Car insurance in Tennessee is fairly affordable, with the average driver paying about $820 a year for coverage according to the Insurance Information Institute. Considering that the average US driver pays $935 for coverage, auto insurance in Tennessee is fairly affordable.
If you're looking for car insurance in this state, it's worth understanding a bit about how car insurance works. Car insurance companies consider your location, age, gender, and driving record to calculate rates for premiums. Other factors like credit score, marital status, vehicle type, previous coverage, and miles driven can all play a role in the amount you'll pay for coverage.
It's important to shop around and make sure that you're getting the best coverage for your money. Here are a few ideas on where to start shopping.
The best cheap car insurance in Tennessee based on credit score
Consumer Reports compiled a list of all car insurance pricing formulas from all companies in every state. It used an average single adult driver to find the best pricing in each state, and found that three companies came out on top for three different credit levels. Here are the three best companies and their average price for coverage:
| Excellent credit (FICO 800+) | Good credit (FICO 670-739) | Poor credit (300-579) |
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The best car insurance for drivers with a clean record
For a driver in Tennessee age 25 or older with no accidents and one vehicle, the following companies provide the best average rates:
| Company | Average monthly insurance premium |
| Safeauto | $108 |
| Root | $110 |
| State Farm | $111 |
| GEICO | $129 |
| Progressive | $134 |
| Allstate | $139 |
| Liberty Mutual | $144 |
| Esurance | $150 |
| Travelers | $172 |
| USAA* | $173 |
*USAA is only for active military, veterans, and their families.
Above data obtained from Savvy, based on 1,469 policyholders in the state of Tennessee
Best car insurance for one or more accidents on record
For a driver in Tennessee age 25 or older, with one or more accidents and one vehicle, the following companies provide the best average rates:
| Company | Average monthly insurance premium |
| GEICO | $145 |
| Progressive | $161 |
| Allstate | $172 |
| Esurance | $173 |
Above data obtained from Savvy, based on 1,469 policyholders in the state of Tennessee
The best car insurance in Tennessee based on customer satisfaction
Customer satisfaction with car insurance providers may factor into your decision. According to J.D. Power, a consumer research company that surveys customers, these are the top car insurance companies in the Southeast region (which includes Tennessee):
Tennessee car insurance rates by city
Below is the estimated average annual premium of auto insurance policies per household in Tennessee's most populous cities:
| City | Average annual insurance premium |
| Nashville-Davidson | $1,407 |
| Memphis | $1,261 |
| Knoxville | $1,258 |
| Chattanooga | $1,287 |
| Clarksville | $1,365 |
| Murfreesboro | $1,421 |
| Franklin | $1,605 |
| Johnson City | $1,303 |
| Jackson | $1,271 |
| Hendersonville | $1,456 |
| Bartlett | $1,523 |
| Smyrna | $1,429 |
| Kingsport | $1,262 |
| Collierville | $1,679 |
| Cleveland | $1,280 |
| Brentwood | $1,780 |
| Spring Hill | $1,591 |
| Columbia | $1,316 |
| La Vergne | $1,449 |
| Gallatin | $1,388 |
| Germantown | $1,610 |
| Lebanon | $1,400 |
| Cookeville | $1,227 |
| Mount Juliet | $1,586 |
| Oak Ridge | $1,370 |
| Morristown | $1,235 |
| Maryville | $1,352 |
| Bristol | $1,272 |
| Shelbyville | $1,294 |
| Farragut | $1,637 |
| East Ridge | $1,256 |
| Tullahoma | $1,303 |
Data from S&P Global Market Intelligence
The most popular car insurance companies in Tennessee based on market share
The following are the most popular car insurance companies in Tennessee, based on the percentage of insured Tennessee drivers who use them:
| Company | Market share (%) |
| State Farm | 20.34 |
| Tennessee Farmers Insurance | 16.34 |
| GEICO | 10.04 |
| Progressive | 9.92 |
| Allstate | 6.32 |
| USAA* | 5.61 |
| Liberty Mutual | 4.74 |
| Erie Insurance | 3.03 |
| Nationwide | 2.82 |
| National General Holdings | 2.15 |
| Travelers | 1.96 |
| Farmers Insurance | 1.93 |
| Shelter Insurance | 1.71 |
| Auto-Owners Insurance | 1.40 |
| Alfa Mutual Group | 1.38 |
| American Family Insurance | 1.25 |
| MetLife | 1.03 |
| Grange Insurance | 0.59 |
| First Acceptance | 0.49 |
| Westfield Insurance | 0.48 |
*USAA is only for active military, veterans, and their families.
Data from S&P Global Market Intelligence
Who gets the best cheap car insurance in Tennessee?
As the estimates above show, drivers with the best credit scores generally get some of the best rates for car insurance. But, there are still a few things you can do to make sure that you're getting the best possible rate for you.
It might be worth doing a little bit of work to raise your credit score before shopping around — it could make a big difference in the amount you'll pay for coverage.
Shopping around is essential to getting the best rate for you. Car insurance rates can vary widely, so it's worth doing some research to get the best price. To do this, get several quotes from different insurance companies and compare them. Take a look at the coverage types and limits and also the deductible, or the amount you'll pay out-of-pocket if you get into an accident.
Once you've looked at what several different insurance companies have to offer, you'll be able to get the best insurance policy for your money.
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