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Nick Dauk is a content writer specializing in business, entrepreneurship, personal finance, and travel who's been writing for Compare.com since 2023. His work has been featured in The New York Post, BBC, Business Insider, Fox Business, and Bisnow.
Nick’s global adventures have also been featured on Inside Hook, Houston Chronicle, Chicago Magazine, and The Telegraph.
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Lequita Westbrooks is an insurance editor at Compare.com. Her writing and editing experiences span several industries, including insurance, personal finance, higher education, and more. She excels at explaining complex topics like auto insurance in simple, easy-to-understand language and is passionate about helping readers save money. Lequita graduated from the University of South Florida, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in English.
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With championship sports teams, amusement parks, and access to some of the best beaches in the nation — Tampa attracts drivers just as diverse as their driving habits. The city has one of the largest populations in the state and year-round tourists, so drivers should consider adding sufficient auto coverage to protect against accidents and weather damage.
State Farm typically has the cheapest car insurance rates in the city, hovering around $96 per month for liability coverage. But other insurers, like GEICO and Mile Auto, also offer great rates.
We’ll highlight the best car insurance companies in Tampa with the most affordable rates.
Tampa’s average car insurance rate — $272 per month — is higher than the rest of Florida.
State Farm has the lowest average auto insurance rate in Tampa, at $96 per month.
Florida is a no-fault state that only requires drivers to have property damage liability and personal injury protection.
Where you live plays a big role in how much you pay for car insurance. Each state regulates insurance differently, and even hyper-local factors, like local crime rates and population density, can affect pricing.
So if you’re wondering how Tampa stacks up to the rest of Florida or the U.S. as a whole, check out the table below, which breaks down average rates for different types of coverage across the three areas.
Location ▲▼ | Average Monthly Premium: Liability Insurance ▲▼ | Average Monthly Premium: Full Coverage ▲▼ | Average Monthly Premium: All Policies ▲▼ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tampa | $227 | $318 | $272 |
| Florida | $153 | $233 | $193 |
| National average | $107 | $197 | $152 |
Drivers in Tampa pay an average of $227 per month for basic liability coverage, but rates increase quite a bit for full coverage, which averages $318 per month, according to our research. At the end of the day, that means the average Tampa driver pays around $272 per month for car insurance, regardless of what type of policy they have.
But keep in mind that these averages are just that — you could pay a lot more (or less), depending on your age, driving record, insurance company, and more.
With that in mind, let’s check out which Tampa insurers offer the best rates in the area.
Average insurance policies in Tampa may be higher than in the rest of Florida, but there are plenty of ways to save, including shopping around and looking for discounts with more affordable insurers in the area.
The table below shows the cheapest auto insurers in Tampa, according to Compare.com data.
Company ▲▼ | Average Monthly Premium ▲▼ |
|---|---|
| State Farm | $96 |
| GEICO | $99 |
| Mile Auto | $161 |
| Allstate | $167 |
| Travelers | $198 |
| Root | $201 |
| Mercury | $219 |
| Direct Auto | $225 |
| Progressive | $262 |
| Infinity | $278 |
| Foremost | $289 |
| GAINSCO | $315 |
| Bristol West | $339 |
State Farm has the overall cheapest rates in Tampa, at $96 per month, but that doesn’t mean it has the right car insurance policy for every driver.
Different factors, like your age and driving history, will determine your actual car insurance rates. In the sections below, we’ll explore which insurers can better cater to certain drivers.
Compare personalized quotes from Tampa’s top insurers.
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Car insurance rates are competitive and depend on your specific needs and budgets, so there’s no single best car insurance company in Tampa.
A resident of one county with good credit may benefit from working with an independent agent, while another person in a different county may find that a family-owned insurer can offer them the most affordable option for military members.
Below are some of the best car insurance companies for different types of Tampa drivers.
Cheapest average rates in Tampa
Pay premiums from the app
Donates a percentage of profit to charity
Must use independent agent
Can’t initiate claims from the app
Not the cheapest for full coverage in Tampa
AssuranceAmerica is a web-based insurance company that sells high-risk (or “non-standard”) auto insurance coverage through independent agents. Including Florida, AssuranceAmerica operates in 10 states.
Customers can purchase basic coverage from the insurer but should inquire with their agent about additional coverage and potential discounts since these aren’t specified on its website.
AM Best rating of A+ (Superior)
Pay-per-mile coverage available
Rideshare insurance available
Doesn’t offer the cheapest Tampa liability-only coverage
Low customer satisfaction scores
Drivewise app could increase driver premiums
Allstate is a near-century-old insurance company providing personal auto insurance around the country, as well as other insurance products that consumers can bundle with their vehicle coverage.
The company has a strong financial rating but poor customer reviews, which may mean less-than-ideal customer service. However, its Drivewise program rewards policyholders for safe driving behaviors.
Tampa drivers looking to save on their full-coverage policies may qualify for discounts or reduced premiums through its Drivewise driving habit program.
Provides SR-22 filings
Caters to high-risk drivers
Manage policies online or through app
Not the cheapest for drivers with clean records
Higher number of National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) complaints
Limited coverage options available
The General, owned by American Family Insurance, has been offering coverage since 1963. This insurer typically offers great rates for teen drivers and young drivers around age 20. The company is also a good option for high-risk drivers because it provides SR-22 filings — but middle-aged drivers in Tampa can likely find lower average rates with other insurers.
Compare personalized quotes from Tampa’s cheapest companies.
The coverage you choose affects your premiums. Liability-only coverage is designed to meet the state-minimum insurance limits, which means it’s the lowest level of car insurance you can legally have. Liability insurance in Florida includes personal injury protection and property damage liability coverage.
The five companies in the chart below offer the cheapest rates for liability-only insurance in Tampa.
In the next section, we’ll look at which Tampa car insurance companies offer the best full-coverage policies.
A full-coverage policy generally includes a combination of collision and comprehensive insurance in addition to liability coverage.
Full coverage is more expensive than liability-only insurance because it provides additional coverage that pays for damage to your vehicle, whether from an at-fault accident or an unpreventable event, like vandalism or inclement weather.
The chart below shows the five cheapest insurers for full-coverage insurance in Tampa.
The companies outlined in the two sections above are great options for many Tampa drivers, but they won’t be the cheapest for everyone. After all, several factors influence your personal rates, including your age and driving record.
Keep reading to learn how those two factors affect average rates in Tampa.
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Your age is one of the biggest factors that determines the cost of your car insurance. New drivers, like teens, lack the experience that older drivers have, so they typically have some of the highest rates. Fortunately, these rates begin to decrease as you age.
While older drivers face higher crash rates per mile than middle-aged drivers, their rates are often lower than teens’ rates because they’re less likely to be involved in specific types of crashes and tend to limit their driving due to their higher risk.
The table below shows the cheapest insurance companies for each age group.
Age Group ▲▼ | Citywide Average Monthly Premium ▲▼ | Cheapest Insurer ▲▼ | Cheapest Insurer’s Average Monthly Premium ▲▼ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teens | $458 | GEICO | $161 |
| 40s | $270 | State Farm | $92 |
| Seniors | $221 | State Farm | $74 |
Teenage drivers have a higher fatal crash rate than drivers older than 20, which is why they typically receive the highest rates. In Florida, 18- and 19-year-olds have the highest crash rate, so even as a 15- or 16-year-old gains more driving experience, they may still see high premiums.
GEICO provides the cheapest auto insurance rates for teen drivers in Tampa, at $161 per month, on average.
Other ways to get cheaper rates include adding your teen to a parent’s policy, increasing liability insurance, and raising your deductible.
After middle-aged drivers, senior drivers tend to pay some of the lowest car insurance rates. One reason is that drivers over 70 are involved in fewer fatal collisions per capita than in the past. Another reason is that retirees tend to drive less, making them less likely to get into an accident.
State Farm has the cheapest rates for drivers in their 60s — $74 per month — making it a great option for Tampa seniors looking for more affordable coverage.
Auto insurance companies look at your driving history when determining your rates. Getting a traffic violation can lead to high rates, regardless of the infraction.
The table below shows insurers with the cheapest rates in Tampa based on driving record.
Driving Record ▲▼ | Citywide Average Monthly Premium ▲▼ | Cheapest Insurer ▲▼ | Cheapest Insurer’s Average Monthly Premium ▲▼ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clean record | $272 | State Farm | $96 |
| Speeding ticket | $332 | State Farm | $115 |
| At-fault accident | $358 | State Farm | $123 |
| DUI | $413 | State Farm | $151 |
Getting just one speeding ticket can make your auto insurance rates go up — usually around 29%, according to Compare.com data. Several factors influence car accidents, but speeding is the most common — which is why even the cheapest companies may raise your rates significantly after getting a ticket.
Tampa drivers with a speeding ticket can find cheaper average rates with State Farm, whose average rates come in at $115 per month after a ticket.
After a car accident, your auto insurance rates will increase by roughly 34%, according to Compare.com data.
State Farm is the cheapest company for drivers in Tampa with an at-fault accident on their record, at $123 per month.
A DUI conviction is the costliest driving infraction you can get when it comes to car insurance. In fact, nationwide, the average driver pays a whopping 61% more for car insurance after a single DUI, according to Compare.com data.
Still, you’re not stuck paying sky-high rates if you recently got a DUI. Companies like State Farm offer affordable coverage for Tampa-area drivers with a DUI — just $151 per month, according to our data.
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Like most states, Florida requires all drivers to meet minimum coverage requirements to legally drive. Florida’s minimum auto insurance requirements are less extensive than some other states — so drivers should consider getting more than the minimum coverage required.
Florida drivers only need $10,000 of personal injury protection insurance (PIP) and $10,000 of property damage liability insurance (PDL). Remember that you must have this insurance coverage prior to and throughout your vehicle registration period.
PIP covers certain medical expenses for covered injuries you and your passengers sustain in a car accident, no matter who’s at fault. PDL covers the damages you cause to someone else’s property with your insured vehicle. PDL also covers the damage another person driving your vehicle may cause.
Tampa drivers with questions about car insurance in Florida can find answers below.
State Farm is the cheapest auto insurance company in Tampa, with monthly rates averaging $96, but your insurance quotes may be higher or lower depending on various factors.
The average cost of car insurance in Tampa is $272 per month, but it’s a good idea to shop around for lower rates.
Tampa’s rates may be more expensive than surrounding cities because it’s considered the urban hub of the area, which means potentially more vehicles on the road. Additional factors for higher auto insurance rates include severe weather events (e.g., hurricanes), a high percentage of uninsured drivers, auto theft rates, and claim filing frequency.
You must have at least $10,000 of personal injury protection insurance and $10,000 of property damage liability insurance to drive in Florida.
If you get caught driving in Tampa without insurance, the state may suspend your license and registration, and you may be charged $500 to reinstate them.
FLHSMV, “Florida Insurance Requirements,” accessed January 21, 2024.
IIHS, “Older Drivers,” accessed January 21, 2024.
CDC, “Teen Drivers and Passengers: Get the Facts,” accessed January 21, 2024.
Teen Safe Driving Coalition, “Florida Teen Driver Fact Sheet – 2022,” accessed January 21, 2024.
Data scientists at Compare.com analyzed more than 50 million real-time auto insurance quotes from more than 75 partner insurers in order to compile the rates 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 rates listed in this article have been collected 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 readers with insights into how auto insurance companies determine their premiums.
Compare.com's #1 goal is to save you money. We publish resources that are based on hard-hitting data and years of industry experience to help you make more informed decisions with your wallet.
Learn more about us, our team, and what makes us tick.
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Nick Dauk is a content writer specializing in business, entrepreneurship, personal finance, and travel who's been writing for Compare.com since 2023. His work has been featured in The New York Post, BBC, Business Insider, Fox Business, and Bisnow.
Nick’s global adventures have also been featured on Inside Hook, Houston Chronicle, Chicago Magazine, and The Telegraph.
Lequita Westbrooks is an insurance editor at Compare.com. Her writing and editing experiences span several industries, including insurance, personal finance, higher education, and more. She excels at explaining complex topics like auto insurance in simple, easy-to-understand language and is passionate about helping readers save money. Lequita graduated from the University of South Florida, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in English.
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