The words “economical” and “insurance” really don’t belong together, specifically when searching for the cheapest coverage for a learners permit. To save some money, let’s go over some things that have a considerable impact on car insurance prices, and come up with some ideas to lower the cost of your next policy.
Figuring out which company has the most affordable auto insurance rates for a learners permit may require a tad more effort than just getting one or two price quotes. Every insurance company uses their own calculation to set premium rates, so we’ll take a look at the auto insurance companies with the overall cheapest rates in Texas.
It’s a good idea to be aware that Austin, TX auto insurance rates are determined by lots of factors which can significantly increase or decrease the policy premium. Improving your credit rating, moving to a different location, or getting caught speeding can produce rate changes that can make some companies affordable when they were higher priced.
Lowest Insurance Price Quotes in Texas
| Rank | Company | Cost Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Travelers | $1,021 |
| 2 | USAA | $1,117 |
| 3 | Texas Farm Bureau | $1,235 |
| 4 | Germania Mutual | $1,282 |
| 5 | California Casualty | $1,382 |
| 6 | Esurance | $1,407 |
| 7 | State Farm | $1,450 |
| 8 | Mercury | $1,506 |
| 9 | Nationwide | $1,585 |
| 10 | Safe Auto | $1,597 |
| 11 | Progressive | $1,647 |
| 12 | Allstate | $1,701 |
| 13 | Amica | $1,757 |
| 14 | Home State | $2,071 |
| 15 | GEICO | $2,156 |
| 16 | MetLife | $2,183 |
| 17 | Encompass | $2,301 |
| 18 | Unitrin | $2,310 |
| 19 | 21st Century | $2,396 |
| 20 | Titan | $2,646 |
| View More Rates Go | ||
Travelers may have some of the lowest car insurance rates in Austin at around $1,021 each year. USAA, Texas Farm Bureau, Germania Mutual, and California Casualty would also make the list of some of the cheapest Austin, TX car insurance companies.
As shown in the rates above, if you currently buy coverage from California Casualty and switched to USAA, you could realize an annual premium reduction of in the vicinity of $265. Insureds with Esurance might save as much as $290 a year, and State Farm customers might lower prices by up to $333 a year.
Understand that those estimates are averaged across all types of drivers and the different vehicles they drive and are not factoring in a specific zip code for a learners permit. So the insurer that can offer the best rates for your situation may not even be in the list above. That emphasizes why you need to get rate quotes from many companies using your own specific driver information and vehicle.
The make and model of vehicle you are trying to insure is probably the biggest factor when comparison shopping for the most affordable insurance for a learners permit. Vehicles with higher performance characteristics, poor crash test ratings, or a high likelihood of having liability claims will cost much more to insure than more economical and safe models. The table below ranks insurance premiums for a handful of the most affordable vehicles to insure in Texas.
| Make and Model | Estimated Cost for Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Hyundai Elantra GLS Touring Station Wagon | $4,274 |
| Ford Escape Limited 2WD | $4,314 |
| Honda CR-V EX-L 4WD | $4,324 |
| Toyota Prius | $4,617 |
| Honda Odyssey LX | $4,766 |
| Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer 2WD | $4,805 |
| Chevrolet Impala LS | $5,027 |
| Ford Fusion S 4-Dr Sedan | $5,067 |
| Chevrolet Malibu LS | $5,073 |
| Toyota RAV4 Sport 4WD | $5,067 |
| GMC Sierra SLE Regular Cab 2WD | $5,077 |
| Chevrolet Equinox LS 2WD | $5,067 |
| Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 4WD | $5,074 |
| Toyota Tacoma Double Cab 4WD | $5,067 |
| Dodge Grand Caravan Crew | $5,109 |
| Ford F-150 Lariat Crew Cab 2WD | $5,116 |
| Ford Focus SES 4-Dr Sedan | $5,290 |
| Find Cheaper Rates Go | |
Cost estimates assume single male driver age 16, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and Texas minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, and safe-driver. Information does not factor in garaging location in Austin, TX which can affect insurance rates greatly.
Based upon these rates, we can presume that models like the Hyundai Elantra, Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, Toyota Prius, and Honda Odyssey will be some of the cheaper vehicles to insure for new drivers. The price of auto insurance will tend to be more expensive because of the fact that there is more risk for a learners permit, but generally speaking those particular models will tend to have the best insurance prices that you are likely to find.
One of the many considerations that help determine the price you pay for insurance is where you live. Cities with larger populations tend to pay more, whereas areas with less people or fewer weather incidents profit from lower rates.
The table below rates the priciest cities in Texas for a learners permit to purchase auto insurance in. Austin comes in at #17 with a yearly premium of $1,627 for the average policyholder, which is around $136 each month.
| Rank | City | Premium Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | McAllen | $2,016 |
| 2 | Dallas | $1,893 |
| 3 | Houston | $1,891 |
| 4 | Brownsville | $1,870 |
| 5 | Laredo | $1,851 |
| 6 | Garland | $1,850 |
| 7 | Grand Prairie | $1,811 |
| 8 | Pasadena | $1,794 |
| 9 | Amarillo | $1,786 |
| 10 | Mesquite | $1,771 |
| 11 | Beaumont | $1,754 |
| 12 | Irving | $1,736 |
| 13 | San Antonio | $1,722 |
| 14 | Lubbock | $1,682 |
| 15 | Arlington | $1,658 |
| 16 | El Paso | $1,632 |
| 17 | Austin | $1,627 |
| 18 | Corpus Christi | $1,620 |
| 19 | Carrollton | $1,615 |
| 20 | Plano | $1,608 |
| Quote Best Rates Go | ||
Price information shown is approximated as zip code location can increase or decrease prices noticeably.
Selecting a good quality auto insurance company can be rather challenging considering how many different companies there are to choose from in Texas. The company ratings in the next section may help you select which car insurance providers you want to consider when comparing auto insurance rates for a learners permit.
The ratings below are only comprised of the companies with a significant amount of written premium nationwide, so smaller regional companies are not factored into these rankings. To compare prices from the insurers below and more, just click here.
Top 10 Large Auto Insurers in Austin Ranked by Customer Satisfaction
- USAA – 91%
- AAA Insurance – 90%
- Esurance – 90%
- Mercury Insurance – 89%
- Nationwide – 89%
- Travelers – 88%
- Progressive – 88%
- Safeco Insurance – 88%
- State Farm – 88%
- Allstate – 88%
Illustration showing the impact of accidents and violations
One of the best ways to obtain good auto insurance prices for new drivers is to drive attentively and avoid tickets and accidents. The information below highlights how speeding tickets and accidents raise premium costs for different insured age categories. The data is based on a single female driver, comp and collision included, $500 deductibles, and no policy discounts are applied.
The data above shows the average cost of car insurance in Texas per year with a clean driving record and no accidents is $1,709. Get one speeding ticket and the average cost increases to $1,937, an increase of $229 each year. Now add in two accidents along with the one speeding ticket and the annual cost of auto insurance for a learners permit jumps again to an average of $3,992. That’s an increase of $2,284, or $190 per month, just for not being more responsible behind the wheel!
The insurance agencies listed below can aid you in deciding which policy fits your needs best, since many people would rather have some advice when trying to find the best insurance rates for a learners permit. It’s not always simple to find the cheapest rate yourself, and insurance agents can provide comfort knowing your policy gives you adequate coverage when you need it most. To locate an Austin auto insurance agent near you, click the button at the bottom of the list.
Jane McQuiggin-Hutson – State Farm Insurance Agent
2307 W Parmer Ln – Austin, TX 78727 – (512) 973-8501
EZ Insurance Agency
343 S Congress Ave – Austin, TX 78704 – (512) 444-3279
AUSTIN AREA INSURANCE AGENCY
8711 Burnet Rd – Austin, TX 78757 – (512) 253-8726
Danback Insurance Agency
8312 Burnet Rd #115 – Austin, TX 78757 – (512) 454-4567
Karen Easterling – State Farm Insurance Agent
2711 W Anderson Ln #201 – Austin, TX 78757 – (512) 454-4784
View more Austin, TX insurance agencies
Ideas for buying more affordable car insurance for a learners permit
It’s not impossible to find cheaper rates, and here are many thrifty ideas that can help drivers quote cheaper coverage.
- If your vehicles are older, consider dropping full coverage
- Buying home and auto insurance together can earn discounts
- Safe vehicles generally have lower rates
- Maintaining good credit helps earn cheaper rates
- Prevent rate increases by staying accident-free
- Keep rates low by comparing prices once a year
That final tip is certainly crucial, as was affirmed in the prior information. Coverage prices in Austin can change significantly in a year, so don’t hesitate to switch companies if a cheaper price is available.
Being loyal to a particular company is commendable, but it’s not a good idea if that loyalty ends up costing a small fortune. Take a couple minutes and compare prices to find cheaper car insurance for a learners permit.