Cheap Car Insurance in Houston for 2024
Houston is known for many wonderful things, but cheap auto insurance isn’t one of them. On average, Houston drivers pay up to $3,000 per year. Part of that is due to the area’s large population, which is somewhere north of 2.3 million. The rest is due to insurance company statistics that show the area’s high frequency of traffic accidents.
See our overall recommendations for Best Car Insurance
Who has the cheapest car insurance in Houston?
- Texas Farm Bureau
- USAA
- Geico
- State Farm
- Allstate
We pulled data from a number of sources to try and figure out the average insurance costs in Houston, on average, for a year. This is a guide to the average prices, which means your mileage may vary wildly, depending on your background and driving history. You may also pay more in one part of Houston over another, depending on how well your neighbors are at piloting their vehicles without accidents.
It’s important to note that the driver’s age plays heavily into insurers’ calculations of rates. A 20-year-old male driver will pay almost $2,000 per year in Houston, while a 30-year-old driver pays just over half that amount.
DISCLAIMER: There are numerous other factors that are going to impact the cost of insurance on your car, crossover, or truck. We’ll provide info on some of those variables, but your best bet is to read our deep dive on Cheap Car Insurance for 2024 to get a better idea.
Fast Car Insurance Rate Quotes
Compare quotes from multiple providers to get a good deal.
Pros and Cons Of Insuring in Houston
- Huge variety of carriers available
- Solid rates from regional insurers
- Traffic data shows plenty of wrecks and reasons for insurers to charge more
Who has the best cheap car insurance in Houston?
Best Large Insurance Carrier: GEICO - Every single source showed GEICO as the price leader. USAA has better rates, but is only available for current or former military members and their families. Texas Farm Bureau also undercuts Geico in some situations, but is only a regional carrier.
Cheapest Insurance from a Smaller Carrier: Texas Farm Bureau - The regional carrier actually undercuts many of the big boys in the Houston area.
Cheapest Insurance with One Accident: Texas Farm Bureau - Though you’ll pay more with an accident across the board, Texas Farm Bureau is the best for people who’ve been in an at-fault crash.
Cheapest Insurance for Higher Mileage: GEICO - The large national insurance carrier dominates the list of cheapest insurance in the state of Houston if you’re not current or former military.
How much does car insurance cost in Houston?
In our larger story on car insurance, we found that a national average for auto insurance was $1,800. In Houston, you can add anywhere from $800 to $1,200 to that number. Downtown Houston is the worst, but you won’t save much until you move to the outskirts of the metro area.
| Rates we found reported as “typical” or “average” (annual) online | Average (annual) | Adjusted average* (annual) |
|---|
(*) The “adjusted average” is computed by eliminating the highest and lowest values and averaging the remaining values.
What causes rates to go up in Houston?
Houston is enormous and applying a one-size fits all answer doesn’t make any sense. When you’re researching insurance in Houston, you actually need to get more granular and start researching down to which neighborhood in the county your car is registered in. Living in Austin County or Harris County can result in rate differences of up to $400.
After your specific location, all the other things that affect the cost of car insurance everywhere else in the country apply: Accidents and citations are the big ones. Your age and gender are the others. Be sure to check our main story on insurance to learn more, and take a look at available discounts, too.
How do accidents affect rates in Houston?
If you’re in an accident in Houston, your insurance rate can go up as much as 83%. That’s almost like you’re paying for insurance twice, just for one at-fault accident. For that reason, driving a car with advanced safety technology like auto emergency braking and adaptive cruise control can be worth the added expense to help keep you out of accidents.
| Range of Rate Increases for One Accident | Average of Rate Increases | Adjusted Average of Rate Increases |
|---|
Keep in mind that this is a guide. Your actual rate increase could vary a lot, especially if you’ve enrolled in an insurer’s optional “Accident Forgiveness” program, which allows you one accident without being surcharged.
How do tickets affect rates in Houston?
Tickets might seem like they’re less expensive than accidents, but consider that every point on your license is going to stay there for three years and three months.
| Range of Rate Increases for One Speeding Violation | Average of Rate Increases | Adjusted Average of Rate Increases |
|---|
How can you get car insurance discounts in Houston?
We have an exhaustive story on the tens of thousands of discount programs available for insurers across the country, based on memberships, military service, and other associations. Several carriers in the Houston area give discounts for multiple policies, safe driving, good grades (for young drivers), solid credit scores, and more.
What’s the minimum coverage allowed in Houston?
If you get stopped without insurance in Texas, you’ll get a slap on the wrist and a hefty fine for the first offense. Citations range between $175 and $350, and a surcharge of $250 ill be added to your annual license fee for the next three years. All-in that’ll cost you between $925 and $1,100. Minimum coverage requirements are:
- Property Damage Liability: $25,000 for property damage.
- Bodily Injury Liability: $30,000 per person/$60,000 per accident.
- Uninsured motorist bodily injury: $30,000 per person/$60,000 per accident.
- Personal Injury Protection: $2,500 unless coverage is rejected.
- Uninsured motorist property damage: $25,000 unless coverage is rejected.
Fast Car Insurance Rate Quotes
Compare quotes from multiple providers to get a good deal.
