Best car insurance in Delaware for 2024

Our 2024 Bankrate Score considers variables our insurance editorial team determined impacts policyholders’ experiences with an insurance company. These rating factors include a robust assessment of each company’s product availability, financial strength ratings, online capabilities and customer and claims support accessibility. Each factor was added to a category, and these categories were weighted in a tiered approach to analyze how companies perform in key customer-impacting categories. 

Each category was assigned a metric to determine performance, and the weighted sum adds up to a company’s total Bankrate Score — out of 5 points. Our scoring model provides a comprehensive view, indicating when companies excel across several key areas and highlighting where they fall short.

• Tier 1 (Cost & ratings): To determine how well auto and home insurance companies satisfy these priorities, average quoted premiums from Quadrant Information Services (if available), as well as any of the latest third-party agency ratings from J.D. Power, AM Best, Demotech and the NAIC, were analyzed.
• Tier 2 (Coverage & savings): We assessed companies’ coverage options and availability to help policyholders find a provider that balances cost with coverage. Additionally, we evaluated each company’s discount options listed on its website.
• Tier 3 (Support): To encompass the many ways an auto and home insurance company can support policyholders, we analyzed avenues of customer accessibility along with community support. This analysis incorporated additional financial strength ratings from S&P and Moody’s and factored a company’s corporate sustainability efforts.

To drive legally in Delaware, you must purchase the state’s required minimum limits of bodily injury liability and property damage liability coverage, as well as personal injury protection (PIP). Understanding the minimum coverages in your state may help you determine if you need higher limits or additional coverages, such as comprehensive or collision.

If you have a loan or lease on your vehicle, a banking institution has a financial stake in your vehicle. Because of this, lenders and leasing companies typically require that you carry a full coverage auto insurance policy, which provides coverage for damage to your vehicle in case of a covered incident. In this situation, you may also want to consider gap insurance. This optional coverage is designed to cover the difference between your vehicle’s total loss value and the balance on your loan, so that you may not have to pay the overage out of pocket.

There are personal factors that could impact how much you pay for car insurance. Adding a teen driver to your policy, for example, may result in a large premium increase. Driving incidents such as speeding tickets and at-fault accidents could mean you are viewed as a high-risk driver. Since each carrier has its own method of calculating rates, some may offer lower premiums than others, depending on your circumstances. Looking for companies that fit your individual needs might help you mitigate the premium impact of these life events.

To find the cheapest car insurance in Delaware for you, you may want to seek quotes from several of the more affordable companies. Experts often recommend shopping the same or similar policy type (including coverage and add-ons) with multiple insurers because each insurance company calculates rates differently. It can be helpful to compare quotes against the state averages, which are $2,651 per year for full coverage and $956 per year for minimum coverage. You may also be able to lower your rates without even switching carriers by pursuing discounts, increasing your safe driving habits or even improving your credit.

The state of Delaware requires that all drivers carry at least minimum liability car insurance. This includes liability for bodily injury and property damage, and uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage if you accept it. Drivers may refuse these latter two types, but this must be done in writing. Many drivers elect to add collision and comprehensive coverage for further financial protection.

The state of Delaware requires all drivers to have 25/50/10 insurance at a minimum. That means $25,000 for bodily injury liability per person, $50,000 in bodily injury liability per accident and $10,000 in property damage liability. The state also requires personal injury protection (PIP) coverage at a minimum of $15,000 for one person and $30,000 for all persons in a single accident. However, many drivers choose to get more than minimum coverage because liability insurance will not cover damage to your own car if you cause the accident.

According to the Delaware Department of Motor Vehicles, you cannot use out of state insurance to title or register your vehicle. Remember that you’re required to carry at least the minimum insurance coverage or you could be fined $1,500 (for your first offense) or $3,000 (for subsequent offenses). Plus, driving without insurance coverage could result in license suspension. That said, if you do not live in Delaware and are only driving in the state temporarily, your auto insurance from another state will cover you while you're there. If you recently moved to Delaware, you have 60 days to register your car in the state.