Updated: October 16, 2024
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The best car insurance company for you will depend on your specific needs and driver profile. In Tampa, State Farm offers the best overall car insurance. It’s also ideal for young adults, teens on a family policy, seniors and drivers with offenses. Travelers is the best for customer service, while GEICO offers the best cheap policies.
If you value savings above all else, MoneyGeek also rounded up the cheapest car insurance companies in Tampa.
BestCar InsuranceTampaTable of Contents (Jump to Your Best Fit)
Why Trust MoneyGeek? Our proprietary scoring system ranked the best car insurance companies in Tampa based on their affordability, claims management record, available coverage options and financial stability using data from the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation and Quadrant Information Services.
We found that the best car insurance companies in Tampa are:
Among the nine insurers we ranked, State Farm earned the highest affordability and customer satisfaction scores. This means buyers don’t have to pay a high price for quality service. The company also offers the best car insurance in Florida.
How was this MoneyGeek score calculated?
MoneyGeek’s score for the overall best car insurance was calculated with the following weights:
Offers the lowest rate for full coverage policies
Has a high customer satisfaction rating
Offers essential coverages like roadside assistance and rental car and/or travel reimbursement coverage
Has a low claims management rating
Doesn't offer new car replacement coverage or gap insurance
State Farm is our top pick for the best car insurance company in Tampa because it combines affordability with quality service. The company doesn’t offer many options in add-on coverages, but the ones it has are essential and valuable to different types of drivers.
For instance, its roadside assistance can help you get back on the road if you’re stranded due to car troubles. It covers labor services such as towing, mechanical labor and locksmith labor. It also pays for the cost to deliver gas, oil, a battery or tires.
State Farm also offers rental car and/or travel reimbursement coverage, which pays for car rental expenses up to your chosen limit if your vehicle isn’t drivable due to a covered loss. It also covers travel expenses up to $500, including meals, lodging and transportation costs.
We evaluated nine auto insurers in Tampa and concluded that State Farm is the best overall company for car insurance. Its full coverage policies cost an average of $1,527 per year, the cheapest in the city. The company also earned the highest customer satisfaction rating in our study. Travelers won for claims management, but its lower satisfaction and affordability scores brought down its overall average score.
Note that rates are for a full coverage policy, and we only assigned an overall MoneyGeek score to car insurance companies if enough data could be found for all individual scoring components.
| State Farm | 76 | $1,527 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| GEICO | 74 | $1,622 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Travelers | 71 | $1,990 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Nationwide | 67 | $1,925 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 4 |
| Progressive | 62 | $2,398 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 4 |
| Mercury | 60 | $2,295 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Allstate | 55 | $2,726 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 4 |
| Farmers | 54 | $2,763 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 3 |
| Direct General Insurance | 32 | $3,618 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 4 |
Excluding cost from our analysis, we found that Tampa’s best car insurance companies for customer service are:
Travelers ranked the highest out of nine insurers thanks to its high customer satisfaction and coverage ratings. It also has relatively affordable premiums, so its good customer service doesn't necessarily come at a high price.
How was this MoneyGeek score calculated?
MoneyGeek’s score for Best for Customer Service was calculated with the following weights:
Has above-average customer satisfaction and coverage scores
Offers essential add-on coverages like gap insurance
Has a relatively low claims management rating
Doesn't offer deductible modification coverage
Travelers’ great customer service is evident from our analysis of J.D. Power’s customer satisfaction study and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) customer complaint index. The company also offers valuable add-on coverages, such as gap insurance and accident forgiveness, that can benefit many drivers.
If you add gap insurance to your auto policy, Travelers will pay for the difference between your car’s cash value and the unpaid balance in your lease or loan if your vehicle is deemed a total loss after an accident.
Meanwhile, Travelers’ accident forgiveness forgives one accident over a specified period and prevents a premium increase due to that accident. This coverage is included in the company’s Responsible Driver Plan along with minor violation forgiveness, which forgives one minor violation over a specified period.
Auto insurers with great customer service are efficient when addressing a policyholder’s concerns and processing an insurance claim.
Travelers won this category due to its high customer satisfaction rating and its range of essential add-on coverages. In addition, although its claims management rating is below average, it is higher than that of competitors. Our runner-up, State Farm, earned the highest customer satisfaction score in our study but fell short in claims management and coverage options.
Based on our analysis of affordability and service quality for minimum coverage policies, the best car insurance providers in Tampa are:
Minimum coverage policies often have the lowest rates, but they offer the least amount of liability coverage. The minimum car insurance requirements in Florida apply to all cities in the Sunshine State.
How was this MoneyGeek score calculated?
MoneyGeek’s score for the Best Cheap company was calculated with the following weights:
Has the lowest rate for a minimum coverage policy at $643 per year
Offers discounts for bundling, airbags and using seat belts
Ranked first in affordability and second in customer satisfaction out of nine insurers
Lacks paperless and pay-in-full discounts
Has a worse-than-average claims management score
With an average rate of $643 per year, GEICO is the cheapest company for a minimum coverage policy in Tampa. The company also ranked highly for customer satisfaction, meaning you don't have to pay more to take advantage of the company's great customer service.
With GEICO, there are many opportunities to further lower your premiums with discounts. Some of the common discounts offered by the company include discounts for bundling policies, insuring more than one car or being accident-free for five years.
You may also save on your premium by completing a defensive driving or driver’s education course or having an airbag or anti-theft system installed in your vehicle. Additionally, GEICO offers less common discounts for using seat belts, having daytime running lights, or being a member of a partner alumni, fraternity/sorority or professional organization.
In some cases, you may get inferior customer service in exchange for cheap premiums. The best insurer for minimum coverage policies provides affordable rates and quality service — and you can have both with our top pick, GEICO. Although State Farm has a slightly higher customer satisfaction rating, GEICO has the cheapest rates for minimum coverage.
In Tampa, the best car insurance companies for young adults are:
State Farm received the highest scores in affordability and customer satisfaction, meaning customers can get excellent service at a low cost.
How was this MoneyGeek score calculated?
MoneyGeek’s score for Best for Young Adults was calculated with the following weights:
Has the cheapest premiums at $1,807 per year
Offers good student, distant student and driver’s education discounts
Ranked first in affordability and customer satisfaction
Has below-average claims management and coverage scores
State Farm is our top pick for young adult drivers in Tampa because it earned the highest ratings for affordability and customer satisfaction among the nine companies we evaluated. Its full coverage policies for young adults costs an average of $1,807 per year, the cheapest rate in the city. The company also provides excellent customer service according to J.D. Power’s customer satisfaction study and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) customer complaint index.
Young adult drivers may reduce their insurance payments by qualifying for discounts. State Farm offers premium savings to students who earn a B average or 3.0 GPA, students under 25 years old who live away from home and those under 21 who complete an approved driver education course.
For additional protection, young adults may supplement their auto policies with basic coverages such as roadside assistance. This pays for towing and labor services if you’re stranded on the side of the road.
Young adults looking for car insurance should look into an insurer’s affordability, service quality and age-specific discounts. We picked State Farm as the best company for young adults in Tampa thanks to its high rankings for affordability and customer satisfaction. Travelers scored lower in both of these categories, although it offers a wider range of coverage options and has a higher claims management rating.
Teen drivers on a family policy in Tampa may consider these companies as the best option for car insurance:
State Farm’s combined affordability and quality service makes it the best auto insurance company for teens. Because rates for teens are typically expensive, it makes more sense to add them to a family policy than to have them buy an individual policy. In Tampa, teens can save approximately $4,940 per year by joining a family policy.
How was this MoneyGeek score calculated?
MoneyGeek’s score for Best for Teens was calculated with the following weights:
Second cheapest insurer with an average rate of $5,463 per year for a family policy
Provides distant student, driver’s education and good student discounts
Has strong affordability and customer satisfaction ratings
Has below-average claims management and coverage scores
Among the companies we analyzed, State Farm has the second-cheapest rates for teens on a family policy in Tampa and the highest customer satisfaction ratings. It also offers teen-specific discounts to reduce insurance payments.
These include discounts for students who maintain a B average or 3.0 GPA and those in the top 20% of their class. State Farm also provides discounts to students under 25 who are attending school away from home and only using their vehicle while at home. If the teen completes an approved driver’s education course, they may also qualify for premium savings.
In terms of optional coverages, State Farm only offers the most common options like roadside assistance and rental car and/or travel reimbursement. However, these can be valuable for teens if their car breaks down or if they damage their car and need a rental car while the covered vehicle is being repaired.
Companies with the best car insurance for teens tend to offer affordable rates, great customer service, essential coverages and teen-specific discounts. State Farm checks all the boxes as the best company for teens in Tampa. Nationwide has the lowest rates for a family policy, but it fell short in customer satisfaction.
These Tampa companies offer the best car insurance for seniors:
State Farm is our top pick for seniors in Tampa thanks to its combination of affordability and high customer satisfaction. Drivers in their 60s often have similar rates to those in their 30s through 50s, but rates typically increase in their 70s. Shopping around is a great way to find the cheapest premiums.
How was this MoneyGeek score calculated?
MoneyGeek’s score for Best for Seniors was calculated with the following weights:
Has the most affordable premiums at $1,403 per year
Has strong affordability and customer satisfaction scores
Has worse than average claims management and coverage scores
State Farm offers the best blend of affordable rates and quality service, making it the top insurer in Tampa for senior drivers. At an average of $1,403 per year, it is also the cheapest company for this age group.
Although State Farm doesn’t offer many options for add-on coverages, the ones it has are useful for those who get into an accident or need assistance. For example, its roadside assistance pays for mechanical labor, towing and locksmith labor. It also covers the cost to deliver gas, oil, a battery or spare tire.
State Farm also offers rental car and/or travel reimbursement, which covers car rental and travel expenses. If you are responsible for an accident in your rental car, it covers up to $500 of your deductible.
Auto insurance rates for seniors in their 60s are often lower than other age groups. The best car insurance for this demographic will be affordable and include personal injury protection (PIP) or medical payments, which can pay for medical costs if they are seriously injured in an accident. State Farm performed well in affordability and customer satisfaction. Plus, it offers a unique discount for senior drivers and retired individuals.
These companies in Tampa offer the best car insurance for drivers with bad driving records:
State Farm offers the best blend of affordability and service quality, making it our top choice for drivers seeking auto insurance after an offense in Tampa.
Rates tend to increase with the severity of the violation. For instance, a Tampa driver with a DUI will pay about $1,022 more per year for insurance than drivers with clean driving records, while drivers with a speeding ticket will only pay about $622 more.
How was this MoneyGeek score calculated?
MoneyGeek’s score for Best for Drivers With Offenses was calculated with the following weights:
Offers the cheapest rates at $1,730 per year
Provides essential coverages like roadside assistance and rental car and/or travel reimbursement
Received high scores for affordability and customer satisfaction
Doesn't offer accident forgiveness or new/better car replacement coverages
Has low claims management and coverage scores
State Farm outranked eight other insurers as the top choice for drivers with offenses because of its overall blend of affordability and service quality. This means you can get affordable rates without sacrificing quality, even after a driving violation.
When it comes to add-on coverages, State Farm only offers roadside assistance and rental car and/or travel reimbursement, both of which are beneficial in the event of an accident. Roadside assistance pays for labor services such as towing, mechanical labor and locksmith labor if you are stranded on the side of the road, whereas rental car and/or travel reimbursement covers car rental and travel expenses if your vehicle isn’t drivable.
State Farm also provides discounts to help offset the high cost of auto insurance for those with driving violations. You may qualify for premium savings if you bundle policies, insure multiple cars or have safety features in your vehicle.
Those looking for car insurance after a driving offense should look for a company that offers reasonably priced rates, numerous discounts and core coverages, like roadside assistance. State Farm, our top pick, has limited options for add-on coverages, but it earned high ratings for affordability and service quality. Progressive, our runner-up, has more coverages but higher rates.
For drivers with new cars, the best auto insurer in Tampa is Travelers. Here are our top picks:
Our ranking is based on affordability and service quality for drivers in Florida with a 2022 model car. We only evaluated auto insurers that offer better or new car replacement, which pays to replace your car with a brand new one of the same make and model if yours is totaled in a covered accident. Travelers offers this coverage, along with affordable rates and several other add-on coverage options.
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:
Has the lowest rates at $1,862 per year
Provides new car replacement coverage
Has high affordability and coverage scores
Has a slightly below average customer satisfaction score
No deductible modification coverage
Of the three insurers we evaluated for this category, Travelers ranked the highest for its affordable rates and various coverages. An average full coverage policy from this company costs an average of $1,862 per year, the cheapest in Tampa.
With Travelers, you can purchase new car replacement coverage, which covers the cost of a new car of the same make and model if yours is totaled in the first five years of ownership. This add-on coverage is ideal if you have a new car and want to make sure your purchase is protected.
Travelers also offers gap insurance, which covers the difference between your car’s cash value and the unpaid balance in your lease or loan if your car is deemed a total loss after an accident.
Drivers with new vehicles should look for an insurance provider that offers new or better car replacement coverage. Travelers, our winner, offers this coverage and also has affordable premiums and good customer service according to J.D. Power’s customer satisfaction study and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) customer complaint index. Our runner-up, Farmers, is significantly more expensive and ranked lower for customer satisfaction.
When looking for the best car insurance in Tampa, it’s important to look into each insurance company’s cost, service reputation and financial stability. Our guide provides valuable insight, but if you want to do your own research, we recommend taking these steps:
We evaluated insurers’ service reputation using J.D. Power satisfaction scores and NAIC complaint indexes, and you can verify our findings by looking up these sources. You can also visit the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation if you want to learn more about an insurance company in Tampa or need additional insurance information.
As a rule of thumb, it’s important to compare quotes from at least three insurance companies. This way, you can get a general idea of how much you’ll pay for car insurance and make sure you're getting the best rate. Average rates included in this guide are for a sample driver; your actual rate may vary based on factors like age, location and driving history.
When choosing an insurance provider, make sure that it offers coverages and discounts in your location as some advertised coverages may not be available nationwide. You may visit the insurer’s website or get in touch with a customer representative to confirm.
Checking an insurance company's financial strength rating is a necessary step in finding the best option for you and your needs. Doing so will enable you to evaluate how likely the company is to fulfill its financial obligations, namely. paying out claims. Large insurance providers tend to be financially stronger than regional companies.
Your best option for car insurance will depend on your needs and driver profile. We answered some commonly asked questions to help you find the best company for you.
Overall, the best car insurance company in Tampa is State Farm, which received a MoneyGeek score of 76 out of 100. Its affordable average premium of $1,527 per year and great customer service made it our top choice. This company is also the best option for young adults, teens on a family policy, seniors and drivers with offenses.
With an average rate of $643 per year for a policy that only meets Florida’s minimum car insurance requirements, GEICO is our top pick for the best cheap car insurance in Tampa. It received a MoneyGeek score of 78 out of 100 and ranked first in affordability and second in customer satisfaction out of nine insurers.
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.
