Best Car Insurance in Louisiana
Last Updated on March 26, 2021
Louisiana is one of the most expensive states in America for car insurance. In fact, Louisiana frequently ranks as the second most expensive state in America for car insurance, behind only Michigan.
The average driver in Louisiana pays around $2,462 per year for full coverage car insurance, over $1,000 more than the nationwide average of $1,450 per year.
Fortunately, you can still find good-value car insurance in Louisiana, including cheap car insurance, car insurance with strong coverage, and other perks.
Table of Contents
- Best Auto Insurance Companies in Louisiana
- Louisiana Auto Insurance Requirements
- Driving Without Insurance in Louisiana
- Car Insurance in Louisiana with a DUI
- Car Insurance in Louisiana with At-Fault Accidents
- Car Insurance in Louisiana with Speeding Tickets
- Car Insurance in Louisiana for Young Drivers
- Car Insurance in Louisiana with Poor Credit
- SR-22 Insurance in Louisiana
Top 10 Auto Insurance Companies in Louisiana
Louisianans have plenty of options for car insurance – from local providers to nationwide firms. We’ve highlighted the best car insurance companies in Louisiana below, including the top-rated options based on price, value, customer service, and claims satisfaction.
- USAA: USAA blasts its competitors out of the water in Louisiana, charging hundreds of dollars less per year for full coverage car insurance than competing providers. The average USAA policyholder pays around $2,021 per year for full coverage car insurance with USAA in Louisiana. USAA also receives top ratings for customer service and claims satisfaction, among other metrics.
- GEICO: GEICO is known for its competitive pricing and average claims satisfaction. According to our model driver profiles, GEICO charges drivers around $2,179 per year for full coverage car insurance in Louisiana, making them the second cheapest option in the state behind only USAA.
- State Farm: State Farm is the largest car insurance company in the United States, so it makes sense they’re one of the largest insurers in Louisiana. State Farm charges affordable rates in Louisiana while providing policyholders with the amenities of a large company. Expect to pay around $2,235 per year for full coverage car insurance with State Farm in Louisiana.
- Allstate: Allstate is another top insurance company in America, insuring millions across the country. In Louisiana, you can expect to pay around $2,498 per year for full coverage car insurance with Allstate.
- Shelter Insurance: Shelter Insurance is rapidly building a name throughout southern states for its strong customer service, good value, and better-than-average claims satisfaction. Shelter Insurance combines affordable premiums with flexible insurance policies, charging drivers around $2,499 per year for full coverage car insurance.
- Progressive: Progressive has higher than average costs compared to providers listed above, although the company is known for its good customer service, extensive add-ons, and multiple discount options. Expect to pay around $2,521 per year with Progressive in Louisiana.
- Louisiana Farm Bureau: Similar to other Farm Bureau insurance companies, Louisiana Farm Bureau requires you to be a member to qualify for insurance. Louisiana Farm Bureau is popular in rural areas of Louisiana, although they offer affordable premiums across the state. The average Louisiana Farm Bureau policyholder pays around $2,611 per year for full coverage car insurance in Louisiana.
- MetLife: Insurance and benefits provider giant MetLife is a popular and well-rated insurance company for policyholders across Louisiana. The company charges around $2,798 per year for car insurance, although it’s particularly affordable for those looking for bare minimum liability insurance plans.
- California Casualty: Also known as Cal Casualty, California Casualty is popular with teachers and certain other professions across Louisiana, as many teachers’ groups get discounts with California Casualty. Expect to pay around $2,309 per year for full coverage car insurance with California Casualty.
- Nationwide: Nationwide offers the amenities of a large insurance corporation while offering average pricing across the state of Louisiana. Popular in urban and rural areas, Nationwide charges drivers around $2,562 per year for car insurance.
Louisiana Insurance Requirements
Louisiana requires drivers to carry bodily injury liability coverage and property damage liability coverage. According to state laws outlined by the Louisiana Department of Insurance, drivers must carry the following minimum insurance limits:
- $15,000 of bodily injury liability coverage per person
- $30,000 of bodily injury liability coverage per accident
- $25,000 of property damage liability coverage
Drivers can also choose to carry $1,000 of medical payments coverage and $15,000 to $30,000 of uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage. Although the state of Louisiana recommends carrying this coverage, drivers can reject the coverage in writing.
Like most states, Louisiana does not require drivers to carry collision coverage or comprehensive coverage, both of which are part of full coverage car insurance policies.
Despite having some of the costliest car insurance premiums in the United States, Louisiana has relatively low car insurance liability limit requirements compared to other states.
Driving Without Insurance in Louisiana
It’s illegal to derive without insurance in Louisiana. If you want to drive any motor vehicle legally, then you need to carry proof of insurance or proof of financial responsibility with you.
If you are caught driving without proof of insurance in Louisiana, then you could face prison time, financial penalties, vehicle impoundment, and other punishments, depending on how many times you’ve been caught without insurance.
Louisiana is also one of several states with “no pay, no play” laws. If you are involved in an accident while driving without insurance, then you cannot receive certain benefits from that accident – even if you were not at fault for the accident or are the victim of an accident.
Meanwhile, if you cause an accident in Louisiana while driving without insurance then you still need to cover all damages from that accident – you just pay out of pocket instead of letting insurance cover it. This could add thousands of dollars to the cost of driving without insurance.
Penalties for driving without insurance in Louisiana include:
First Offense: $500 to $1,000 fine from the Louisiana DMV, suspension of vehicle registration and license plates, vehicle impoundment, barred from claiming losses in collision accidents, $50 registration restatement fee, $10 reinstatement administration fee, and additional fees for storage of the impounded vehicle.
Second Offense: $500 to $1,000 fine from the Louisiana DMV, suspension of vehicle registration and license plates, vehicle impoundment, barred from claiming losses in collision accidents, $150 registration restatement fee, $10 reinstatement administration fee, and additional fees for storage of the impounded vehicle.
Third Offense: $500 to $1,000 fine from the Louisiana DMV, suspension of vehicle registration and license plates, vehicle impoundment, barred from claiming losses in collision accidents, $500 registration restatement fee, $10 reinstatement administration fee, and additional fees for storage of the impounded vehicle.
Car Insurance in Louisiana with DUI
Getting a DUI in Louisiana is guaranteed to increase car insurance rates. Car insurance is already expensive in Louisiana, and one or more DUIs can easily double that amount. Fortunately, not all insurers treat DUIs the same way. The following insurance companies charge lower-than-average rates to drivers with a single DUI conviction:
- State Farm: $2,898 per year
- USAA: $2,921 per year
- GEICO: $3,034 per year
- Louisiana Farm Bureau: $3,563 per year
- Allstate: $4,021 per year
Car Insurance in Louisiana with At-Fault Accidents
Causing an accident in Louisiana will lead to higher insurance premiums. An at-fault accident is a signal that you’re a high-risk driver to insure. That means you’ll pay higher insurance premiums. However, some insurers have accident forgiveness or more flexible policies for drivers with at-fault accidents, which means you’ll pay lower-than-average rates:
- USAA: $2,453 per year
- State Farm: $2,921 per year
- GEICO: $3,023 per year
- Allstate: $3,110 per year
- Progressive: $3,296 per year
Car Insurance in Louisiana with Speeding Tickets
Insurance companies look at every part of your driving record to calculate insurance premiums. Drivers with one or more speeding tickets typically pay higher rates for car insurance. However, some insurers treat speeding tickets less seriously than others. Some of the best car insurance companies for drivers in Louisiana with speeding tickets include:
- USAA: $2,345 per year
- GEICO: $2,646 per year
- State Farm: $2,678 per year
- Allstate: $2,701 per year
- Progressive: $2,817 per year
Car Insurance in Louisiana for Young Drivers
Louisianans pay the second highest car insurance premiums in the United States. Young drivers pay even higher rates than that, with the average young driver in Louisiana paying well over $4,000 per year for car insurance. However, some insurers encourage young drivers to join their insurance pool to balance risk and premiums. The best car insurance companies in Louisiana for drivers under age 25 include:
- USAA: $3,031 per year
- GEICO: $3,729 per year
- State Farm: $4,021 per year
- Louisiana Farm Bureau: $4,034 per year
- Progressive: $4,423 per year
Car Insurance in Louisiana with Poor Credit
Drivers with bad credit are riskier to insure than drivers with good credit. Statistically, drivers with bad credit are more likely to default on payments, make claims, and cause accidents. If you have a low credit score in Louisiana, then raising that credit score could help you save hundreds per year on car insurance. Alternatively, work with providers that care less about credit score than other companies, including any of the following insurers:
- USAA: $2,983 per year
- GEICO: $3,025 per year
- Progressive: $3,323 per year
- State Farm: $3,421 per year
- Louisiana Farm Bureau: $3,491 per year
SR-22 Insurance in Louisiana
Some Louisiana drivers require an SR-22 certificate to reinstate their license and registration. The Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV) will notify you if you need an SR-22 certificate.
SR-22 insurance raises rates by around $1,632 per year in Louisiana. That means you’ll pay significantly more per year for car insurance. SR-22 insurance is a type of high-risk car insurance, and insurers charge higher rates to cover this higher risk.
Most insurance companies in Louisiana can provide you with an SR-22 certificate to meet OMV requirements. You may need to pay a fee of $15 to $25 to receive the insurance certificate.
You must maintain your SR-22 coverage for three years. If you maintain a clean record for three years, then you can return to buying normal car insurance.
Typically, the OMV will require drivers to carry SR-22 insurance after one or more at-fault accidents, one or more DUI convictions, or a lapse in insurance coverage. All of these things make you a higher risk driver to insure.
Contact your insurer to ask about SR-22 insurance in Louisiana. If your insurer is unwilling to cover you, then you may need to use a high-risk auto insurance company. Louisiana also has a “last resort” insurance system called the Louisiana Automobile Insurance Program, which covers drivers who cannot obtain car insurance through other providers.
Conclusion: How to Find the Best Auto Insurance in Louisiana
Louisiana has some of the most expensive car insurance premiums in the United States. Drivers pay more for car insurance in Louisiana than they do in virtually every other state.
Fortunately, you can shop around to find discounts, perks, and cheap rates on car insurance – even if you’re not a perfect driver. Consider any of the companies listed above to find the best car insurance in Louisiana.