Where to Find the Cheapest Car Insurance in Reno, Nevada

In Reno, Nevada, the average cost of minimum coverage car insurance is $809 per year. That's $223 less than the state average of $1,032 in Nevada.

Shopping around is your best bet if you want to find the best rates. For the same coverage, different insurers charge different rates.

The most affordable minimum coverage policy, for example, costs $466 per year, while the most expensive policy costs $1,079 — a 132 percent increase. Huge differences like this demonstrate why comparing quotes is so important.

Cheapest minimum coverage car insurance for minimum policy in Reno

State Farm offers the most affordable minimum coverage insurance in Reno. State Farm annual premiums are 42% less than the city average of $809 for minimum coverage.

For Reno residents, Progressive is the second-cheapest insurer. The annual rates for the company are on average $657. This is 19% less than the city average, but $191 more expensive per year than State Farm.

USAA charges Reno drivers $630 per year for minimum coverage, which is more than State Farm but less than Progressive. Get a quote from USAA if you or a qualifying member of your household are currently serving or have previously served in the military.

Because of the low annual premiums associated with such policies, minimum coverage may appear to be an appealing option. Nevada's minimum coverage consists of two parts:

• Bodily injury liability: Covers costs related to physical injuries sustained by another driver and their passengers if you're at fault in an accident.
• Property damage liability: Covers the costs you incur when you damage the property of another driver.

In Nevada, minimum coverage policies do not include any protection for your own vehicle. So, while these policies may be inexpensive, you risk being underinsured in the event of an accident.

Cheapest companies in Reno for full coverage insurance

Reno drivers can find the most affordable full coverage policies from State Farm, Progressive, and American Family. These three insurers charge an average of $1,719 per year for full coverage, which is 32% less than the city average of $2,514 per year.

Geico charges the least for Reno drivers who want to upgrade from a minimum-coverage policy to a full-coverage policy. A minimum-coverage policy costs $1,079, while a full-coverage policy costs $2,615 — a 142 percent increase.

USAA also provides affordable full coverage to Reno drivers. Only qualified military members, veterans, and some of their family members are eligible to buy USAA insurance, but they are likely to get a good deal. We discovered that full coverage from USAA costs an average of $1,765 per year, which is $748 less than the city average.

*USAA is only available to current and former military members and their families.

Policies with full coverage can cost three or four times as much as policies with minimal coverage. The additional cost is due to the addition of comprehensive and collision coverages to the state-mandated liability coverages.

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with prior accidents

Almost all insurers raise rates after an at-fault accident, but to varying degrees. State Farm, Allstate, and Farmers increased rates for these drivers the least in Reno.

When your driving record changes, always shop around. At-fault accidents are handled differently by insurance companies. Some companies, such as State Farm, raise rates by a few hundred dollars, while others, such as American Family, nearly double rates.

State Farm increased rates by only 19%, from $1,243 to $1,483 per year. Despite charging higher rates overall, Allstate and Farmers did not raise rates significantly after an accident. Annual Allstate premiums increased by 38%, from $3,192 to $4,389, while Farmers premiums increased by 43%, from $3,537 to $5,058.

Drivers with a history of accidents may have a more difficult time finding affordable insurance than drivers with a clean record. Insurers view an at-fault accident as an indication of increased risk and raise rates to compensate.

*USAA is not ranked because only military members (current and former) and their families are eligible.

Drivers who want to reduce the impact of an accident on their rates should inquire about discounts. Insurance companies provide discounts for a variety of reasons, ranging from your occupation to the installation of safety features in your vehicle to the successful completion of a defensive driving course. It never hurts to inquire whether your insurance company offers any additional discounts.

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with poor credit

When assessing risk and calculating rates, Nevada insurers frequently consider a driver's credit score. Drivers with higher credit scores are considered to be less risky and typically receive lower rates than drivers with lower credit scores. Drivers with excellent credit pay an average of $827 per year in Reno, while those with poor credit pay $2,991.

State Farm offers the most affordable rates to Reno drivers with bad credit. Annual rates for a full coverage policy were $1,896, which is $1,095 less than the national average.

*USAA is only available to current and former military members and their families.

Cheapest full coverage auto insurance for young drivers

Teen and young adult drivers are viewed by insurers as riskier investments than older drivers. Because of their inexperience, they are more likely to be involved in an accident.

Reno drivers can get the cheapest car insurance from State Farm and Progressive. Annual rates from both insurers are less than $4,000 on average.

Insurance for teen drivers will always be more expensive than insurance for adult drivers, but you can help cut costs by comparing quotes to find the best deal.

*USAA is not ranked because only military members (current and former) and their families are eligible. Our sample driver is an 18-year-old man.

If you are still unable to find affordable coverage after contacting several insurers, you can take the following steps to reduce your rates:

1. Inquire with your insurer about possible discounts.
2. Ask your parents if you can continue to use their plan.

Insurers frequently provide discounts to young drivers, such as a good student discount or a student away from home discount. Furthermore, by remaining on your parents' policy, you can benefit from the lower rates they receive as more experienced drivers, resulting in a lower overall cost.

Best car insurance companies in Reno by customer service

While most drivers prioritize low rates, it is also critical to find a dependable insurer. The best insurance companies process claims quickly, provide customer service 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and communicate clearly with policyholders.

It is critical to strike a balance between service and cost. Affordable premiums are important, but you also want an insurer who will pay your claims on time and answer your questions when you need them.

Reno drivers, fortunately, are well-positioned to strike this balance. According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, the insurers that consistently offered the most affordable rates — State Farm, Progressive, and American Family — also had the lowest number of complaints proportional to their market share.

Insurers were selected based on market share and quote availability. Complaint Index information is drawn from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. The national median for the Complaint Index is 1.0, meaning companies with a lower index provide better customer service compared to the median company. Market share information is drawn from S&P.

A low Complaint Index indicates that, when the insurer's market share is considered, a company received fewer complaints than would be expected.

Cost of car insurance in Reno by ZIP code

Insurers base their rates not only on the city you live in, but also on the ZIP code you live in. Certain neighborhoods have higher crime and congestion rates, which raises the risk level and the cost of protecting cars that drive and park in those areas.

The most expensive ZIP code in Reno for full coverage auto insurance is 89501, with residents paying an average of $2,613 per year. The cheapest ZIP code is 89510, where drivers pay an average of $2,376 per year.

Shop around if you live in one of Reno's more expensive ZIP codes to ensure you get a good deal. Before purchasing coverage, we recommend getting quotes from at least three local insurers. Different insurers calculate risk differently, and one may take your neighborhood into account more heavily than another.

Minimum car insurance requirements in Nevada

To drive legally in Nevada, you must have auto insurance that meets the state's mandatory minimum requirements. These prerequisites are as follows:

• $25,000 of bodily injury liability per person
• $50,000 of bodily injury liability per accident
• $20,000 of property damage liability per accident

This is the bare minimum of coverage that you can legally carry, and we generally advise drivers to carry more. Medical payments coverage can assist Nevada drivers in paying for injuries if your health insurer does not provide adequate coverage, whereas collision and comprehensive coverages assist in paying for damage to your vehicle both on and off the road.

Auto theft statistics in Reno

Reno has the highest rate of auto theft among Nevada's major cities. According to our analysis of FBI crime data from 2019, 4.64 cars are stolen for every 1,000 residents.

Methodology

This study's sample driver is a 30-year-old single male with a clean driving record, fair credit, and no accident history. For a full coverage policy, we gave him the following coverage limits:

Unless otherwise specified, this was the study's base policy.

The insurance rate data used in this LowCostInsurance analysis came from Quadrant Information Services. These rates, obtained publicly from insurer filings, are only for comparison purposes. Your quotes will most likely differ.