Cheapest and Best Car Insurance in Independence, MO (2024)

Finding the most cost-effective insurance in Independence might hinge on your coverage choice and driver profile. For full coverage, American Family is the least expensive, while State Farm offers the lowest rates for families with teens. Travelers is the cheapest for minimum coverage.

When it comes to customer service, American Family also ranks as the best, and it is also the top overall for balancing price and service. Selecting the right insurer for you will depend on your own service and coverage priorities.

Travelers is the cheapest option in Independence, offering the cheapest car insurance for minimum coverage.

• Travelers: $506 per year
• Progressive: $555 per year

While Travelers provides the most affordable policy, GEICO has the most expensive minimum coverage in Independence, at $1,114 annually. This significant price difference illustrates the importance of comparing car insurance rates because consumers can save considerably by shopping around for the best deal.

State Minimum Liability Requirements

For all cities in Missouri, including Independence, the minimum required car insurance coverage is set by state law. Missourians must carry the following coverages:
-$25,000 bodily injury per person
-$50,000 bodily injury per accident
-$25,000 property damage liability per accident
-$25,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person
-$50,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident

For instance, if you're involved in an accident where the other party suffers bodily injury, the minimum coverage will pay up to $25,000 for a single person. If multiple people are injured, the policy can go up to $50,000 for that accident. Should the damages exceed these limits, any additional costs would need to come out of your pocket.

American Family is the cheapest full coverage car insurance option in Independence. The two most affordable insurers are:

• American Family: $1,027 per year
• Travelers: $1,075 per year

Kemper offers the most expensive full coverage policy in Independence, with annual rates at $2,505, highlighting the importance of comparing quotes to ensure you're getting a great deal on car insurance. Full coverage policies are generally pricier because they provide comprehensive protection beyond just minimum liability.

Do You Need Full Coverage in Missouri?

A full coverage policy includes coverage for damage to your own vehicle in the form of comprehensive and collision coverages. It usually also includes increased liability limits.

• Collision Insurance: This provides coverage for your vehicle in the event of a collision, whether with another vehicle or a stationary object like a tree or light pole. It also covers rollover accidents and pothole damage.

• Comprehensive Insurance: This coverage insures your vehicle against various types of damage not caused by collisions, including theft, vandalism, fires, natural disasters and being struck by an animal like a deer.

If you have a new vehicle, it's wise to opt for full coverage insurance for more robust financial protection. If you're leasing or have a car loan, you are typically required to carry full coverage insurance.

On the other hand, owners of older vehicles may find that the extra cost — which can amount to several hundred dollars more per year — is not justified by the value of the vehicle. When deciding how much car insurance coverage you need, consider your ideal balance: more extensive coverage comes with higher premiums, but getting less coverage means you may pay more out of pocket if you need to file a claim.

American Family offers the most competitive full coverage rates for drivers with a poor driving record in Independence, MO.

• Speeding Ticket: American Family ($1,219 per year)
• At-fault accident: American Family ($1,268 per year)
• DUI: American Family ($1,219 per year)

On the other side of the spectrum, GEICO has the most expensive rates for these offenses. This illustrates how the severity of a driving offense can lead to considerable variations in car insurance rates, emphasizing the importance of driving safely and maintaining a clean record to avoid high insurance costs.

Insurance premiums often increase with the severity of a driving violation because insurers view more serious offenses as a higher risk. In Independence, drivers with a DUI can expect an annual rate of around $3,281, while a speeding ticket could lead to a lower rate of approximately $2,875. Given these significant costs, it becomes crucial for those with driving infractions to compare insurance rates because diligent shopping can lead to substantial savings on their insurance premiums.

GEICO offers the cheapest car insurance for teens in Independence.

• GEICO: $1,263 per year for female teens and $1,336 per year for male teens
• State Farm: $2,260 per year for female teens and $2,867 per year for male teens

These rates provide insight into the cost differences that families in Independence may experience when adding a teenage driver to their policy. These figures represent a family policy that includes two parents and one teen driver.

Kemper holds the title for the most expensive policy for teen drivers in the city, with annual premiums of $7,198 for girls and $8,845 for boys. Comparing these figures highlights the crucial importance of shopping around for car insurance, especially when involving high-risk drivers like teenagers.

In Independence, as in many cities, teen drivers face steep car insurance costs, with the average individual annual premium for a teen at $7,626. By contrast, if a teen joins a family plan, the average premium drops significantly to $3,410. Insurance companies often charge higher rates for individual teen policies due to the increased risk associated with inexperienced drivers, also making obtaining approval for these policies more challenging. Parents and guardians are encouraged to incorporate their teens into their existing family plans to take advantage of the lower rates and enhance the likelihood of coverage approval.

USAA is the cheapest full coverage car insurance for military backgrounds in Independence.

• USAA: $670 per year
• American Family: $1,027 per year

USAA offers the most competitive annual premium and provides services that are specifically tailored to meet the needs of active duty military members. Those affiliated with the military could potentially enjoy more than just savings, benefiting from the company's understanding of their unique circumstances.

In Independence, comparing car insurance rates is a key strategy for cost savings. However, the process is often cumbersome, potentially requiring over an hour to examine rates from three or more companies.

MoneyGeek's car insurance calculator can help you streamline this process. By inputting details like age, driving history, credit score and preferred coverage, you can instantly receive rate estimates.

Selecting the right auto insurance is a balance between service, cost and coverage, with other variables also playing a role. MoneyGeek's unique scoring system reveals Independence's top providers for varying needs:

• Best overall: American Faemily (MoneyGeek score 93 out of 100)
• Best for service: American Family (MoneyGeek score 90 out of 100)
• Best cheap: American Family (MoneyGeek score 89 out of 100)

Because American Family emerges as the frontrunner across all categories, customers are assured of a harmonious blend of top-notch service and financial sensibility, yielding an unmatched insurance experience.

American Family is the premier option in Independence for those seeking the best car insurance. Customers looking for quality coverage can consider the following top-rated providers:

• American Family: MoneyGeek score of 93 out of 100 ($1,027 per year)
• Shelter: MoneyGeek score of 78 out of 100 ($1,509 per year)

American Family shines with its high score reflecting primary strengths in customer satisfaction and affordability for a full coverage policy.

American Family is the preeminent option for customer service in the Independence area's car insurance landscape, excelling in general satisfaction, claims handling and quality of coverages.

• American Family: MoneyGeek score of 90 out of 100 ($1,027 per year)
• Shelter: MoneyGeek score of 79 out of 100 ($1,510 per year)

American Family distinguishes itself as a leading provider in the car insurance industry, not just for its competitive pricing but also for its top-tier scores in satisfaction and claims handling.

American Family offers the best option for cheap car insurance in Independence, striking a balance between affordability and quality service. When looking for insurance, consider not only the cost but also the dependability of claims processing and customer satisfaction.

• American Family: MoneyGeek score of 89 out of 100 ($583 per year)
• Shelter: MoneyGeek score of 79 out of 100 ($693 per year)

American Family stands out due to its strong performance across all evaluated categories, particularly in affordability and customer satisfaction. The company offers a minimum coverage policy that significantly contributes to the overall value for motorists in Independence seeking reliable yet cost-effective car insurance.

In Independence, Missouri, the average car insurance premium is $1,565. This figure sits just below the average cost in Missouri of $1,616. When compared with the national average car insurance cost of $1,781, Missouri's average is $165 less.

Insurance costs are influenced by numerous factors, and location plays a significant role. The place where a vehicle is insured can greatly impact premiums due to variables such as traffic volume, weather conditions and crime rates.

For example, in Missouri, data reveals St. Louis has the most expensive insurance premium at $2,146, while Columbia is the cheapest at $1,146, demonstrating a substantial city-to-city range of $1,000. This emphasizes the importance of the locality in determining rates, which tend to be lower in non-city areas with less traffic density.