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Home › Understanding Auto Insurance › Types of Auto Insurance › Cheapest Liability-Only Auto Insurance in 2024 (Save With These 9 Companies!)
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Brandon Frady has been a licensed insurance agent and insurance office manager since 2018. He has experience in ventures from retail to finance, working positions from cashier to management, but it wasn’t until Brandon started working in the insurance industry that he truly felt at home in his career. In his day-to-day interactions, he aims to live out his business philosophy in how he treats hi.
Written by Brandon FradyLicensed Insurance Producer
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Jeff is a well-known speaker and expert in insurance and financial planning. He has spoken at top insurance conferences around the U.S., including the InsuranceNewsNet Super Conference, the 8% Nation Insurance Wealth Conference, and the Digital Life Insurance Agent Mastermind. He has been featured and quoted in Nerdwallet, Bloomberg, Forbes, U.S. News & Money, USA Today, and other leading fina.
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UPDATED: May 3, 2024
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UPDATED: May 3, 2024
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident auto insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one auto insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider. Our partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
6,434 reviews
6,434 reviews
Compare Rates → 2nd Cheapest Liability Coverage: Erie
1,814 reviews
1,814 reviews
Compare Rates → 3rd Cheapest Liability Coverage: Geico
19,116 reviews
19,116 reviews
Compare Rates →USAA has the cheapest liability auto insurance, with Erie Insurance and Geico coming in close behind with affordable liability insurance. All drivers must carry at least liability auto insurance to drive, as it is one of the types of auto insurance that is required by state laws.
Because every company offers liability insurance, there are plenty of affordable options to pick from. To see which company is right for you, take a look below.
Our Top 9 Company Picks: Cheapest Liability-Only Auto Insurance| Company | Rank | Monthly Rates | UBI Discount | Best For | Jump to Pros/Cons |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $22 | 30% | Military Members | USAA | |
| #2 | $22 | 20% | Filing Claims | Erie | |
| #3 | $30 | 25% | Many Discounts | Geico | |
| #4 | $32 | 30% | Roadside Assistance | AAA | |
| #5 | $33 | 30% | Agency Network | State Farm | |
 | #6 | $33 | 30% | Add-Ons | Auto-Owners |
| #7 | $37 | 30% | IntelliDrive Program | Travelers | |
 | #8 | $39 | 30% | Budgeting Tools | Progressive |
| #9 | $44 | 40% | Vanishing Deductible | Nationwide |
Read on to learn more about the cheap liability car insurance coverage companies, what liability insurance covers, and more. If you want to shop for cheap basic liability auto insurance right away, use our tool to compare rates.
Things to Remember
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Enter your ZIP code below to view companies that have cheap auto insurance rates.
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Enter your ZIP code below to view companies that have cheap auto insurance rates.
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Liability-only car insurance costs $45 monthly on average, but you can find rates as low as $30/mo from the top companies. Ultimately, l iability insurance costs depend on your driving record, vehicle, insurance company, location, and more.
Check out the table below to compare liability car insurance rates from the top companies by different driving records:
A ticket, DUI, or at-fault accident will raise liability insurance rates significantly. Learn more about the best auto insurance companies for high-risk drivers.
Liability insurance is necessary, as you need it to drive legally in most states. If you cause an accident, liability insurance pays for the other parties' medical and property damage bills. However, carrying enough liability coverage is important so you won’t exceed your limit after an accident and pay out of pocket.
Michelle Robbins Licensed Insurance Agent
The best way to find the cheapest rates is by shopping around and comparing auto insurance rates from different insurance companies in your area.
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So, what does liability only auto insurance cover? A liability insurance policy protects you if you cause an accident that injures others or damages their property.
Liability insurance consists of two parts:
Liability insurance coverage usually covers you if you get sued after an accident for damages. However, liability coverage may not pay for an attorney or court fees if you failed to report the accident or if there were serious injuries.
Liability insurance pays for others’ bills after an accident you cause, meaning there are several things it won’t cover regarding personal expenses. See what liability insurance won’t pay for below:
Since liability insurance only pays for other drivers’ damages and injuries, you may consider the following coverages to ensure you’re fully protected.
It’s generally best to carry a full coverage auto insurance policy, including liability, collision, and comprehensive coverages. A full coverage policy ensures you don’t incur expensive bills after an accident. So, it’s critical to understand the difference between liability car insurance vs. full coverage.
In most states, you must carry the required liability insurance amounts for property damage and bodily injury liability. Determine your state’s liability requirements to know how much liability insurance you need. You can contact the Department of Motor Vehicles or speak to an insurance company in your area to learn the requirements.
Once you know the minimum amount, consider how much you can pay out of pocket if you cause an accident. While it may seem convenient that your state’s minimum requirements are low and you won’t have to pay much for coverage, it could backfire if you’re in an accident exceeding your policy’s limits.
For example, suppose your state only requires you to carry $5,000 in property damage liability. If you damage more than $5,000 worth of someone’s property, you must pay the rest out of pocket. If you can’t pay, you could get sued for the remainder.
So, we recommend you carry more than the state minimum liability unless you can pay high amounts out of pocket after an accident. However, there are ways to reduce auto insurance costs for expensive coverage, from shopping around to taking advantage of auto insurance discounts.
Some states allow you to post cash bonds or pay uninsured motorist fees if you opt out of a liability insurance policy. However, if you’re leasing a car in one of these states, you may still need to carry liability insurance if it’s in your contract.
However, most states require all drivers to carry liability insurance. Drivers who don’t carry liability insurance face fines, suspended licenses or registrations, and increased insurance rates.
Minimum liability insurance amounts depend on your state. The table below lists the liability insurance requirements by state:
Minimum Liability Auto Insurance Requirements by State| State | Coverages | Limits |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability | 25/50/25 |
| Alaska | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability | 50/100/25 |
| Arizona | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability | 15/30/10 |
| Arkansas | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability, Personal Injury Protection | 25/50/25 |
| California | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability | 15/30/5 |
| Colorado | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability | 25/50/15 |
| Connecticut | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability, Uninsured Motorist, Underinsured Motorist | 25/50/20 |
| Delaware | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability, Personal Injury Protection | 25/50/10 |
| District of Columbia | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability, Uninsured Motorist | 25/50/10 |
| Florida | Property Damage Liability, Personal Injury Protection | 10/20/10 |
| Georgia | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability | 25/50/25 |
| Hawaii | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability, Personal Injury Protection | 20/40/10 |
| Idaho | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability | 25/50/15 |
| Illinois | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability, Uninsured Motorist, Underinsured Motorist | 25/50/20 |
| Indiana | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability | 25/50/25 |
| Iowa | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability | 20/40/15 |
| Kanses | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability, Personal Injury Protection | 25/50/25 |
| Kentucky | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability, Personal Injury Protection, Uninsured Motorist, Underinsured Motorist | 25/50/25 |
| Louisiana | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability | 15/30/25 |
| Maine | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability, Uninsured Motorist, Underinsured Motorist, Medical Payments | 50/100/25 |
| Maryland | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability, Personal Injury Protection, Uninsured Motorist, Underinsured Motorist | 30/60/15 |
| Massachusetts | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability, Personal Injury Protection | 20/40/5 |
| Michigan | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability, Personal Injury Protection | 20/40/10 |
| Minnesota | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability, Personal Injury Protection, Uninsured Motorist, Underinsured Motorist | 30/60/10 |
| Mississippi | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability | 25/50/25 |
| Missouri | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability, Uninsured Motorist | 25/50/25 |
| Montana | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability | 25/50/20 |
| Nebraska | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability, Uninsured Motorist, Underinsured Motorist | 25/50/25 |
| Nevada | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability | 25/50/20 |
| New Hampshire | Full Replacement only | 25/50/25 |
| New Jersey | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability, Personal Injury Protection, Uninsured Motorist, Underinsured Motorist | 15/30/5 |
| New Mexico | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability | 25/50/10 |
| New York | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability, Personal Injury Protection, Uninsured Motorist, Underinsured Motorist | 25/50/10 |
| North Carolina | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability, Uninsured Motorist, Underinsured Motorist | 30/60/25 |
| North Dakota | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability, Personal Injury Protection, Uninsured Motorist, Underinsured Motorist | 25/50/25 |
| Ohio | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability | 25/50/25 |
| Oklahoma | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability | 25/50/25 |
| Oregon | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability, Personal Injury Protection, Uninsured Motorist, Underinsured Motorist | 25/50/20 |
| Pennsylvania | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability, Personal Injury Protection | 15/30/5 |
| Rhode Island | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability | 25/50/25 |
| South Carolina | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability, Uninsured Motorist, Underinsured Motorist | 25/50/25 |
| South Dakota | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability, Uninsured Motorist, Underinsured Motorist | 25/50/25 |
| Tennessee | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability | 25/50/15 |
| Texas | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability, Personal Injury Protection | 30/60/25 |
| Utah | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability, Personal Injury Protection | 25/65/15 |
| Vermont | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability, Uninsured Motorist, Underinsured Motorist | 25/50/10 |
| Virginia | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability, Uninsured Motorist, Underinsured Motorist | 25/50/20 |
| Washington | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability | 25/50/10 |
| West Virginia | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability, Uninsured Motorist, Underinsured Motorist | 25/50/25 |
| Wisconsin | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability, Uninsured Motorist, Medical Payments | 25/50/10 |
| Wyoming | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability | 25/50/20 |
Some places with the highest state minimum auto insurance requirements include Alaska, Maine, and North Carolina.
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You must purchase liability coverage meeting your state’s minimum coverage requirements. On average, liability auto insurance costs $45 monthly, whereas full coverage auto insurance is $119.
While full coverage can cost much more than minimum coverage, it’s important to consider the benefits of a full coverage policy before considering what insurance types to purchase.
Full coverage policies include collision and comprehensive insurance. Collision insurance covers damages to your vehicle associated with an accident, while comprehensive insurance covers things like vandalism, inclement weather damage, and other non-accident-related incidents.
If you drive a lot, drive in heavy traffic, or park your car on the street or outside a garage, a full coverage policy could help you spend less if your car gets damaged.
The coverage types you should carry on your vehicle boils down to risk. If you own your vehicle and it’s older, you may want to consider a liability-only policy. However, a full coverage policy may be your best bet if you have a loan or lease on your vehicle or it’s fairly new.
If you only drive the vehicle sparingly, there is less risk involved for dropping the insurance coverage to liability only. If this vehicle has a blue book value of several thousand dollars, it will make more sense to protect your asset.
Consider a liability-only policy if you drive an older vehicle worth less than the cost of a full coverage policy plus your auto insurance deductible.
For example, if adding full coverage to your policy costs around $500 per year and your deductible is $1,000, you would pay $1,500 before insurance helps cover vehicle repairs. However, you’ll lose money if your car is worth less than $1,500.
If your driving record includes several traffic violations and car accidents, then your insurance premium is going to be higher than average. If this is the case, you have more to gain by opting for the minimum coverage.
If your family has more than one vehicle that is insured, it may make financial sense to move to liability only for one of the vehicles. The risk involved is based on how much the vehicle is worth and how often the vehicle is driven.
In most cases, anyone who owns a newer or more valuable car should carry full coverage. The protection that comes with full coverage offers peace of mind that you won’t pay thousands of dollars out of pocket if your car gets damaged.
The only coverage you must carry is your state’s minimum requirement. However, some states require more than liability insurance. Some states also demand drivers carry:
Required additional coverages depending on your location. You can research online or contact your local department of motor vehicles to learn more.
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First, consider some of the factors that will influence your own auto liability insurance rates:
Discounts are one of the best ways to save, as you can see from the average discounts at the cheapest liability-only companies below.
Cheapest Liability-Only Auto Insurance Companies Top Auto Insurance Discounts and Percentage of Savings
| Discount Type | USAA | Erie | Geico | AAA | State Farm | Auto-Owners | Travelers | Progressive | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anti-Theft | 5% | 5% | 5% | 5% | 5% | 5% | 5% | 5% | 5% |
| Bundling | 10% | 15% | 25% | 20% | 20% | 25% | 12% | 10% | 20% |
| Defensive Driving | 5% | 10% | 5% | 10% | 10% | 10% | 8% | 5% | 10% |
| Good Student | 5% | 20% | 15% | 16% | 20% | 15% | 7% | 10% | 15% |
| Homeowner | 10% | 20% | 10% | 5% | 5% | 5% | 10% | 5% | 10% |
| Low Mileage | 15% | 12% | 12% | 10% | 10% | 10% | 10% | 15% | 10% |
| Military | 15% | 25% | 15% | 10% | N/A | 10% | N/A | 8% | N/A |
| Multi-Policy | 25% | 25% | 25% | 25% | 17% | 17% | 8% | 10% | 15% |
| Multi-Vehicle | 10% | 25% | 25% | 14% | 20% | 20% | 10% | 12% | 20% |
| Safe Driver | 25% | 30% | 26% | 23% | 30% | 25% | 23% | 31% | 25% |
Bundling policies can be a great way to save instantly on your auto insurance. Every insurance company on our list offers plenty of other insurance types. For example, USAA has home insurance, life insurance, renters insurance, and more.
How can knowing these things help you save money? Obviously, some of these factors are not that easy to control, or at least they aren’t very easy to control quickly.
You might be unable to move to a cheaper town just to save money on your liability auto insurance. However, you might consider buying a cheaper vehicle to insure the next time you shop for a used or new vehicle.
Note every step that you can take to save money has to take a long time. There are some things you can do if you’re wondering how to lower your auto insurance premiums for liability-only coverage, including:
Getting affordable liability auto insurance quotes is easier than you think. Follow the steps above to find your state’s minimum liability auto insurance at an affordable rate.
If your car is paid off and older, a liability-only policy may work well for you. You may want to consider purchasing a full coverage policy if you’re leasing or financing a vehicle or if your vehicle is fairly valuable. While you’ll pay more for car insurance, this coverage type could help you save a lot of money if your vehicle gets damaged.
Shop online and compare quotes from multiple companies in your area using our free quote tool to find the cheapest auto insurance for liability-only coverage.
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Liability-only auto insurance is a type of car insurance that provides coverage for damages and injuries you cause to others in an accident. It does not cover the cost of repairing or replacing your vehicle.
You will be financially responsible for your totaled vehicle if you carry liability auto insurance only. You must have collision and comprehensive coverages to replace a totaled car, underscoring the difference between liability car insurance vs. full coverage.
We don’t recommend getting liability-only car insurance unless you can pay for personal vehicle repairs out of pocket after an accident.
For example, people with older and cheaper vehicles may choose liability-only car insurance, as they wouldn’t suffer a huge financial loss if their car gets totaled or needs repairs.
Liability-only auto insurance covers property damage and bodily injuries in an at-fault accident. It should also meet minimum liability auto insurance requirements in your state. However, a liability insurance policy doesn’t cover you or your vehicle.
The other driver’s liability car insurance coverage should pay for your car damage and medical expenses if they caused the accident. However, you’ll need uninsured motorist coverage to pay if the other driver didn’t have adequate coverage.
When you rent a car, you must carry the state’s required minimum liability insurance on the vehicle.
Most rental car companies offer the option to add supplemental liability insurance to increase the liability limits beyond the minimum. You’ll have to pay an additional fee, but you’ll be better protected if you cause an accident in a rental car.
Minimum liability auto insurance requirements vary by state. You can check your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles or speak to an insurance company to determine the specific requirements.
Liability-only auto insurance costs around $45 monthly, though it may be less at the cheapest liability-only car insurance companies. However, various factors, including your driving record, vehicle, insurance company, and location, will affect your rates.
Auto insurance with liability only covers damages and injuries to others, while full coverage includes additional protection for your own vehicle. Full coverage typically includes collision and comprehensive auto insurance, which cover damages from accidents and non-accident-related incidents, respectively.
Understanding the difference between liability car insurance vs. full coverage is an important step in knowing what policies you need.
Choosing the right type of auto insurance depends on several factors, including the value of your vehicle, your budget, and your risk tolerance. It’s recommended to speak with an insurance agent or broker who can assess your individual needs and help you make an informed decision.
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