Car Insurance in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania drivers spend an average of $1,155 a year on auto insurance according to the NAIC — ▼ −10% versus the national average of $1,282, ranking 23rd most expensive of 51. The state requires 15/30/5 liability coverage and follows a choice no-fault system.
Average car insurance cost in Pennsylvania
The NAIC average expenditure is what insured drivers actually paid on average, including people who carry only liability. For those who buy each coverage, the average premium was $567 for liability, $465 for collision and $241 for comprehensive ($1,273 combined, versus $1,439 nationally). That average expenditure is 13% higher than the NAIC's previous data year ($1,018).
Minimum car insurance requirements in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania's minimum is written as 15/30/5: $15,000 per person / $30,000 per accident in bodily injury liability and $5,000 in property damage liability. Those limits are low compared with the cost of a serious injury claim, so many drivers choose 100/300/100 — we estimate that "standard" level at about $685 a year here, $260 more than the minimum.
| Coverage | Required? | Minimum | What it pays for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability | Yes | $15,000 per person / $30,000 per accident or $35,000 combined single limit | Injuries you cause to other people |
| Property damage liability | Yes | $5,000 | Damage you cause to other vehicles and property |
| Personal injury protection (PIP) | Yes | $5,000 First-party medical benefits of at least $5,000 are required and pay your medical bills regardless of fault. | Your own medical bills and lost wages, regardless of fault |
| Uninsured motorist (UM) | No | — Uninsured motorist coverage is optional; insurers must offer it and it can be rejected on a signed form. | Your injuries when the at-fault driver has no insurance |
| Underinsured motorist (UIM) | No | — Underinsured motorist coverage is optional and can be rejected on a signed form. | The gap when the at-fault driver’s limits are too low |
| Medical payments (MedPay) | No | — Medical expenses are covered through the required first-party medical benefits. | Medical bills for you and your passengers |
Some insurers offer a $35,000 combined single limit that meets both liability minimums. Drivers choose full tort or limited tort when buying a policy.
Compare with another state
Is Pennsylvania a no-fault state?
It's a "choice" state. Pennsylvania is a choice no-fault state: first-party medical benefits pay regardless of fault, and drivers choose full tort or cheaper limited tort, which bars pain-and-suffering suits unless the injury meets the law's serious-injury exceptions.
Uninsured drivers in Pennsylvania
The Insurance Research Council estimates 11.0% of Pennsylvania drivers are uninsured — 36th highest in the country, compared with 15.4% nationally. That's roughly one uninsured driver in every 9 on the road. Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage isn't mandatory here (Uninsured motorist coverage is optional; insurers must offer it and it can be rejected on a signed form), but it is still inexpensive protection against hit-and-run and uninsured drivers.
SR-22 requirements in Pennsylvania
Drivers who must prove financial responsibility after a DUI, an uninsured crash or a serious violation file proof of insurance through their insurer. Confirm the exact form and how long it must be kept with the Pennsylvania Insurance Department or your state motor vehicle agency.
By our model, a driver in their 30s with a DUI would pay about $810 a year for minimum coverage in Pennsylvania, versus $425 with a clean record. What is SR-22 insurance?
Estimate your premium in Pennsylvania
Runs in your browser — nothing you enter is stored or sent to insurers.
Car insurance by city in Pennsylvania
We cover 9 Pennsylvania cities. Estimates are for full coverage for a driver in their 30s with a clean record; hover a city to find it on the map. The lowest estimate is in Scranton ($1,405) and the highest in Philadelphia ($1,720).
- PhiladelphiaPop. 1,573,916 · Philadelphia County$1,720+24% vs state
- PittsburghPop. 307,668 · Allegheny County$1,510+9% vs state
- AllentownPop. 127,138 · Lehigh County$1,560+12% vs state
- ReadingPop. 96,000 · Berks County$1,585+14% vs state
- EriePop. 92,940 · Erie County$1,430+3% vs state
- BethlehemPop. 79,453 · Northampton County$1,475+6% vs state
- ScrantonPop. 75,905 · Lackawanna County$1,405+1% vs state
- LancasterPop. 58,441 · Lancaster County$1,560+12% vs state
- YorkPop. 45,241 · York County$1,545+11% vs state
Estimated cost by driver profile in Pennsylvania
Age and driving record move premiums more than almost anything else. A teen on their own policy pays about 2.8× what a driver in their 30s pays for the same full coverage in Pennsylvania.
| Driver | Minimum | Standard | Full coverage | Full / month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teen driver (18, own policy) | $1,170 | $1,885 | $3,825 | $319 |
| Young adult (22) | $680 | $1,095 | $2,225 | $185 |
| Adult in their 30s | $425 | $685 | $1,390 | $116 |
| Adult in their 50s | $390 | $630 | $1,280 | $107 |
| Senior (72) | $475 | $770 | $1,560 | $130 |
| 30s, one at-fault accident | $615 | $995 | $2,020 | $168 |
| 30s, DUI on record | $785 | $1,270 | $2,575 | $215 |
By coverage level
| Coverage level | What it includes | Per year | Per month | Typical range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State minimum liability | Only the liability (and PIP/UM where required) limits your state mandates. No coverage for your own car. | $425 | $35 | $350–$500 |
| Standard liability (100/300/100) | Higher liability limits plus uninsured motorist coverage. Still no coverage for damage to your own car. | $685 | $57 | $560–$810 |
| Full coverage | Standard liability plus collision and comprehensive, typically required on a financed or leased car. | $1,390 | $116 | $1,140–$1,640 |
Cheapest and most expensive cars to insure in Pennsylvania
Full-coverage estimates for current models, using HLDI insurance-loss data where available. Vehicle choice alone can swing the premium by more than $3,055 a year here.
| Model | Segment | Est. / year |
|---|---|---|
| Chevrolet Traverse | Midsize SUV | $910 |
| GMC Acadia | Midsize SUV | $930 |
| Subaru Forester | Small SUV | $1,015 |
| Subaru Crosstrek | Small SUV | $1,015 |
| Subaru Outback | Wagon | $1,035 |
| Honda Pilot | Midsize SUV | $1,035 |
| Honda CR-V | Small SUV | $1,040 |
| MINI Cooper | Subcompact car | $1,050 |
| Ford Bronco | Midsize SUV | $1,090 |
| Acura RDX | Luxury SUV | $1,105 |
| Model | Segment | Est. / year |
|---|---|---|
| BMW M4 | Luxury sports car | $3,965 |
| BMW M3 | Luxury car | $3,940 |
| Lamborghini Urus | Luxury SUV | $3,860 |
| BMW 7 Series | Luxury car | $3,440 |
| Mercedes-Benz S-Class | Luxury car | $2,835 |
| Lucid Air | Luxury car | $2,610 |
| Mercedes-Benz G-Class | Luxury SUV | $2,385 |
| Audi RS 7 | Luxury car | $2,330 |
| Porsche Taycan | Luxury sports car | $2,190 |
| Mercedes-Benz SL-Class | Luxury sports car | $2,175 |
Cheap car insurance in Pennsylvania: how to lower your rate
- Raise your deductible. Going from $500 to $1,000 on collision and comprehensive saves about $95 a year on a typical Pennsylvania full-coverage policy.
- Match coverage to your car's value. On a 10-year-old car, dropping collision and comprehensive could cut the bill from about $1,075 to $685.
- Drive less, pay less. Low-mileage and usage-based programs can save around $95 a year if you drive under 7,500 miles.
- Protect your record. A single speeding ticket adds roughly $310 a year in our model; an at-fault accident adds much more.
- Shop at renewal. Rates for the same driver differ widely between insurers. Compare identical limits and deductibles.
- Ask about discounts — bundling home and auto, good student, safe-driver, paid-in-full and defensive-driving course discounts. See common discounts.
Complaints and help: Pennsylvania Insurance Department
The Pennsylvania Insurance Department licenses insurers and agents, reviews rates and handles consumer complaints about claims, cancellations and billing — free of charge.
- Website
- www.pa.gov
- File a complaint
- Consumer complaint page
- Consumer helpline
- 1-877-881-6388
Pennsylvania vs. neighboring states
| State | NAIC avg. | Minimums | System | Uninsured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | $1,155 | 15/30/5 | Choice no-fault | 11.0% |
| Delaware | $1,462 | 25/50/10 | At-fault (tort) | 17.6% |
| Maryland | $1,477 | 30/60/15 | At-fault (tort) | 16.9% |
| New Jersey | $1,573 | 35/70/25 | Choice no-fault | 14.1% |
| New York | $1,753 | 25/50/10 | No-fault | 8.6% |
| Ohio | $947 | 25/50/25 | At-fault (tort) | 18.5% |
| West Virginia | $1,063 | 25/50/25 | At-fault (tort) | 7.8% |
Frequently asked questions
How much is car insurance in Pennsylvania?
NAIC data puts the average Pennsylvania auto insurance expenditure at $1,155 a year, 10% less than the national average of $1,282 (rank 23 of 51, where 1 is the most expensive). Our estimate for full coverage for a driver in their 30s with a clean record is about $1,390 a year ($116 a month); state-minimum liability is about $425.
What is the minimum car insurance required in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania requires at least 15/30/5 liability coverage: $15,000 per person / $30,000 per accident for bodily injury and $5,000 for property damage, plus personal injury protection (PIP) of 5,000.
Is Pennsylvania a no-fault state?
Partly. Pennsylvania is a choice no-fault state: first-party medical benefits pay regardless of fault, and drivers choose full tort or cheaper limited tort, which bars pain-and-suffering suits unless the injury meets the law's serious-injury exceptions.
How many drivers in Pennsylvania are uninsured?
The Insurance Research Council estimates that about 11.0% of Pennsylvania drivers are uninsured, ranking 36th in the nation (national estimate: 15.4%).
Which Pennsylvania city has the cheapest car insurance?
Among the 9 cities we cover, Scranton has the lowest full-coverage estimate at about $1,405 a year, while Philadelphia is the highest at about $1,720. Differences come from population density, commute length and local weather risk.
How much does car insurance cost for a teen driver in Pennsylvania?
An 18-year-old on their own full-coverage policy would pay roughly $3,825 a year in Pennsylvania by our estimate, or about $1,170 for minimum coverage. Joining a parent's policy usually costs less.
How do I file a complaint against a car insurance company in Pennsylvania?
Contact the Pennsylvania Insurance Department (consumer line 1-877-881-6388). It handles consumer complaints about claims, cancellations and rates at no cost.
How we estimate this
We start from the state's average liability, collision and comprehensive premiums published by the NAIC, then apply a location factor (population density and commute time from the Census ACS, weather hazard scores from FEMA's National Risk Index), a vehicle factor (HLDI insurance-loss data where available, otherwise vehicle segment), and a driver-profile multiplier. Results are rounded ranges for comparison, not quotes. Read the full methodology.
- Pennsylvania Insurance Department: Auto Insurance Guide
- PennDOT: Insurance Law Overview fact sheet
- Pennsylvania Insurance Department: Auto Insurance
- PennDOT: Financial Responsibility (Insurance) FAQs
- Pennsylvania Insurance Department: Complaints, Questions & Help
- NAIC 2022/2023 Auto Insurance Database Report
- NAIC Homeowners Insurance Report: Data for 2023
- Insurance Research Council uninsured motorist estimates (via Triple-I)
- IIHS Fatality Facts: state by state
- FBI Crime Data Explorer: Crime in the United States 2025 (Table 4)
- NICB 2022 Vehicle Theft Data: top 10 stolen vehicles by state
- FHWA Highway Statistics 2024, Table DL-1C (licensed drivers)
- FHWA Highway Statistics 2024, Table MV-1 (registrations)
- FHWA Highway Statistics 2024, Table VM-2 (vehicle-miles traveled)
- U.S. Census Bureau Vintage 2024 population estimates
- U.S. Census Bureau: population estimates and American Community Survey
- FEMA National Risk Index