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Licensed property and casualty insurance agent
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Chattanooga drivers pay an average of $100 per month for car insurance. Chattanooga has a smaller population and less traffic than larger cities like Nashville and Memphis, which affects insurance prices.
Even so, many insurance companies have rates well below the citywide average. Sun Coast, State Farm, and Mile Auto offer the best deals, with average liability rates starting at just $46 monthly.
In this article, we’ll cover the cheapest insurers in Chattanooga for various drivers and how to pick the right company for your needs. We’ll also share tips on saving money while getting the protection you need.
Sun Coast offers the cheapest car insurance in Chattanooga, at $46 per month.
Chattanooga drivers pay a monthly average of $68 for liability coverage and $133 for full coverage.
Tennessee requires all drivers to have at least 25/50/15 of liability coverage.
Even with Chattanooga’s relatively affordable rates, you can still find ways to save on your auto insurance. Several companies offer rates below the citywide average.
The table below shows the cheapest auto insurers in Chattanooga, according to Compare.com data.
Company  | Average Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| Sun Coast | $46 |
| Mile Auto | $47 |
| State Farm | $47 |
| Certainly | $52 |
| Progressive | $53 |
| Direct Auto | $54 |
| USAA | $56 |
| AssuranceAmerica | $60 |
| GEICO | $61 |
| Freedom National | $63 |
| Auto-Owners | $64 |
| Travelers | $64 |
| The General | $65 |
| Erie | $69 |
| Trexis | $69 |
| Safeco | $75 |
| Trexis One | $77 |
| GAINSCO | $80 |
| Dairyland | $81 |
| Mendota | $83 |
| Allstate | $86 |
| First Acceptance | $88 |
| National General | $88 |
| Farmers | $93 |
| Liberty Mutual | $99 |
| Foremost | $100 |
| Bristol West | $101 |
| Root | $101 |
| Elephant | $106 |
| Nationwide | $114 |
| Chubb | $134 |
| State Auto | $178 |
Sun Coast offers the most affordable coverage, with an average liability rate of $46 per month. But factors like your age, driving habits, and credit history affect how much you pay for insurance. Let’s take a closer look at the cheapest insurers for different drivers in the sections below.
While the companies listed above offer a good starting point for your search, your personal rates can vary widely based on factors like your age, ZIP code, and coverage choices. That’s why you should compare rates for your specific driving profile.
To get you started, this table shows the cheapest companies for a variety of drivers and coverages, according to our data.
Driver/Coverage Type | Cheapest Insurer | Insurer’s Average Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|
| State-minimum coverage | Sun Coast | $46 |
| Full coverage | Sun Coast | $88 |
| Teens | Sun Coast | $94 |
| Seniors | Sun Coast | $40 |
| Drivers with a speeding ticket | Sun Coast | $61 |
| Drivers with an at-fault accident | Sun Coast | $64 |
| Drivers with a DUI | Sun Coast | $66 |
| Drivers with excellent credit | Sun Coast | $41 |
| Drivers with poor credit | Sun Coast | $58 |
Next, let’s break down each driver and coverage type in more detail.
Policies in Chattanooga start as low as $46 per month.
Chattanooga drivers pay an average of $68 per month for liability-only car insurance, according to Compare.com data.
But most insurance experts recommend purchasing more than the minimum coverage Tennessee requires to help protect yourself financially.[1] In fact, 15.7% of U.S. drivers didn’t have enough liability insurance in 2022, risking out-of-pocket costs after an accident.[2]
But if you need bare-bones coverage that meets Tennessee’s minimum requirements, we’ve highlighted the five cheapest companies in the chart below.
Company | Average Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| Sun Coast | $46 |
| Mile Auto | $47 |
| State Farm | $47 |
| Certainly | $52 |
| Progressive | $53 |
| Direct Auto | $54 |
| USAA | $56 |
| AssuranceAmerica | $60 |
| GEICO | $61 |
| Freedom National | $63 |
| Auto-Owners | $64 |
| Travelers | $64 |
| The General | $65 |
| Erie | $69 |
| Trexis | $69 |
| Safeco | $75 |
| Trexis One | $77 |
| GAINSCO | $80 |
| Dairyland | $81 |
| Mendota | $83 |
| Allstate | $86 |
| First Acceptance | $88 |
| National General | $88 |
| Farmers | $93 |
| Liberty Mutual | $99 |
| Foremost | $100 |
| Bristol West | $101 |
| Root | $101 |
| Elephant | $106 |
| Nationwide | $114 |
| Chubb | $134 |
| State Auto | $178 |
Most drivers should consider full-coverage car insurance for better financial protection. The Insurance Information Institute recommends full coverage because it includes comprehensive and collision insurance.[1] Comprehensive and collision coverage protect your vehicle against theft, vandalism, weather damage, and accidents, regardless of fault.[3]
Plus, lenders and leasing companies usually require you to purchase full coverage if you finance or lease your car.[4]
Drivers in Chattanooga pay an average of $133 per month for full-coverage auto insurance, according to our data. But even with these higher average rates, several insurers offer full-coverage policies for close to the average liability price in Chattanooga, including the ones featured in the chart below.
Company | Average Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| Mile Auto | $88 |
| Sun Coast | $88 |
| Progressive | $102 |
| State Farm | $103 |
| Direct Auto | $119 |
| USAA | $122 |
| GEICO | $135 |
| Safeco | $136 |
| Travelers | $141 |
| Auto-Owners | $142 |
| National General | $143 |
| Certainly | $146 |
| Erie | $151 |
| AssuranceAmerica | $154 |
| Elephant | $159 |
| Trexis | $161 |
| Root | $169 |
| Trexis One | $184 |
| Liberty Mutual | $188 |
| The General | $188 |
| Allstate | $190 |
| Mendota | $198 |
| GAINSCO | $199 |
| Farmers | $205 |
| Freedom National | $218 |
| Bristol West | $221 |
| First Acceptance | $230 |
| Foremost | $230 |
| Dairyland | $241 |
| Nationwide | $252 |
| Chubb | $295 |
| State Auto | $393 |
Teens pay some of the highest car insurance rates of any age group. That’s because teens get into more accidents than older drivers due to their inexperience and risky driving habits.[5]
Chattanooga teens pay a monthly average of $204 for car insurance. But you can still find a good deal if you’re a teen driver or have one on your policy.
The chart below shows Chattanooga’s five cheapest insurers for teens, according to Compare.com data.
Company | Average Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| Sun Coast | $94 |
| State Farm | $96 |
| Mile Auto | $102 |
| Certainly | $106 |
| Progressive | $108 |
| Direct Auto | $110 |
| USAA | $110 |
| GEICO | $116 |
| The General | $121 |
| Freedom National | $128 |
| Erie | $134 |
| Auto-Owners | $136 |
| Travelers | $140 |
| Trexis | $141 |
| Dairyland | $148 |
| GAINSCO | $155 |
| Trexis One | $157 |
| Safeco | $160 |
| Mendota | $169 |
| First Acceptance | $179 |
| Allstate | $180 |
| Liberty Mutual | $185 |
| Root | $186 |
| National General | $188 |
| Bristol West | $192 |
| Farmers | $196 |
| Elephant | $199 |
| Nationwide | $236 |
| Chubb | $292 |
| State Auto | $453 |
On the other hand, seniors tend to have the cheapest auto insurance rates of any age group. The Insurance Information Institute attributes this to their years of behind-the-wheel experience and more cautious driving habits.[6]
Chattanooga seniors pay an average of $86 per month for car insurance. But even with these low average rates, you can likely find a better deal from one of the companies in the chart below.
These five insurers offer the most affordable rates for seniors in Chattanooga, according to Compare.com data.
Company | Average Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| Mile Auto | $37 |
| State Farm | $37 |
| Sun Coast | $40 |
| Direct Auto | $44 |
| Certainly | $45 |
| USAA | $45 |
| Progressive | $46 |
| GEICO | $48 |
| Auto-Owners | $51 |
| Travelers | $51 |
| Erie | $53 |
| Freedom National | $54 |
| The General | $55 |
| Trexis | $60 |
| Safeco | $66 |
| Trexis One | $67 |
| GAINSCO | $68 |
| Dairyland | $68 |
| National General | $69 |
| Allstate | $70 |
| Mendota | $72 |
| Farmers | $74 |
| First Acceptance | $76 |
| Liberty Mutual | $83 |
| Bristol West | $84 |
| Root | $84 |
| Nationwide | $87 |
| Elephant | $88 |
| Chubb | $101 |
| State Auto | $135 |
Getting a ticket can cause your rates to go up the next time your policy renews. That’s because insurers consider you more likely to file future claims after a traffic violation and will raise your rates to cover that extra risk.[7]
Our research shows that even a single speeding ticket causes average rates to increase by 28% nationwide. Chattanooga drivers with a recent ticket pay $132 monthly for car insurance. But several insurers offer lower rates.
Check out which companies offer the lowest rates for drivers with tickets in the chart below, based on our data.
Company | Average Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| Mile Auto | $59 |
| Sun Coast | $61 |
| State Farm | $61 |
| Certainly | $69 |
| Direct Auto | $69 |
| Progressive | $70 |
| USAA | $74 |
| GEICO | $82 |
| Freedom National | $83 |
| Travelers | $85 |
| Auto-Owners | $86 |
| The General | $89 |
| Trexis | $91 |
| Erie | $93 |
| GAINSCO | $98 |
| Safeco | $101 |
| Trexis One | $102 |
| Dairyland | $104 |
| Mendota | $110 |
| National General | $113 |
| Allstate | $115 |
| First Acceptance | $116 |
| Farmers | $122 |
| Liberty Mutual | $129 |
| Elephant | $130 |
| Bristol West | $131 |
| Root | $138 |
| Nationwide | $152 |
| Chubb | $175 |
| State Auto | $243 |
Causing an accident can substantially increase your car insurance rates — even more than a speeding ticket. At-fault accidents indicate to insurers that you’re a risky driver and more likely to file a claim in the future. They also cause some of the most significant rate increases.
Our research shows that a single at-fault accident causes average rates to increase by 33% nationwide. Chattanooga drivers with a recent accident pay a monthly average of $140 for car insurance, according to Compare.com data. But you can often find a better deal with one of the insurers highlighted below.
This chart shows Chattanooga’s five cheapest insurers for drivers with an at-fault accident, according to our research.
Company | Average Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| State Farm | $64 |
| Sun Coast | $64 |
| Mile Auto | $65 |
| Certainly | $73 |
| Progressive | $74 |
| Direct Auto | $76 |
| USAA | $77 |
| GEICO | $82 |
| Auto-Owners | $87 |
| Freedom National | $88 |
| Travelers | $89 |
| The General | $92 |
| Erie | $94 |
| Trexis | $96 |
| GAINSCO | $105 |
| Trexis One | $108 |
| Safeco | $108 |
| Dairyland | $110 |
| Mendota | $116 |
| Allstate | $118 |
| National General | $120 |
| First Acceptance | $123 |
| Farmers | $127 |
| Liberty Mutual | $135 |
| Bristol West | $137 |
| Root | $139 |
| Elephant | $142 |
| Nationwide | $158 |
| Chubb | $183 |
| State Auto | $250 |
A driving under the influence (DUI) conviction causes the sharpest increase in car insurance rates. Our research shows average rates increase by 59% nationwide after a DUI conviction.
In addition to higher rates, getting a DUI can make it difficult to find coverage at all. Some insurers might refuse to cover drivers with DUI convictions because of the substantially higher risk they present, according to the Insurance Information Institute.[8]
Chattanooga drivers with a DUI conviction pay an average of $143 per month for car insurance. But you’re not necessarily stuck with expensive insurance — some companies specialize in high-risk drivers like people with DUIs.
The chart below shows the five most affordable options for Chattanooga drivers with a DUI, according to Compare.com data.
Company | Average Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| Sun Coast | $66 |
| Mile Auto | $69 |
| State Farm | $69 |
| Certainly | $74 |
| Progressive | $76 |
| Direct Auto | $79 |
| USAA | $82 |
| GEICO | $88 |
| Freedom National | $90 |
| Auto-Owners | $93 |
| Travelers | $93 |
| The General | $95 |
| Trexis | $99 |
| Erie | $100 |
| Trexis One | $110 |
| Safeco | $116 |
| GAINSCO | $117 |
| Dairyland | $118 |
| Mendota | $119 |
| Allstate | $125 |
| First Acceptance | $126 |
| National General | $128 |
| Farmers | $136 |
| Liberty Mutual | $144 |
| Bristol West | $147 |
| Root | $148 |
| Elephant | $155 |
| Nationwide | $166 |
| Chubb | $195 |
| State Auto | $243 |
Some insurance companies look at your credit history when calculating your rates. Insurers use a credit-based insurance score to determine your likelihood of defaulting on your bill or filing claims in the future.[9]
Our research shows drivers with poor credit pay 40% more for car insurance than people with excellent credit. Chattanooga drivers with spotty credit pay an average of $125 monthly for car insurance, according to our data. But not all companies consider your credit, and some offer extremely affordable rates, regardless of your credit history.
The chart below shows Chattanooga’s five cheapest insurers for drivers with poor credit, according to Compare.com data.
Company | Average Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| Sun Coast | $58 |
| Mile Auto | $58 |
| Certainly | $65 |
| Progressive | $66 |
| Direct Auto | $66 |
| State Farm | $68 |
| USAA | $68 |
| GEICO | $75 |
| Freedom National | $79 |
| Travelers | $79 |
| The General | $80 |
| Trexis | $86 |
| Safeco | $92 |
| Auto-Owners | $95 |
| Trexis One | $96 |
| GAINSCO | $99 |
| Dairyland | $100 |
| Erie | $101 |
| Mendota | $104 |
| Allstate | $106 |
| National General | $108 |
| First Acceptance | $110 |
| Farmers | $115 |
| Liberty Mutual | $119 |
| Bristol West | $124 |
| Root | $124 |
| Elephant | $131 |
| Nationwide | $140 |
| Chubb | $215 |
| State Auto | $220 |
Compare personalized quotes from Chattanooga’s top insurers.
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Tennessee, like nearly every state, requires all drivers to have car insurance. To legally drive in the Volunteer State, you must have at least:[10]
$25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident of bodily injury liability coverage
$15,000 per accident of property damage liability coverage
Most experts recommend buying more than the state’s required minimum coverage. That’s because liability-only insurance might not be enough coverage in a serious accident, and you’ll be stuck with expensive out-of-pocket costs.
For example, if you cause $30,000 in property damage, your insurance would cover only $15,000, and you’d have to pay the remaining $15,000 out of your own pocket.
Lenders typically require you to purchase comprehensive and collision coverage if you finance or lease your car.
We answered some common questions about car insurance in Chattanooga. Check them out below.
Chattanooga drivers pay a monthly average of $68 for liability coverage and $133 for full coverage, according to Compare.com data.
Drivers in Chattanooga pay an average of $100 per month for car insurance, compared to the national monthly average of $136, according to our data. But your personal insurance rates depend on several factors, including your address, driving history, and age.[11]
Sun Coast offers the cheapest average rate for liability coverage, at $46 per month, according to Compare.com data.
Our editorial team used highly trained generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools to assist with the first draft of this article before multiple insurance experts — including at least one licensed agent — rigorously reviewed, fact-checked, and edited every word and data point you see here.
We research, write, edit, and review all content on Compare.com in accordance with our strict editorial standards to ensure accuracy, clarity, and helpfulness. Learn more about our editorial process here.
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.
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