INSURANCE - CAR INSURANCE

Best Car Insurance in Colorado for 2024

Updated Nov. 13, 2023
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USAA generally has the lowest cost for full and minimum car insurance in Colorado.

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If you live in colorful Colorado, you know the stunning beauty found in the Centennial State. From the Rocky Mountains to the Great Plains, Colorado just begs to be explored by car. But it's also a state with a high cost of living, and those higher costs can translate to higher insurance premiums.

In this article

Key takeaways

  • The best car insurance in Colorado is USAA, which costs $1,105 per year for comprehensive coverage.
  • Drivers with a clean driving record pay an average of $141 per month in Colorado.
  • Colorado drivers with poor credit (550-649) pay an annual average of $3,282 for insurance.

Best car insurance companies in Colorado

Drivers in Colorado pay an average of $1,699 a year for full coverage car insurance. USAA had the lowest average prices for full and minimum liability coverage, followed by State Farm for full coverage and Auto-Owners for minimum coverage.

Provider J.D. Power customer satisfaction rating Estimated annual full coverage Estimated annual minimum liability coverage
USAA 879/1,000 $1,105/year $315/year
State Farm 835/1,000 $1,235/year $483/year
American Family 828/1,000 $2,233/year $1,068/year
Auto-Owners 808/1,000 $2,126/year $456/year
Travelers 806/1,000 $1,545/year $639/year
GEICO 804/1,000 $1,270/year $492/year
Nationwide 783/1,000 $1,559/year $734/year

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USAA: Highest customer satisfaction

USAA earned the highest customer satisfaction rating in Colorado, 879 out of 1,000. It only offers policies to current and former military members and their families, but it has the most affordable full and minimum coverage in the state. If you are eligible, USAA provides a general mix of standard and specialty policies, including roadside assistance coverage.

Pros
  •  USAA has the most affordable full and minimum coverage in Colorado
  •  It has multiple discounts, including SafePilot, that can help you save up to 30%
Cons
  •  Some competitors have more coverage and discount options
  •  Policies are only available to current and former military members and their families

Get a quote now | USAA review

State Farm: Best for new drivers

Young drivers in Colorado pay a staggering average of $4,829 a year for car insurance. State Farm was the second least expensive full-coverage option on our list of the best car insurance. It also offers policies and discounts specifically for new drivers.

Pros
  •  High customer satisfaction rate in Colorado
  •  Local agents throughout the state, including many mountain locations
Cons
  •  Doesn’t have some specialty coverages like gap insurance
  •  Doesn't offer accident forgiveness

Get a quote now | State Farm review

Auto-Owners: Best budget pick

Auto-Owners Insurance is a mutual insurance company that offers auto, life, and property insurance. Its insurance is available in 26 states, and it only provides policies through independent agents. Although its full coverage is one of the most expensive on our list, averaging $2,126 a year, it had the cheapest minimum coverage available to everyone in Colorado, averaging $456 annually.

Pros
  •  Auto-Owners had the most affordable minimum coverage in Colorado
  •  It has multiple options, including gap and rental gap policies
Cons
  •  Auto-Owners had one of the lowest customer satisfaction scores in Colorado
  •  It had the second most expensive full coverage premiums

Get a quote now | Auto-Owners review

GEICO: Best for high-risk drivers

High-risk drivers in Colorado pay an average of $2,374 a year for car insurance. GEICO can be a good option for such drivers, especially those with a DUI, at-fault accident, or multiple speeding tickets, as it may be cheaper than some competitors. GEICO can also file an SR-22 on your behalf with the court.

Pros
  •  GEICO’s prices are lower than some competitors in Colorado
  •  It has multiple discounts that can help you lower your insurance premiums
Cons
  •  Lower-than-average customer satisfaction scores in Colorado
  •  Only has a few agents in the state, centered around the Denver metro and Colorado Springs areas

Get a quote now | GEICO review

Nationwide: Best for coverage options

Nationwide full coverage insurance costs a yearly average of $1,559, which puts it in the middle of the pack. Its prices on minimum car insurance, however, were the second-highest in the state. Despite its higher cost, its coverage options and perks, like covering vet bills up to $1000 if your pet gets hurt in a car accident, could make it worth considering.

Pros
  •  Nationwide has many popular options, including accident forgiveness and gap coverage
  •  It offers perks to drivers, including key fob replacement and emergency lockout coverage
Cons
  •  Nationwide is the second most expensive minimum coverage in Colorado
  •  It had the lowest customer satisfaction rating

Get a quote now | Nationwide review

Colorado auto insurance requirements

Many states require a minimum amount of car insurance to drive or register a vehicle. In Colorado, drivers must have at least:

  • $25,000 for bodily injury or death to any one person in an accident.
  • $50,000 for bodily injury or death to all persons in any one accident.
  • $15,000 for property damage in any one accident.

How to choose a car insurance provider in Colorado

If you need a new car insurance provider or just want to make sure you’re getting the best deal, keep the following in mind:

  • Check pricing and discounts: Get quotes from multiple companies and compare them to ensure policy amounts, coverage options, and discounts are the same or similar.
  • Check financial stability: Before starting a policy, check the company’s financial stability on a website like Standard & Poor’s or AM Best. It’s also wise to check with the Colorado Division of Insurance or the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) to confirm a company is licensed to do business in Colorado.
  • Ask for reviews: Ask friends and family for recommendations and check review websites like the Better Business Bureau to see what existing customers say.

How much does car insurance cost in Colorado?

The average cost of car insurance in Colorado is $1,699 a year for full coverage or $744 a year for minimum coverage. Drivers in Aurora, the largest Denver suburb, pay an average of $2,379 annually for full coverage, while drivers in Boulder pay an average of $1,759.

Colorado car insurance rates by city

How much you pay for car insurance will depend on several factors, including the crime rate of where you live. According to NeighborhoodScout, Denver scored one out of 100, meaning 99% of cities in the U.S. are safer than Denver, which translates to higher insurance premiums.

Interestingly, Aurora, which had the highest average premium, scored higher than The Mile High City, earning three out of 100 on the crime index. Boulder, home to the University of Colorado and the city with the lowest average premiums on our list, received a four.

City Avg. annual full-coverage premium
Aurora $2,379/year
Denver$2,240/year
Colorado Springs $2,211/year
Arvada $2,018/year
Westminster $1,842/year
Boulder $1,759/year

Methodology

Our analysis was conducted using six different auto insurance marketplaces to determine the best auto insurance in each state. The data we analyzed included coverage premiums from up to 10 different insurance providers. We looked at rates by city, driver profile, and credit score, as well as factored in the impact of driving violations. This data is for comparative purposes only. Your actual quote may be different.

FAQs about car insurance costs in Colorado

What are the minimum car insurance coverage requirements in Colorado?

Colorado drivers must maintain at least $25,000 for bodily injury or death to any one person and $50,000 for bodily injury or death to all persons in any one accident. They must also have $15,000 for property damage in any one accident to drive legally. 

How much does car insurance cost in Colorado?

Car insurance in Colorado costs an average of $1,699 a year for full coverage and $744 annually for minimum coverage. 

Which car insurance companies cover Colorado?

Many of the country’s largest insurance companies cover Colorado, including USAA, State Farm, Nationwide, GEICO, and Auto-Owners. 

What is the cheapest car insurance company in Colorado?

The cheapest car insurance company in Colorado is USAA, with an average annual cost of $1,105 for full coverage and $315 for minimum coverage. 

The next best options were Auto-Owners, which cost $456 annually for minimum coverage, and State Farm, which averaged $1,235 annually for full coverage.

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Author Details

Kate Daugherty Kate Daugherty is a professional writer with a passion for providing others the head start they deserve on their financial journeys. Largely self-taught, Kate relied on books, blogs, and trial-and-error to learn how to budget and save for the future, all while working to pay back about $15,000 in student loans.