The best car insurance company in Gainesville, Florida, depends on your coverage needs and preferences. GEICO is the most affordable for minimum coverage and families with teens. State Farm offers the lowest rates for full coverage and is the best overall, while Mercury excels in customer service.
Cheapest and Best Car Insurance in Gainesville, FL (2024)
Updated: November 19, 2024
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Best & CheapestCar InsuranceGainesvilleCheapest and Best Car Insurance in Gainesville
Cheapest Minimum Coverage - GEICO
Cheapest Full Coverage - State Farm
Cheapest After Driving Offense - State Farm
Cheapest for Teens - Nationwide
Cheapest for Military - State Farm
Best Overall - State Farm
Best for Customer Service - Mercury
Best Cheap - State Farm
Why Trust MoneyGeek? We analyzed 127,836 quotes from nine insurance companies in Florida, used six sources and original research to rate the cheapest companies and developed a scoring system for insurers based on ZIP codes in Gainesville only. Our scoring considered affordability, customer satisfaction, claims experience, coverages offered and financial stability.
These rates reflect the cheapest car insurance quotes in Gainesville, FL, as of July 2024.
127,836Quotes Analyzed
9Companies Compared
Cheapest Minimum Coverage Car Insurance in Gainesville
GEICO has the cheapest car insurance in Gainesville.
- GEICO: $491 per year
- State Farm: $513 per year
Direct General Insurance has the highest annual premium at $1,209. This $718 gap highlights the importance of comparing rates to save on car insurance.
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Age Group:30-59
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Coverage:Minimum Coverage
| GEICO | $491 | $41 |
| State Farm | $513 | $43 |
| Travelers | $617 | $51 |
| Mercury | $656 | $55 |
| Nationwide | $743 | $62 |
| Progressive | $893 | $74 |
| Allstate | $917 | $76 |
| Farmers | $1,207 | $101 |
| Direct General Insurance | $1,209 | $101 |
State Minimum Liability Requirements
In Florida, state law requires these car insurance coverage minimums:
- $10,000 property damage liability per accident
- $10,000 personal injury protection per person
For example, if you're at fault in a minor accident, the state-required minimum may cover the repair cost of the other car. However, if it exceeds $10,000, you’d have to pay the difference out of pocket.
Cheapest Full Coverage Car Insurance in Gainesville
State Farm offers Gainesville's cheapest full coverage car insurance. Here are the two most affordable providers:
- State Farm: $1,114 per year
- GEICO: $1,221 per year
Farmers charges the priciest full coverage policy at $2,550 annually, $1,436 more than State Farm. Comparing rates for full coverage car insurance is crucial because it provides comprehensive protection, which makes it more expensive than minimum coverage.
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Age Group:30-59
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Coverage:Full Coverage
| State Farm | $1,114 | $93 |
| GEICO | $1,221 | $102 |
| Travelers | $1,325 | $110 |
| Progressive | $1,446 | $121 |
| Nationwide | $1,490 | $124 |
| Mercury | $1,780 | $148 |
| Allstate | $1,965 | $164 |
| Direct General Insurance | $2,354 | $196 |
| Farmers | $2,550 | $213 |
Why Full Coverage Is Important in Florida
Full coverage raises the policy limits to $100,000 for bodily injury per person, $300,000 for bodily injury per accident and $100,000 for property damage per accident. This 100/300/100 policy ensures extensive liability coverage.
Full coverage insurance also includes the following:
- Collision insurance covers repair costs if your car is damaged in a collision with another vehicle or an object like a tree or light pole. It also includes rollover accidents and pothole damage.
- Comprehensive insurance covers theft, weather-related damage, vandalism, fires, natural disasters and being struck by animals like deer.
Leasing or financing a car usually requires full coverage insurance. It's also recommended for new vehicles to protect your investment. However, the extra cost might not be justified for older cars due to their lower value. Determine the amount of car insurance you need to balance adequate coverage with affordable premiums and avoid being underinsured.
Cheapest Car Insurance in Gainesville After a Driving Offense
State Farm offers the cheapest policies across driving offenses in Gainesville:
- Speeding ticket: $1,252 per year
- At-fault accident: $1,356 per year
- DUI: $1,252 per year
State Farm's annual premium after a DUI is the same as a speeding ticket but varies after an at-fault accident. This difference highlights the financial impact of various driving infractions.
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Age Group:30-59
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Coverage:Full Coverage
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Incident:Speeding
| State Farm | $1,252 | $104 |
| Nationwide | $1,749 | $146 |
| Travelers | $1,848 | $154 |
| Progressive | $1,937 | $161 |
| Allstate | $2,038 | $170 |
| Direct General Insurance | $2,354 | $196 |
| GEICO | $2,393 | $199 |
| Mercury | $2,627 | $219 |
| Farmers | $3,172 | $264 |
In Gainesville, insurance rates rise with the severity of driving infractions because of their perceived higher risk. For instance, drivers with a speeding ticket face an average annual rate of $2,720, while those with a DUI offense see rates increase to an average of $3,093. With such a large gap, drivers with traffic violations should carefully compare quotes to find the most cost-efficient coverage.
Cheapest Car Insurance in Gainesville for Teens and Their Families
Nationwide offers the cheapest car insurance for teens in Gainesville. These rates are for a policy covering two parents and a teenage driver:
- Nationwide: $2,669 per year for female teens and $3,006 per year for male teens
- State Farm: $3,177 per year for female teens
- GEICO: $3,332 per year for male teens
Farmers offers the most expensive teen family policy, with premiums as high as $4,722 annually for females. The $2,053 difference between Nationwide and Farmers highlights the importance of comparing quotes, especially when adding a higher-risk teen driver to your policy.
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Age:16
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Gender:Female
| Nationwide | $2,669 | $4,630 |
| State Farm | $3,177 | $3,083 |
| GEICO | $3,292 | $3,526 |
| Travelers | $4,321 | $7,345 |
| Allstate | $4,369 | $15,835 |
| Progressive | $4,468 | $6,106 |
| Farmers | $4,722 | $10,570 |
Insurance premiums for individual teen policies average around $8,041 annually, compared to the $4,194 average for family plans. Insurers charge higher rates for individual plans due to teens' increased risk of accidents and claims. Many insurers prefer family plans over individual teen policies, highlighting the former's financial advantage.
Cheapest Car Insurance in Gainesville for Military Drivers
State Farm is Gainesville's cheapest car insurance for military backgrounds.
- State Farm: $1,114 per year
- GEICO: $1,221 per year
USAA may not be among the cheapest options. Still, it serves the unique needs of active-duty military personnel, ranks competitively nationwide and remains a strong choice for military families.
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Age Group:30-59
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Coverage:Full Coverage
| State Farm | $1,114 | $93 |
| GEICO | $1,221 | $102 |
| Travelers | $1,325 | $110 |
| Progressive | $1,446 | $121 |
| Nationwide | $1,490 | $124 |
| Mercury | $1,780 | $148 |
| Allstate | $1,965 | $164 |
| Direct General Insurance | $2,354 | $196 |
| Farmers | $2,550 | $213 |
How to Compare Cheap Gainesville Car Insurance Quotes Online
Comparing rates helps you save on car insurance in Gainesville. However, it can take about 15 minutes per insurer and up to over an hour for three or more companies. Make the process much easier with MoneyGeek's car insurance calculator. Enter your key details like age, driving history, credit rating and coverage preferences to get an instant estimate.
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Rates updated:
Dec 22, 2024
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Best Car Insurance in Gainesville: Summary
Choosing the right auto insurance depends on how you prioritize factors like service, cost and coverage. Here are the top insurers based on their leading MoneyGeek scores:
- Best overall: State Farm (85 out of 100)
- Best for service: Mercury (83 out of 100)
- Best cheap: State Farm (86 out of 100)
State Farm is the best option for overall value and affordability, balancing service and cost-efficiency. Mercury, with its top-ranking customer service, is ideal if you want exceptional service.
Best Overall Car Insurance in Gainesville
State Farm offers the best car insurance in Gainesville, providing top-notch service and affordability.
- State Farm: MoneyGeek score of 85 out of 100 ($1,114 per year)
- Mercury: MoneyGeek score of 81 out of 100 ($1,780 per year)
State Farm's full coverage policy stands out for its impressive balance of customer satisfaction and affordability. These factors underscore the insurer's ability to deliver value and quality service.
Best OverallState Farm
MoneyGeek Score:
85/ of 100
Overview
State Farm excels with outstanding affordability and claims handling scores. It offers common coverages like roadside assistance and rental car/travel reimbursement. Accident forgiveness coverage prevents rate increases after the first at-fault accident. State Farm's new car replacement and loss of use insurance cover alternative transportation costs when your car is undrivable.
Best Car Insurance in Gainesville for Customer Service
Mercury is the best option in Gainesville for outstanding customer service in car insurance, regardless of cost
- Mercury: MoneyGeek score of 83 out of 100 ($1,780 per year)
- State Farm: MoneyGeek score of 75 out of 100 ($1,114 per year)
Mercury achieves the highest MoneyGeek score, driven by perfect satisfaction and efficient claims ratings. This underscores the company's ability to promptly and effectively meet customer needs.
Best for Customer ServiceMercury
MoneyGeek Score:
83/ of 100
Overview
Mercury's perfect satisfaction (45/45) and claims (30/30) scores reflect its reliability and customer-first approach. While it offers 24/7 roadside assistance and mechanical breakdown insurance for unexpected repairs, it lacks common coverages like rideshare insurance. Nonetheless, its high MoneyGeek score affirms its overall excellence in customer service.
Best Cheap Car Insurance Companies in Gainesville
State Farm is the best option in Gainesville for affordable car insurance without compromising service quality.
- State Farm: MoneyGeek score of 86 out of 100 ($513 per year)
- Mercury: MoneyGeek score of 84 out of 100 ($656 per year)
Best Cheap CompanyState Farm
MoneyGeek Score:
86/ of 100
Overview
State Farm leads with a near-perfect affordability score (39/40), offering comprehensive protection at budget-friendly prices. With an annual premium averaging $513, drivers pay exceptionally little for minimum coverage. State Farm's array of discounts appeals to budget-conscious consumers, offering savings on bundling, multiple cars, safe driving, new vehicles, airbags, anti-theft systems and daytime running lights.
State Farm's impressive scores in other categories — such as satisfaction (19/25) and claims (19/20) — secure its top MoneyGeek score of 86/100.
Average Cost of Car Insurance in Gainesville
In Gainesville, the average premium is $1,699, below the state average of $2,392 and the national average of $1,781. Florida's average insurance cost exceeds the national average by $611.
Various factors influence insurance premiums, with location playing a key role. Accident frequency, theft rates, local laws and repair costs greatly impact local rates. In Florida, for example, Hialeah has the highest annual premium of $3,233, surpassing the state average by $841. Gainesville has the lowest premium at $1,699, $693 less than the state average. These variations highlight how location affects insurance costs, with rural areas often having lower premiums due to reduced accident risks.
| Brandon | $2,650 |
| Cape Coral | $1,868 |
| Clearwater | $2,273 |
| Coral Springs | $2,635 |
| Davie | $2,567 |
| Fort Lauderdale | $2,605 |
| Gainesville | $1,699 |
| Hialeah | $3,233 |
| Hollywood | $2,724 |
| Jacksonville | $2,113 |
| Lakeland | $2,015 |
| Lehigh Acres | $1,980 |
| Miami | $3,041 |
| Miami Gardens | $2,961 |
| Miramar | $2,556 |
| Orlando | $2,146 |
| Palm Bay | $1,899 |
| Pembroke Pines | $2,508 |
| Pompano Beach | $2,696 |
| Port St. Lucie | $2,009 |
| Spring Hill | $2,152 |
| St. Petersburg | $2,382 |
| Tallahassee | $1,782 |
| Tampa | $2,855 |
| West Palm Beach | $2,826 |
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.