Updated November 3rd, 2020
Texas’s overall cheapest car insurance companies are with Texas Farm Bureau, Progressive, and Nationwide for drivers with decent driving history.
Depending on the city you reside in, each carrier can offer quotes from 22 to nearly 38% lower than the median rate for drivers of similar age and profile.
Other carriers to put on your bucket list to get quotes are Mercury, Farmers, and Allstate.
Depending on your age, all three insurers can offer cheap quotes from 17 to over 25% lower than the median rate for similar age drivers.
For current or former military, your best option is with USAA.
In this article, I will cover the cheapest auto insurance companies in Texas, the minimum coverage requirements, and a few cost-saving tips along the way.
If you would like to skip to a certain portion of the article, there is a table of contents down a little and to the right.
Note: For a 25-year-old driver, the lowest quotes are from Texas Farm Bureau, Progressive, and Nationwide. I queried each at $2,344, $2,387, and $2,388 respectfully. For further comparison, please see the table below.
Cheapest Auto Insurance Companies by Rate & Age
I queried more than 20 companies in the state to find out who has the least expensive rates.
With each carrier, I queried at least 5 times to get an average.
Overall the lowest quotes are offered by GEICO, Texas Farm Bureau, and Progressive.
If you shop for quotes, your price could be higher or lower depending on factors such as your location, age, and past driving history.
| Texas Company | Average Rate 25 Y/O Driver | 30 Y/O Driver | 35 Y/O Driver | 40 Y/O Driver | 45 Y/O Driver | 55 Y/O Driver |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GEICO | $2,331 | $1,978 | $1,598 | $1,185 | $989 | $832 |
| Texas Farm Bureau | $2,344 | $1,987 | $1,612 | $1,232 | $1,009 | $834 |
| Progressive | $2,387 | $2,014 | $1,616 | $1,265 | $1,023 | $867 |
| Nationwide | $2,388 | $2,034 | $1,623 | $1,278 | $1,041 | $887 |
| Mercury | $2,401 | $2,060 | $1,668 | $1,285 | $1,056 | $902 |
| Allstate | $2,489 | $2,089 | $1,679 | $1,341 | $1,078 | $904 |
| Farmers | $2,554 | $2,121 | $1,700 | $1,347 | $1,080 | $909 |
| American Family | $2,605 | $2,122 | $1,706 | $1,349 | $1,098 | $900 |
| Unitrin | $2,623 | $2,122 | $1,706 | $1,357 | $1,213 | $910 |
| Allied | $2,699 | $2,209 | $1,745 | $1,378 | $1,211 | $920 |
| MetLife | $2,749 | $2,278 | $1,778 | $1,441 | $1,211 | $921 |
| Encompass | $2,750 | $2,278 | $1,899 | $1,456 | $1,214 | $931 |
| Amica | $2,755 | $2,332 | $1,867 | $1,441 | $1,243 | $956 |
| Unitrin | $2,756 | $2,378 | $1,878 | $1,456 | $1,244 | $978 |
| 21st Century | $2,777 | $2,345 | $1,867 | $1,488 | $1,234 | $1,008 |
| Liberty Mutual | $2,788 | $2,479 | $1,943 | $1,490 | $1,256 | $999 |
| Esurance | $2,787 | $2,502 | $1,944 | $1,556 | $1,231 | $1,002 |
| Kemper | $2,805 | $2,422 | $1,942 | $1,576 | $1,230 | $1,021 |
| Safeco | $2,799 | $2,448 | $1,977 | $1,488 | $1,231 | $998 |
Minimum Auto Insurance Requirements in Texas
The list number for the minimum requirements is 30/60/25, which is always in the thousands.
Since Texas is the second-largest state population-wise, the minimum requirements are relatively low for a state with a high number of drivers.
As recommend, no matter the state you reside in, the minimum coverage is not adequate, particularly if you have a newer model vehicle.
Policy-holders want to be sure they are covered for any unforeseen accidents.
| Coverage | Texas Minimum Liability Coverage | Recommended Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Bodily Injury Protection | $30,000 / $60,000 | $100,000 / $300,000 |
| Property Damage | $25,000 | $50,000 |
| Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury Coverage* | $30,000 / $60,000 | $100,000 / $300,000 |
| Uninsured Motorist Property Damage* | $25,000 | $50,000 |
| Personal Injury Protection (PIP)* | $2,500 | $2,500 |
| Comprehensive Coverage | Optional | $250 - $1,000 deductible |
| Collision Coverage | Optional | $250 - $1,000 deductible |
*Coverage can be rejected in writing.
Bodily Injury Liability
Bodily injury liability covers the doctor’s expenses of the other driver and their passengers when the insured is discovered to be at-fault for an accident.
Under the minimum auto insurance coverage, the insurer will pay up to $30,000 for a single person and $60,000 for multiple people injured in the accident.
Note: As illustrated, the best premium options are TX Farm Bureau, Progressive, and Nationwide for a 30-year-old driver.
Property Damage Liability
Property damage liability covers repairs for damages that happen to the other person’s car and damages any private and public property.
When the minimum coverage is purchased, the insurer will pay as much as $25,000 for required repairs.
Note The cheapest carriers clustered near $1,600 for a 35-year-old driver. For further details, please see the table below.
Comprehensive & Collision Coverage
Comprehensive coverage is recommended in the state since harsh weather with heavy rainfall during hurricane season.
The state also has a high auto theft rate, and if you have comprehensive cover, your stolen vehicle will be covered.
If you have a newer model vehicle, it would be wise to think about collision coverage too.
Even older-model cars should consider having some collision coverage level, particularly driving in big cities such as Dallas.
If you have a loan on your vehicle, collision coverage is going to be required.
Uninsured Motorist Protection
Uninsured motorist protection would be good to consider since the state has an uninsured motorist rate of one out of every ten drivers driving uninsured.
In the northern part of Texas, the uninsured motorist rate is lower than in its southern part.
Gap Coverage for Financed Vehicles
Since the majority of the vehicles are financed, getting Gap coverage would be a good idea.
Gap coverage is going to cover the “gap” between the “actual value” of the vehicle and what is “leftover” or the “gap” from financing the vehicle.
For example, if your vehicle has a blue book value of 18,000 dollars and you financed $24,000 but have left to pay the bank an amount of $22,000, then you have a 4,000 dollar “gap.”
Best Insurance Companies by Rating, Rate Change, and Complaints
Below is a table with the best insurance companies by a rate change, complaints, and consumer rating.
The amount of written premiums is included; however, consumers’ important data are in the latter three columns.
The amount of complaints about each insurer is normal since those with a higher amount of written premiums will have more complaints.
The rate change shouldn’t be alarming since it is within the state average.
And the data for consumer ratings are from JD Power & Associates, AM Best, and other reputable online portals to get an average.
| Texas Company | Premiums | Rate Change | # of Complaints | Consumer Rating out of 5 Stars |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GEICO | $535,701,791 | +3.1% | 88 | 4.3 |
| Texas Farm Bureau | $415,641,543 | +3.4% | 76 | 4.0 |
| Amica | $121,528,000 | +3.4% | 14 | 4.1 |
| USAA | $459,137,823 | +3.8% | 121 | 4.4 |
| Progressive | $631,273,206 | +3.3% | 138 | 4.5 |
| Farmers | $199,742,542 | +3.9% | 43 | 3.9 |
| Mercury | $84,920,209 | +4.1% | 23 | 4.1 |
| MetLife | $81,253,753 | +2.9% | 31 | 3.9 |
| Nationwide | $408,631,874 | +2.8% | 211 | 4.4 |
| Liberty Mutual | $134,165,829 | +2.9% | 29 | 4.4 |
| Allstate | $246,012,635 | +4.3% | 29 | 4.3 |
| 21st Century | $87,863,887 | +2.9% | 21 | 4.2 |
| Travelers | $51,504,011 | +3.1% | 8 | 4.1 |
| American Family | $78,715,033 | +2.9% | 37 | 4.4 |
| Esurance | $76,331,911 | +3.6% | 8 | 4.3 |
| Safeco | $17,456,343 | +3.5% | 6 | 3.8 |
| Ameriprise | $21,010,361 | +3.0% | 8 | 3.9 |
| State Auto | $10,243,521 | +2.6% | 9 | 3.9 |
| Kemper | $7,125,841 | +4.1% | 12 | 3.8 |
| Titan | $9,912,218 | +3.1% | 26 | 3.8 |
| Hartford | $43,954,567 | +3.4% | 48 | 4.0 |
| Horace Mann | $15,719,994 | +3.5% | 14 | 3.9 |
| Home State County | $21,854,032 | +3.8% | 31 | 3.7 |
| Allstate Indemnity Company | $32,340,768 | +4.1% | 16 | 3.8 |
Average Rate by City
Included in the data below are 40 cities in the state with the average premium.
If your quotes are substantially higher than those below, you may want to inquire with your current insurer.
You can look into any contributing factors, such as your credit or driving history.
Some driving infractions can be used even if they happened 2 or 3 years ago.
If you would like a detailed comparison by city, please read further below.
| City | Average Rate | City | Average Rate | City | Average Rate | City | Average Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abilene | $1,823 | Bayside | $1,611 | Del Rio | $1,865 | Huntsville | $1,754 |
| Addison | $1,844 | Baytown | $1,763 | DeSoto | $1,659 | Ingleside | $1,769 |
| Alamo | $1,852 | Beaumont | $1,933 | Duncanville | $1,711 | Jasper | $1,861 |
| Allen | $1,763 | Bedford | $1,943 | Edinburg | $1,832 | Keller | $1,811 |
| Angleton | $1,887 | Brownsville | $1,978 | El Campo | $1,761 | La Grange | $1,897 |
| Alvarado | $1,944 | Bryan | $1,951 | Flower Mound | $1,723 | McKinney | $1,891 |
| Arcola | $2,076 | Burnet | $1,808 | Galveston | $1,895 | Lufkin | $1,751 |
| Bacliff | $1,954 | Caldwell | $2,132 | Grapevine | $1,941 | McKinney | $1,861 |
| Bayou Vista | $1,765 | Cedar Hill | $1,965 | Greenville | $2,004 | Mesquite | $1,769 |
| Bay City | $1,843 | Coppell | $1,945 | Hermleigh | $1,954 | Odessa | $1,892 |
Dallas, TX
Dallas’s residents can find cheap car insurance if they get quotes from GEICO, Texas Farm Bureau, and Progressive.
I queried each at $1,411, $1,487, and $1,490 respectfully for a 30-year-old driver.
This is 29% lower than the average insurance rate of nearly $2,000 per year.
Progressive and Nationwide are well below the “mean” rate, clustering just under $1,600 per year.
For a 45-year-old driver, I found Geico offers the lowest rates at $1,008 per year for full coverage.
This is nearly 50% lower than the average rate of Dallas.
Texas Farm Bureau and Progressive are worth getting quotes from since both are well below the average rate.
A family of 4 should get quotes from all insurers illustrated for maximum savings and optimum coverage.
Each insurer will independently find a quote that is tailored to a family’s needs.
| Dallas Company | 30 Y/O Driver | 45 Y/O Driver |
|---|---|---|
| Texas Farm Bureau | $1,487 | $1,032 |
| Progressive | $1,564 | $1,122 |
| Nationwide | $1,587 | $1,143 |
| Mercury | $1,688 | $1,156 |
| Allstate | $1,690 | $1,189 |
| Farmers | $1,754 | $1,214 |
| American Family | $1,888 | $1,356 |
Houston, TX
Getting cheap auto insurance in Houston is easy for residents if they know where to look.
The cheapest carriers I queried are Progressive, Texas Farm Bureau, and GEICO.
I queried each at $1,411, $1,423, and $1,476 respectfully.
In my list of top 5 for a 30-year-old driver includes Mercury at $1,534.
This is more than 25% lower than the average rate of $2,090 in Houston.
A 45-year-old driver can find affordable car insurance with Progressive, Texas Farm Bureau, and GEICO.
Each of them clustered under the $1,100 mark.
This is over 35% lower than the “mean” rate. Progressive, Mercury, and Nationwide are not far behind with quotes below the $1,200 mark.
A family of 4 should consider getting quotes from all 5 insurance firms illustrated.
Farmers and American Family are higher than other insurers I queried, but well below the average rate.
| Houston Company | 30 Y/O Driver | 45 Y/O Driver |
|---|---|---|
| Progressive | $1,411 | $1,007 |
| Texas Farm Bureau | $1,423 | $1,043 |
| Mercury | $1,534 | $1,163 |
| Nationwide | $1,590 | $1,178 |
| Allstate | $1,611 | $1,190 |
| Farmers | $1,654 | $1,216 |
| American Family | $1,782 | $1,289 |
Austin, TX
The average premium in Austin is over $2,000 per year.
I queried top carriers and found quotes 40% lower on average.
At the top of the list are TX Farm Bureau, GEICO, and Progressive.
Each at $1,232, $1,267, and $1,267 respectfully for a 30-year-old driver.
Nationwide and Mercury are under the $1,400 mark, which is nearly 30% lower than the average rate.
For a 45-year-old driver, I found two car insurance firms under $1,000 – GEICO and Texas Farm Bureau.
Progressive and Farmers are not far behind, clustering under the $1,100 mark.
A family of 4 should find an affordable insurance rate for any of the 10 carriers I queried.
All of them landing at least 16% lower than the “mean” rate of Austin.
| Austin Company | 30 Y/O Driver | 45 Y/O Driver |
|---|---|---|
| Texas Farm Bureau | $1,232 | $932 |
| Progressive | $1,267 | $1,009 |
| Mercury | $1,378 | $1,103 |
| Nationwide | $1,427 | $1,143 |
| Allstate | $1,487 | $1,176 |
| Farmers | $1,505 | $1,213 |
| American Family | $1,550 | $1,214 |
San Antonio, TX
Getting the lowest premium for San Antonio residents is pretty easy if you get quotes from Progressive, Texas Farm Bureau, and GEICO.
Each of the carriers clustered under the $1,400 mark for a 30-year-old driver.
This is 25% lower than the city average of $2,000 per year.
Progressive and Mercury are just over $1,500 per year for full coverage.
A 45-year-old driver can find inexpensive insurance with Texas Farm Bureau, GEICO, and Progressive.
I queried each at $1,007, $1,043, and $1,078 respectfully.
Or more than 40% lower than the “mean” rate.
All of the 10 carriers I queried are at least 26% lower than the “mean” rate and should be considered when lowering your auto premium.
| San Antonio Company | 30 Y/O Driver | 45 Y/O Driver |
|---|---|---|
| Progressive | $1,409 | $1,021 |
| Texas Farm Bureau | $1,444 | $1,054 |
| Mercury | $1,532 | $1,167 |
| Nationwide | $1,589 | $1,189 |
| Allstate | $1,600 | $1,243 |
| Farmers | $1,698 | $1,267 |
| American Family | $1,743 | $1,330 |
El Paso, TX
El Paso’s average auto insurance rates are high compared to the U.S. average hovering at $1,800 per year.
I found the top 4 illustrated are 25% lower than the average rate.
I want the cheapest rates to start with Progressive since I was offered a quote at $1,423 for a 30-year-old driver with decent driving history.
Texas Farm Bureau and Progressive offered similarly, but a little higher, quoted at $1,441 and $1,465 respectfully.
GEICO and Mercury clustered near the $1,500 mark for a 30-year old.
A 45-year-old driver can find the same low rates as Progressive, Texas Farm Bureau, and Nationwide.
With each clustering at the $1,050 mark for a 45-year old.
Although during our queries for El Paso Progressive was the cheapest, this doesn’t mean to get quotes from the others down the list illustrated in the table and/or chart.
| El Paso Company | 30 Y/O Driver | 45 Y/O Driver |
|---|---|---|
| Progressive | $1,423 | $1,034 |
| Texas Farm Bureau | $1,441 | $1,056 |
| Mercury | $1,501 | $1,132 |
| Nationwide | $1,556 | $1,176 |
| Allstate | $1,604 | $1,206 |
| Farmers | $1,645 | $1,254 |
| American Family | $1,708 | $1,290 |
Fort Worth
Drivers in Forth Worth can find the lowest premiums with Texas Farm Bureau, Progressive, and Nationwide.
I queried each at $1,236, $1,355, and $1,426 per year for a 30-year-old driver.
Which is 16 to 27% lower than the “mean” rate of a driver with a similar profile.
Since the average premium is $1,680 per year, any of the insurers illustrated are worth getting quotes.
Each carrier is at least 10% lower than the average premium.
A 45-year old can get the cheapest car insurance prices with TX Farm Bureau, Progressive, and Nationwide.
Each queried at $987, $1,008, and $1,043 respectfully for full coverage.
All three carriers are more than 25% lower than the citywide average premium.
| Fort Worth Company | 30 Y/O Driver | 45 Y/O Driver |
|---|---|---|
| Texas Farm Bureau | $1,236 | $987 |
| Progressive | $1,355 | $1,008 |
| Mercury | $1,487 | $1,097 |
| Nationwide | $1,552 | $1,132 |
Arlington
Arlington drivers can find the cheapest premiums with TX Farm Bureau, Progressive, and Nationwide.
I queried each at $1,311, $1,324, and $1,480 per year for a 30-year-old driver.
Each is 10 to 20% lower than the Arlington average of $1,632 per year.
Mercury is another carrier which is 7% lower than average, making worth getting quotes from.
A 45-year old can get the least expensive quotes with Texas Farm Bureau.
I queried them at $1,032 per year for full coverage.
Which is 23% lower than the average premium for a driver of similar age and profile.
In fact, a 45-year old should compare all carrier illustrated to find the most savings and optimum coverage.
| Arlington Company | 30 Y/O Driver | 45 Y/O Driver |
|---|---|---|
| Texas Farm Bureau | $1,311 | $1,032 |
| Progressive | $1,324 | $1,055 |
| Mercury | $1,556 | $1,215 |
| Nationwide | $1,600 | $1,280 |
Corpus Christi
Drivers in Corpus Christi can find the lowest quotes with TX Farm Bureau, Progressive, and Nationwide.
I queried each at $1,187, $1,235, and $1,400 per year for a 30-year-old driver.
Which is 14 to 27% lower than the citywide average premium of $1,607.
All carriers illustrated are at least 8% lower than the “mean” rate.
A 45-year old can get affordable quotes with TX Farm Bureau and Progressive.
Each queried at $903 and $955 respectfully for full coverage.
Which is 26 to 29% lower than the average premium for a driver of similar age and profile.
A 45-year-old driver with good driving history should be able to get quotes below $1,000 in Corpus Christi.
| Corpus Christi Company | 30 Y/O Driver | 45 Y/O Driver |
|---|---|---|
| Texas Farm Bureau | $1,187 | $903 |
| Progressive | $1,235 | $955 |
| Mercury | $1,440 | $1,144 |
| Nationwide | $1,511 | $1,200 |
Plano
When I queried for quotes for a 30-year-old driver in Plano, I found the cheapest to be Progressive, TX Farm Bureau, and Mercury.
I queried each at $1,322, $1,336, and $1,409 per year for full coverage.
Which is 12 to 17% lower than the average premium of $1,580 in Plano.
There are a few carriers that offered quotes near or above the “mean” rate.
A 45-year old can get the cheapest premium with Progressive and TX Farm Bureau.
I queried each at $985 and $1,045 per year for full coverage.
Which is 19 to 21% lower than the average premium for a similar age driver in Plano.
Some of the insurers are near or above the average premium; however, getting quotes from them is free, and therefore, you should consider them when shopping for a new policy.
| Plano Company | 30 Y/O Driver | 45 Y/O Driver |
|---|---|---|
| Progressive | $1,322 | $985 |
| Texas Farm Bureau | $1,336 | $1,045 |
| Mercury | $1,409 | $1,080 |
| Nationwide | $1,558 | $1,203 |
Laredo
Drivers in Laredo can get the cheapest quotes with TX Farm Bureau, Progressive, and Mercury.
I queried each at $1,106, $1,180, and $1,255 per year for a 30-year-old driver.
Which is 20 to 30% lower than the average premium of $1,554 in Laredo.
All the insurers illustrated are below the “mean” quote and should be considered when shopping for quotes.
A 45-year-old can get low quotes with TX Farm Bureau. I queried them at $897, which is 35% lower than the average premium.
Any of the carriers illustrated for a 45-year old is worth comparing quotes to find optimum coverage and maximize savings.
| Laredo Company | 30 Y/O Driver | 45 Y/O Driver |
|---|---|---|
| Texas Farm Bureau | $1,106 | $897 |
| Progressive | $1,180 | $1,032 |
| Mercury | $1,255 | $1,068 |
| Nationwide | $1,407 | $1,170 |
Lubbock
Drivers in Lubbock can find the cheapest car insurance quotes with TX Farm Bureau, Progressive, and Mercury.
Each queried at $1,125, $1,155, and $1,208 per year for a 30-year-old driver.
Which is 20 to 24% lower than the citywide premium of $1,508.
All of the insurers illustrated are at least 11% lower than the “mean” rate.
A 45-year old can get affordable quotes with Farm Bureau and Progressive.
I queried each at $901 and $935 per year for full coverage.
Which is 25 to 27% lower than the average policyholder in Lubbock.
| Lubbock Company | 30 Y/O Driver | 45 Y/O Driver |
|---|---|---|
| Texas Farm Bureau | $1,125 | $901 |
| Progressive | $1,155 | $935 |
| Mercury | $1,208 | $965 |
| Nationwide | $1,356 | $1,105 |
Irving
To find the least expensive Irving quotes, start with TX Farm Bureau, Progressive, and Mercury.
I queried each at $1,121, $1,154, and $1,236 respectfully per year for a 30-year-old driver.
Which is 20 to 27% lower than the citywide average quote of $1,527 per year.
In fact, all the insurers illustrated are at least 7% lower than the “mean” quote in Irving.
A 45-year old can get affordable quotes with Farm Bureau and Progressive.
Each queried at $870 and $904 per year for full coverage.
Which is 27 to 31% lower than the average policyholder.
| Irving Company | 30 Y/O Driver | 45 Y/O Driver |
|---|---|---|
| Texas Farm Bureau | $1,121 | $870 |
| Progressive | $1,154 | $904 |
| Mercury | $1,387 | $980 |
| Nationwide | $1,438 | $1,080 |
Garland
Drivers can find inexpensive car insurance in Garland if they get quotes from TX Farm Bureau, Progressive, and Mercury.
I queried each at $1,078, $1,100, and $1,154 per year for a 30-year-old driver.
Which is 26 to 31% lower than the “mean” rate of $1,550 per year.
I found quotes clustering between $1,078 and $1,154, then jumping up significantly for other carriers.
However, this shouldn’t deter you since all of them are at least 10% lower than the average rate.
For a 45-year old, I found quotes clustering between $862 and $1,052.
With Farm Bureau the cheapest at $862.
Which is 33% lower than the citywide average premium.
With a variance of $190 among all carriers illustrated, this could mean more than 25% in price.
Which would make sense to compare quotes to find the most savings.
| Garland Company | 30 Y/O Driver | 45 Y/O Driver |
|---|---|---|
| Texas Farm Bureau | $1,078 | $862 |
| Progressive | $1,100 | $897 |
| Mercury | $1,154 | $921 |
| Nationwide | $1,400 | $1,052 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has the cheapest car insurance in Texas?
If you have a good driving record, the cheapest auto insurance is with Texas Farm Bureau, Progressive, and Nationwide.
Other insurers as competitive in price are Farmers and Mercury.
If you are a former military, your best option is with USAA.
How much is car insurance per month in Texas?
A 30-year-old driver will pay $145 to $185 per month for a full coverage premium.
The same driver will pay $60 to $90 per month for liability only in Texas.
How do I keep my auto insurance premium low in Texas?
The best way to keep your premium as low as possible is to keep a clean driving record.
Other factors will contribute to the price of premiums, such as the type of vehicle you drive and your age.
The price of premiums are rising in Texas and nationwide.
The best thing to do is to compare quotes every year from other insurers to find the cheapest rate with the same coverage level.
Resources & DMV Information
| Department of Insurance | Department of Transportation | Department of Motor Vehicles |
|---|---|---|
| 333 Guadalupe St, Austin, TX 78701 (800) 578-4677 | 1009 Court St, Newton, TX 75966 (409) 379-4681 | 1925 E Belt Line Rd #100, Carrollton, TX 75006 (972) 478-5200 |
| Website | Website | Website |
Sources
https://www.thesimpledollar.com/
https://www.tdi.texas.gov/consumer/index.html
