Pennsylvania Auto Insurance [Rates + Cheap Coverage Guide]

Home to the Liberty Bell, the Steelers & the Eagles, the first public zoo in the United States, and the beautiful Appalachian Mountains, the great state of Pennsylvania is the 6th most populated state and the 33rd largest state by area in America.

Whether you want to take a drive through Pennsylvania mountains or take a drive to see a football game, one thing is for sure: you’re going to need auto insurance.

Searching for the best auto insurance company and the right type of auto insurance can be intimidating and even a hassle at times, and that’s exactly why we’ve put together a complete guide to auto insurance.

In this guide, we discuss auto insurance rates, reasons for having different kinds of coverage, Pennsylvania insurance state laws, auto insurance discounts, and more.

Don’t skip this next section! Keep reading for Pennsylvania auto insurance rates and coverage.

Pennsylvania Auto Insurance Coverage and Rates

By law in the state of Pennsylvania, auto insurance is mandatory for every driver. However, unlike most states in the U.S., Pennsylvania is considered a no-fault state.

But what does no-fault mean?

While at-fault states require the driver who caused the accident to be held responsible for covering the costs of property damages and medical bills resulting from the accident, no-fault states (like Pennsylvania) do not hold the driver who caused the accident responsible.

Still don’t understand no-fault?

Here’s an example.

Driver A causes an accident with Driver B and there are damages to Driver B’s car. Driver A is not responsible for making a claim with his insurance company (if there aren’t any damages to his car or body) and his insurance company is not required to pay for the damages to Driver B’s car.

Driver B is required to go to his own insurance company and file a claim with them so they can pay out the money to fix his car.

Are you ready for the kicker now?

Driver B has auto insurance because he is required to by law, but this doesn’t necessarily mean his auto insurance company will cover all of the damage to his car.

Want to know why not? Up next we explain the different types of auto insurance.

Pennsylvania Minimum Coverage

According to NOLO, Pennsylvania has a compulsory liability insurance law, but sale and purchase are optional.

Okay, now that we know Pennsylvania drivers are required to at least have minimum liability insurance coverage, what exactly does this mean?

If you want to drive on the road in Pennsylvania and you happen to get into an accident, you are held liable to a certain degree for that accident, even if you did not cause it. Every state is different, so follow closely as we list minimum liability requirements for insurance in PA.

The minimum coverage for auto insurance in Pennsylvania is as follows:

• Must be at least $15,000 for injury or death per person
• $30,000 for the total injury or death per accident
• $5,000 for damage to the property of another person per accident

Sometimes this kind of insurance is referred to as 15/30/5. But as you can see, the amount of money for injury or death to a person is significantly higher than the amount for property damages as the life of a person is obviously worth a lot more than a car.

Forms of Financial Responsibility

Proof of financial responsibility just means a driver can prove that he or she is able to cover the cost of damages and medical bills in the case of an accident.

By law, proof of financial responsibility must be furnished by filing evidence satisfactory to the Pennsylvania Department of Motor Vehicles that all motor vehicles registered in a person’s name are covered by motor vehicle liability insurance or by a program of self-insurance as provided by the Department.

These forms of responsibility can also be proved by having other reliable financial arrangements, deposits, resources, or commitments.

Premiums as a Percentage of Income

You may have heard of something called disposable income per capita. This is the average amount of income each household makes after taxes per year.

Pennsylvania’s average per capita income was $42,414 in 2014.

On average, Pennsylvania drivers spend $934.34 per year on auto insurance. That means drivers are spending an average of 2.2% of their income a year on auto insurance!

Since there are different types of auto insurance and different things that can vary your rate, here’s a table to illustrate.

In 2014, the countrywide average for premiums as a percentage of income was 2.4 percent and Pennsylvania’s was only 2.24 percent. This could be a great thing for you if you’re thinking about moving to Pennsylvania as it will likely save you money when it comes to your insurance premium!

There’s no surprise that Pennsylvania’s surrounding states rates fluctuate (New York is higher and Ohio is lower).

Average Monthly Auto Insurance Rates in PA (Liability, Collision, Comprehensive)

The above data shows the most recent average costs of auto insurance by type. This information is taken from one of the most reputable auto insurance sources, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.

We can also compare average costs across the U.S..

Next, let’s get into popular coverage plans you can add to your existing auto insurance policy.

Additional Liability Coverage in Pennsylvania

What does the loss ratio have to do with additional liability coverage?

The loss ratio has to do with the amount of filed claims that have been resolved (or not resolved) by an insurance company.

If your insurance company has paid out too many claims, they could be at risk of bankruptcy. However, if you’re insurance company isn’t paying out enough claims, they could be taking advantage of their clients.

For example:

Pennsylvania’s loss ratio in 2012 for medical payments was only 11.97 percent. That number is significantly low because it means auto insurance companies only paid out about 12 percent of filed claims that year.

But look at 2013 for the exact same category! It’s over 200 percent! Maybe auto insurance companies under-compensated for the year 2012, so they over-compensated in 2013.

It is also interesting that the loss ratios for both personal protection and underinsured/uninsured motorists for all the years listed are at a pretty good percentage — not too high and not too low.

In Pennsylvania, 7.6 percent of motorists are uninsured. This means that the state ranks 43rd in America overall for uninsured drivers — not too shabby!

When you’re picking out an insurance company, here’s what you need to know:

Is the loss ratio under 50 percent or over 70 percent?

Add-ons, Endorsements, and Riders in Pennsylvania

How do you choose what kinds of add-on insurance to add to your basic policy?

Even more, how do you know which insurance company will save you the most money?

We want to make it easy for you!

• Guaranteed Auto Protection (GAP)
• Personal Umbrella Policy (PUP)
• Rental Reimbursement
• Emergency Roadside Assistance
• Mechanical Breakdown Insurance
• Non-Owner Auto Insurance
• Modified Auto Insurance Coverage
• Classic Auto Insurance

Since more insurance is always better insurance, any of the above add-ons are good options to add if you have a basic insurance policy.

Average Monthly Auto Insurance Rates by Age & Gender in PA

Pennsylvania is one of a couple of states that have outlawed gender discrimination when it comes to determining auto insurance rates.

Highest and Lowest Pennsylvania Auto Insurance Rates by Zip Code

Where you live can affect your auto insurance rate as well.

Philadelphia has the most expensive zip codes.

Cheapest Pennsylvania Auto Insurance Rates by City

What about the most expensive cities for auto insurance rates?

Free Auto Insurance Comparison

Enter your ZIP code below to view companies that have cheap auto insurance rates.

 Secured with SHA-256 Encryption

Best Pennsylvania Auto Insurance Companies

It’s crazy to think that there are literally hundreds of auto insurance companies out there – and they all want your business. But time is precious, and no one wants to sift through tons of info about auto insurance to find the best rates.

Luckily for you, we’ve provided information for some of the best PA auto insurance companies out there, as well as some of the largest.

In this table, we cover AM best ratings, financial ratings, and complaint averages. If you need help finding a great insurance company, look below!

Ratings of the Largest Auto Insurance Companies in Pennsylvania

Now that you’ve seen what each AM best rating is for each company, how do you know what that means?

It’s easy. The AM best rating tells us how strong each companies’ financial strength is.

These ten companies are pretty solid – they all have at least an A rating.

As we discussed before, we don’t want loss ratios to be above 70-80 percent and below 40 percent, and every company we’ve listed stays within these percentages.

Pennsylvania Auto Insurance Companies with the BEST Ratings

Customer satisfaction is key when it comes to the service industry, so it makes sense to look for good customer service when it comes to choosing your auto insurance company.

In 2018, with the exception of USAA, Erie Insurance was the number one auto insurance company for overall customer satisfaction according to J.D. Power. J.D. Power bases these rankings on five components: policy offerings, price, billing process, policy information, and claims.

Companies with the Most Complaints in Pennsylvania

Companies receive complaints all the time, but it doesn’t mean they are bad companies. In fact, if they receive a complaint, and improve something about that complaint, this means they are listening to their clients and usually, they have good customer service.

Here’s some data about complaint averages for the top ten insurance companies in Pennsylvania.

Cheapest Companies in Pennsylvania

Commute Rates by Companies

How many miles you drive a year on average can affect your insurance rate.

Commute distance is not the only factor affecting your rates.

Coverage Level Rates by Companies

Credit History Rates by Companies

Did you know your credit history can also affect your rate?

According to Experian, drivers in Pennsylvania had an average credit score of 687 in 2017.

Usually, if your credit is not good, your auto insurance rate will be higher. That’s just the way the cookie crumbles.

Likewise, if you have good credit, you’ll have lower rates.

Driving Record Rates by Companies

The above data shows what your average rate can be if you’ve had a clean record, one speeding ticket, one accident, or one DUI.

Take a look at Travelers for example! With a clean record, your average rate can be $5566.16. However, with one DUI (driving under the influence) your average rate jumps to almost twice that! Ouch!

Number of Insurers in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Auto Insurance Laws

Driving laws are different in every state in America. If you just moved to Pennsylvania and you don’t know the rules of the road, you are more likely to be cited for a driving violation.

Since no one wants that, we’re here to cover all there is to know about driving laws and insurance laws specifically related to Pennsylvania.

Auto Insurance Laws

Pay some extra attention to this section as we highlight the rules of the road and auto insurance laws in Pennsylvania!

Windshield Repair Law

In some states, auto insurance companies must repair damage to windshields whether the damage was caused by the driver or caused by a natural disaster.

While insurance companies are not obligated by law to repair windshields in the state of Pennsylvania, individual companies may offer windshield insurance with comprehensive coverage.

High-Risk Insurance in Pennsylvania

In most states, after an uninsured driver is convicted of a DUI or has been in a car accident, he or she must provide an SR-22 at the Department of Motor Vehicles.

This document just explains that the driver has at the very least, minimum auto insurance.

However, Pennsylvania is one of six states that does not require this. But, don’t forget that every driver in Pennsylvania must have minimum liability auto insurance.

Minimum liability auto insurance includes:

• Bodily Injury per Person: $15,000
• Bodily Injury for All Injuries: $30,000
• Property Damage: $5,000
• Personal Injury Protection: $5,000

Automobile Insurance Fraud in Pennsylvania

You may be wondering what insurance fraud is! Not a problem, we can answer that for you.

According to the Insurance Information Institute, insurance fraud is defined as deceiving an insurance company by embellishing on the amount of damage on a claim, causing the accident on purpose to claim insurance money, and lying to an insurance company about personal injury caused during the time of the accident.

Help Stop Fraud says that these are some of the most popular forms of insurance fraud in Pennsylvania.

• staged auto accidents and false claims of injury
• false reports of stolen vehicles
• false claims that an accident happened after a policy or coverage was purchased
• false claims for damage that already existed
• claimants who concealed that a person excluded from coverage by their policy was driving at the time of the accident

Automotive insurance fraud is a serious crime. As with all other types of insurance fraud‚ Pennsylvania considers it a felony. Violators can spend up to seven years in prison and spend up to $15‚000 in fines.

The Statute of Limitations in Pennsylvania

Statute of limitations law in Pennsylvania means that if you want to file a lawsuit after a bad car accident, you only have a certain amount of time to file that lawsuit in.

In Pennsylvania, you have a maximum of two years to file a lawsuit for personal injury and property damage.

Limited Tort vs. Full Tort Laws

Pennsylvania offers you a choice when you’re preparing your auto insurance policy. You’re able to choose Full Tort – which allows you to sue for pain and suffering – or you can choose Limited Tort and forfeit the right to compensation for pain and suffering.

Typically, Limited Tort offers you a small discount on your monthly premium.

Vehicle Licensing Laws

Pennsylvania drivers are required to have a driver’s license. If you are caught driving without a license, there are consequences. Seems pretty self-explanatory, right?

Keep reading to learn about more mandatory licensing and insurance laws.

Penalties for Driving Without Insurance in Pennsylvania

It doesn’t matter if you are caught driving without proper insurance one time, or a million times in Pennsylvania; the punishments are always the same.

Here’s what can happen if you drive without auto insurance:

• Your registration can be suspended for three months (unless lapse was for less than 31 days and your vehicle cannot be operated during that time)
• Pay $88 restoration fee plus proof of insurance required to get it back
• Pay $500 civil penalty fee is optional in lieu of registration suspension plus $88 restoration fee — can only use this option once within a 12-month period

Teen Driver Laws in Pennsylvania

In Pennsylvania, you have to be at least 16 years old to acquire a learner’s license.

When you’re a young driver, there are rules set in place to give you some experience while on the road, as well as rules to keep you safe.

Older Driver’s License Renewal Procedures

Pennsylvania law requires drivers to get their license renewed every four years. However, drivers 65 and older have the option to renew their license every two years, but they must renew their license every four years.

Proof of adequate vision is not required when you have your license renewed and anyone may renew their license online or through the mail.

Avoiding the DMV at all costs is always a better option – so save some time and renew your license online!

New Residents in Pennsylvania

If you are moving to Pennsylvania, you must have insurance coverage that meets the minimum standards.

Remember what the minimum liability coverage is in Pennsylvania?

• Bodily injury liability coverage: $15,000 per person, $30,000 per accident
• Property damage liability coverage: $5,000
• First party benefits medical payments: $5,000

Don’t forget to update your new address with your new (or existing) insurance company so that they can send you new insurance cards.

Don’t be surprised if your rates change a little – remember every state’s coverage and rate premiums are a bit different.

Negligent Operator Treatment System

Pennsylvania law defines negligent or “reckless driving” as driving a vehicle “in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property.”

The law is violated when:

• a person’s driving is so unsafe that it creates a high probability of an accident occurring, and
• the person is aware of but disregards the risk.

Reckless driving does not happen when a person makes an honest mistake and causes an accident.

In Pennsylvania, reckless driving is generally a “summary offense.” The penalties for a violation include up to 90 days in jail, a $200 fine, and a six-month license suspension.

But a motorist who causes “serious bodily injury” to another person while driving recklessly can be convicted of “aggravated assault by vehicle.” Aggravated assault by vehicle is a third-degree felony. Convicted drivers normally face up to seven years in prison, a maximum $15,000 in fines, and a one-year license suspension.

Pennsylvania Rules of the Road

Don’t be a dummy when it comes to not knowing the rules of the road. Points, fines, and citations can add up quickly when you aren’t following simple driving procedures and a law enforcement officer decides to pull you over.

Fault vs. No-Fault

We’ve already covered this, but Pennsylvania is a no-fault state.

This means that regardless of who caused the accident, each driver involved in the accident is required to file a claim and collect compensation (if applicable) from his or her own insurance company.

Seat Belt and Car Seat Laws

Listed below are the car seat laws in Pennsylvania.

Here are some Pennsylvania car seat laws.

If you break any of the above car seat laws, you must pay a $75 fine if it’s your first offense.

There are laws in Pennsylvania about riding in cargo areas in trucks. You will not be covered by your insurance company if you are in an accident while riding in the back of a pick-up truck if:

• you are 18 and older if the vehicle is traveling less than 35 mph
• but . . .
• this is inapplicable to occupants 17 and younger if the cargo area is enclosed during parades, hunting, and farm operations

But, you don’t have to worry about that if you just follow the child safety seat laws in Pennsylvania and keep yourself and child safe when it comes to putting them in a car seat, or by wearing a seat belt. It could save their life – or yours.

Keep Right and Move Over Laws

Usually, if you want to go slower than the average speed of traffic, you are required to keep right and move over. Sound familiar?

In the state of Pennsylvania, drivers are required to keep right with several exceptions. Drive in the right lane except when:

• When overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction.
• When traveling at a speed greater than the traffic flow
• When moving left to allow traffic to merge
• When preparing for a left turn at an intersection, exit or into a private road or driveway when such left turn is legally permitted

Pennsylvania Speed Limit Laws

Below is a list of maximum speed limits in Pennsylvania.

Ridesharing Laws in Pennsylvania

If you work or are planning on getting a job with a ridesharing service such as Uber or Lyft, you must have ridesharing insurance.

Here is a list of top insurers in Pennsylvania who carry ridesharing insurance as an option you can add to your basic policy.

• Erie
• Geico
• Liberty Mutual
• Progressive

Automation on the Road in Pennsylvania

You might be asking yourself, “what is automation?”

Automation on the road simply means the car has capabilities of being able to drive itself in one way or another.

The IIHS defines it as this:

“Automation is the use of a machine or technology to perform a task or function that was previously carried out by a human. One example is adaptive cruise control, which maintains a set speed.”

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) voluntary guidance authorizes testing of “highly automated vehicles.”

Pennsylvania law authorizes the deployment of “highly automated work zone vehicles,” effective April 22, 2019.

Safety Laws in Pennsylvania

Every state has different safety laws about DUIs, doing drugs while driving, and distracted driving laws. Keep reading for more info on Pennsylvania state safety laws.

DUI Laws

Pennsylvania has strict laws against drunk driving. In fact, there were over 300 total alcohol-impaired driving fatalities in 2017.

However, if do decide to drink and drive, just doing it one time can cost you your license, money, and maybe someone else’s life or your own.

Marijuana Impaired Driving Laws

In the state of Pennsylvania, the legal limit of marijuana is THC per se 1 nanogram while driving. However, there are no open container laws yet.

Distracted Driving Laws

Technology is such an awesome thing, and it’s really come far over the last two decades or so.

Since texting became a thing not too long ago, Pennsylvania has had to create a texting ban for all drivers.

Currently, there are no laws about talking on your phone or holding it while driving – you just can’t text and drive. Studies have shown that the effects of texting and driving are similar to drinking and driving.

So put your phone down while driving! One text is not worth taking someone else’s life or your own.

Pennsylvania’s Can’t-Miss Facts

By now, you should have a great understanding of Pennsylvania’s rules of the road. Stay tuned! You don’t want to miss this next section about Pennsylvania’s can’t miss facts!

What are the risks of owning and operating a vehicle in the state of Pennsylvania?

What happens if your car gets stolen? What if there’s a massive snowstorm or a tornado? What are some of the road dangers in Pennsylvania?

In this section we cover topics like these and much more, so keep reading if you’re not informed about potential dangers that could be down your street or in the city you live in.

You really can’t miss this!

Vehicle Theft in Pennsylvania

Is your vehicle on this most-stolen list? Remember that if your car is stolen, it most likely will not be covered unless you have comprehensive coverage.

Could your city be on this list below? Below is the FBI’s list for the worst cities for vehicle theft in Pennsylvania.

Some of the numbers on this are zero! And yes, you read that right. In 2013, there were zero car thefts in some of the cities on this list.

Road Dangers in Pennsylvania

Next, we’ll talk about some of the road dangers and different factors that affected fatality rates in Pennsylvania.

Fatal Crashes by Weather Condition and Light Condition

Fatalities (All Crashes) by County

Traffic Fatalities Rural vs Urban

You might not think so, but more accidents happen in rural environments than in urban environments.

Fatalities by Person Type

Did you also know that some vehicles are more likely to be in an accident than others?

Fatalities by Crash Type

Have you ever wondered what types of vehicles cause the most fatalities?

Crashes in Pennsylvania involving a roadway departure had the most fatalities in 2017.

Ten Counties in Pennsylvania With the Most Traffic Fatalities

Don’t go anywhere! Below is a list of the top 10 counties where crashes have occurred for the last five years.

Fatalities Involving Speeding by County

Fatalities in Crashes Involving an Alcohol-Impaired Driver (BAC = .08+) by County

Sadly, drinking and driving is also a major cause of car accidents that result in death.

Teen Drinking and Driving

Pennsylvania ranks 19th in the United States for underage drinking and driving.

EMS Response Time

The amount of time it takes for an EMS responder to show up at the scene of an accident is a vital factor – especially when someone’s life hangs in the balance.

Obviously, it’s going to take more time to get to someone who lives out in a rural area, than it would be to get to someone in a city.

Look at the EMS response times for your city on this list below:

Transportation

Have you ever wondered how many cars are on the road in your state?

Car Ownership in Pennsylvania

Below is a chart showing the number of cars owned per family in the state in Pennsylvania in 2016.

Commute Time

We already know the amount of distance you drive each day affects your insurance rate. But, what is the average travel time drivers spend each day in Pennsylvania?

According to the above chart, employees in Pennsylvania have a longer commute time (25.6 minutes) than the normal US worker (25.3 minutes). Additionally, 2.94 percent of the workforce in Pennsylvania have “super commutes” in excess of 90 minutes.

Commuter Transportation

This chart illustrates that in 2016, the most common method of travel for workers in Pennsylvania was to drive alone. Carpooling and public transportation were not as popular.

Traffic Congestion in Pennsylvania

According to Inrix, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia are two of the most traffic-congested cities in the United States.

In fact, Pittsburgh ranks 7th on the list for most congested cities in the U.S., and Philadelphia ranks 9th.

Now that you have a good understanding of Pennsylvania auto insurance companies, types of auto insurance, and reasons to have great coverage, start shopping and comparing auto insurance rates and use our free tool by entering your zip code here.