Best Car Insurance in Kentucky

Last Updated on March 16, 2021

Drivers in Kentucky pay higher-than-average rates for car insurance compared to the rest of the country. The average Kentuckian pays roughly $1,745 per year for full coverage car insurance, according to our model driver profiles, which is nearly $300 higher than the nationwide average of around $1,450 per year.

Fortunately, Kentucky drivers have plenty of optBest Car Insurance in Kentuckyions for car insurance, ranging from cheap providers to higher-end insurers. Today, we’re highlighting the best car insurance in Kentucky for drivers with different budgets and needs.

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Top 10 Auto Insurance Companies in Kentucky

Whether looking for a nationwide insurance company or a smaller provider, drivers have plenty of options for car insurance in Kentucky. We’ve highlighted some of the best-rated car insurance options below.

  1. USAA: USAA is among the top five cheapest car insurance companies in most states. In Kentucky, drivers who qualify for USAA pay cheaper-than-average car insurance rates. Expect to pay around $1,452 per year for full coverage car insurance with USAA in Kentucky.
  2. GEICO: Large and well-known, GEICO charges just slightly more expensive rates for car insurance in Kentucky than USAA. Although GEICO has average ratings for claims satisfaction and customer service, the company remains a popular option for its competitive rates and flexible offerings, charging drivers around $1,511 per year for car insurance.
  3. Allstate: Allstate is one of America’s largest insurance companies, which means the company has strong finances to cover its liabilities. In Kentucky, Allstate charges competitive rates compared to other large insurance companies, with drivers paying around $1,631 per year, on average.
  4. Kentucky Farm Bureau: Kentucky Farm Bureau charges drivers $1,723 per year for car insurance, making it one of the more affordable options in the state. Like other Farm Bureau insurance companies, Kentucky Farm Bureau requires you to buy an annual membership (for around $50) before buying insurance. However, membership comes with other perks.
  5. State Farm: State Farm is the largest car insurance company in the United States, so it makes sense that State Farm insures thousands of drivers across Kentucky. According to our driver profiles, Kentucky drivers can pay around $1,902 per year for full coverage car insurance with State Farm.
  6. Grange: Grange is popular throughout Kentucky, charging drivers around $1,957 per year for full coverage car insurance. Grange isn’t as well-known as some of the other providers on this list, but the company offers the amenities of larger insurers.
  7. Esurance: Esurance is now a subsidiary of Allstate, so the company offers similar pricing and coverage to its parent company. However, you can continue to buy independent insurance through Esurance in Kentucky, and you may even find cheaper rates. Esurance charges drivers around $1,963 per year for full coverage car insurance in Kentucky.
  8. Nationwide: Nationwide’s catchy jingles and competitive pricing make it a popular option throughout Kentucky. Our driver profiles received an average quote of around $1,998 per year with Nationwide in Kentucky. They’re not the cheapest option, but they offer the amenities of a larger insurer.
  9. Shelter: Headquartered in Missouri, Shelter is a regional insurance company with thousands of customers across the south and surrounding states. Shelter has some of the best claims satisfaction and customer service ratings on this list. Many drivers are willing to pay slightly higher premiums for better coverage with Shelter, and the company charges roughly $2,013 per year for full coverage car insurance.
  10. Farmers Insurance: Not to be confused with Kentucky Farm Bureau, Farmers Insurance is a large insurance company with offices across the country. In Kentucky, Farmers Insurance charges competitive rates while maintaining strong claims satisfaction. Drivers report paying an average of $2,104 per year for full coverage car insurance with Farmers.

Kentucky Insurance Requirements

Kentucky requires all drivers to carry car insurance when driving on public roads. You must maintain the following minimum liability limits at all times when driving in Kentucky:

A minimum liability insurance plan in Kentucky may be expressed as a 25/50/10 plan. That means you have $25,000 of bodily injury coverage per person, $50,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $10,000 of property damage liability coverage per accident.

Due to high rates of uninsured drivers in Kentucky, many drivers carry uninsured motorist coverage and personal injury protection (PIP) for added peace of mind. However, these coverages are optional, and drivers can reject these requirements in writing.

Driving Without Insurance in Kentucky

Kentucky has had high rates of uninsured motorists for decades. In 2012, the Commonwealth of Kentucky began cracking down on uninsured motorists. Uninsured motorists now receive notices in the mail requiring them to prove they have valid coverage.

If drivers are unable to prove they have valid coverage, then they may receive a penalty.

  • An owner who fails to maintain valid car insurance on his vehicle will have his vehicle registration revoked according to Kentucky state law
  • Additionally, the owner of the vehicle and the driver of the vehicle may be required to pay fines of $500 to $1,000
  • The driver and owner of the uninsured vehicle may face up to 90 days in jail

All owners of motor vehicles in Kentucky are required to carry minimum liability coverage.

If you have received an Uninsured Motorist Notice in the mail from the state of Kentucky, then it’s crucial you respond to that notice quickly. Otherwise, you could face steep penalties.

Certain drivers are exempt from these requirements. If you are attending college full-time in Kentucky, then you can maintain your home-state registration and insurance. Additional exemptions are available for active-duty military and anyone temporarily living outside of the state.

Car Insurance in Kentucky with DUI

Whether in Kentucky or any other state, a DUI increases car insurance premiums substantially. A single DUI could lead to non-renewal of your policy. At a minimum, expect insurers to raise rates 50% to 100% after a single DUI.

Fortunately, some insurers treat DUIs differently than others. Consider requesting a quote from the following insurers after a DUI:

  • USAA: $2,652 per year
  • State Farm: $2,790 per year
  • GEICO: $2,811 per year
  • Allstate: $3,021 per year
  • Nationwide: $3,322 per year

Car Insurance in Kentucky with At-Fault Accidents

Some car insurance companies in Kentucky treat at-fault accidents as seriously as DUIs. Others have accident forgiveness programs that ignore a single at-fault accident. By comparing quotes, you can find the best insurance company after one or more at-fault accidents:

  • USAA: $1,953 per year
  • GEICO: $1,991 per year
  • State Farm: $2,022 per year
  • Allstate: $2,110 per year
  • Progressive: $2,297 per year

Car Insurance in Kentucky with Speeding Tickets

Most insurance companies in Kentucky ignore a single minor speeding ticket on an otherwise clean record. However, some insurance companies punish drivers with one or more speeding tickets, especially if they were caught excessively speeding.

Consider requesting a quote from the following Kentucky insurance companies if you have a speeding ticket:

  • USAA: $1,562 per year
  • GEICO: $1,672 per year
  • Allstate: $1,774 per year
  • Progressive: $1,782 per year
  • Allstate: $1,899 per year

Car Insurance in Kentucky for Young Drivers

Young drivers pay higher rates for car insurance in every state. Statistically, drivers under 25 are the riskiest drivers to insure, based on their accident rates and the cost of their claims.

Fortunately, many Kentucky car insurance companies welcome young drivers into their pool to balance out rates. Some of the best insurance companies in Kentucky for drivers under 25 include:

  • USAA: $2,783 per year
  • GEICO: $2,901 per year
  • State Farm: $3,333 per year
  • Allstate: $3,490 per year
  • Kentucky Farm Bureau: $3,495 per year

Car Insurance in Kentucky with Poor Credit

Kentucky, like most states, allows insurers to use credit score to raise or lower premiums. Drivers with a high credit score pay less for car insurance than drivers with a low credit score.

Some companies specialize in insuring high-risk drivers who have a bad credit score. Consider requesting a quote from any of the following insurance companies if you have a poor credit score in Kentucky:

  • GEICO: $3,090 per year
  • USAA: $3,112 per year
  • State Farm: $3,203 per year
  • Allstate: $3,301 per year
  • Kentucky Farm Bureau: $3,665 per year

Keep in mind credit scores vary widely, so you might pay significantly lower rates than listed above. The drivers in our model profile had very poor credit scores, which means they pay higher rates than 90% of Kentucky drivers.

SR-22 Insurance in Kentucky

Kentucky is one of six states in America that does not require SR-22 insurance. If you are a high-risk driver in Kentucky, then you are not required to obtain an SR-22 certificate of insurance.

Kentucky does, however, have other requirements for high-risk drivers.

Drivers who are caught without insurance pay a fine of $500 to $1,000 or spend 90 days in jail (or both). In other states, uninsured drivers must carry SR-22 coverage for 1 to 3 years after being caught without insurance. In Kentucky, that’s not the case.

Similarly, drivers convicted of driving under the influence (DUI) may need to complete an alcohol or substance abuse system. They may have their license suspended for 30 to 120 days or require an ignition interlock device (IID) on their vehicle, among other penalties.

If you are a high-risk driver in Kentucky, then you will still pay higher-than-average rates for car insurance. However, you are not required to carry SR-22 coverage.

Conclusion: How to Find the Best Auto Insurance in Kentucky

Finding the best car insurance in Kentucky requires a little bit of hard work. However, by comparing quotes online today, you can find the best car insurance based on your unique vehicle, driving history, demographic data, and other factors.

Enter your ZIP code online today to find the best car insurance in Kentucky.