Best car insurance in Vermont 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.

Tier scores are unweighted to show the company's true score in each category out of a possible five points.

Like most states, Vermont car insurance laws state that drivers must carry a certain amount of liability insurance. This coverage is primarily designed to protect the driver and passengers in the other car if you are in an at-fault accident, as well as their car if it is damaged. To protect your own car, you may want to consider adding optional collision and comprehensive insurance.

While minimum coverage insurance is often cheap, some drivers may benefit from higher coverage policies. Full coverage insurance may protect your finances more fully in the event of a collision. If you are leasing or financing a car, typically the company will require you to purchase full coverage insurance to ensure that the car can be repaired or replaced in the event of an accident, since they have a demonstrated interest in the car until you have paid off the loan or lease.

Your own needs are also important to consider when shopping for car insurance policies. It may be helpful to weigh whether it’s important for you to save money, find a company with excellent customer service, a robust suite of digital tools or another factor entirely. By knowing what you need and want from a car insurance company, you may have an easier time narrowing down the options and finding the best fit for you. For example, if you have a teen driver or senior driver on your policy, you may want to focus on companies that offer discounts to these age groups. Or, if you're a safe driver, it may benefit you to consider a company with a telematics program that could help cut down on the costs of your policy.

There is no single company that always has the cheapest Vermont auto insurance, all the time. A carrier that offers your neighbor a cheap rate may not be able to do the same for you, because premiums are based on factors that are unique to each driver. Your age, gender and credit rating play a role in determining your rate, as does your driving history. A clean driving record is likely to earn you a lower rate than someone who has a few infractions on their license. Your car's age, make and model are also taken into consideration by insurers when determining rates. This is why it's a good idea to ask for quotes from several companies so you can see which offers you the best deal.

To open a new auto policy, you will need to know all of your vehicle information, including the year, make, model and vehicle identification number (VIN). Personal information is required, too, such as your Social Security number, driver’s license number, bank information and address. Ask your insurance company what it requires.

Vermont law requires residents to carry a minimum amount of liability coverage and uninsured motorist coverage to drive. More specifically, drivers must carry a minimum of $25,000 in bodily injury liability per person and $50,000 per accident, $10,000 in property damage liability, $50,000 in uninsured motorist bodily injury per person and $100,000 per accident, as well as $10,000 in uninsured motorist property damage coverage. The exception to this rule requires that a driver submit an SR-22 form and pay a substantial deposit in case of future damage.

There are a few strategies you can choose to help you lower your Vermont car insurance. Ask for quotes from several companies before choosing your carrier. If you're working with an agent, make sure they are applying all possible discounts to your policy, as well. Raising your insurance deductible may also help you secure a lower rate, but make sure it remains at a level you can reasonably afford to pay out in the event of a claim. If you are generally a safe driver, another good idea may be to make use of your company's telematics program, which monitors your driving in real time, rewarding you for safe driving with discounts that could be as much as 40 percent. If your insurer doesn't use telematics, you may still be able to save if you take a defensive driving course.