Car insurance in San Antonio: Cheapest insurance and average rates

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Car insurance in San Antonio costs $2,181 per year for full coverage – $182 per month. In 2024, Texas Farm Bureau offers the cheapest car insurance policy at $115 per month.

San Antonio is a booming metropolis and is the seventh-largest city in the U.S. As the metro area continues to grow, so does traffic. That means San Antonio drivers must have the right car insurance policy to protect them each time they take to the city’s roadways. 

Find out more about how to get cheap car insurance in San Antonio, including how much a typical policy costs. Also, learn more about what you need to know if you are new to the city and plan to drive there. 

How to find the best car insurance in San Antonio

Finding the best car insurance policy in San Antonio boils down to getting the coverage you need at the lowest cost. Before you start shopping, it is important to know the type of coverage you require and how much of that coverage will adequately protect you. 

Make sure you get quotes from at least three companies comparing similar coverage limits and coverage options and ask about any discounts you qualify for. It’s always best to buy as much coverage as you can afford.

The cheapest car insurance company in San Antonio, Texas

Texas Farm Bureau provides the cheapest car insurance coverage in San Antonio, according to 2023 data. It costs an average of $1,384 to purchase a full-coverage annual policy from the insurer. The next cheapest car insurance companies are Nationwide and Redpoint County Mutual.

How much is car insurance in San Antonio per month?

San Antonio residents can expect to pay an average of $182 monthly for full coverage car insurance. 

Of course, this is just an average. Many factors will impact how much you pay for car insurance, including the insurance company you choose and the amount of coverage you need. 

“The type of car you drive and the value of that car can also play a significant role in the cost of your insurance, especially if you are seeking to include coverage for damage to your vehicle,” says Rick Kautzer, director of personal lines product management for Dairyland Insurance.

Many other factors impact car insurance costs, ranging from your age and gender to your history of accidents and violations. See monthly rates for car insurance in the table below.

How do rates in San Antonio compare to other large cities in the U.S.?

The cost of coverage in San Antonio compares favorably to other major cities and it’s cheaper than in Dallas or Houston. 

James Brau, professor of finance at Brigham Young University, says that the more risk the insurance company must bear, the higher the premium they must charge to stay in business and make a profit. 

“Large cities tend to present more risk to the insurance companies than rural areas. Large cities have more people, more cars and higher chances of getting in wrecks or having other damage done to vehicles,” Brau says. “As such, insurance firms must charge higher premiums in cities. Cities that are relatively more dangerous, in turn, must charge higher premiums than cities that are not as risky. Insurance companies study damage losses per metropolitan area and assign premiums depending on the number of wrecks in an area.”

See how much you can expect to pay for car insurance in several major U.S. cities in the table below.

Here’s what you need to know when driving in San Antonio

As San Antonio’s population increases, traffic congestion is making it more difficult to get around. 

The San Antonio Things website notes that the San Antonio metro is spread out, encompassing more than 500 square miles. That means public transportation is not a realistic option for those trying to go from one side of town to the other. 

In short, San Antonio is a car town, which exacerbates traffic woes. When rain or ice appears, things get even worse. 

During rush hour, you can expect to spend an extra 17.6 minutes in traffic, according to the website CoPilot. That places San Antonio at No. 25 among all cities in the nation when it comes to losing time due to rush hour. 

San Antonio also has some key rules around driving that you should know. These include the following: 

• Speed limits are based on what is known as the “85 percentile speed” of a roadway. This means the speed limit is set at a speed comfortable for 85% of drivers. 
• As a general rule, you can expect to find speed limits of 30 mph on streets and 15 mph in alleys. If the speed limit is higher — such as 40 mph or 45 mph — a posted sign will indicate this fact. 
• All vehicles must yield to pedestrians in crosswalks. 
• San Antonio has no toll roads, although there are a few just outside the city. 
• Electric vehicle owners will quickly warm to San Antonio, as the city has installed many charging stations. 

How much car insurance do I need in San Antonio?

Texas law requires you to purchase a minimum of $30,000 of coverage for injuries per person, up to $60,000 per accident, and $25,000 of coverage for property damage. You might hear this referred to as “30/60/25 coverage.”

However, these minimum levels of coverage will not be adequate for many drivers. 

The amount of car insurance coverage you need depends on many different factors. If you have a new, expensive car, you will need more coverage than an old, low-value car. 

It is also important to have more coverage if you have a lot of assets to protect. If you severely injure someone in an accident or cause extensive damage to their property, your liability costs may be high. So, it is crucial that you have enough coverage to protect yourself financially in these situations.  

If you are unsure of how much coverage you need, consult with an insurance agent who can help. 

Average cost of car insurance in San Antonio, Texas

The average annual cost of full-coverage car insurance in San Antonio is $2,181. That compares to a statewide average of $2,043 and a nationwide average of $1,895. San Antonio’s rate is comparable to the statewide average and is cheaper than sister cities Dallas and Houston.

How much does car insurance in San Antonio cost with violations?

Having moving violations on your driving record can cause your car insurance rates to climb. The nature of the violation will greatly impact how much you pay. 

For example, a DUI conviction will send your rates much higher than a speeding ticket. However, both types of violations can increase your coverage costs. 

See rate increases in San Antonio by violation in the table below.

Cheapest car insurance in San Antonio by age

Car insurance for teens in San Antonio is expensive – the annual rate for an 18-year-old is $4,356 per year for a full coverage policy. Rates start to head down at age 25.

Compare auto insurance rates in San Antonio by ZIP code 

Where you live also plays a role in how much you pay in car insurance costs. Here is a breakdown of the cheapest and most expensive car insurance rates by ZIP code. 

See the tables below for the cheapest and most expensive ZIP codes for car insurance in San Antonio. 

Our recommendations: Car insurance for drivers in San Antonio

On average, San Antonio drivers will find that Texas Farm Bureau offers the lowest rates for car insurance. If you are on a tight budget, the insurer might be a good candidate to provide your coverage. 

Remember that price is only one factor to consider when purchasing car insurance. Getting the right coverage and choosing a company with a good track record can be equally important. 

Shopping around and gathering quotes from several insurance companies is the best way to get the coverage you need at the best price. 

A full coverage insurance policy with liability limits of 100/300/100 is the best option for most drivers. Consider increasing your liability limits as you accumulate wealth and your net worth increases. Purchasing as much car insurance as you can afford will give you peace of mind as you navigate the roads of San Antonio.

What our expert says

Q: Why do insurance rates vary from city to city?

Dr. James BrauJoel C. Peterson Professor of Finance Brigham Young University

“Large cities tend to present more risk to the insurance companies than rural areas. Large cities have more people, more cars and higher chances of getting in wrecks or having other damage done to vehicles. As such, insurance firms must charge higher premiums in cities. Cities that are relatively more dangerous, in turn, must charge higher premiums than cities that are not as risky. Insurance companies study damage losses per metropolitan area and assign premiums depending on the number of wrecks in an area.”

Resources & Methodology

Methodology

In 2024, Insure.com commissioned Quadrant Information Services to pull rates for a 40-year-old who has a 12-mile commute and drives a 2023 Honda Accord LX 10k miles annually. The hypothetical driver has full coverage, carrying policy limits of 100/300/100 with $500 deductibles for comprehensive and collision coverages. We analyzed 51,088,003 insurance quotes from 167 companies across 34,588 ZIP codes in every state and Washington, D.C.

Chris Kissell

Contributing Researcher

 

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Chris Kissell is a Denver-based writer and editor with work featured on U.S. News & World Report, MSN Money, Fox Business, Forbes, Yahoo Finance, Money Talks News and more.