The Cheapest Auto Insurance in Delaware in 2024

Delaware drivers pay $164 per month for auto insurance, on average. But many insurers — including State Farm, GEICO, Nationwide, Travelers, and the Atlantic States Insurance Company — offer much lower rates.

State Farm is the cheapest insurer in the state, with average monthly rates of just $82. It’s followed closely by GEICO, with an average rate of $85 per month.

This article will cover what you need to know to get affordable insurance coverage based on your unique driving profile.

Key Takeaways:

• State Farm and GEICO tend to offer the cheapest average rates for most Delaware drivers.
• Penalties for driving without insurance in Delaware include fines and a suspension of your driver’s license for six months.
• Although Delaware is an at-fault state, drivers must maintain no-fault personal injury protection coverage.

Delaware’s Cheapest Car Insurance Companies

The average monthly rate for car insurance in Delaware is $164, but you may find lower rates by shopping around and taking advantage of discounts.

Let’s take a look at which companies offer the cheapest car insurance in the state.

State Farm and GEICO offer almost equally low monthly rates, at $82 and $85, respectively. Be sure to compare quotes from both insurers (and more) to determine which one can provide you with the lowest rates. If they can’t meet your needs, Nationwide also has reasonable rates.

But keep in mind that average rates aren’t always the best indicator of how much insurers will charge you for car insurance. After all, car insurance premiums are based on many different factors — including your age, driving record, and even credit history — so the only way to know which company has the cheapest rates for your unique profile is to compare quotes from as many companies as possible.

How we chose the cheapest companies in Delaware

Our team analyzed thousands of rates from dozens of the top insurance companies in Delaware. Using that data, we listed the five cheapest options for Delaware drivers based on several key factors, such as age, coverage level, driving history, and more. All the rates listed are based on someone who drives a 2016 Honda Accord and has the minimum limits for coverage in Delaware. The listed “full-coverage” rates include $500 deductibles for collision and comprehensive coverages in addition to state-minimum liability coverage.

The Average Cost of Delaware Car Insurance

We mentioned that Delaware drivers pay an average of $164 per month for car insurance, but how does it compare to neighboring states? The table below shows how the state’s insurance rates stack up, both against its neighbors and the national average.

Average rates in Delaware are $35 above the national average of $129 per month. But compared to its neighbors, Delaware’s rates land in the middle — higher than Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C., but lower than Maryland and New Jersey. Delaware’s high population density and crash fatality rate are likely reasons insurance costs more than in other states.

But many criteria affect the price of auto insurance. Let’s take a closer look at how different factors influence rates.

Cheapest Car Insurance Rates for State-Minimum Insurance: GEICO

The amount of coverage you need affects how much you pay. State-minimum coverage is the most affordable option, and in Delaware, that includes liability insurance and personal injury protection (PIP).

The table below shows the five companies with Delaware’s most affordable state minimum rates.

Once again, State Farm and GEICO offer the most budget-friendly rates. With just a $4 monthly difference between the two companies, you’ll want to get quotes from both, but MetLife, Travelers, and Nationwide also offer affordable options. They may be worth checking out for state-minimum coverage.

“While the state minimum limits keep you legal, it’s truly not enough coverage if and when there are medical injuries and litigation involved,” says Tom Hernan, insurance agent at Blue Hen Insurance. “When someone gets hurt, the bodily injury, which is medical care, is going up three times greater than the rate of inflation.”

In the next section, we’ll look at how full-coverage rates stack up against the state minimum.

Cheapest Car Insurance Rates for Full-Coverage Insurance: State Farm

Full-coverage car insurance includes the state’s minimum liability requirements, plus comprehensive and collision coverages. It costs more but covers repairs to your vehicle after a car accident. It also covers damage not related to a crash, such as a falling tree limb, theft, or vandalism.

Lenders and leasing companies typically require full coverage if you have an auto loan or lease — but that’s not the only time it might come in handy.

“If the vehicle’s paid off and still has a lot of value, it might be worth it to transfer that risk to the insurance company and pay for full coverage,” Hernan advises.

The companies featured in the table below have the most competitive full-coverage rates in Delaware, according to Compare.com data.

State Farm and GEICO offer rates nearly 25% lower than the next-cheapest option. That could indicate that both insurers may pay out fewer claims than their competitors. You may also be able to get affordable coverage from Nationwide.

Compare Delaware Auto Insurance Rates by Age

Your age is one of the most important rating factors insurers consider when calculating insurance premiums. Teenagers and younger drivers typically pay more than older drivers because they lack experience behind the wheel.

But as drivers gain more experience, rates tend to drop until around age 70. Then, they may begin increasing slightly.

The following sections show how rates differ for teen and senior drivers in Delaware.

Cheapest car insurance for Delaware teens: State Farm

Teenagers are involved in accidents at higher rates than any other age group, resulting in increased auto insurance premiums. From 2020 to 2021, crashes reported to the police involving young drivers increased by 22%. Deaths of young drivers from car accidents increased by 11%, and injuries among young drivers increased by 7%, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The good news is high rates don’t last forever. Premiums usually decrease sharply around age 25.

The table below shows the five companies with the most affordable average rates for 18-year-old drivers in Delaware. We’ve sorted the rates you see by the price of liability-only coverage.

State Farm has the cheapest car insurance for teens in Delaware. A liability-only policy from the company averages $196 per month, and full coverage averages $299. GEICO is the next most affordable option, with only slightly higher rates. Premiums from the remaining insurers increase rapidly, likely due to the increased risk younger drivers pose.

While teen drivers have the highest rates of any age group, senior drivers have some of the lowest. The following section shows what insurers offer the most affordable rates for that age group.

Cheapest car insurance for Delaware seniors: State Farm

As drivers approach retirement, they receive some of the lowest insurance rates available — likely for a few reasons. Older adults tend to drive fewer miles, and the rate of fatal car crashes among senior drivers has decreased over the last two decades, according to the Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I).

Let’s look at which insurance companies offer the lowest rates for 65-year-olds in Delaware.

State Farm has the most affordable rates for seniors. The company’s monthly liability-only coverage averages just $60, while full coverage is $92 per month. The remaining insurers on the list offer similar prices, so it’s especially important to shop around and compare quotes from as many companies as possible.

Compare Delaware Auto Insurance Rates by Driving Record

Your driving record is typically the most important factor insurers consider when deciding how to price your car insurance policy. Insurance companies view drivers with a history of moving violations as risky, and they pay more for coverage as a result.

The following sections show how rates for drivers with clean records compare to drivers with less-than-perfect driving records.

Cheapest car insurance for good drivers in Delaware: GEICO

Maintaining a clean driving record without speeding tickets, at-fault accidents, DUIs, and other infractions is a simple way to keep rates low. The companies featured in the table below have the most competitive rates in Delaware for good drivers, according to Compare.com data.

State Farm tops the list of the most affordable insurers for good drivers. Average monthly pricing for liability insurance is $64, and full coverage is $100. The other insurers on the list also offer reasonable rates for liability-only coverage. Full-coverage rates from MetLife and Travelers are quite a bit higher than the others. This could be a sign that they may pay out more comprehensive claims from non-accident-related damage.

Cheapest car insurance in Delaware after a ticket: GEICO

Getting a speeding ticket increases your rates by an average of 37%, according to Compare.com data — but there’s still room for savings.

We’ve broken down the five cheapest companies for drivers with one speeding ticket in the table below.

Once again, State Farm is the least expensive option for Delaware drivers. The company’s liability-only rates are $31 less per month than the next cheapest alternative, and its full-coverage rates are $44 cheaper.

Grange, Nationwide, and the Atlantic States Insurance Company also offer reasonable rates. And all the insurance companies in the table offer discounts to help you save even more.

Speeding tickets aren’t the only infraction that can negatively affect your rates. In the next section, we’ll look at an accident’s effect on how much you pay for car insurance.

Cheapest car insurance in Delaware after an accident: GEICO

Having an at-fault accident on your driving record increases your rate by about 44%, according to Compare.com data. Luckily, you won’t see higher rates until the next time your policy renews, which gives you time to shop around and find a better deal.

Here’s a look at the five insurers with the most affordable rates for Delaware drivers with one at-fault accident.

State Farm’s rates for liability insurance are the lowest, with Travelers coming in a close second. The average cost of a liability-only policy from Travelers is just $3 more than State Farm, but State Farm’s rates for full coverage are $34 per month lower than the next-cheapest option, GEICO.

Cheapest car insurance in Delaware after a DUI: GEICO

If you’re convicted of a DUI, you can expect your rates to increase by about 94%, according to Compare.com data. DUIs remain on your driving record in Delaware for at least five years. In addition to that, you can expect to face fines and possible jail time. The state will also install an ignition-interlock device in your car, and you’ll lose your driver’s license for three months or more.

Even so, there are still ways to save money if you’ve recently been convicted of a DUI in Delaware. Here’s how the five insurers with the lowest rates for drivers with a DUI on their record stack up.

State Farm’s rates are less than half of what Travelers charges for liability-only and full-coverage policies. They’re also more than 40% less than GEICO — the next-cheapest option. But keep in mind that your rates will depend on various factors beyond the DUI, including your age, ZIP code, policy limits, and more.

5 Ways to Get Cheap Car Insurance in Delaware

Although Delaware’s insurance rates are among the most expensive in the country, you still have plenty of ways to save. Here are five tips to help you get the lowest possible rates.

1. Don’t overbuy. Opting for policy limits above the state’s minimum requirements is usually a smart move to get added protection in case of an accident. But including coverage you don’t need will increase your premium unnecessarily.
2. Ask about discounts. Make sure your insurance company includes all applicable discounts on your policy. If you’re unsure, call your agent and see if there are any additional discounts you’re not yet taking advantage of.
3. Pay your bills on time. Maintaining a good credit score can result in a lower rate, and avoiding lapses in insurance coverage will help keep your rates affordable in the long term.
4. Drive safely. People with clean driving records pay less for coverage than those with a spotty history. Tickets and at-fault accidents usually stay on your record for three to five years, so practicing safe driving habits can help you save, even if you have a less-than-perfect driving history.
5. Shop around. Comparing car insurance quotes can help you get the lowest rates possible. Working with an independent agent or using a car insurance comparison site is a simple way to review multiple options quickly.

Delaware Auto Insurance Requirements

Delaware requires drivers to maintain liability and personal injury protection in the following amounts, according to the Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles:

• Bodily injury liability of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident
• Property damage liability of $10,000 per accident
• Personal injury protection (PIP) of $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident

Penalties for driving without auto insurance in Delaware

If you’re caught driving without insurance, your driver’s license and vehicle registration will be suspended for six months. The state will also fine you $1,500 for your first offense and $3,000 for subsequent offenses that occur within three years of your last violation.

Personal injury protection and no-fault insurance in Delaware

Delaware is an at-fault state, meaning you can be responsible for injuries and property damage if you cause an accident. However, Delaware requires drivers to maintain personal injury protection — traditionally known as no-fault insurance. After an accident, PIP pays for the policyholder’s and their passengers’ medical expenses, no matter who’s at fault.

Delaware Auto Insurance FAQs

The right car insurance is critical if you’re in a serious accident. Below, you’ll find answers to some commonly asked questions about car insurance in Delaware.

How much does car insurance cost in Delaware?

Delaware drivers pay an average of $164 per month for auto insurance, according to Compare.com data. But you may pay more or less, depending on your unique driver profile.

Which company has the lowest car insurance rates in Delaware?

State Farm has the lowest average rates overall, as well as for liability-only and full-coverage car insurance rates in Delaware. The company is also the cheapest option — on average — for every rating factor explored in this article.

Is car insurance cheaper in Delaware?

Delaware has the ninth-highest auto insurance rates in the country. At $164, the monthly average rate is $35 above the national average.

What is the minimum car insurance required in Delaware?

Delaware requires drivers to maintain a minimum of $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident in bodily injury liability, and $10,000 in property damage liability per accident. Drivers must also have $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident in personal injury protection.

What happens if you get caught driving without insurance in Delaware?

If you’re caught driving without insurance, you must pay a fine of $1,500 for your first offense and $3,000 for each additional violation within three years. The state will also suspend your driver’s license for six months, and your vehicle registration will be suspended, too.

Methodology

Data scientists at Compare.com analyzed more than 50 million real-time auto insurance rates from more than 75 partner insurance providers in order to compile the quotes and statistics seen in this article. Compare.com’s auto insurance data includes coverage analysis and details on drivers’ vehicles, driving records, insurance histories, and demographic information.

All the quotes listed in this article have been gathered from a combination of real Compare.com quotes and external insurance rate data gathered in collaboration with Quadrant Information Services. Compare.com uses these observations to provide drivers with insight into how auto insurance companies determine their premiums.

Sources

1. Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles, “Vehicle Service FAQ’s,” Accessed October 4, 2023.
2. NOLO, “Delaware Car Insurance Requirements,” Access October 4, 2023.
3. Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles, “Vehicle Services Registration,” Accessed October 4, 2023.
4. United States Census Bureau, “Population Density of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico: 1910 to 2020,” Accessed October 4, 2023.
5. Insurance Information Institute, “What determines the price of an auto insurance policy?” Accessed October 4, 2023.
6. Insurance Information Institute, “What is covered by collision and comprehensive auto insurance?” Accessed October 4, 2023.
7. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Teen Drivers and Passengers: Get the Facts,” Accessed October 4, 2023.
8. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, “Traffic Safety Facts 2021 Data,” Accessed October 4, 2023.