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Cheapest liability-only car insurance
Auto-Owners has the cheapest liability car insurance at $27 per month, but more drivers can get affordable coverage with more widely available GEICO.
Published April 20, 20226 min read
Liability insurance is the part of your policy that covers the injuries and damage to another person’s car after an accident that’s your fault. Almost every state requires at least some amount of liability insurance, and getting just the amount of coverage required in your state is usually called “liability-only.”
Our analysis of rate data found that Auto-Owners Insurance has the cheapest liability-only car insurance at $27 a month, though GEICO is available in more states. USAA and Erie are the cheapest liability-only companies for members of the military and people looking for the best service, respectively.
Cheapest liability-only car insurance from a big company: GEICO
Cheapest liability-only car insurance for people in the military: USAA
Best cheap liability-only car insurance for customer service: Erie
What is the cheapest liability car insurance?
Our analysis found that the cheapest liability car insurance company is Auto-Owners Insurance. Along with Auto-Owners Insurance, MAPFRE is another smaller company that also has cheap liability-only auto insurance. While these insurance companies tend to offer low-cost liability insurance, they only sell coverage in some states.
Of nationally available companies, GEICO has the cheapest liability car insurance. USAA is another major company with cheap liability insurance, but it’s only available to active and retired members of the military and their families.
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While GEICO and USAA are two of the cheapest companies for liability-only insurance, they’re also some of the best in terms of the flexibility that they offer. If you decide you want more than liability-only insurance in the future, you can upgrade to full coverage with these companies and still pay less than $100 per year.
| Rank | Company | Liability-only insurance | Full-coverage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Auto-Owners Insurance | $27 | $101 |
| 2 | MAPFRE | $28 | $89 |
| 3 | USAA | $31 | $94 |
| 4 | Erie | $31 | $96 |
| 5 | GEICO | $34 | $98 |
| 6 | State Farm | $40 | $103 |
| 7 | Farm Bureau | $40 | $127 |
| 8 | COUNTRY Financial | $44 | $126 |
| 9 | Average | $51 | $1,801 |
| 10 | Nationwide | $52 | $131 |
| 11 | National General | $52 | $148 |
| 12 | The Hartford | $54 | $181 |
| 13 | American Family | $56 | $126 |
| 14 | Travelers | $57 | $132 |
| 15 | Kemper | $57 | $141 |
| 16 | Auto Club Group | $59 | $226 |
| 17 | Progressive | $61 | $151 |
| 18 | Allstate | $63 | $166 |
| 19 | Shelter Insurance | $63 | $170 |
| 20 | CSAA | $64 | $211 |
| 21 | Farmers | $65 | $164 |
| 22 | Amica | $68 | $144 |
| 23 | Sentry Insurance | $89 | $313 |
| 24 | Mercury Insurance | $90 | $214 |
| 25 | The Hanover | $124 | $320 |
Table shows the monthly costs of a liability-only and full-coverage insurance policy. The liability-only policy comes with the minimum amounts of liability coverage and any other required types of insurance that drivers must carry in each state.
Should you get liability-only insurance?
No, unless you can’t afford more than the minimum amount of coverage your state requires, you should not get a policy with just liability-only insurance.
If you cause an accident that results in serious injuries or the death of another person and you have liability-only insurance, you’ll be on the hook for any costs that exceed your limits.
It’s also pretty affordable to add more liability coverage to your policy — so you should buy as much as you can. We found that a policy with $100,000 of bodily injury liability coverage per person and $300,000 per accident is only 5% more expensive than a policy with just $50,000 of bodily injury coverage per person and $100,000 per accident.
→ Estimate your cost of car insurance for the coverage level you want
Cheapest liability-only car insurance: Auto-Owners
Auto-Owners Insurance
Auto-Owners has the cheapest liability-only auto insurance, but the company offers policies in only 26 states.
The cost of liability-only car insurance from Auto-Owners Insurance is just $27 per month (or $327 per year). This means Auto-Owners has the lowest average rates around — 47% cheaper than the average cost of coverage nationally.
While Auto-Owners is the best company for cheap liability insurance, coverage isn’t available everywhere. Auto-Owners only offers car insurance in 26 states, but drivers in California, Texas, and New York won’t be able to take advantage of the company’s cheap rates.
States where you can get car insurance with Auto-Owners shown in orange.
Cheapest liability-only car insurance from a big company: GEICO
GEICO
4.6
Policygenius rating
How we score: Policygenius’ ratings are determined by our editorial team. Our methodology takes multiple factors into account, including pricing, financial ratings, quality of customer service, and other product-specific features.
GEICO’s minimum liability car insurance policies are just $402 per year and available in every state.
Read our full GEICO car insurance review
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On average, the cost of a liability insurance policy from GEICO is $34 per month (or $402 per year). This is 35% cheaper than the overall average cost of liability insurance. If you decide you want more coverage than a liability-only policy, GEICO remains the most affordable company for full coverage.
While GEICO is $35 more expensive per year than Auto-Owners for liability car insurance, it’s available in every state. This means more people can get cheap liability insurance quotes from GEICO. Available discounts for your vehicle, your driving habits, and your personal record also mean more chances to get even cheaper coverage with GEICO.
Cheapest liability-only car insurance for people in the military: USAA
USAA
One of four companies that offers liability-only insurance for less than $400 per year, USAA is only available to active and retired members of the military.
While it’s slightly more expensive than the smaller Auto-Owners and MAPFRE, USAA has cheaper liability-only insurance than GEICO. On average, the cost of liability insurance only (plus your state’s other required insurance coverages) is just $31 per month with USAA.
Although USAA’s liability car insurance rates are much cheaper than average, the company offers fewer discounts than some competitors. Also, only active, reserve, and retired members of the military — and their families — will qualify for coverage.
Best cheap liability-only car insurance for customer service: Erie
Erie
3.9
Policygenius rating
How we score: Policygenius’ ratings are determined by our editorial team. Our methodology takes multiple factors into account, including pricing, financial ratings, quality of customer service, and other product-specific features.
Compared to other companies Erie best combines low rates for liability-only insurance with highly rated customer service.
Read our full Erie car insurance review
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Erie is the best company if you want to balance outstanding customer service with cheap liability-only car insurance. The cost of liability insurance from Erie is just $31 per month (or $370 per year). This is cheaper than GEICO and virtually the same price as USAA.
In addition to cheap costs, Erie has consistently highly rated customer service. In 2021, Erie placed third behind USAA and The Hartford for customer satisfaction on J.D. Power’s Claims Satisfaction Study. [1] Erie also receives a much lower number of complaints from its customers, according to the NAIC. [2]
What does liability car insurance cost?
Liability-only car insurance costs $52 per month (or $620 per year) on average. Keep in mind that despite its name, “liability-only insurance” still has to include the minimum required amounts of the other coverages that your state requires.
The cost of liability insurance varies significantly depending on where you live. The most expensive state for liability car insurance is Florida, while the cost of coverage is cheapest in Iowa.
| State | Liability-only cost | Minimum liability limits |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $611 | $25,000/$50,000/$25,000 |
| Alaska | $433 | $50,000/$100,000/$25,000 |
| Arizona | $640 | $25,000/$50,000/$15,000 |
| Arkansas | $524 | $25,000/$50,000/$25,000 |
| California | $601 | $15,000/$30,000/$5,000 |
| Colorado | $544 | $25,000/$50,000/$15,000 |
| Connecticut | $949 | $25,000/$50,000/$25,000 |
| Delaware | $988 | $25,000/$50,000/$10,000 |
| District of Columbia | $678 | $25,000/$50,000/$10,000 |
| Florida | $1,253 | $10,000 property damage |
| Georgia | $817 | $25,000/$50,000/$25,000 |
| Hawaii | $424 | $20,000/$40,000/$10,000 |
| Idaho | $400 | $25,000/$50,000/$15,000 |
| Illinois | $558 | $25,000/$50,000/$20,000 |
| Indiana | $453 | $25,000/$50,000/$25,000 |
| Iowa | $317 | $20,000/$40,000/$15,000 |
| Kansas | $493 | $25,000/$50,000/$25,000 |
| Kentucky | $931 | $25,000/$50,000/$10,000 |
| Louisiana | $993 | $15,000/$30,000/$25,000 |
| Maine | $448 | $50,000/$100,000/$25,000 |
| Maryland | $898 | $30,000/$60,000/$15,000 |
| Massachusetts | $612 | $20,000/$40,000/$5,000 |
| Michigan | $888 | $50,000/$100,000/$10,000 |
| Minnesota | $547 | $30,000/$60,000/$10,000 |
| Mississippi | $543 | $25,000/$50,000/$25,000 |
| Missouri | $564 | $25,000/$50,000/$10,000 |
| Montana | $497 | $25,000/$50,000/$10,000 |
| Nebraska | $424 | $25,000/$50,000/$25,000 |
| Nevada | $958 | $25,000/$50,000/$20,000 |
| New Hampshire | $462 | Optional |
| New Jersey | $1,154 | $15,000/$30,000/$5,000 |
| New Mexico | $459 | $25,000/$50,000/$10,000 |
| New York | $974 | $25,000/$50,000/$10,000 |
| North Carolina | $423 | $30,000/$60,000/$25,000 |
| North Dakota | $406 | $25,000/$50,000/$25,000 |
| Ohio | $386 | $25,000/$50,000/$25,000 |
| Oklahoma | $496 | $25,000/$50,000/$25,000 |
| Oregon | $769 | $25,000/$50,000/$20,000 |
| Pennsylvania | $501 | $15,000/$30,000/$5,000 |
| Rhode Island | $868 | $25,000/$50,000/$25,000 |
| South Carolina | $779 | $25,000/$50,000/$25,000 |
| South Dakota | $339 | $25,000/$50,000/$25,000 |
| Tennessee | $460 | $25,000/$50,000/$15,000 |
| Texas | $643 | $30,000/$60,000/$25,000 |
| Utah | $672 | $25,000/$65,000/$15,000 |
| Vermont | $380 | $25,000/$50,000/$10,000 |
| Virginia | $570 | $25,000/$50,000/$20,000 |
| Washington | $619 | $25,000/$50,000/$10,000 |
| West Virginia | $626 | $25,000/$50,000/$25,000 |
| Wisconsin | $348 | $25,000/$50,000/$10,000 |
| Wyoming | $321 | $25,000/$50,000/$20,000 |
Table shows the annual costs of a liability-only insurance policy. The liability-only policy comes with the minimum amounts of liability coverage and any other required types of insurance that drivers must carry in each state. The minimum limits show the required amounts of bodily injury liability per person, per accident, and property damage liability.
→ Read more about car insurance costs by location and coverage levels
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How do you get liability insurance only?
You’ll only be able to get a policy with only liability insurance if your state doesn’t require any other types of coverage. While some states require drivers to get other types of coverage, like uninsured motorist and personal injury protection, nearly half require only liability coverage.
If you want a policy with only the minimum amount of liability insurance, it’s easy to make sure you’re not driving with less coverage than what’s legal. Whether you get quotes online from an insurance company’s site or compare quotes with Policygenius, you won’t be allowed to request rates for less than the legal amount of insurance required where you live.
You could also consider getting broad form car insurance if it’s available near you and you just want enough coverage to meet your state’s requirements. Broad form insurance is cheaper than even a minimum liability policy, but only one driver is allowed to use the insured vehicle. You also wouldn’t be able to add comprehensive or collision coverage to a broad form policy.
→ Read about how to shop for auto insurance, no matter the coverage you want
What does liability car insurance cover?
Liability insurance refers to your policy’s bodily injury liability (BIL) and property damage liability (PDL). Together, your liability coverage pays for the costs of injuries and property damage that you cause to another driver and their vehicle. If you’re at fault for a crash, liability coverage can cover:
Medical bills for the other driver and their passengers
Repairs to the other driver’s car
Costs of other damaged property, like fences, furniture, and structures
Legal fees if you’re sued by the other driver
Bail if you’re jailed after an accident
Your liability insurance doesn’t cover damage to your own car or medical expenses for your injuries. You’d need to have added collision coverage or comprehensive coverage to your policy to avoid paying for the damage yourself.
→ Read our in-depth breakdown of liability auto insurance
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has the cheapest liability insurance?
On average, Auto-Owners Insurance has the cheapest liability car insurance. But because Auto-Owners insurance offers coverage in 26 states, GEICO, which is available nationwide, is the cheapest option for most people.
What does it mean to only have liability insurance?
If you only have liability insurance, then you have a policy with only bodily injury and property damage liability coverage, along with any other types of insurance required by your state.
Why would someone only carry liability insurance?
Some drivers only carry liability insurance to save money on their car insurance. While carrying only liability insurance leaves you unprotected from serious accidents and from certain types of damage, it’s far cheaper to get a bare-bones policy than it is to carry full coverage.
How much liability insurance do you need?
The amount of liability insurance you need depends on your state’s laws. Even after you get enough coverage to meet your state’s requirements, we recommend getting as much liability insurance as you can afford so you don’t have to pay for the cost of medical bills or serious property damage on your own.
Methodology
Policygenius analyzed the cost of car insurance for a liability-only and full-coverage policy using rates provided by Quadrant Information Services for every ZIP code across the country, plus Washington, D.C. For liability-only policies, we analyzed rates for policies that met the state’s minimum required limits of coverage. 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
Rates for overall average rate, rates by ZIP code, and cheapest companies determined using averages for single drivers age 30. Our sample vehicle was a 2017 Toyota Camry LE driven 10,000 miles/year.
Some carriers may be represented by affiliates or subsidiaries. Rates provided are a sample of costs. Your actual quotes may differ.
References
Last updated on
April 20, 2022 |
Sources
Policygenius uses external sources, including government data, industry studies, and reputable news organizations to supplement proprietary marketplace data and internal expertise. Learn more about how we use and vet external sources as part of our
editorial standards.J.D. Power
. "
2021 Auto Insurance Claims Satisfaction Study." Accessed April 20, 2022.
National Association of Insurance Commissioners
. "
Complaint Index." Accessed April 20, 2022.
Author
Andrew Hurst
Senior Editor & Licensed Auto Insurance Expert
