Cheapest car insurance in Delaware for 2024

When searching for the cheapest car insurance in Delaware, drivers might want to keep in mind that the term “cheap” is relative. Because car insurance rates vary significantly depending on the individual driver, their vehicle and more, what you deem to be a cheap insurance policy may seem expensive to someone else. You can get a general idea of what you might pay, though, by considering average premiums. The average cost of car insurance in the First State is $2,651 per year for full coverage and $956 per year for minimum coverage. Based on our analysis of several different driving profiles, USAA offers some of the cheapest auto insurance in Delaware.

Key takeaways

• Cheapest company for minimum coverage: USAA
• Cheapest company for full coverage: USAA
• Cheapest company for drivers with prior incidents: USAA
• Cheapest company for young drivers: Geico

Many drivers turn to minimum car insurance due to its affordability. However, it’s important to acknowledge that liability-only coverage does not help pay to repair or replace your vehicle after an at-fault accident. It only covers other drivers’ losses. 

Plus, state-mandated liability limits may not provide enough coverage to pay for the damage or injuries another driver sustains after a serious wreck. For example, if you were to cause an accident resulting in $15,000 in damage to someone else’s car, but your car insurance policy only includes the required $10,000 in property damage liability, you could be on the hook to pay the remaining $5,000. 

Working closely with your insurance agent can help you select the best level of coverage. According to Bankrate’s analysis, USAA and Geico offer the lowest average rates for minimum coverage car insurance in Delaware.

Minimum coverage requirements for Delaware drivers

Every driver with a vehicle registered in Delaware is legally required to carry a minimum amount of car insurance. The minimum amount of insurance required in Delaware is:

• $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
• $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident
• $10,000 property damage liability per accident
• $15,000 personal injury protection (PIP) per person
• $30,000 personal injury protection (PIP) per accident

Drivers who purchase minimum coverage insurance pay some of the lowest prices. However, minimum coverage does not include any coverage for damage to your own car. You will need full coverage, which includes comprehensive and collision, to cover your own vehicle. If you have a loan or lease, your lender will likely require that you carry full coverage with higher liability limits.

If you drive a newer vehicle or have a lease or loan, you will likely need a full coverage policy instead of liability-only. Full coverage typically includes liability plus comprehensive and collision coverage, which will help pay to fix your car in case of a covered claim (minus your deductible). According to our research, drivers looking for the cheapest possible car insurance in Delaware may want to get quotes from USAA and Geico.

*USAA is only available to active-duty military, veterans and qualifying family members.

Your driving history plays a big part in your policy premium. While accidents and tickets will impact your rate, not every insurance provider weighs incidents equally. To find the best deal, experts recommend comparing rates from multiple carriers, as prices can vary significantly depending on the company you choose.

• Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a ticket: USAA
• Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an at-fault accident: USAA
• Cheapest car insurance for high-risk drivers: USAA

Cheapest insurance companies for drivers in Delaware with a speeding ticket: USAA

Having a Delaware speeding ticket conviction on your record is likely to increase your car insurance rates. Speeding increases the likelihood of accidents and can make accidents more severe, which means you’ll probably be viewed as a higher-risk driver than someone who doesn’t have any speeding tickets. Based on our research, these five companies have the lowest average rates for Delaware drivers with a speeding ticket:

Cheapest car insurance for drivers in Delaware with an at-fault accident: USAA

It’s fairly common knowledge that at-fault accidents will raise your insurance premium. If you’re looking to save on car insurance in Delaware after an accident, consider getting quotes from these companies, which have the lowest average premiums after an at-fault accident, per Bankrate’s research:

*USAA is only available to active-duty military, veterans and qualifying family members.

Cheapest car insurance in Delaware for high-risk drivers: USAA

You might be a high-risk driver if you have several moving violation convictions, at-fault accidents or a combination. However, even a single DUI conviction is likely enough to make insurance companies see you as high-risk. 

After a DUI, you’ll likely pay quite a bit more for insurance, so keep that in mind as you seek to lower your premium. You can still find cheap car insurance in Delaware with a DUI conviction on your record, but “cheap” here is a relative term. Additionally, because DUIs are major violations, not all companies will write policies for such drivers. If you're interested in a quote, contact the company directly to discuss your eligibility.

Based on our findings, the companies below have the lowest average rates with a DUI factored in:

*USAA is only available to active-duty military, veterans and qualifying family members.

Drivers under the age of 25 are called youthful operators. While older drivers typically understand how to respond to sudden road hazards, newer drivers haven't had a chance to learn yet. Due to their lack of experience behind the wheel, youthful operators are usually placed in the highest-risk pool when it comes to car insurance. Some tips for saving money with teen drivers include finding applicable car insurance discounts like good student discounts and enhanced driver training discounts.

• Cheapest car insurance for insuring a teen driver: Geico
• Cheapest car insurance for teens with a ticket: USAA
• Cheapest car insurance for teens with an at-fault accident: USAA
• Cheapest car insurance for young drivers with a DUI: USAA

Cheapest Delaware car insurance for insuring a teen driver: Geico

Teen drivers have some of the highest average car insurance rates due to their inexperience. Teens are more likely than other age groups to get into accidents, which means that insurers tend to charge higher rates to compensate for the added risk. During the search for cheap auto insurance, Delaware drivers with teens in their household may want to get quotes from the following cheap car insurance companies:

*USAA is only available to active-duty military, veterans and qualifying family members.

Cheapest Delaware car insurance for teens with a ticket: USAA

Speeding contributes to 79 percent of single-car crashes among drivers 16 to 19 years old. Even when an accident doesn’t occur, insurance companies usually penalize drivers with a surcharge if they receive a speeding ticket, since it indicates risky behavior. USAA tends to have the lowest average premiums for teen drivers in Delaware who have speeding tickets on their driving records.

Cheapest Delaware car insurance for teens with an at-fault accident: USAA

Teen drivers are more inclined to make unsafe choices when driving — this includes not wearing a seatbelt. Almost half of teen drivers ages 16 to 19 do not regularly wear seatbelts, which results in more injuries and fatalities when accidents occur. Due to this increased risk, premiums are much higher when an at-fault accident is factored into an insurance policy. USAA boasts more favorable average rates for young drivers with at-fault accidents when compared to other insurance providers in Delaware. 

Here are a few more options to consider when looking for cheap auto insurance for high-risk drivers:

Cheapest Delaware car insurance for young drivers with a DUI: USAA

Drivers who receive DUIs will see their insurance premiums increase due to a surcharge. Even if an accident doesn’t occur, the increased risk associated with DUIs is taken into account. Further, some insurance companies do not offer policies at all to drivers with DUI. So, in some cases, a policy is non-renewed and the driver will need to search for coverage with a nonstandard carrier. 

According to premium data obtained from Quadrant Information Services, USAA has the most affordable average premiums for young drivers with DUIs.

*USAA is only available to active-duty military, veterans and qualifying family members.

If you’re wondering how to save on car insurance in Delaware, discounts may be the easiest way to lower your bill. Most companies offer at least a few discounts to help you score some savings on Delaware car insurance. Common discount opportunities include:

• Young driver discounts: Young drivers pay high average premiums, but most companies offer discounts to help offset the cost. You may be able to add a good student, student-away-at-school or driver training discount to your policy.
• Safe driver discounts: You might qualify for a claims-free or good driver discount if you don’t have any accidents or tickets on your driving record. You might even consider participating in a telematics program, which tracks your driving patterns and rewards you with a personalized discount.
• Vehicle-based discounts: Your insurance provider might offer discounts if your vehicle has safety features like adaptive cruise control, anti-lock brakes or daytime running lights.
• Other discounts: Bundling your auto and home insurance, paying in full and signing up for paperless documents could also mean you’ll pay lower premiums for car insurance.

These are sample rates and should only be used for comparative purposes.