Best car insurance for pickup trucks

How much is insurance for a truck? 

While there are many factors that influence pickup truck insurance costs, price of parts and safety features have a noticeable impact.

• Price of parts: The more expensive the vehicle is to repair, the more likely you will have higher insurance premiums. Replacement parts that cost more to provide, such as parts coming from overseas, are factored into insurance premiums.
• Safety features: Manufacturers usually introduce new safety features to vehicles each year. More recent pickup models typically include standard safety features like anti-lock brakes, traction control and lane departure warnings. One example of this is the Toyota Tundra's Toyota Safety Sense Package. These safety features usually yield lower insurance rates since they can help prevent accidents.

Car insurance for pickup truck by make and model

When purchasing a pickup truck, many drivers may not realize the impact the make and model have on car insurance rates. Generally speaking, pickup trucks that largely depend on domestic manufacturing and parts tend to cost less to insure compared to other models. Trucks with strong safety ratings and low theft rates also typically cost less to insure.

Compared to higher risk vehicle types like sports cars and luxury models, pickup trucks are generally fairly affordable to insure. To give you a point of reference, the average annual cost of car insurance for a Toyota Camry is $2,458 for full coverage insurance and $678 for minimum coverage. Below you can see average full and minimum coverage rates for some of the most popular pickup models on the market. 

Best car insurance for pickup trucks

Truck owners have a number of options when it comes to auto insurance. However, every auto insurance company has benefits and shortcomings. Based on coverage options, discounts and customer service ratings, pickup truck drivers might want to consider Erie, Amica and USAA (if eligible) as some of the best auto insurers for pickup truck drivers, according to Bankrate’s assessment.

• Erie: Erie is a regional insurance company providing competitive rates for many pickup truck owners. Auto endorsements include pet coverage, locksmith reimbursement, auto glass repair coverage, accident forgiveness and much more. Although Erie is only available in 12 states, those who do have access to their policies can take advantage of a rate lock guarantee and a variety of discounts to help you earn a lower rate.
• Amica: Amica consistently earns top ratings for customer satisfaction with J.D. Power and earns an A+ (Superior) rating for financial strength with A.M. Best. The company sells a variety of policy add-ons, like accident forgiveness, full glass coverage and gap insurance for more protection. Amica is not always the least expensive option, but there are also a number of unique discounts, including several aimed at younger drivers. You can get a quote online through Amica’s website or contact the insurer over the phone to see what your personalized policy or policies will cost.
• USAA: USAA offers low rates and excellent customer satisfaction ratings, but it is limited to those who meet the eligibility requirements. For current or former members of the military and their eligible immediate family members, USAA offers a standard assortment of coverage options and a long list of discounts for further savings. You might earn a discount for garaging your vehicle on base, being a good student or taking a defensive driving course.

Cheapest car insurance companies for pickup trucks

Finding the cheapest car insurance for your truck will likely require some shopping around. Your insurance rates are based on dozens of personal rating factors, including your location, claims history, driving record and, in most states, your age, gender and credit history.

In addition to shopping around to compare quotes, these strategies may help you find cheap truck insurance: 

• Make use of discounts: Almost every carrier offers at least a few discounts to help policyholders save. Some are surprisingly easy to earn. You might save on your policy just by agreeing to receive your policy documents digitally rather than via postal mail, for example. Make sure, when asking for quotes, that all possible discounts are being applied to your rate.
• Drive safely: Your driving record plays a primary role in determining your rate, with safe drivers generally earning the lowest premiums. If you've had marks on your license in the past, consider taking a defensive driving course, which can help you brush up on your skills and may even earn you a discount.
• Improve your credit: In most states (California, Hawaii and Massachusetts are the exceptions), insurers consider your credit-based insurance score when determining rates, since statistics show that drivers with a high credit ratings file fewer claims. Improving your credit takes time, but it's worth making the effort if you are looking for low rates. 

Pickup trucks features that impact insurance costs

Drivers today have more options and features to choose from than ever before. Looking for certain safety features can help keep you safer on the road and potentially help you save on your auto insurance. Some common safety features in modern trucks include:

• Side airbags: Side airbags protect passengers in case of a side impact, including extra protection to the upper body and heads of passengers.
• Blind spot warning: Trucks can have more substantial blind spots than smaller passenger vehicles, but a blind spot warning system may help you avoid accidents and earn you a safety feature discount with some insurers.
• Lane-keeping system: This safety feature, available in newer Fords pickups and other models, alerts the driver when they drift too far from the center lane. This feature helps lower the probability of a side-swipe collision.
• Rearview cameras: Rearview camera technology is now common in most vehicles, but the feature helps keep drivers safe all the same. Rearview cameras reduce the risks associated with backing into unseen objects, people or the path of an oncoming vehicle. The 2023 Ford F-150 XL has a rear view camera with a special feature to help get your hitch attached.

Other car insurance coverage for pickup trucks

You are required in nearly every state to carry at least a minimum amount of insurance on your pickup truck. This includes liability coverage, which pays for the damage you cause to other parties if you’re at fault in an accident, but it does not pay for physical damage to your own vehicle.

Full coverage car insurance may be a better option for newer or higher-value trucks, and you may be required by your lender or financial institution to carry a full coverage car insurance policy if you have a car loan or are leasing your truck. Full coverage usually includes comprehensive and collision coverage, which pay for physical damage to your own vehicle in case of an accident or other source of damage, like vandalism.

Other coverage add-ons you might want to consider include:

• Gap insurance: This coverage option will pay the gap between your remaining car loan and the value of the vehicle if it's declared a total loss due to covered damage or theft. This coverage is generally available for vehicles less than three years old. 
• Accident forgiveness: This add-on helps you avoid a premium increase after an accident. Many insurers will increase your rate after a claim, especially if you are found to have been at fault. With accident forgiveness, your rate won't increase after your first  accident. Depending on your insurer, this coverage may be available for purchase or may have to be earned. 
• Rental car reimbursement: If your truck is in the shop for repairs after a covered claim, this add-on will help pay for you to rent a vehicle while the truck is being worked on. 

Learn more: Common types of car insurance coverage

Methodology

Bankrate utilizes Quadrant Information Services to analyze November 2024 rates for all ZIP codes and carriers in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Rates are weighted based on the population density in each geographic region. Quoted rates are based on a single, 40-year-old male and female driver with a clean driving record, good credit and the following full coverage limits:

• $100,000 bodily injury liability per person
• $300,000 bodily injury liability per accident
• $50,000 property damage liability per accident
• $100,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person
• $300,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident
• $500 collision deductible
• $500 comprehensive deductible

To determine minimum coverage limits, Bankrate used minimum coverage that meets each state’s requirements. Our base profile drivers own a 2021 Toyota Camry, commute five days a week and drive 12,000 miles annually.

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

Model: To determine cost by vehicle type, we evaluated our base profile with the following vehicles applied: Chevrolet Silverado, Dodge Ram, Ford F-150, Toyota Tacoma, Toyota Tundra, Ford F-150 and Toyota Camry (base).