Best car insurance in Knoxville, TN (2024)

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Meredith NapolitanoFreelance contributorAs a content writer, Meredith has written most extensively about home renovation, vocational training, the automotive industry, real estate, family law, and data protection.&Rachael BrennanSenior Editor & Licensed Auto Insurance ExpertRachael Brennan is a senior editor and a licensed auto insurance expert at Policygenius. Her work has also been featured in MoneyGeek, Clearsurance, Adweek, Boston Globe, The Ladders, and AutoInsurance.com.

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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|4 min read

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The average cost of a full coverage car insurance policy in Knoxville is $1,283, which is $46 cheaper per year than the statewide average Tennessee.

Ready to shop car insurance?

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 compare quotes from top companies and find the most affordable insurer for you.

Key Takeaways

  • USAA has the lowest average rate for full coverage in Knoxville at $831 per year

  • State Farm has the second-cheapest insurance rates for an average of $849 per year

  • Tennessee requires at least $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident in bodily image liability and $25,000 in property damage liability

  • Personal injury protection and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage are optional in Tennessee

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: $50,000 per person/$100,000 per accident

  • Property damage liability: $50,000

  • Uninsured/underinsured motorist: $50,000 per person/$100,000 per accident

  • 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 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.

Company

Average cost

JD Power Rating

USAA

$831

890

State Farm

$849

882

Auto-Owners Insurance

$966

865

GEICO

$1,037

874

Nationwide

$1,185

868

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.

ZIP code

Average cost

37920

$1,260

37932

$1,261

37931

$1,264

37909

$1,270

37922

$1,273

37998

$1,274

37912

$1,277

37919

$1,277

37918

$1,278

37914

$1,282

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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.

Violation

USAA

State Farm

Auto-Owners Insurance

GEICO

Nationwide

At-fault accident

$1,271

$1,023

$1,748

$1,878

$1,916

DUI

$1,680

$943

$2,467

$1,982

$2,369

Suspended license

$1,621

$943

$2,467

$2,779

$2,369

Open container

$1,179

$943

$1,283

$1,982

$1,444

Expired registration

$1,052

$943

$995

$1,197

$1,444

Driving without lights

$1,052

$943

$995

$1,240

$1,444

Running a red light

$1,052

$943

$995

$1,240

$1,444

Following too closely

$1,052

$943

$995

$1,240

$1,444

Hit and run

$1,744

$943

$2,467

$2,289

$2,369

Not-at-fault accident

$886

$862

$995

$1,028

$1,219

Passing a school bus

$1,179

$943

$1,426

$1,240

$1,444

Reckless driving

$1,179

$943

$2,467

$2,289

$2,369

Speeding

$1,052

$943

$3,414

$2,289

$1,444

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Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a DUI in Knoxville, TN

Getting a DUI or DWI will likely cause your car insurance rates to go up significantly. The average annual cost for car insurance in Knoxville is $1,283 per year, which is slightly lower than the state average, but drivers in Tennessee with a DUI pay an average of $2,477 per year, which is a 93% increase over the average car insurance rate in Knoxville.

But car insurance companies set their own rates, so some companies charge lower rates than others, even for drivers with a DUI. Our research shows that State Farm, USAA, and GEICO offer the lowest rates for drivers with a DUI in Knoxville.

Company

Rates for drivers with DUIs

State Farm

$943

USAA

$1,680

GEICO

$1,982

Nationwide

$2,369

Auto-Owners Insurance

$2,467

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a speeding ticket in Knoxville, TN

You may also see an increase in your car insurance rates if you get a speeding ticket. Drivers in Knoxville with a speeding ticket or moving violation pay an average of $1,932 per year for car insurance.

The easiest way for drivers with a speeding ticket to save money on their car insurance is to compare quotes from multiple companies. We found that State Farm, USAA, and Nationwide offer the lowest rates for drivers with a speeding ticket in Knoxville.

Company

Rates for drivers with speeding tickets

State Farm

$943

USAA

$1,052

Nationwide

$1,444

GEICO

$2,289

Auto-Owners Insurance

$3,414

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.

Company

Rates for drivers with bad credit

USAA

$1,554

GEICO

$1,571

Nationwide

$1,699

Tennessee Farmers Mutual Insurance

$1,700

Grange Insurance

$1,795

Ready to shop car insurance?

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 $25,000 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?

After an at-fault accident or DUI citation, your insurance rates will increase significantly if you live in Knoxville.

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.

Is Tennessee an at-fault state or a no-fault state?

Tennessee is an at-fault state, which means the driver who is at fault in an accident is responsible for any costs or expenses related to the accident. If you are at fault in an accident and don't have enough liability coverage, you will be expected to pay any additional costs out-of-pocket.

How much is car insurance per month in Tennessee?

The average cost of car insurance in Tennessee is $111 per month, or $1,329 per year.

Authors

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

Rachael Brennan is a senior editor and a licensed auto insurance expert at Policygenius. Her work has also been featured in MoneyGeek, Clearsurance, Adweek, Boston Globe, The Ladders, and AutoInsurance.com.

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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