The vehicle requiring insurance is one of the primary factors when shopping around for the most affordable insurance for first-time drivers. Vehicles with higher performance, a lack of safety features, or high incidents of liability claims will cost much more to insure than more economical and safe models. The next list ranks auto insurance costs for the cheaper vehicles to insure.
| Make, Model, and Trim Level | Estimated Cost for Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Ford Escape XLT 2WD | $5,542 |
| Honda CR-V EX-L 4WD | $5,590 |
| Hyundai Elantra SE Touring Station Wagon | $5,928 |
| Toyota Prius | $5,978 |
| Volkswagen Jetta SE 2.5 Station Wagon | $6,316 |
| Chevrolet Impala LS | $6,522 |
| Toyota RAV4 4WD | $6,571 |
| Toyota Camry LE | $6,577 |
| Chevrolet Equinox LS 2WD | $6,571 |
| Ford F-150 FX4 4WD | $6,622 |
| Chevrolet Malibu LT | $6,629 |
| Dodge Grand Caravan Crew | $6,622 |
| Ford Explorer Limited AWD | $6,630 |
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Data rating is based on single female driver age 16, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and Colorado minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, and claim-free. Premium costs do not factor in vehicle garaging location which can impact price quotes considerably.
Looking at the rates, makes and models like the Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, and Hyundai Elantra are the most economical vehicles to insure for new drivers. Car insurance rates will be higher anyway because there is more liability exposure for first-time drivers, but generally speaking those particular vehicles will most likely have the least expensive rates available.
For new drivers, one of the big considerations that are looked at to determine insurance cost is where you live in Denver. Regions with more people or even just more weather-related claims will most likely have higher rates, whereas areas with less people or fewer weather incidents benefit from lower prices.
The next table lists the most expensive cities in Colorado for first-time drivers to purchase auto insurance in. Denver is ranked #2 costing $1,383 for car insurance, which is approximately $115 monthly.
| Rank | City | Annual Premium |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pueblo | $1,412 |
| 2 | Denver | $1,383 |
| 3 | Aurora | $1,375 |
| 4 | Lakewood | $1,324 |
| 5 | Commerce City | $1,314 |
| 6 | Thornton | $1,307 |
| 7 | Littleton | $1,306 |
| 8 | Northglenn | $1,303 |
| 9 | Security-Widefield | $1,291 |
| 10 | Ken Caryl | $1,287 |
| 11 | Brighton | $1,285 |
| 12 | Centennial | $1,278 |
| 13 | Colorado Springs | $1,277 |
| 14 | Arvada | $1,256 |
| 15 | Castle Rock | $1,248 |
| 16 | Westminster | $1,234 |
| 17 | Parker | $1,233 |
| 18 | Highlands Ranch | $1,229 |
| 19 | Boulder | $1,207 |
| 20 | Broomfield | $1,203 |
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Rate information is estimated as zip code location can modify premium rates substantially.
Best car insurance company in Colorado
Insuring your vehicle with a high-quality company can be rather challenging considering how many companies sell insurance in Denver. The company information listed below can help you choose which auto insurers to look at comparing rates with.
The ratings below include the largest companies in the United States, so companies that focus mainly on Colorado business are not included in this list. To check prices from these top insurers and more, just click here.
| Company | Value | Customer Service | Claims | Customer Satisfaction | A.M Best Rating | Overall Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USAA | 98 | 100 | 100 | 94% | A++ | 98.6 |
| American Family | 98 | 89 | 100 | 86% | A | 95.4 |
| State Farm | 88 | 93 | 96 | 90% | A++ | 92.4 |
| The Hartford | 94 | 92 | 90 | 89% | A+ | 91.7 |
| AAA Insurance | 88 | 89 | 95 | 91% | A | 91.2 |
| GEICO | 84 | 93 | 93 | 89% | A++ | 90.3 |
| The General | 89 | 91 | 89 | 88% | A- | 90 |
| Titan Insurance | 90 | 87 | 91 | 95% | A+ | 89.6 |
| Progressive | 84 | 91 | 93 | 87% | A+ | 89.5 |
| Allstate | 85 | 90 | 92 | 88% | A+ | 89.3 |
| Nationwide | 87 | 88 | 84 | 90% | A+ | 88.7 |
| Liberty Mutual | 84 | 87 | 93 | 88% | A | 88.5 |
| 21st Century | 85 | 86 | 87 | 88% | A | 86.7 |
| Esurance | 85 | 80 | 95 | 87% | A+ | 85.9 |
| Safeco | 85 | 85 | 85 | 86% | A | 85.8 |
| Travelers | 80 | 87 | 87 | 83% | A++ | 85.2 |
| Farmers Insurance | 78 | 87 | 88 | 79% | A | 84.3 |
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Data Source: Insure.com Best Car Insurance Companies
Impact of careless driving on car insurance rates
The easiest method to score good car insurance rates for new drivers is to be an attentive driver and have a clean driving record. The illustration below illustrates how traffic citations and at-fault claims increase insurance rates for different ages of insureds. The premium estimates are based on a single female driver, comp and collision included, $500 deductibles, and no other discounts are factored in.
In the previous example, the average cost of auto insurance per year with no violations or accidents is $2,102. Get written up for two speeding tickets and the average cost swells to $2,813, an increase of $710 each year. Then throw in one accident along with the two speeding tickets and the yearly cost of car insurance for first-time drivers jumps again to an average of $3,541. That’s an increase of $1,438, or $120 per month, just for not maintaining a clean driving record!
Types of discounts on Denver insurance rates
Car insurance companies that provide coverage for first-time drivers may also provide premium discounts that can lower rates by as much as 30% if you meet the requirements. The best car insurance companies and their offered discounts are outlined below.
- Esurance policyholders can earn discounts including emergency road assistance, good driver, anti-theft, Switch & Save, claim free, and paid-in-full.
- The Hartford includes discounts for driver training, vehicle fuel type, anti-theft, bundle, air bag, good student, and defensive driver.
- AAA offers premium reductions for good student, AAA membership discount, multi-policy, multi-car, and pay-in-full.
- GEICO discounts include seat belt use, multi-policy, anti-lock brakes, defensive driver, good student, multi-vehicle, and military active duty.
- State Farm may have discounts that include multiple autos, accident-free, driver’s education, passive restraint, good driver, and Steer Clear safe driver discount.
The diagram below illustrates the comparison of insurance prices with and without discounts. Data assumes a female driver, no accidents, no driving violations, Colorado state minimum liability limits, full physical damage coverage, and $1,000 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows the price with no discounts. The second bar shows the rates with passive restraint, continuous coverage, anti-theft, paperless filing, good student, and paid-in-full discounts applied. When taking advantage of discounts, theamount saved on car insurance for first-time drivers is 28% or $550.
Shop around and save
Denver car insurance rates are based on many factors that will increase or decrease your annual premium. Simply having a birthday, buying higher coverage limits, or having an accident can cause premium changes that can make some companies more affordable than others. Also, car insurance companies file new rates as often as every three months to ensure their profitability. Unexpectedly high claims can result in higher priced premiums, while lower claim levels can produce cheaper Denver car insurance rates.
For example, the chart below shows the cheapest car insurance in Denver, CO for a 35-year-old female driver with no accidents or violations, and a good credit history. If we estimate prices based on her personal profile, The Hartford has the best car insurance rates in Denver at $1,106 each year. This is $472 less than the average price paid by Colorado drivers of $1,578. Grange, USAA, Nationwide, and GEICO round out the rest of the most affordable Denver, CO auto insurance companies.
In this next rate comparison, we will give the driver in the first example a chargeable accident, less-than-perfect credit, and a speeding citation. Because each insurer has their own guidelines for establishing rates, comparing quotes may now present a completely different list of the cheapest car insurance companies in Denver as shown below.
Travelers now has the best auto insurance rate in Denver, CO with State Farm, American Family, Grange, and Progressive completing the list. This illustrates why consumers need to take the time to do a thorough rate comparison when trying to find affordable car insurance quotes for first-time drivers. Insurance rates are calculated by many factors and change dramatically, so the most economical option a year ago may now be priced much higher than other options.