Updated: November 21, 2024
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The best car insurance for you will depend on your needs and profile. American Family is the best car insurance company overall and the ideal option for young adults, seniors and drivers with offenses. Travelers is best for drivers with new cars and minimum coverage.
If you want to save on your policy, you can explore your options by looking at MoneyGeek’s analysis of the cheapest car insurance in St. Louis.
BestCar InsuranceSt. LouisTable of Contents (Jump to Your Best Fit)
Why Trust MoneyGeek? We analyzed car insurance companies in St. Louis and ranked them using our proprietary scoring system, examining customer satisfaction, claims experience, essential coverages, affordability and financial stability. We gathered insurance rate data from Quadrant Information Services and the Missouri Department of Insurance.
MoneyGeek found that these insurance providers offer the best car insurance in St. Louis:
American Family scores highly for its available coverages and affordability, offering drivers a broad range of coverages at inexpensive rates.
With a MoneyGeek score of 85 out of 100, USAA car insurance is the best option for active-duty military members and veterans. The best car insurance in Missouri is Nationwide, with a MoneyGeek score of 89 out of 100 and an average annual premium of $922.
How was this MoneyGeek score calculated?
MoneyGeek’s score for the overall best car insurance was calculated with the following weights:
Ranked first for affordability and available coverages
Offers original equipment manufacturer (OEM) coverage, accident forgiveness and gap insurance
Lower score in claims service
American Family is the best choice for car insurance in St. Louis, as it offers the cheapest policies and a broad range of coverage options.
American Family offers OEM coverage, which ensures that mechanics will not use after-market parts if your car ever needs repairs. This company also offers gap insurance. Gap insurance helps cover the difference between your car’s remaining loan amount and the total cost of replacing it with a new one.
American Family’s accident forgiveness coverage can help you manage any rate increases after an at-fault accident if you have a generally good driving history.
However, this insurer does not score highly in customer service and claims management, indicating that customers might complain about the service they receive and their experience filing a claim.
We analyzed ten insurance companies in St. Louis. We found American Family the best option for car insurance, with an average cost of $1,269 per year. It has the lowest premiums in the city and offers many unique coverage options.
Travelers, the runner-up company, is also one of the cheapest options, but it has lower claims settlement ratings and does not offer many coverage options.
The rates that we mentioned here are for a full coverage policy. MoneyGeek only ranked providers if we could find sufficient data for all individual scoring components.
| American Family | 80 | $1,269 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 3 |
| Travelers | 76 | $1,411 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| State Farm | 75 | $1,408 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Nationwide | 71 | $1,425 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 4 |
| Shelter | 71 | $2,510 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| Allstate | 70 | $1,427 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 4 |
| GEICO | 62 | $2,596 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| AAA | 59 | $2,543 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Progressive | 55 | $3,225 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 4 |
| Kemper | 21 | $4,251 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
When excluding cost from our scoring system, we found that the following insurance companies offer the best customer service in St. Louis:
Shelter ranked the highest for claims settlement and customer satisfaction, meaning that most customers were highly satisfied with their claims filing experience. As it offers exceptional service, MoneyGeek found it one of the most expensive options for car insurance in St. Louis.
How was this MoneyGeek score calculated?
MoneyGeek’s score for Best for Customer Service was calculated with the following weights:
Ranked the highest for claims settlement and customer satisfaction among other insurers
Provides new car replacement, gap insurance and roadside assistance
Does not offer accident forgiveness coverage
Based on data from J.D. Power’s customer satisfaction study, Shelter's customers are highly satisfied with the services they receive. The company settles its claims promptly and fairly.
There is a broad range of coverages available with this company. You can add new car replacement to your policy, meaning that you will get a brand-new car of the same make and model if you damage your car in an accident. This policy requires that you bought your car within the last year and have driven it for less than 15,000 miles. The company's gap insurance coverage assists you in paying off your remaining car loan if your car gets totaled in an accident and your collision coverage payment does not cover your owed amount.
You can use Shelter’s roadside assistance coverage if your vehicle breaks down. This coverage is available 24/7 and helps pay for services like towing and re-keying locks up to a specific limit.
An insurance company with good customer service will offer outstanding claims processing and will promptly address any customer complaints. Since Shelter ranked highly in both categories, we chose it as the best insurer for customer service. Its competitor American Family scored lower in customer satisfaction and claims management scores.
When analyzing affordability and service quality of minimum coverage policies in St. Louis, the following companies offer policies:
Minimum coverage in St. Louis will be the most affordable while offering the least amount of protection against liability costs. It also won’t cover you for any damage to your own car in the event of an accident.
The minimum car insurance requirements in Missouri are the same for every location in the state.
How was this MoneyGeek score calculated?
MoneyGeek’s score for the Best Cheap company was calculated with the following weights:
An affordable minimum coverage policy at an average of $657 annually
Discounts including multiple car, safe driving and alternative energy
Ranked second-highest for available coverages and affordability
Does not rank highly in customer satisfaction
Travelers offers a broad range of coverages with its policies and has one of the most affordable premiums in St. Louis.
You can save money on your policy by qualifying for various discounts. Travelers may lower your premium if you insure two or more cars in your household on the same policy. Safe drivers with no major violations in the last three to five years can also save on their policy with a discount.
Travelers encourages environmental-friendly behavior by providing a discount to drivers who insure hybrid cars. The company may also offer you a discount if you’re a homeowner, no matter which insurer you use for home insurance. These are rare discounts that every insurer in St. Louis does not provide.
Policy cost and service quality are essential when choosing the best minimum coverage insurance policy. There’s usually a trade-off and you might not get high-quality service at a lower cost, but that’s not true for all insurers.
Although Travelers does not offer the best service, it has one of the cheapest policies and a broad selection of coverage options. State Farm outranks it in cost and customer service while ranking lower in coverages.
MoneyGeek found that the following insurance providers offer the best car insurance for young adults in St. Louis:
American Family ranked the highest in affordability and available coverage. This company offers the cheapest full coverage policy for young drivers in St. Louis, in addition to standard and rare coverage options.
How was this MoneyGeek score calculated?
MoneyGeek’s score for Best for Young Adults was calculated with the following weights:
Most affordable policy at an average of $1,345 annually
Provides good student and distant student discounts
High scores in affordability and available coverages
Average scores for claims settlement experience
American Family offers the lowest rates to insure young drivers in St. Louis and offers many common and rare coverages to choose from.
The company offers a good and distant student discount to drivers in college, which might only benefit some drivers in their 20s. A good student discount rewards academic achievement by helping you get a discount for good academic performance. If you live away from home, you can save on your policy through the distant student discount.
American Family offers a diverse range of coverages, including accident forgiveness and roadside assistance. You won’t have to pay increased premiums with accident forgiveness coverage in the event of a collision, and roadside assistance coverage helps you get back on the road if your car breaks down.
Young adults should consider purchasing a policy from a company that offers many discounts and coverages tailored to your age, such as a good student discount. The ideal company should also offer excellent customer service experience. MoneyGeek found that American Family is the best option as it has more affordable rates and coverages than Travelers, the runner-up for best full coverage car insurance for young adults.
The following companies offer the best car insurance for teens on a family policy in St. Louis:
GEICO scored the best for affordability and ranked highly in customer satisfaction. They offer the cheapest policy option for teens while still providing excellent service.
Instead of buying individual policies, a teen can opt for a family policy to save money. MoneyGeek found that the average policy cost for a 16-year-old male driver buying an individual policy is $7,251 per year. The same driver will pay an average of $3,348 per year on a family policy.
How was this MoneyGeek score calculated?
MoneyGeek’s score for Best for Teens was calculated with the following weights:
Offers the cheapest policy for teens at an average cost of $2, 557 annually
Discounts including driver’s education and good student
Ranked highly in customer satisfaction
Average scores for available coverages and claims management
GEICO’s insurance policies are the cheapest in St. Louis for teen drivers, costing an average of $2,557 annually. It also scored highly in customer satisfaction based on J.D. Power’s customer satisfaction study.
As a teen driver, there are many discounts that you can benefit from to save on your policy costs — for instance, GEICO offers discounts to drivers under 21 who have completed a driving education course. You can also lower your premiums based on your academic performance with a good student discount. Other less commonly offered discounts include a discount if your vehicle has anti-lock brakes and a discount if the driver and any passengers in the car always wear their seatbelts.
GEICO offers common coverages, including roadside assistance and rental car or travel reimbursement. It also offers mechanical breakdown insurance, which helps cover mechanic repairs unrelated to an accident.
Since teen drivers generally pay higher rates, the best car insurance company for teens will offer affordable quotes. They will also offer discounts to help lower their policy cost and coverages tailored to young drivers. Some important coverages to look for include roadside assistance and accident forgiveness.
GEICO stands out with its affordable policies for teens and available student discounts. The runner-up, Travelers, is more expensive while ranking lower in customer satisfaction according to data from J.D. Power’s customer satisfaction study.
These insurance providers offer the best car insurance for senior drivers in St. Louis:
American Family stands out with the highest score for affordability and available coverages. This company offers broad coverage options while being the cheapest full coverage policy for senior drivers.
When you’re in your 60s, car insurance rates do not differ from drivers in their 30s to their 40s. However, your rates will tend to increase in your 70s. Shopping around will help you find the most affordable policy for your driver profile.
How was this MoneyGeek score calculated?
MoneyGeek’s score for Best for Seniors was calculated with the following weights:
Most affordable policy at an average cost of $1,187 per year
Provides original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and auto death indemnity coverage
Ranked first for available coverages
Average scores for claims management
American Family offers common and unique coverages for senior drivers. It’s also the most affordable policy for car insurance in St. Louis. These factors make it the best choice for senior drivers looking to save money and benefit from a diverse range of coverage options.
Seniors will benefit the most from American Family’s roadside assistance and rental car or travel reimbursement coverage. Its roadside assistance coverage helps you when you get stranded on the road and covers many associated expenses.
The rental car or travel reimbursement coverage is an optional coverage that pays the cost of a rental car if you need your vehicle repaired in the event of an accident.
The company’s auto death indemnity coverage provides compensation in case of death or injuries in an accident, regardless of who was at fault.
Seniors generally do not have to worry about expensive rates as they are considered safe drivers. If you’re a senior driver, you should buy a policy offering personal injury protection (PIP) or medical payments coverage, as you may be susceptible to serious injury in case of an accident.
American Family offers auto death indemnity coverage, which makes it an ideal option for seniors. Travelers does not provide the same coverage but is more expensive.
The best car insurance providers for drivers with offenses on their records are:
American Family offers many coverage options and has the cheapest full coverage car insurance policy for drivers with offenses on their record.
Your car insurance rates may depend on the severity of your violation. For instance, the average full coverage annual premium for a driver with a DUI is $3,114, while it’s only $2,821 for a driver with a speeding ticket. A safe driver pays an average of $2,207 per year.
How was this MoneyGeek score calculated?
MoneyGeek’s score for Best for Drivers With Offenses was calculated with the following weights:
Most affordable policy with an average premium of $1,507 per year
Provides rental car or travel reimbursement, roadside assistance and accident forgiveness coverage
Does not offer new car replacement coverage
American Family offers coverages that can benefit drivers with offenses on their records, like accident forgiveness, rental car or travel reimbursement and roadside assistance. These coverage options and relative affordability make it the best policy for drivers with offenses on their record.
Since insurers increase your premium after an accident, the accident forgiveness coverage helps you avoid any unexpected policy cost increases. The company also offers emergency roadside assistance coverage to help you when you get stranded on the road. When your car is getting repaired after an accident, rental car reimbursement coverage will help you by covering the cost of a rental vehicle.
You can also add original equipment manufacturer (OEM) coverage to your policy with this company. This coverage ensures that mechanics will not use after-market parts when repairing your vehicle.
If you have offenses on your record, consider opting for an insurer that offers affordable rates and various discounts to help lower your premium. American Family ranked highly in both categories, offering many coverage options and affordable rates. Although State Farm has similarly affordable rates, it ranks less highly for coverage options available.
The following companies are best for drivers with new cars in St. Louis:
We scored these insurance providers based on affordability and service quality for drivers with a 2022 model car in Missouri. We included only insurers that offer new car replacement coverage in our analysis. New car replacement coverage protects against complete loss by offering you a brand new car of the same make and model in the event of an accident that totals your vehicle.
Travelers ranked the highest for affordability and scored well for available coverages, making it the best full coverage policy for drivers with new cars.
How was this MoneyGeek score calculated?
MoneyGeek’s score for Best for New Cars was calculated based on insurers offering new or better car replacement coverage and the following weights:
Ranked first in affordability with an average cost of $1,488 per year
Offers new car replacement coverage
Ranked well for coverage options
Average scores for customer satisfaction
From Travelers, you can get the cheapest full coverage policy for a new car at an average cost of $1,488 annually. This company also offers a broad range of coverage options.
Travelers’ Premier New Car Replacement coverage offers you a new car of the same make and model if you total it in the first five years of ownership.
The company also offers gap insurance. If your vehicle is totaled in the event of an accident, this coverage will pay the difference between your vehicle’s actual cash value and your remaining loan amount.
You can also get accident forgiveness coverage, a feature of the company’s Responsible Driver Plan. This plan prevents your rates from increasing after one at-fault accident within a specified period.
Drivers with new cars should opt for a company that offers new car replacement coverage. Besides offering this coverage, Travelers also offers affordable rates and provides good customer service based on J.D. Power ratings. Although Allstate also offers new car replacement coverage, it charges more expensive rates.
When looking for the best car insurance in St. Louis, you should choose an insurance company that balances cost, service reputation and financial stability. While MoneyGeek has collected this data for you, you can follow these steps to research the essential information yourself and find the best coverage available to you.
Although MoneyGeek gathered the data on how customers rate different car insurance companies in St. Louis, you can find more information from J.D. Power's customer satisfaction study and the NAIC’s customer complaint index for your research. You can also use Missouri's Department of Insurance website for more valuable information.
MoneyGeek researched average rates by using a sample driver profile in St. Louis, but your rates will differ because they vary based on personal factors unique to you. You should gather car insurance quotes from at least three different insurance companies to estimate premium costs.
Coverage availability may change depending on your area, so it is best to contact the provider to verify that the coverage you need is available. Specific discounts may not be available in different states, so always check with the company first to understand your options based on your location.
An insurer’s financial stability rating informs you of their ability to meet their obligations and pay your claim promptly. Large insurance companies are generally more financially reliable, and smaller regional companies may have lower ratings.
The best car insurance in St. Louis will vary based on your personal preferences. You can look at these frequently asked questions to understand the insurance options available.
American Family offers the best car insurance in St. Louis, with a MoneyGeek score of 80 out of 100 and an average premium of $1,269 annually. The company also offers the best policies for young drivers, seniors and drivers with offenses on their records. It scores highly for providing a broad range of coverage options at affordable prices.
Travelers offers the best cheap car insurance in St. Louis. It has a MoneyGeek score of 79 out of 100 and averages $657 per year for a policy. It’s the best option for drivers seeking a minimum coverage policy and drivers with new cars. This company also offers unique discounts that may help you save money on your premiums.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick is a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer and MoneyGeek's Head of Insurance. He has analyzed the insurance market for over five years, conducting original research and creating personalized content for every kind of buyer. He has been quoted in several insurance-related publications, including CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.
Fitzpatrick earned a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He is passionate about using his knowledge of economics and insurance to bring transparency around financial topics and help others feel confident in their money moves.
