What Full Coverage Insurance Costs on a Used Car

Full coverage on a used car typically costs $100 to $300 per month, but the actual price depends on the car's age, your driving record, where you live, and which insurance company you choose

Full coverage means comprehensive and collision insurance added to your liability policy. Liability is required by law in every state; comprehensive and collision are optional but required by lenders if you have a loan or lease. The cost varies so much between situations that any single number is misleading — a 2015 Honda Civic in Ohio costs far less to insure than a 2018 Jeep in Florida, even with the same driver.

The best way to find your actual cost is to get quotes from at least three companies using your real car, your real driving history, and your real address. Most insurers offer quotes online in minutes without requiring a phone call. The quotes will show you exactly what comprehensive and collision cost separately, so you can see the breakdown.

Key Takeaways

• Full coverage means comprehensive and collision insurance together, and costs vary widely based on the car's value, your age and driving record, and your location.
• A used car worth $10,000 typically costs less to insure with full coverage than one worth $20,000, because the insurance payout would be smaller.
• Deductibles of $500 or $1,000 are standard; raising your deductible lowers your monthly cost but means you pay more out of pocket if you have a claim.
• Getting quotes from multiple companies is the only way to find your real cost, because rates vary significantly even for identical cars and drivers.

How the car's age and value affect your premium

Insurance companies charge less for older used cars because the car itself is worth less. If you total a 2012 car worth $8,000, the insurance company pays $8,000. If you total a 2019 car worth $18,000, they pay $18,000. Comprehensive and collision premiums are based partly on this replacement cost, so newer used cars cost more to insure.

At some point, usually when a car is 10 to 15 years old, the monthly cost of full coverage exceeds what you would save in a claim. Many owners drop comprehensive and collision on older cars and keep only liability. You can do the math yourself: if full coverage costs $80 a month and your car is worth $5,000, you would need to go without a claim for more than five years just to break even.

How your driving record and age change the cost

A clean driving record — no accidents, no tickets in the past three to five years — qualifies you for the lowest rates most insurers offer. One at-fault accident or moving violation can raise your premium 20 to 40 percent. Multiple violations or an accident within the past year can double your cost or more.

Drivers under 25 and drivers over 65 pay significantly higher premiums than drivers aged 30 to 60, even with identical cars and clean records. Young drivers are statistically more likely to have an accident; older drivers are statistically more likely to have a serious one. These are actuarial facts, not judgments, and every company uses age as a rating factor.

How location affects what you pay

Your ZIP code is one of the largest cost factors because it reflects local accident rates, theft rates, and repair costs. Urban areas with heavy traffic and high theft rates cost more to insure than rural areas. A used car in Los Angeles or New York will cost substantially more than the same car in a small town, even if the driver has an identical record.

Some states also have higher minimum liability limits than others, and some states regulate how much insurers can charge. These state-level rules mean that the same car and driver will have different premiums in different states. If you are moving, get a quote in your new state before you move — the difference can be significant.

Deductibles and how they lower your monthly cost

A deductible is the amount you pay out of pocket when you file a claim. Standard deductibles are $500 and $1,000. Raising your deductible from $500 to $1,000 typically lowers your monthly premium by 15 to 30 percent, depending on the insurer and the car.

The tradeoff is that if you have a collision or comprehensive claim, you pay the higher amount before insurance pays the rest. If you have a $1,000 deductible and $3,500 in damage, you pay $1,000 and the insurer pays $2,500. Choose a deductible you can actually afford to pay if you need to — a lower monthly cost does not help if you cannot pay the deductible when a claim happens.

What comprehensive and collision actually cover

Collision insurance covers damage to your car from hitting another car, a tree, a guardrail, or any object. It covers accidents you cause and accidents caused by someone else (though if someone else caused it, their insurance should pay). Collision does not cover theft, weather, or vandalism.

Comprehensive insurance covers everything collision does not: theft, vandalism, weather damage, hitting an animal, and glass breakage. It covers damage that happens while your car is parked. Together, comprehensive and collision cover almost all damage to your car except normal wear and maintenance.

How to compare quotes and find the lowest cost

Get quotes from at least three companies — major national insurers like State Farm, Geico, and Progressive, plus regional or online-only companies in your state. Each quote should show the monthly cost for liability, comprehensive, and collision separately, so you can see what you are paying for each type of coverage.

When you compare quotes, use the same deductible, the same liability limits, and the same vehicle information across all three. Small differences in how you describe the car or how often you drive it can change the quote. Once you have three quotes with identical coverage, the lowest number is your answer — but check again in six months, because rates change and you may find a better price.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to get full coverage if I have a car loan?

Yes. Your lender requires comprehensive and collision as a condition of the loan. They want to protect their investment in the car. Once you own the car outright, full coverage becomes optional, though many owners keep it for peace of mind.

What happens if I get in an accident without collision insurance?

You pay for all repairs out of pocket. If the accident was someone else's fault, you can sue them or file a claim with their insurance, but that process takes time and is not may provide. Collision insurance handles it when ready — you pay your deductible and the insurer handles the rest.

Can I lower my full coverage cost without raising my deductible?

You can ask about discounts: bundling home and auto insurance, paying in full instead of monthly, taking a defensive driving course, or having safety features in your car. You can also shop around — rates vary significantly between companies for identical coverage. Getting three quotes usually finds you a lower price than staying with your current insurer.

Is full coverage worth it on a car worth $5,000?

It depends on whether you can afford to replace the car if it is totaled. If full coverage costs $60 a month and your car is worth $5,000, you break even after about seven years. If you plan to keep the car longer than that and can afford the deductible, full coverage makes financial sense.

Why did my full coverage quote go up?

Rates increase when your car gets older (lower value means lower payouts, but some companies raise rates on very old cars), when you have an accident or ticket, when you move to a higher-cost area, or when the insurance company raises rates across the board. Getting new quotes every six months helps you catch rate increases and switch if a competitor is cheaper.