about $622/year for minimum coverage and $2,014/year for full coverage — but your rate swings a lot with location and driving record, so quotes are the only number that matters.

Educational content only — not financial advice. We may earn a commission from partners we link to. Quotes vary — compare current offers before switching.