The best car insurance in Knoxville, TN

Meredith Napolitano

Published November 9, 2021

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The average cost of a full coverage car insurance policy in Knoxville is $1,278, slightly less than the Tennessee state average of $1,329.

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Auto insurance rates in Tennessee and Knoxville are already lower than the national average, but there are still ways to save money on your car insurance. Policygenius can help you see quotes from top companies so you can.

Key Takeaways

State Farm has the lowest average rate for full coverage in Knoxville at $757 per year
USAA offered the second cheapest coverage, at an average cost of $831 a year
Tennessee requires at least $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident in bodily image liability and $15,000 in property damage liability
Personal injury protection and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage are optional in Tennessee

Cheapest car insurance companies in Knoxville, TN

Your ZIP code, driving history, and age are some of the factors that go into what you’ll be charged for car insurance.

An insurance company will look at all these data points when setting your rates, but since each company has its own system, the company you choose can also have a big impact on what you’ll pay. Two companies can offer very different rates for the same driver.

State Farm

$757

881

USAA

$831

890

GEICO

$951

871

Auto-Owners Insurance

$1,029

890

Erie

$1,156

880

Cheapest car insurance rates by ZIP code in Knoxville, TN

Your ZIP code is one of the biggest factors in determining your insurance rates. The number of traffic tickets, accidents, parking options, and car thefts reported in your area will all impact what you’ll pay for coverage.

37902

$1,293

37909

$1,261

37912

$1,268

37914

$1,284

37915

$1,284

37916

$1,286

37917

$1,294

37918

$1,270

Choosing the right car insurance company in Knoxville, TN

The right car insurance policy is different for every driver. Some drivers are looking for value, some are willing to pay more if it means getting top-notch customer service, and some need specific coverages for their situation, like high-risk drivers or drivers with nonstandard cars. Policygenius can help you see options from top companies, so you can be sure you’re choosing the right one for you.

Car insurance rates for drivers with driving violations in Knoxville, TN

Any accidents or violations on your record will negatively impact your rates, and if you have too many infractions, you may find it difficult to find coverage at all.

The more serious the violation, the longer it will stay on your record and the more it will negatively impact your rate. But after enough time has passed, most violations “fall off” your record. If you keep your driving history clean in the years following an accident, your rates may eventually go down again.

At-fault Accident

$912

$1,271

$1,724

$2,327

$1,659

DUI

$840

$1,680

$1,807

$3,231

$1,981

Driving with a suspended license

$840

$1,621

$2,528

$3,231

$1,659

Driving with an open container

$840

$1,179

$1,807

$1,744

$1,334

Driving with expired registration

$840

$1,052

$1,097

$1,049

$1,334

Driving without Lights

$840

$1,052

$1,140

$1,049

$1,334

Failure to show documents

$840

$1,052

$1,097

$1,049

$1,334

Failure to stop at a red light

$840

$1,052

$1,140

$1,049

$1,334

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with bad credit in Knoxville, TN

Drivers with bad credit are considered a higher risk to insure, and will typically pay more for car insurance. However, your credit score is not the only factor companies use, and age, driving history, and ZIP code all have a bigger impact. If your other factors are favorable and you are working to increase your credit score, you can still find affordable coverage.

GEICO

$1,438

USAA

$1,554

Nationwide

$1,689

Tennessee Farmers Mutual Insurance

$1,697

Grange Insurance

$1,811

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Buying car insurance in Knoxville, TN

Tennessee law requires drivers to have a minimum amount of liability insurance. The Tennessee minimum requirements are $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident in body liability coverage and $15,000 in property damage liability coverage. Personal injury protection and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage are optional in Tennessee.

Tennessee is an at-fault state, which means that in the case of an accident, the driver found at-fault for the accident will be legally and financially responsible for the damage and injuries resulting from the accident. Having higher levels of liability coverage is the best way to make sure you are protected in the event of an at-fault accident. Carrying comprehensive and collision coverage are important if you cannot afford to repair or replace your vehicle out-of-pocket after an accident.

How to get cheap car insurance in Knoxville, TN

Knoxville drivers can take advantage of any applicable insurance discounts to help them save on their car insurance costs. Some of the most common are:

Bundling discount
Safe driver discount
Multi-vehicle discount
Good student discount
Accident free discount
Low mileage discount
Military discount

If you are not eligible for any discounts, you can still find the cheapest rates for you by comparing quotes before you buy.

Frequently asked questions

What violations impact my insurance premiums the most in Knoxville, TN?

The violation with the biggest impact on your insurance premium is an at-fault accident, followed by a DUI. Driving with a suspending license, driving with an open container, and driving with expired registration are all citations that will impact your insurance premiums negatively.

Will my gender impact my insurance rates in Knoxville?

There is no law that prohibits basing premiums on gender in Tennessee, so your gender will be factored into your insurance risk score. In general however, gender will not make a noticeable difference in your rates.

What is collision coverage?

Collision coverage covers the cost of repairing your own car after an accident, no matter who was at fault. So if you hit another driver or back into a tree, collision coverage pays for the cost of repairs. It’s an optional coverage by law, but drivers who lease or have a car loan are probably required to add it to their policies.

Methodology

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.

Meredith Napolitano

Freelance contributor

As a content writer, Meredith has written most extensively about home renovation, vocational training, the automotive industry, real estate, family law, and data protection.