If you're on a Galaxy Fold, consider unfolding your phone or viewing it in full screen to best optimize your experience.
Colorado drivers spend thousands of dollars per year on car insurance, but rates vary a lot depending on which insurer you're talking about. We evaluated some of the most popular insurance companies in the state to determine which offer the best car insurance in Colorado for several types of drivers.
Read on to learn more about our findings as well as some other important things that Coloradans need to know when shopping for coverage.
American Family stands out as the top pick in Colorado because it offers competitive rates to many drivers and backs them up with excellent customer service. The company ranked second in J.D. Power's latest U.S. Auto Insurance Study, and its claims satisfaction ratings are above-average as well.
Geico has the cheapest auto insurance rates in Colorado, according to our data. Its average annual premium was just $1,875. That's well below the state average of $3,220 per year. However, what it charges a particular driver depends on factors like the driver's accident history, vehicle make and model, and location within the state.
American Family is a strong pick for drivers with clean records due to its comprehensive coverage and highly rated customer service. Its premiums are also among the most affordable in the state, averaging about $1,764 per year for drivers with no prior accidents or traffic violations.
State Farm was the only company to beat out American Family in J.D. Power's latest U.S. Auto Insurance Study for the Southwest region. It's also one of the highest-rated auto insurance companies in terms of claims satisfaction in the United States. It has flexible policies as well with reasonable rates for most drivers.
When shopping for minimum coverage, price is often the determining factor, and Geico wins out here by a mile. It only charges Colorado drivers $268 per year for minimum coverage while the state average is $626 per year.
USAA is only available to active-duty military members, veterans, and their family members. Its customer satisfaction is unparalleled and its premiums are also pretty affordable. The average Colorado military customer only pays $1,814 per year.
Teens pay the highest average Colorado auto insurance rates at $7,581 per year, but American Family offers coverage to these drivers for less than half the cost. It only charges Colorado teens about $3,247 per year on average. The company also offers several discounts aimed at teens, including savings for being a good student, volunteering, and having a parent who's an American Family customer.
Colorado car insurance premiums average about $3,220 per year. That's pretty close to the national average of $3,017 per year. But a lot depends on the driver in question, their accident history, their vehicle make and model, and where they reside in the state.
The following table gives the average monthly and annual car insurance premiums for several common Colorado driver personas.
Persona | Average Monthly Premium | Average Annual Premium |
---|---|---|
Overall | $268.33 | $3,220 |
Drivers with Clean Records | $208.67 | $2,504 |
Teen Drivers | $631.75 | $7,581 |
Senior Drivers | $187.00 | $2,244 |
Military Veterans | $210.25 | $2,523 |
Drivers with 1 Accident | $302.42 | $3,629 |
Drivers with 1 Speeding Ticket | $275.92 | $3,311 |
Drivers with 1 DUI | $338.33 | $4,060 |
Drivers Seeking Minimum Coverage | $52.17 | $626 |
Here are a few Colorado auto insurance laws all drivers should be familiar with.
Colorado is an at-fault auto insurance state, like most of the rest of the U.S. This means that the driver found to be at fault in an accident must pay for the medical bills and repairs for both parties. This could easily cost tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars in a severe accident, and state minimum car insurance may not be enough to cover it.
Drivers who get behind the wheel in Colorado without at least state-minimum coverage are guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. They could be subject to the following consequences:
All Colorado drivers must carry at least the following auto insurance:
The bodily injury liability coverage limits are on par with what most other states require, but the property damage liability limits are actually below average for the U.S.
Here are a few other things Colorado drivers should know when shopping for car insurance.
More than 16% of Colorado drivers don't have insurance, according to the Insurance Information Institute. That's the 13th-highest rate in the nation. Drivers who want to be fully protected should they get into an accident with an uninsured driver must add uninsured and/or underinsured motorist coverage to their policy.
Colorado also sees the fifth-most vehicle thefts in the country, per the Insurance Information Institute. Three of the top 10 auto theft hotspots in the U.S. -- Pueblo, Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, and Greeley -- are in Colorado. State minimum coverage doesn't protect drivers against theft. Those who want to be reimbursed for stolen vehicles will need comprehensive coverage.
Here are a few things Colorado drivers can do to score the best auto insurance rates:
The best Colorado auto insurance for a specific driver varies depending on several factors, like the driver's accident history, vehicle make and model, and ZIP code. But American Family is a strong contender for many drivers due to its affordable premiums and highly rated customer service.
All Colorado drivers need auto insurance in order to legally operate a vehicle. There's never a time when drivers are permitted to go without insurance coverage.
Drivers who ignore Colorado law and skip car insurance could face fines of up to $1,000 and mandatory community service.
We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. Motley Fool Money does not cover all offers on the market. Motley Fool Money is 100% owned and operated by The Motley Fool. Our knowledgeable team of personal finance editors and analysts are employed by The Motley Fool and held to the same set of publishing standards and editorial integrity while maintaining professional separation from the analysts and editors on other Motley Fool brands. Terms may apply to offers listed on this page.
The data found on this page is a combination of publicly available quote data obtained directly from the carrier as well as insurance rate data from Quadrant Information Services. These rates were publicly sourced from the top ten (10) to fifteen (15) carrier markets, within each state, based on annual written premium and should be used for comparative purposes only -- your own quotes may be different.