Compare Pennsylvania Car Insurance Rates [2023]

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Average Car Insurance Rates in PA (Liability, Collision, Comprehensive)

The above data is from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. You can expect car insurance rates in Pennsylvania to be significantly higher for 2019 and on.

Remember: though having the required insurance is essential, you should also buy additional coverage to protect yourself and others in case you’re in an accident.

Ready for more? Now, let’s see some stats about loss ratios in Pennsylvania.

Additional Liability Coverage

A loss ratio compares how much a company spends on claims to how much money they take in on premiums. A loss ratio of 60 percent indicates the company paid $60 on claims out of every $100 earned in premiums.

Pennsylvania drivers can buy uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage to protect themselves, especially if the driver responsible for an accident doesn’t have the required minimum liability insurance.

Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage is optional in Pennsylvania, however, as we explained earlier, a minimum of $5,000 of Medical Benefits or First-Party Benefits coverage is required.

Pennsylvania ranked 43rd in the nation in 2015 for uninsured or underinsured drivers.

How much risk you’re willing to take when you drive is up to you, whether you want to get the minimum or buy more coverage to protect yourself and your loved ones from extra costs and potential lawsuits from damaging accidents.

The experts at the Wall Street Journal advise drivers who buy liability insurance make sure that they increase the limits to 100/300/50.

In 2015, 13 percent of drivers in the U.S. and eight percent of Pennsylvania motorists were uninsured despite the potential penalties.

Add-ons, Endorsements, Riders

We know getting the complete coverage you need for an affordable price is your goal.

Some Pennsylvania drivers want to add certain types of coverage to their insurance policies to further protect themselves. These types of coverage are not required.

DriveSense is a form of usage-based car insurance available in Pennsylvania via a mobile app through Esurance (an Allstate company), as is IntelliDrive by Travelers. Metromile, with mileage tracking through a free wireless device, is another option. These programs, especially if you drive fewer than 15,000 miles per year, can provide decent car insurance discounts.

You can add many more powerful but cheap extras to your policy.

Optional coverage includes:

• Guaranteed Auto Protection (GAP)
• Personal Umbrella Policy (PUP)
• Rental Reimbursement
• Emergency Roadside Assistance, such as towing
• Mechanical Breakdown Insurance
• Non-Owner Car Insurance
• Modified Car Insurance Coverage
• Classic Car Insurance

Average Car Insurance Rates by Age & Gender in PA

We partnered with Quadrant to collect the data below. As you’ll see, your gender can affect your car insurance rates in Pennsylvania.

These are the most expensive demographic rates in Pennsylvania.

As shown, Travelers’ rates for single 17-year-old male and female drivers are more than double that of the next closest insurer, First Liberty Insurance. Regardless of your age, gender, or marital status, it pays to find the best rates.

Pennsylvania Insurance Rates by ZIP Code

Let’s check out the most and least expensive ZIP codes in Pennsylvania, together with the average annual premiums for each insurance carrier by city and ZIP code:

The 25 most expensive ZIP codes all belong to Philadelphia.

Bellefonte has the cheapest ZIP code in Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania Insurance Rates by City

Let’s see which cities have the most expensive insurance rates.

Philadelphia claims the title of the most expensive city in Pennsylvania for car insurance.

If you live in Bellefonte, you’ll have the cheapest area rates in the state.

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Pennsylvania Insurance Companies

With more than 10 million registered drivers in the commonwealth, there are a lot of car insurance options available, and it can be hard to settle on just one. It usually comes down to who offers the most coverage at the best price.

You’ll see lots of promises about rates and coverage, but it’s vital that insurers truly deliver on them. You’re lucky that you’re here because we’ve saved you time and done the homework for you.

It gets better: below, you’ll find company ratings, credit histories, and much more to help you narrow down the right insurance coverage for you.

Financial Ratings

AM Best assigns financial ratings to insurance companies. A good score means they’re likely to stay solvent and be able to pay customers’ claims.

Customer Satisfaction Ratings

Pennsylvania Companies with the Most and Least Complaints

When a consumer is unhappy with an insurer, they can file a complaint. This feedback is part of a company’s complaint ratio, which is the number of complaints a company receives per one million dollars of business.

If you’re unhappy with an insurer in Pennsylvania, you can file a complaint.

Pennsylvania Car Insurance Rates by Company

Next, let’s see the best rates on average for top Pennsylvania car insurance companies.

Cheapest Companies in Pennsylvania

Travelers tops the list and USAA is on the lowest side, but a number of other options are available in-between. Read our Travelers car insurance review for more information.

Pennsylvania Rates by Carrier and Commute

Pennsylvania Rates by Carrier and Coverage Level

Pennsylvania Credit History Rates

Car insurance companies will usually examine your credit score to determine the rates they will offer you. Drivers who have good credit will often get better rates or a good credit discount.

The average Pennsylvanian has a credit score of 687, they have around three credit cards in their name, and a balance of $6,146. This score is slightly above the 2017 national credit score of 675.

Your credit score is crucial in determining your car insurance rates.

Now, let’s look at the rules of the road.

Pennsylvania Rates by Carrier and Driving Record

Here you’ll find the top carriers’ rates in Pennsylvania for certain driving penalties:

It’s clear that even one DUI or accident can skyrocket your rates, so it’s best to drive safely and take care behind the wheel to keep them low.

Largest Car Insurance Companies in Pennsylvania

This chart shows which car insurance companies have the largest market share in the state.

Number of Insurers in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania has a total of 166 domestic property and casualty insurers and 929 “foreign” insurers. Domestic insurance is formed under Pennsylvania law, but foreign insurance is created under the laws of any state.

Pennsylvania Laws

Every state has different laws, and some make more sense than others. It’s easy to get confused.

You’ll find everything you need to know to avoid penalties here.

Some laws, like seat belt and DUI requirements, are common knowledge, but we’ll cover distracted driving and some obscure regulations, such as drugged driving, automation, and so on to keep you safe on the road. You may be able to get a non-drinker discount if you avoid drinking and driving.

Car Insurance Laws

As we stated before, Pennsylvania requires every driver to have car insurance. Below you’ll find out about some of the aspects of insurance coverage, such as windshield repairs, high-risk insurance, and fraud.

Keep reading to learn how the state forms its car insurance laws.

How State Laws for Car Insurance Are Determined

State insurance commissioners administer laws and regulations, and they have considerable influence on car insurance. Each state determines the type of tort law and threshold that applies, the type and amount of liability insurance required, and how they approve insurer rates and forms.

Each state has also enacted different car seat belt requirements, drunk driving laws, and maximum speed limits.

Insurance companies in Pennsylvania are subject to the regulations the state insurance commissioner sets, which must meet the fair competition standards of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).

Windshield Coverage

In the Keystone State, the consumer can choose the repair vendor. It’s good to be aware, however, that no Pennsylvania law prohibits the use of aftermarket or used glass in windshield repair. Also, many auto insurance policies for Pennsylvania drivers provide a high deductible for glass replacement or don’t offer coverage.

Generally, a comprehensive insurance policy includes benefits for repair work or even a full vehicle replacement if someone steals your car or if collisions, fire, weather, and other incidents damage your vehicle. This type of insurance often has full glass replacement benefits, but not all comprehensive policies do.

With a zero-deductible full glass coverage option on your policy, your insurance company pays for the cost of the repair or replacement work up to the limits of your coverage, and you won’t need to pay a deductible. However, if the coverage limit is less than the replacement cost, you will have to fund the difference.

Pennsylvania doesn’t legally require auto insurance companies to offer zero-deductible car insurance, so you’ll need to check your coverage to see if you have it.

If you have a deductible for full glass coverage, you should compare your deductible amount against the quotes that you receive for glass repair or replacement. You also should analyze your coverage limits.

The bottom line? These details can help you determine if it’s worth filing a claim.

High-Risk Insurance

If you have several tickets, accidents, or DUI convictions on your driving records, insurance companies may see you as a “high-risk” for coverage.

So, if you struggle to get insured in the traditional marketplace, and have been denied coverage for a minimum of 60 days, you may be able to find coverage under the Pennsylvania Assigned Risk Plan (ARP). This organization will assign your policy to a carrier, however, it may cost more than a standard policy.

The Keystone State doesn’t require the filing of an SR-22 or certificate of financial responsibility for high-risk policies, however, you may need to file one to meet other states’ guidelines.

Low-Cost Insurance

Pennsylvania doesn’t currently offer a government-sponsored insurance program for low-income drivers. The best way to lower your rates is to keep a clean driving record. But, there are still many other ways to cut costs.

Ask your provider about the following potential discounts:

• Good driver discount
• Good student discount
• Anti-theft device discount
• Multi-car discount
• Homeowner’s discount
• Usage-based driving discount

Looking to save even more? Be sure to shop around for the most cost-effective rates.

Automobile Insurance Fraud in Pennsylvania

Insurance fraud is the second largest economic crime in America. To combat fraud, insurance companies raise premium rates dramatically and pass them on to consumers.

There are two classifications of fraud: hard and soft.

• Hard Fraud – A purposefully fabricated claim or accident
• Soft Fraud – A misrepresentation of information to the insurance company

Soft fraud is more common than hard fraud. Twenty to 40 percent of consumers admitted to lying to their insurer about one of the following:

• Number of annual miles driven
• Number of drivers in the household
• How the vehicle would be used

In Pennsylvania, a person is guilty of insurance fraud if he or she acts in one of several ways specified in the statute “with the intent to defraud” another party, whether it’s an agency, insurer, or self-insured individual. Offenders face prison time”š fines”š legal fees, and more.

Any way you slice it, insurance fraud is a crime. Any willful misrepresentation of facts is known as “rate evasion” and is a $16 billion annual expense to car insurers.

If you suspect insurance fraud or have been a victim of it, contact the Pennsylvania Insurance Department to report it. Never use a fake address to get cheap car insurance.

Statute of Limitations

The statute of limitations is the time you have left to file and resolve an insurance claim or bring a lawsuit. In Pennsylvania, drivers have two years to file a personal injury or a property damage insurance claim or lawsuit.

It’s easy to lose track of time. And, the closer you get to the deadline, the harder it may be to collect crucial evidence for your case. If you miss the filing deadline, you could lose the chance to seek payment for your losses.

Vehicle Licensing Laws

All Pennsylvania drivers must have a license or permit to operate a motor vehicle. The licensing process involves a series of tests to ensure each driver can operate a car safely without endangering others.

Residents can renew their registrations and drivers’ licenses, update their addresses, and even take practice driving tests through PennDOT Driver & Vehicle Services.

Penalties for Driving Without Insurance

Drivers in Pennsylvania must have valid car insurance to operate a motor vehicle legally. As we mentioned above, all residents must also be financially responsible and provide proof of insurance. If a driver is found to have had a lapse in insurance coverage, the following penalties for driving without insurance may apply:

• A $300 fine
• Three-month vehicle registration suspension with a restoration fee
• Three-month license suspension with an $88 restoration fee, unless the insurance coverage lapse was less than 32 days
• Vehicle impoundment

PennDOT might also want to prove that the vehicle in question wasn’t used during the time it wasn’t insured. If a license or registration is suspended, the driver must turn in their driver’s license, and the car’s license plate and registration sticker to PennDOT.

After their suspension period ends, drivers typically must pay fees and submit proof of a current insurance policy to restore their license and driving privileges.

Teen Driver Laws

Teens in Pennsylvania can start driving with a learner’s permit at age 16. Finding car insurance for young drivers can be difficult.

Older Driver License Renewal

• Drivers age 65 and older can choose to get their licenses renewed every two or every four years
• proof of adequate vision isn’t required at every renewal
• PennDOT allows all license holders to renew online or through the mail.

New Resident Licensing

All new residents with out-of-state non-commercial driver’s licenses must get a Pennsylvania driver’s license within 60 days of moving to the commonwealth. They must apply in person at a Driver License Center and meet these requirements:

• surrender their out-of-state driver’s license (valid or expired in six months or less)
• present acceptable proof of identification and residency and a Social Security card
• complete an application for a driver’s license
• pass a vision exam
• pay applicable fees

All documents must show the same name and date of birth or an association between the information on that paperwork. Additional documentation may be required if a connection between documents cannot be established (e.g., marriage certificate, court order of name change, divorce decree, etc.)

Out-of-state learner’s permits cannot be transferred to Pennsylvania. Also, if your out-of-state driver’s license has been expired for more than six months, it can’t be transferred for a Pennsylvania license. To get a license, you must apply for a Pennsylvania learner’s permit (PDF) and complete all applicable knowledge and skills tests.

License Renewal Procedures

Pennsylvania drivers must renew their licenses every four years. Proof of adequate vision isn’t required. Drivers age 65 and older can choose to get their licenses renewed every two or every four years. PennDOT allows all license holders to renew online or through the mail.

Negligent Driving

Reckless driving or negligent driving, the disregard for the safety of people or property that causes injury or harm, is a form of negligence. Victims have a right to file a civil claim and seek compensation from the at-fault party. It’s based on the concept that everyone has a responsibility not to harm others.

Pennsylvania comparative negligence laws state that someone injured in a crash can hold a level of fault for the accident and still recover damages. Under this law, each party in a negligence claim is assigned a percentage of fault. This percentage reflects how much their action (or inaction) contributed to the accident and injuries.

It’s important to understand these percentages in a personal injury case. Pennsylvania follows a 51 percent comparative negligence rule, which means you can recover damages if you were found to be less than 51 percent at fault. If you’re considered more than 50 percent at fault, you can’t seek compensation for damages.

The laws provide that your degree of responsibility is directly related to the amount of compensation due to you. For example, if you’re considered to hold 20 percent of the fault, you will be entitled to only 80 percent of the settlement.

Pennsylvania attorney Tim Rayne explains the comparative negligence law:

The Pennsylvania comparative negligence laws go hand-in-hand with the Fair Share Act of Pennsylvania, which dictates that defendants can be held liable only for their share of fault.

This usually occurs when there is more than one defendant, such as a multi-car collision with an injured accident victim who files a suit against two other drivers, one who is 55 percent at fault and the other who is 45 percent at fault.

Under the Act, rather than being accountable for the whole settlement regardless of the percentage of fault, defendants are only responsible for their exact share of fault. Therefore, the driver who was 45 percent at fault would be liable only for 45 percent of the damages, and the driver 55 percent at fault would be responsible for 55 percent.

However, if a defendant is found to be 60 percent or more at fault for a crash, the Fair Share Act mandates that he or she will be accountable for the entire amount of the damages.

At this ceremony for signing the Act into law, Governor Tom Corbett explained how it would affect legal proceedings:

Rules of the Road

All Pennsylvania drivers must know and follow the state traffic laws to safely and responsibly operate a motor vehicle. When drivers violate those laws, they can receive a ticket, fine, or a suspension, depending on the severity of the violation. These penalties can affect your ability to get the best car insurance rates in Pennsylvania.

To stay safe, keep reading to learn more about Pennsylvania’s rules of the road.

Fault vs. No-Fault

As we explained earlier, Pennsylvania is a “no-fault” accident state. And, as we also mentioned, the comparative negligence laws of the Keystone State determine who is at fault for a crash. It’s important to keep this information in mind in case of an accident.

Seat Belt and Car Seat Laws

All children younger than two years must be in a rear-facing child restraint until the child outgrows the manufacturer’s top height or weight recommendations; children ages two to three years must be in a forward-facing child safety seat, and ages four through seven years in a booster seat.

Pennsylvania law doesn’t state a preference for rear-facing car seats for children.

Children ages 8-17 in all seats can wear adult safety belts. Seat belt laws also definitely affect car insurance.

Everyone 18 years and older who sits in the front seat must wear a seat belt. The fine for not wearing one while seated there is $10, and it’s considered a secondary offense, which means that another violation, such as running a red light, is required to enforce the law.

The maximum base fine for failing to seat children properly is $75, and an officer can pull a driver over for this offense.

Cargo areas in pick up trucks: Pennsylvania restricts sitting in cargo areas to people 18 and older if the vehicle is traveling at less than 35 mph; the law doesn’t apply to occupants 17 and younger if the cargo area is enclosed. Otherwise, the law allows people to occupy cargo areas for parades, hunting, and farming.

Keep Right and Move Over Laws

Pennsylvania state law requires drivers approaching an emergency response area, including areas where a tow truck is offering assistance, to pass in a non-adjacent lane if it’s safe and possible to do so or slow down to a safe speed. The law also applies to utility vehicles in the first 72 hours after a declared emergency or until a declared emergency expires, whichever occurs later.

Speed Limits

No one wants to get a speeding ticket. Get familiar with Pennsylvania speed limits to avoid potential fines.

Please note that these are only the maximum speed limits for each road type – they can vary from roadway to roadway, so pay attention to signs.

Ridesharing

Rideshare services like Uber and Lyft mandate that all their drivers carry personal car insurance policies that align or exceed the minimum coverages state law requires.

If you’re thinking of ridesharing, make sure to ask your provider if they offer ridesharing insurance. In Pennsylvania, those companies include Erie, Geico, Liberty Mutual, and Progressive.

Automation on the Road

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS),

Automation is the use of a machine or technology to do a task or function a human once performed. In driving, automation involves using radar, camera, and other sensors to get information about a vehicle’s surroundings, which computer programs use to do all or part of the driving.

Pennsylvania law allows for automation on the road, depending on the vehicle. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) voluntary guidance authorizes testing of “highly automated vehicles.” Pennsylvania law authorizes the deployment of “highly automated work zone vehicles” effective April 22, 2019.

PennDOT voluntary guidance requires a licensed operator to test “highly automated vehicles,” but Pennsylvania law doesn’t address operator licensing for “highly automated work zone vehicles.” The law requires an operator to occupy the vehicle to test “highly automated vehicles,” but “highly automated work zone vehicles” don’t require an operator.

Safety Laws

Traffic laws are designed to keep everyone safe. PennDOT offers some general driving safety tips and more resources at its website.

For more information about state safety laws, read on.

DUI Laws

The Blood-Alcohol Content (BAC) limit in Pennsylvania is 0.08 percent, and the high BAC limit is 0.16 percent.

The BAC in the table above is among drivers with a known alcohol test result.

In this video, Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Brent Miller explains recent DUI law changes:

Drug-Impaired Driving Laws

Pennsylvania not only bans driving while under the influence of marijuana, it’s also illegal to drive with any amount over one nanogram per milliliter of THC, the active ingredient in marijuana that causes a “high,” or its metabolites, in the blood.

Under the Per Se law for DUI of marijuana, prosecutors don’t have to show that your driving was impaired. Aspects of Per Se laws to remember:

• Unlike DWI tests that establish blood-alcohol content (BAC) levels within two hours of driving, cannabinoid levels need only to show in your bloodstream at the time of arrest.
• Ethanol, the intoxicating compound in alcohol, is water-soluble, meaning it’s quickly expelled from your system.
• Cannabinoids like THC bind with fatty cells – they remain in your bloodstream long after the intoxicating effects are gone.
• Drug testing is a two-step process in which the state’s lab first identifies the drug and then runs more complex procedures to confirm that drug’s concentration in your blood.

Anyone can be charged with a drug DUI even if they’re not impaired while driving because the metabolites, or residue from the drug, can stay in the body for days, weeks, and possibly even months later.

Distracted Driving Laws

Since the smartphone became popular, distracted driving has become as dangerous as driving under the influence of substances.

Pennsylvania state law bans texting for all drivers, however, they can use handheld devices. State law supersedes any local distracted driving laws.

And remember: in Pennsylvania, an officer can pull you over just for texting on your phone. So, it’s better to be safe than sorry and save the texting for off the road.

Pennsylvania Can’t-Miss Facts

Let’s check out some Pennsylvania vehicle theft and crash statistics.

Vehicle Theft in Pennsylvania

These are the top stolen vehicles:

Vehicle Theft by City

The table below shows the numbers of auto theft for each town and city in Pennsylvania.

Dangers on the Road in Pennsylvania

Below you’ll find data on how weather and light conditions factored in car crash deaths.

Fatal Crashes by Weather Condition and Light Condition

Fewer crashes occurred in adverse conditions (rain, snow, and sleet) compared to normal road conditions.

Risky and Harmful Behavior

Here are some sobering facts to keep in mind about driving-related fatalities in Pennsylvania.

Fatality Rates Rural vs. Urban

Fatalities by Person Type

Fatalities by Crash Type

Five-Year Trend for the Top 10 Counties

Fatalities Involving Speeding by County

Fatalities in Crashes Involving an Alcohol

Teen Drinking and Driving

In Pennsylvania, in 2016 there were 365 arrests of teens under age 18 for drinking and driving. That amounted to roughly 136 arrests per million people. The state ranks 12th overall for the number of underage DUI arrests.

The percentage of alcohol-impaired driving fatalities per 100,000 of the population in 2016 for those under 21 in Pennsylvania was 0.8, which was lower than the national average of 1.2.

EMS Response Times

Transportation

These are some interesting details about car ownership and commute time in Pennsylvania.

Car Ownership

As the chart above shows, Pennsylvanians own an average of two cars.

Commute Time

At 25.6 minutes, Pennsylvania drivers have a slightly longer commute time than the national average of 25.3 minutes. Only three percent of Pennsylvanians have a “super commute” of 90 minutes or more. You can get lower car insurance by driving less.

Commuter Transportation

Seventy-six percent of drivers drove alone in their commutes, more than carpooling or taking public transportation.

According to the TomTom Traffic Index, three Pennsylvania cities are among the most traffic-congested: Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Allentown.

• Philadelphia: it’s the state’s most congested city. Worldwide, it ranks 125th on the list of most traffic-congested cities, at 23 percent overall. In the daytime, congestion reaches 37 percent, and in the evening, it rises to 49 percent.
• Pittsburgh: Pennsylvania’s second most congested city ranked 146th worldwide. Overall congestion is 19 percent. In the mornings, commute time reaches 30 percent, and in the evening it increases to 39 percent.
• Allentown: ranked 163rd worldwide, it has an overall congestion level of 17 percent; in the daytime, it reaches 21 percent, and in the evening, 32 percent.

We hope you’ve found this comprehensive guide useful and that you’ve learned something about Pennsylvania car insurance and laws.

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