BMW 3 series Car Insurance: How Much Should You Expect to Pay?

Quick Facts

• A BMW 3 series is more expensive to insure than the average car.
• Full coverage insurance for a 3 series runs around $205 monthly, on average, while liability only insurance typically averages about $87 per month.
• The cheapest auto insurance company for a 3 series is JustInsure.

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3 series Overview

The BMW 3 series is a great budget-friendly option for any driver, with a base price of just $40,750 for 2020 models. With four different trim levels currently available, there's something there for every driver.

We combed through thousands of insurance quotes on Compare.com, and we've determined that, on average, BMW 3 series car insurance premiums run around $193 monthly. Where does that fall compared to the rest of the market?

How Much is Car Insurance for a BMW 3 series?

You can see in the table above that insurance rates for a BMW 3 series are higher than average. 3 series owners generally pay about $87 per month for liability insurance, and around $205 a month for full coverage, which has comprehensive and collision coverages in addition to liability (learn more about these different types of insurance with our guide "State Minimum vs. Full Coverage").

When you compare it to other BMW models, the 3 series's insurance premium is on par with the rest of the manufacturer's vehicle lineup. However, compared to other vehicles of a similar body style, 3 series coverage is above average, with both liability only and full coverage insurance averaging more expensive prices than other cars.

When compared to all vehicles, regardless of make, body style, or model, the 3 series follows a similar pattern of having above average car insurance rates.

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Who has the Cheapest Car Insurance for a BMW 3 series?

If you're browsing for an auto insurance policy for a BMW 3 series, you most likely want to know which carrier offers the lowest premiums. Even though there will never be one company that has the most affordable rates for everyone, the lowest average rates for liability only insurance are sometimes just $33 a month from Ohio Mutual. With car insurance as cheap as just $40 per month, FirstChicago is the next lowest auto insurance carrier.

Pronto, StateAuto, and AmericanAlliance round out the end of the top 5 list. But just because these five carriers offer the lowest average rates doesn't necessarily mean they'll be the cheapest for you.

Insurance companies take a wide array of different factors into consideration when calculating monthly rates. By analyzing quotes from lots of car insurance carriers at once, you can guarantee you're finding the most affordable rate.

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What Factors Affect Car Insurance Rates for a BMW 3 series?

There are an array of factors that insurance companies take into account to calculate how much they charge you for a policy -- and each company uses a different algorithm, so there's not one single carrier that's the cheapest for every 3 series driver.

The following sections show many variables auto insurance carriers use to calculate rates:

Vehicle Age

The BMW 3 series has been around for a while, so vehicle age may make a big difference in what you end up paying for insurance. Usually, older cars will be cheaper to insure because they're worth less than newer models, and as cars get older, insurance costs will gradually go lower.

From the table above, you can see the BMW 3 series bucks the trend, as the most expensive models to insure are those that are 4 to 5 years old, while the cheapest 3 serieses are 1 year old or less, on average.

Your Age

Age is another factor that plays a significant role in how much you pay for car insurance. As you can see above, young 3 series drivers have more expensive prices than drivers with more experience on the road. In this case, drivers under 18 pay more than twice as much as those 25 or older.

Car insurance prices continue to get lower as you get older, with the cheapest age group being 65 years and older for 3 series drivers.

Your Gender

Did you know men tend to pay more for auto insurance than women? This is because women are less likely to get speeding tickets and get into accidents, which decreases the chances of an insurance claim. When it comes to 3 series drivers specifically, men pay about $91 monthly for insurance, while women pay around $79.

Where You Live

You were probably already aware that things like how old you are and what vehicle you drive play a role in your car insurance premiums, but did you know that where you live is just as important? Since auto insurance is regulated on the state level and not nationally, prices can shift quite a bit depending on what state you reside in.

For example, the average BMW 3 series owner in New York pays about $217 a month for liability coverage. Meanwhile, the same driver in California will pay less than half of that price, on average. The table referenced above shows average premiums for the top 10 most populous states, just to give you a good idea of how much rates can change depending on where you live.

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BMW 3 series Car Insurance Discounts

Regardless of your home state, your age, or your car, using as many discounts as possible when it comes to your car insurance policy is always a smart move.

Even though all insurance companies offer their own unique discounts, there are a few that you'll find with most insurers. These include things like:

• Pay-in-full discounts for drivers who choose to pay their entire policy price up front, rather than in monthly installments
• Multi-policy discounts for bundling your home and auto policies with the same insurance company
• Multi-vehicle discounts for having more than one car on your auto policy
• Defensive driving discounts for drivers who take a defensive driving class through an accredited school or institution

There are lots of other discounts out there for saving money on your auto insurance. Sometimes, the best rates come from simply having a favorable insurance profile, which means having a clean driving record or not having any recent insurance claims.

While you may not have control of every variable insurance carriers use to calculate premiums (like some of the ones mentioned above), there are quite a few that you do have control over. Below are just a few of the variables you can use to your favor in order to save money on car insurance:

Your Driving Record

You've almost certainly observed ads from auto insurance companies promoting big discounts for responsible drivers. It checks out that your insurance prices will go up if you get a ticket for speeding or get into an accident. But exactly how much can these infractions cost you?

As you can tell from the table above, accidents will usually cost 3 series drivers more than tickets, but both will result in a raise in rates. BMW 3 series drivers with a single ticket will pay about $91 monthly, while drivers with one accident on their record pay an average of $105 each month (up $18 from the $87/mo. overall average). Those who have more than one of either violation will end up paying even more.

How Much You Drive

The total amount of miles you drive impacts your car insurance rates. Those who drive less often have fewer opportunities to get into an accident, so they'll normally get lower prices. In the table above, you can see that BMW 3 series owners who drive 10,000 miles or more pay $89 for auto insurance, while those who drive fewer than 2,500 miles a year pay an average of $88 per month.

If you drive a limited amount, it may be worth getting pay-per-mile or usage-based car insurance. With these policies, you pay a small base rate each month, with your final monthly bill being calculated based on the number of miles you drove.

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How Do BMW 3 serieses Compare to Other Vehicles?

If you're thinking about buying a BMW 3 series, you're probably wondering how it compares to other vehicles. Auto insurance is just one cost that comes with buying a new car, but it's guaranteed to be one that's worth considering.

Check out the table below to see how the BMW 3 series stacks up:

As you can see, the BMW 3 series is pretty much in line with the average vehicle price here in the U.S. The 3 series goes for $40,750, close to the national average vehicle MSRP of $46,547.

But while the purchase price runs about average, auto insurance premiums are higher when compared to the rest of the vehicle market. Liability insurance for a BMW 3 series is around $18 per month more than average, while full coverage is over $50 more a month.

When it comes to usage, BMW 3 series drivers are near the national average in annual miles driven, with 11,958 miles per year compared to 11,617 for all vehicles.

BMW 3 series Car Insurance Costs by Model Year

Thus far, you've seen how different factors have an impact on how much the average driver pays for insurance. If you're in the market for a new car, truck, or SUV and the 3 series is on your wishlist, having a good idea of how much you'll likely pay can be extremely helpful as you weigh your choices.

Choose Your Model

2020 BMW 3 series Car Insurance 2019 BMW 3 series Car Insurance 2018 BMW 3 series Car Insurance 2017 BMW 3 series Car Insurance 2016 BMW 3 series Car Insurance 2015 BMW 3 series Car Insurance 2014 BMW 3 series Car Insurance 2013 BMW 3 series Car Insurance 2012 BMW 3 series Car Insurance 2011 BMW 3 series Car Insurance 2010 BMW 3 series Car Insurance

2020 BMW 3 series Car Insurance

You can expect full coverage for a 2020 BMW 3 series to run about $247 monthly, while liability only coverage will average around $99 per month.

Looking for the most affordable policy? Hugo offered liability only coverage for as little as $19 a month.

While these are good estimates of what the average driver might pay to insure a 2020 BMW 3 series, these prices might differ based on your driver profile. Get free personalized quotes in minutes by just entering your ZIP code below.

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2019 BMW 3 series Car Insurance

It costs about $81 per month for liability or $206 for a full coverage policy for the 2019 3 series.

If you're looking for the most affordable 2019 BMW 3 series insurance policy, Freedom offered the cheapest policy we found, with rates as little as just $29 monthly.

If you want more accurate quotes of how much you can expect to pay, get free quotes in minutes by just entering your ZIP code below.

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2018 BMW 3 series Car Insurance

On average, drivers who own a 2018 BMW 3 series can expect to pay $84 to $206 a month for liability only and full coverage insurance, respectively.

With premiums sometimes as low as $20 monthly, Safeco offered the lowest policy we found.

Want to figure out exactly what you'll be asked to pay? Just enter your ZIP code below to get a variety of personalized quotes for free.

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2017 BMW 3 series Car Insurance

The average cost to insure a 2017 3 series with liability only coverage is $100 per month, while full coverage runs around $243 a month.

Mile Auto offered the cheapest policy we found, with rates sometimes as cheap as $18 monthly.

If you want to know exactly how much you can expect to pay for your 3 series, just enter your ZIP code below and get several free quotes in minutes.

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2016 BMW 3 series Car Insurance

2016 BMW 3 series drivers can expect to pay an average of $106 per month for liability or $212 for full coverage.

With rates as low as just $16 a month, Liberty Mutual offered the lowest policy we found for the 2016 BMW 3 series.

Want to know exactly what your car insurance rate will be? Just enter your ZIP code below to get lots of free customized quotes.

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2015 BMW 3 series Car Insurance

On average, drivers who own a 2015 3 series can expect to pay $86 to $207 per month for liability only and full coverage insurance, respectively.

Clearcover has premiums as low as $20 a month for the 2015 BMW 3 series.

While these are good estimates of what the average driver might pay to insure a 2015 BMW 3 series, these prices might differ based on your driver profile. Just enter your ZIP code below, to get free personalized quotes in minutes.

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2014 BMW 3 series Car Insurance

2014 BMW 3 series drivers can expect to pay an average of $86 monthly for liability or $206 for full coverage.

We found MetLife offered the most affordable policy, with rates as cheap as $16 a month.

Interested in what your car insurance price will be? Just enter your ZIP code below to get several customized quotes for free.

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2013 BMW 3 series Car Insurance

You can expect full coverage for a 2013 3 series to run about $219 monthly, while liability only coverage will average around $97 per month.

With rates sometimes as little as $18 monthly, MetLife offered the lowest policy we found for the 2013 BMW 3 series.

If you're looking for a more exact figure on what you should pay for auto insurance for a 2013 BMW 3 series, you can get free quotes in minutes by just entering your ZIP code below.

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2012 BMW 3 series Car Insurance

The average cost to insure a 2012 BMW 3 series with liability only coverage is $81 per month, while full coverage runs about $203 a month.

If you're looking for the cheapest possible 2012 BMW 3 series insurance policy, Infinity offered the most affordable policy we found, with rates sometimes as low as $21 per month.

If you want more accurate quotes of how much you can expect to pay, just enter your ZIP code below and get several free quotes in minutes.

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2011 BMW 3 series Car Insurance

It costs around $93 monthly for liability or $207 for a full coverage policy for the 2011 3 series.

Looking for the cheapest policy? Clearcover offered liability only coverage for as cheap as just $16 a month.

If you want to know exactly how much you can expect to pay for your 3 series, get free quotes in minutes by just entering your ZIP code below.

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2010 BMW 3 series Car Insurance

2010 BMW 3 series drivers can expect to pay an average of $98 monthly for liability or $206 for full coverage.

With prices sometimes as little as $17 per month, MetroMile offered the most affordable policy we found.

Want something more accurate than national averages? Get multiple customized quotes for free by just entering your ZIP code below.

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BMW 3 series Insurance FAQs

Is a BMW 3 series expensive to insure?

The BMW 3 series is relatively expensive to insure compared to the average car. Liability insurance runs an average of $87 a month, while full coverage will cost you around $205.

How can I get the best price on car insurance for my BMW 3 series?

There's only one way to make sure you're getting the cheapest rates -- checking prices regularly and comparing quotes from a multitude of carriers. Over time, your driver profile changes, which could change your rates, so it's recommended that you get quotes every 6 months or so. Luckily, sites like Compare.com let you compare premiums from multiple companies at once, meaning you can find the lowest rates (or guarantee you already have the best deal) in just a few minutes.

Does the color of my BMW 3 series affect my insurance rates?

You may have heard the old adage that it costs more to insure a red car, but that's actually not the case. There are numerous things car insurance carriers examine when they decide how much to charge you, but your BMW 3 series's color is not used to make that determination.

Do I need to have insurance before I buy a BMW 3 series?

Before you can legally drive your new (or new to you) 3 series off the dealership lot, you'll need to have valid insurance for it. As part of the buying process, some dealerships might offer you a car insurance policy, but the best thing to do when buying a a new car is to talk with your auto insurance carrier before you buy.

What car insurance discounts can I get for my BMW 3 series?

You will find a bunch of discounts out there when it comes to insurance. Many of them (like "multi-vehicle discounts" and "pay-in-full discounts") are more based on you than the vehicle you drive, but if your 3 series has safety features like anti-theft systems, airbags, anti-lock brakes, and other features, it may qualify for certain discounts. The only way to find out is to contact your insurance company and ask about which discounts they offer.