Cheap car insurance in Tennessee

Car insurance requirements in Tennessee

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

• Bodily injury liability: $50,000 per accident

• Property damage liability coverage: $15,000 per accident

*PRO TIP: Your lender may require collision and comprehensive insurance if you have a vehicle loan or lease.

Optional Car insurance coverage

Optional types of Auto insurance coverage vary by carrier and may Include:

• Full or comprehensive car insurance coverage

• Collision car insurance coverage

• GAP insurance

• Medical coverage

• Roadside assistance service packages

• Rental car reimbursement

• Uninsured motorist coverage

• Underinsured motorist coverage

What are the penalties for driving without Car insurance in Tennessee?

Driving with Auto insurance but no proof of insurance

In Tennessee, drivers who cannot provide insurance documentation are subject to a $25 fine. Falsely informing law enforcement officials about one’s insurance coverage is considered fraud.

Further, your license and registration may be suspended after 45 days unless proof is provided.

Driving without Insurance

You face having your license and registration suspended until proof of insurance can be provided, a $300 fine for the first offense, and a mandatory retaking of your driver’s license exam.

There is also a $65 restoration fee, a $50 fee to the safety commissioner, and mandatory carrying of an SR-22 certificate for three years.

Getting into an accident without Car insurance

It is a Class A misdemeanor if an accident you’re involved in causes injury or death while uninsured.

If found guilty, you may spend 11 months and 29 days in jail and pay a $2,500 fine. You must pay for accident-related expenses, including repairs and medical care, out of your own.

How much does Cheap car insurance cost in Tennessee?

Tennessee drivers pay an average of around $371/year for liability-only coverage and around $1340/year for full coverage.

What factors determine your Auto insurance premiums in Tennessee?

• The age of your vehicle

• The make and model

• Your age

• The zip code you live in

• Whether you’re single or married

• Your past driving history

Despite laws prohibiting discrimination based on gender, race, or credit history, there is clear statistical bias when determining insurance prices in these categories.

How does age affect your Auto insurance premiums in Tennessee?

Auto insurance companies generally agree that, within reason, the older the policyholder, the lower the risk of an accident. Teen drivers ages 16-19 have crash rates that are three times higher than drivers over 20 years old.

This is why auto insurance premiums are higher for teenagers.

Premiums typically begin falling at age 26 and continue until age 60, when they usually start rising again.

How does location affect your Car insurance premiums in Tennessee?

Insurance companies pool drivers into larger groups based on factors such as population density and crime rates.

For example, Tennesseans who live in less populated rural areas typically have a lower chance of break-ins and vandalism and a lower chance of getting in an accident (fewer drivers on the roads).

By contrast, someone who lives in a city like Nashville is at a greater risk of filing a claim.

This is reflected in insurance rates, with those in less populated areas typically paying less out of pocket.

How does marital status affect your Car insurance premiums in Tennessee?

Statistics have shown that married people have a decreased risk of getting involved in an accident. As a result, married people’s insurance premiums are lower than those of single people.

How does car type affect your Auto insurance premiums in Tennessee?

One of the primary considerations insurance firms use to calculate your premium is the type of automobile you drive.

For example, suppose the make and model you drive is considered a ‘sports car’. In that case, you’re at a higher risk of exhibiting dangerous driving behaviors.

Similarly, suppose you drive a luxury vehicle and get in an accident. In that case, the insurer knows they’ll have to pay more for repairs.

By contrast, an economical family sedan or minivan is considered a safe and reliable vehicle with lower repair costs. As such, premiums for this kind of vehicle tend to be much lower than that of a luxury or sports car.

How do the miles driven affect your Car insurance premiums in Tennessee?

To compensate for the higher risk posed by high mileage drivers, the average annual premium for those who rack up 20,000 miles or more on their vehicles tends to be around five percent more than those who drive 7,500 miles or less.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, drivers who utilize their cars for short, local errands rather than long commutes to and from work often have lower insurance rates.

How does your driving record affect your Car insurance premiums in Tennessee?

Tennessee auto insurance rate increases by violation (averages):

• Speeding 16-20mph over the limit – 27%

• Speeding 6-10mph over the limit – 25%

• Failure to show documents (such as proof of insurance) to law enforcement – 18%

• NOT at-fault accident – 6%

• Driving without lights – 20%

• Failure to wear a seatbelt – 18%

• Driving on expired registration – 21%

• 1 Comp claim – 8%

• 2 Comp claims – 14%

• Child safety restraint violation – 20%

• Cell phone use violation – 25%

• Illegal turn – 26%

• Failure to yield – 27%

• Improper passing – 27%

• Racing or Reckless driving – 89%

• Driving on a suspended license – 94%

• Leaving the scene of a crime – 97%

*These are just examples, and your mileage may vary greatly depending on your carrier. This is not an all-inclusive list but a selection of typical traffic infractions.

Cheapest car insurance in Tennessee for drivers with bad credit

What we’ve found is that there is a link between having poor credit and making vehicle insurance claims. This has led insurance carriers to consider factors like income and credit scores in determining how much to charge for coverage.

Industry data reveals that a Tennessee driver with low credit may expect to pay as much a $1,200 more yearly than a motorist with good credit.

Cheapest car insurance in Tennessee for young drivers

In Tennessee, rates for adolescent drivers are around twice as high as for drivers over 30.

Broadly speaking, insurance data shows that a younger driver’s average vehicle insurance premium is about $1778 per year (a considerable increase from that of an older driver).

SR-22 insurance

What is SR-22 Insurance in Tennessee?

The state of Tennessee has an accurate description for SR22 insurance. The Tennessee Department of Safety handles all filing for "proof of future financial responsibility." Or, in other words - SR-22 insurance.

Future, refers to the time period wherein an SR22 certificate would be required to be carried, which is usually anywhere from three to five years.

SR-22 Insurance in Tennessee is a certificate of financial responsibility verifying that a driver carries the minimum amount of liability insurance required by the state.

SR-22 insurance in Tennessee is only required for drivers convicted of serious traffic offenses.

When is an SR22 Required in Tennessee?

An SR22 is commonly needed to reinstate your driving privileges after a serious traffic violation. SR22s are required by Tennessee Law in some of the cases listed below.

• Driving under the influence (DUI)

• Driving with no insurance

• Multiple traffic violations in a short span of time

• Reckless driving violations

How Long Do You Need an SR-22 in Tennessee?

Tennessee drivers are required to maintain an SR22 insurance certificate for the length of the suspension or revocation period, usually for three to five years.

Be sure to renew it annually, as not doing so can result in a drivers license suspension. More serious offenses, like DUI, may result in a longer SR-22 requirement period.

If your SR-22 insurance is canceled or lapses, your car insurance provider is obligated to inform the Tennessee Department of Safety.

Upon completing the period of required SR-22 coverage, your insurance company will file a Financial Responsibility Cancellation Form with the state of TN.

How much does SR22 Insurance Cost in Tennessee?

The cost of SR-22 Insurance in Tennessee depends on several factors such as your age, driving record, and credit score, as well as the state of Tennessee's minimum liability requirements.

Your auto insurance company will charge you an SR-22 filing fee, which is usually around $50.

An SR-22 certificate itself does not directly increase insurance rates, it's the traffic violation that raises premiums.

The average annual cost of a car insurance premium for drivers with clean driving records in Tennessee is $431 for state minimum insurance coverage.

Cheapest Car insurance in TN for drivers with speeding tickets

Insurance premiums can increase by as much as 20 percent if a driver is convicted of speeding.

If you maintain a clean driving record for three years, your insurance premiums will start the get lower.

Cheapest car insurance for good drivers in Tennessee

If you maintain a clean driving record, your premiums will go down over time, and you might even get a “safe driver” discount, reduced deductibles, and other incentives to boot.

Cheapest car insurance rates in Tennessee by city

Bristol, TN, holds that title, with annual insurance premiums as low as $1,121 for full coverage.

Memphis has the highest prices around about $1,689/yr for full coverage.

Average annual Auto rates by other cities in Tennessee:

• Chattanooga = $1478

• Knoxville = $1486

• Clarksville = $1498

• Nashville = $1546

Car insurance price trends in Tennessee

In Tennessee, we saw an average increase of just $4 over the last year, with the typical driver in Tennessee paying around $1262/yr on average for full coverage.

Between 2018 and 2021, we saw a marked drop in the cost of auto insurance, going from $1506 down to $1262.

How to find Cheap car insurance in TN

Get Car insurance quotes from top auto insurance companies

At Insurance Navy, we make finding the cheapest auto insurance a breeze. We work with the top insurance carriers in Tennessee to provide you with the best coverage at the lowest possible price.

Car insurance lapses

Letting a policy lapse is a common mistake, especially among those who may not drive for an extended time (due to medical ailment or vehicle breakdown).

While not necessarily a red flag, a delay in coverage might disrupt your driving record and raise premiums.

Add Uninsured motorist coverage

According to data from the Insurance Information Institute, nearly 24% of Tennessee drivers drive without insurance. This represents a significant risk for you and your family.

Although paying for uninsured motorist coverage won’t save you upfront, it can end up paying off big time if you happen to get in an accident.