Tennessee Farm Bureau offers the most competitive rates for full and minimum coverages in Knoxville, Tennessee. Nationwide is the best choice for families with teens, while Cincinnati Insurance excels in customer service and overall value, balancing cost and service. Your best option depends on your coverage needs and preferences.
Cheapest and Best Car Insurance in Knoxville, TN (2024)
Tennessee Farm Bureau offers Knoxville's cheapest car insurance at $290 yearly. Cincinnati Insurance earns a top MoneyGeek score of 84 out of 100 for its excellent service and affordability.
Updated: November 21, 2024
Advertising & Editorial Disclosure
Cheapest and Best Car Insurance in Knoxville
Why Trust MoneyGeek? We analyzed 59,840 quotes from 16 companies in Tennessee, including the city of Knoxville. We used six sources and original research to rate the cheapest companies and develop a scoring system for Knoxville insurance providers based on ZIP codes in the city only. Our scores are based on affordability, customer satisfaction, claims experience, coverages offered and financial stability.
These rates reflect the cheapest car insurance quotes in Knoxville, TN, as of August 2024.
Cheapest Minimum Coverage Car Insurance in Knoxville
Tennessee Farm Bureau offers the cheapest car insurance for minimum coverage in Knoxville.
- Tennessee Farm Bureau: $290 per year
- Cincinnati Insurance: $334 per year
Allstate offers the most expensive minimum coverage policy at $739 per year, a $449 difference from the cheapest option. This gap underscores the importance of comparing rates to find the best deal, making shopping around for car insurance a simple way to manage your expenses effectively.
- 22-29
- 30-59
- 60 +
- Full Coverage
- Minimum Coverage
Tennessee Farm Bureau | $290 | $24 |
Cincinnati Insurance | $334 | $28 |
Auto-Owners Insurance Co | $350 | $29 |
Westfield | $367 | $31 |
Grange Insurance | $397 | $33 |
Nationwide | $403 | $34 |
Erie | $409 | $34 |
Travelers | $420 | $35 |
Farmers | $436 | $36 |
Chubb | $484 | $40 |
Progressive | $494 | $41 |
GEICO | $519 | $43 |
State Farm | $521 | $43 |
American National P&C | $555 | $46 |
Allstate | $739 | $62 |
State Minimum Liability Requirements
Tennesse law mandates minimum car insurance coverage, which includes:
- $25,000 bodily injury per person
- $50,000 bodily injury per accident
- $25,000 property damage liability per accident
If you're at fault in an accident, your policy will cover up to $25,000 for a person's injuries and $50,000 for all injuries in that accident. However, you'll be responsible for the difference if costs exceed these limits. This coverage meets the legal requirements, but it's just basic protection.
Cheapest Full Coverage Car Insurance in Knoxville
Tennessee Farm Bureau offers the cheapest full coverage car insurance in Knoxville.
- Tennessee Farm Bureau: $841 per year
- Auto-Owners: $851 per year
Progressive has the most expensive full coverage policy, at $1,651 per year. That's $810 more annually than Tennessee Farm Bureau, highlighting the importance of shopping around to save money. Full coverage car insurance typically costs more because it provides comprehensive protection.
- 22-29
- 30-59
- 60 +
- Full Coverage
- Minimum Coverage
Tennessee Farm Bureau | $841 | $70 |
Auto-Owners Insurance Co | $851 | $71 |
Farmers | $869 | $72 |
Erie | $871 | $73 |
Grange Insurance | $887 | $74 |
Travelers | $889 | $74 |
Cincinnati Insurance | $897 | $75 |
Nationwide | $900 | $75 |
Westfield | $1,057 | $88 |
GEICO | $1,149 | $96 |
State Farm | $1,217 | $101 |
Chubb | $1,252 | $104 |
Allstate | $1,265 | $105 |
American National P&C | $1,283 | $107 |
Progressive | $1,651 | $138 |
Why You Need Full Coverage in Tennessee
A full coverage policy enhances protection with higher liability limits than minimum coverage: $100,000 for bodily injury per person, $300,000 for bodily injury per accident and $100,000 for property damage per accident.
Full coverage also includes these insurance types:
- Collision insurance covers vehicle repair costs after collisions, whether with another car or an object like a tree or light pole. It also covers rollover accidents and pothole damage.
- Comprehensive insurance provides financial protection from theft, weather damage, vandalism, fires, natural disasters and hitting animals like deer.
Full coverage insurance is typically required if you lease or finance a car. For new vehicles, full coverage provides financial protection for your investment. However, the additional protection may not justify the higher cost for older vehicles. Finding the right amount of car insurance involves balancing coverage against premiums to prepare for unexpected expenses.
Cheapest Car Insurance in Knoxville After a Driving Offense
In Knoxville, Tennessee Farm Bureau is the cheapest company for drivers with traffic violations such as speeding tickets and at-fault accidents. Farmers offers the lowest rates for DUI violations.
- Speeding ticket and at-fault accident: Tennessee Farm Bureau ($841 per year)
- DUI: Farmers ($1,243 per year)
Chubb has the highest premiums, with rates up to $5,109 annually after a DUI. The $494 difference between the cheapest rates for a speeding ticket and a DUI underscores how much insurance costs can increase based on the severity of driving infractions.
- 22-29
- 30-59
- 60 +
- Full Coverage
- Minimum Coverage
- Accident
- DUI
- Speeding
Tennessee Farm Bureau | $841 | $70 |
Erie | $912 | $76 |
Nationwide | $1,070 | $89 |
Cincinnati Insurance | $1,078 | $90 |
Farmers | $1,144 | $95 |
Auto-Owners Insurance Co | $1,235 | $103 |
Travelers | $1,247 | $104 |
GEICO | $1,262 | $105 |
Westfield | $1,268 | $106 |
State Farm | $1,321 | $110 |
Grange Insurance | $1,356 | $113 |
Allstate | $1,406 | $117 |
Chubb | $1,429 | $119 |
American National P&C | $1,458 | $121 |
Progressive | $2,167 | $181 |
Insurance rates often rise with the severity of driving violations because insurers view these drivers as riskier. For example, in Knoxville, drivers with a DUI may pay an average of $2,711 annually, while those with a speeding ticket average $1,757. This significant difference highlights the importance of comparing insurance rates, especially for drivers with offenses, as doing so could lead to substantial savings.
Cheapest Car Insurance in Knoxville for Teens and Their Families
Nationwide is the cheapest option for insuring teen drivers in Knoxville. Here are the most affordable rates for a policy covering two parents and a teen driver:
- Nationwide: $1,136 per year for female teens and $1,286 per year for male teens
- Farmers: $1,606 per year for female teens and $1,702 per year for male teens
Progressive offers the most expensive car insurance for teen drivers, with annual premiums of $2,801 for female teens and $3,049 for male teens. This price difference highlights the importance of comparing rates, particularly when adding higher-risk teen drivers to a policy.
- 16
- 17
- 18
- 19
- 20
- 21
- 22
- 23
- 24
- 25
- Female
- Male
Nationwide | $1,136 | $2,656 |
Farmers | $1,606 | $5,751 |
State Farm | $1,608 | $2,232 |
Allstate | $1,755 | $5,564 |
GEICO | $2,091 | $4,133 |
Travelers | $2,354 | $4,248 |
Auto-Owners Insurance Co | $2,575 | $2,407 |
Progressive | $2,801 | $8,092 |
Teen drivers face high insurance costs, averaging $4,991 annually for individual policies. Adding a teen to a family plan reduces this to about $2,222 annually. This difference stems from insurers viewing teens as high-risk due to inexperience, making individual policies more costly. Families should consider these financial impacts when choosing car insurance for teens.
Cheapest Car Insurance in Knoxville for Military Drivers
USAA offers the cheapest car insurance for those with military backgrounds in Knoxville.
- USAA: $692 per year
- Tennessee Farm Bureau: $841 per year
USAA is also renowned for its services tailored specifically to active-duty military members.
- 22-29
- 30-59
- 60 +
- Full Coverage
- Minimum Coverage
USAA | $692 | $58 |
Tennessee Farm Bureau | $841 | $70 |
Auto-Owners Insurance Co | $851 | $71 |
Farmers | $869 | $72 |
Erie | $871 | $73 |
Grange Insurance | $887 | $74 |
Travelers | $889 | $74 |
Cincinnati Insurance | $897 | $75 |
Nationwide | $900 | $75 |
Westfield | $1,057 | $88 |
GEICO | $1,149 | $96 |
State Farm | $1,217 | $101 |
Chubb | $1,252 | $104 |
Allstate | $1,265 | $105 |
American National P&C | $1,283 | $107 |
Progressive | $1,651 | $138 |
How to Compare Cheap Knoxville Car Insurance Quotes Online
In Knoxville, comparing rates helps you save on car insurance. However, it can take about 15 minutes per insurer and up to over an hour for three or more companies. MoneyGeek's car insurance calculator can help make the process much easier. Enter key details like age, driving history, credit rating and coverage preferences to get an instant estimate.
Car Insurance Calculator
MoneyGeek's car insurance calculator will give you a customized estimate of your auto insurance cost. It's free to use, requires no personal information and we won't send you any spam.
Rates updated:
Nov 21, 2024
Although MoneyGeek partners with some of the companies we recommend, our content is written and reviewed by an independent team of writers, editors and licensed agents. Learn more about our editorial policies and expert editorial team.
Best Car Insurance in Knoxville: Summary
Choosing the right auto insurance depends on how you prioritize factors like service, cost and coverage. In Knoxville, Cincinnati Insurance leads in all categories with top MoneyGeek scores.
- Best overall: 84 out of 100
- Best for service: 80 out of 100
- Best cheap: 85 out of 100
Cincinnati Insurance offers the best overall value, combining excellent service with competitive pricing. It suits those looking for reliable coverage at a reasonable rate.
Best Overall Car Insurance in Knoxville
Cincinnati Insurance offers the best car insurance in Knoxville.
- Cincinnati Insurance: MoneyGeek score of 84 out of 100 ($897 per year)
- Auto-Owners: MoneyGeek score of 80 out of 100 ($851 per year)
Cincinnati Insurance excels at top-notch customer satisfaction and affordability, which is why it has a high MoneyGeek score. With competitive pricing and comprehensive benefits, it's the best choice for drivers seeking reliability and value.
Cincinnati Insurance is a strong choice for comprehensive coverage, achieving impressive affordability, satisfaction and coverage scores.
Key add-ons include roadside assistance, rental car and/or travel reimbursement, new car replacement and gap insurance. The insurer also offers glass deductible modification, which waives the deductible for glass repairs.
- Ranks first in Knoxville for key coverages
- Offers rare coverages like glass deductible modification
- Lacks OEM coverage
MoneyGeek's best car insurance ratings for Knoxville prioritize customer satisfaction and cost efficiency while also considering claims processes, coverage options and insurer financial health.
Best Car Insurance in Knoxville for Customer Service
In Knoxville, Cincinnati Insurance provides the best customer service in car insurance. Its high score is based on overall satisfaction, claims handling and coverage quality, excluding cost.
- Cincinnati Insurance: MoneyGeek score of 80 out of 100 ($897 per year)
- Chubb: MoneyGeek score of 79 out of 100 ($1,252 per year)
Cincinnati Insurance earns top marks in satisfaction and claims service, making it the top choice for those prioritizing excellent service.
Cincinnati Insurance achieves outstanding scores for satisfaction (34 out of 45), claims (23 out of 30) and coverage score (20 out of 20), all contributing to its strong MoneyGeek rating.
Key benefits include roadside assistance, rental car and/or travel reimbursement, new car replacement coverage and gap insurance. Cincinnati Insurance also offers unique coverages, such as glass deductible modification for frequent glass repairs, child safety seat replacement and antique/classic car insurance.
- Ranks first in Knoxville for coverages
- Offers rare coverages like glass deductible modification and lock replacement
- Lacks OEM coverage
MoneyGeek rates Knoxville's top car insurers, prioritizing customer satisfaction and claims efficiency while considering coverage options and financial health.
Best Cheap Car Insurance Companies in Knoxville
Cincinnati Insurance offers the best cheap car insurance in Knoxville, balancing cost and quality service.
- Cincinnati Insurance: MoneyGeek score of 85 out of 100 ($334 per year)
- Westfield: MoneyGeek score of 82 out of 100 ($367 per year)
Cincinnati Insurance excels with the highest affordability score and strong claims and coverage scores, making it a top choice for affordable coverage without compromising quality.
Cincinnati Insurance leads with a perfect coverage score and a strong affordability score, greatly boosting its MoneyGeek rating. The average annual premium for minimum coverage is just $334.
It offers a wide range of discounts, including the most common ones: bundling, multiple cars, safe driving and good student status. Policyholders also enjoy rare discounts for having airbags and anti-lock brakes in their vehicles.
- Ranks first in Knoxville for coverages
- Ranks second in the city for affordability
- Offers bundling and safe driving discounts
- Doesn't rank top in the city for claims handling and customer satisfaction
MoneyGeek's Knoxville car insurance rankings prioritize cost-effective minimum coverage and customer satisfaction while also considering claims processing and financial health.
Average Cost of Car Insurance in Knoxville
In Knoxville, the average car insurance cost is about $1,063, lower than Tennessee's average of $1,152 and the national average of $1,781.
While location plays a significant role in determining insurance rates, other factors like risk profiles, accident frequency and theft rates also influence costs. Memphis has the highest premium at $1,414, while Knoxville offers the most affordable rate at $1,063. This $351 difference highlights the significant price gaps within the state. Rates in less populated areas with lower traffic density might be lower than city premiums.
Chattanooga | $1,102 |
Clarksville | $1,101 |
Knoxville | $1,063 |
Memphis | $1,414 |
Murfreesboro | $1,074 |
Nashville | $1,181 |
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.