Best car insurance in Delaware (2024)

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Ed ZuccarelliFreelance contributorEd Zuccarelli is a freelance writer and former police officer whose law enforcement experience made him an expert in motor vehicle law and the car insurance industry.&Andrew HurstSenior Editor & Licensed Auto Insurance ExpertAndrew Hurst is a senior editor and a licensed auto insurance expert at Policygenius. His work has also been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, USA Today, NPR, Mic, Insurance Business Magazine, ValuePenguin, and Property Casualty 360.

Edited by

Anna SwartzAnna SwartzSenior Managing EditorAnna Swartz is a senior managing editor who specializes in home, auto, renters, and disability insurance at Policygenius. Previously, she was a senior staff writer at Mic and a writer at The Dodo. Her work has also appeared in Salon, HuffPost, MSN, AOL, and Heeb.
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Maria FilindrasMaria FilindrasFinancial AdvisorMaria Filindras is a financial advisor, a licensed Life & Health insurance agent in California, and a member of the Financial Review Council at Policygenius.

Updated|3 min read

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Delaware drivers pay an average of $2,144 for full coverage car insurance, which is about $500 more per year than the national average. But even in a small state like Delaware, rates vary: in Rehoboth Beach, the average cost of care insurance is $1,780, but drivers in Wilmington pay an average of $2,692 for the same coverage.

Ready to shop car insurance?

The best way to find affordable car insurance coverage is to shop around and compare rates before you buy. Policygenius can show you what you’ll pay with top car insurance companies, so you can choose the policy that’s right for you.

Key takeaways

  • State Farm has the lowest average rates in the state at $1,166.

  • For Delaware drivers with poor credit, GEICO offers the lowest average rate.

  • Delaware requires at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident in bodily injury liability coverage and property damage liability coverage of $10,000.

  • Personal Injury Protection (PIP) is also required in Delaware.

Methodology & why you can trust our rates

Policygenius has analyzed car insurance rates provided by Quadrant Information Services for every ZIP code in all 50 states plus Washington, D.C. For full coverage policies, the following coverage limits were used:

  • Bodily injury liability: 50/100

  • Property damage liability: $50,000

  • Uninsured/underinsured motorist: 50/100

  • Comprehensive: $500 deductible

  • Collision: $500 deductible

In some cases, additional coverages were added where required by state or insurer.

Rates for overall average rate, rates by ZIP code, and cheapest companies determined using averages for single drivers ages 30, 35, and 45. Our sample vehicle was a 2017 Toyota Camry LE driven 10,000 miles/year.

Rates for driving violations and “Poor” credit determined using average rates for a single male 30-year-old driver with a credit score under 578.

Some carriers may be represented by affiliates or subsidiaries. Rates provided are a sample of costs. Your actual quotes may differ.

Cheapest car insurance companies in Delaware

Personal details like your age, gender, and driving history, as well as where you live and what kind of car you drive all go into setting the rates for your car insurance. 

Because no two drivers are the same, the cheapest company for one driver isn’t necessarily going to be the best buy for you. That’s why you should always take the time to shop around and compare quotes before picking a policy.

Company

Average cost

JD Power Rating

State Farm

$1,166

882

Travelers

$1,308

854

USAA

$1,338

890

GEICO

$1,484

874

California Casualty

$1,715

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Cheapest car insurance companies by age in Delaware

In Delaware and elsewhere, younger drivers pay more for car insurance than more experienced drivers. If you're insuring a teenager, you can pay less by looking for savings, like good driver discounts, or adding your teen to your own policy rather than buying a standalone policy for them.

Rates typically drop as younger drivers gain experience, especially if they maintain a safe driving record.

Age

Cheapest company

Average cost

16

State Farm

$4,290

18

USAA

$3,123

21

USAA

$1,959

25

Travelers

$1,370

30

State Farm

$1,176

35

State Farm

$1,157

45

State Farm

$1,163

55

Travelers

$1,094

65

State Farm

$1,079

70

State Farm

$1,138

60

State Farm

$1,084

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Choosing the right car insurance company in Delaware

There’s no one right car insurance company that will offer the best rates to every driver. Always make sure to compare companies; rates change from city to city, and even between individual ZIP codes.

Policygenius can help you see options from top companies so you can be sure you’re choosing the best option for your needs.

Car insurance rates for drivers with driving violations in Delaware

Insurance companies consider a less than perfect driving record as an indicator of future claims. More severe violations, like an at-fault accident, will raise your rates more than, say, expired registration.

The more accidents or moving violations in your recent driving history, the more you’ll pay for car insurance coverage.

Violation

State Farm

Travelers

USAA

GEICO

California Casualty

At-fault accident

$1,397

$1,360

$1,419

$3,005

$2,624

DUI

$1,287

$2,232

$2,573

$3,488

$4,248

Suspended license

$1,287

$2,232

$2,505

$4,242

$4,248

Open container

$1,287

$2,232

$2,136

$3,488

$4,248

Expired registration

$1,287

$1,360

$1,419

$2,229

$2,063

Driving without lights

$1,287

$1,857

$1,832

$2,229

$2,063

Running a red light

$1,287

$1,857

$1,832

$2,229

$2,063

Following too closely

$1,287

$1,360

$1,832

$2,229

$2,063

Hit and run

$1,287

$2,232

$2,638

$4,041

$4,248

Not-at-fault accident

$1,176

$1,667

$1,419

$1,764

$1,754

Passing a school bus

$1,287

$1,857

$2,136

$2,229

$2,063

Reckless driving

$1,287

$2,232

$2,304

$4,041

$4,248

Speeding

$1,287

$2,232

$1,832

$4,041

$2,063

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Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a DUI in Delaware

Company

Rates for drivers with DUIs

State Farm

$1,287

Travelers

$2,232

USAA

$2,573

GEICO

$3,488

California Casualty

$4,248

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a speeding ticket in Delaware

Company

Rates for drivers with speeding tickets

State Farm

$1,287

USAA

$1,832

California Casualty

$2,063

Travelers

$2,232

GEICO

$4,041

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with bad credit in Delaware

Drivers with poor credit generally pay more for coverage, so if you know your credit is bad, be extra sure to shop around and compare options before you buy.

In Delaware, drivers have the option to request that a company not do a credit check, and insurance companies can only use credit information when issuing a new policy, not for renewals.

Company

Rates for drivers with bad credit

GEICO

$2,178

Travelers

$2,459

USAA

$2,460

California Casualty

$2,889

Progressive

$3,080

Car insurance costs in Delaware cities

Where you live impacts what you pay for car insurance, because companies will consider things like accident rates, reports of car theft and vandalism, even average repair costs in your neighborhood. Here’s what drivers pay, on average, in the 10 biggest cities in Delaware:

  • Wilmington: $2,692

  • Dover: $1,980

  • Newark: $2,328

  • Middletown: $2,101

  • Smyrna: $2,091

  • Milford: $1,895

  • Seaford: $1,918

  • Georgetown: $1,895

  • New Castle: $2,593

  • Millsboro: $1,887

Ready to shop car insurance?

Buying car insurance in Delaware

Delaware requires that all drivers have at least the following levels of coverage, all though most drivers need well over the state minimums in order to be fully protected:

  • Bodily injury liability coverage per person: $25,000

  • Bodily injury liability coverage per accident: $50,000

  • Property damage liability coverage: $10,000

  • Personal Injury Protection (PIP): $15,000 per person; $30,000 per accident

Even though Delaware is an at-fault state, drivers are required to have a minimum amount of Personal Injury Protection (PIP), which pays medical expenses and related costs if you or your passengers are injured in a car accident, even if another driver was at fault.

How to get cheap car insurance in Delaware

Car insurance can be expensive, but there are a few simple strategies to making sure you’re getting your best car insurance rates:

  • Always compare costs when buying car insurance, and reshop every time your policy is up for renewal

  • Take advantage of discounts, like savings for safe driving and paying your premium up front as opposed to monthly

  • Bundle more than one policy, like auto and home or renters, with one insurance company to take advantage of multi-policy savings

Frequently asked questions

Which company in Delaware has the cheapest car insurance?

On average, car insurance from State Farm tends to be the cheapest in Delaware. Drivers may also find affordable coverage from USAA, Travelers, and GEICO.

How much is car insurance per month in Delaware?

On average, the monthly cost of car insurance in Delaware is $179 (or $2,144 per year). This makes it more expensive than the national average cost of coverage.

What is the minimum car insurance in Delaware?

Drivers in Delaware must carry at least $25,000 of bodily injury liability coverage per person, $50,000 per accident, and $10,000 of property damage liability. Delaware also requires $15,000 of personal property protection — though it's not a no-fault state.

What is the penalty for driving without insurance in Delaware?

If you cannot provide proof of insurance when asked, the state may suspend your license for six months, and impose fines ranging from $1,500 to $2,000. Another violation within three years carries even higher penalties.

Authors

Ed Zuccarelli is a freelance writer and former police officer whose law enforcement experience made him an expert in motor vehicle law and the car insurance industry.

Andrew Hurst is a senior editor and a licensed auto insurance expert at Policygenius. His work has also been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, USA Today, NPR, Mic, Insurance Business Magazine, ValuePenguin, and Property Casualty 360.

Editor

Anna Swartz is a senior managing editor who specializes in home, auto, renters, and disability insurance at Policygenius. Previously, she was a senior staff writer at Mic and a writer at The Dodo. Her work has also appeared in Salon, HuffPost, MSN, AOL, and Heeb.

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