Image via Flickr by free pictures of money
Mississippi drivers must purchase auto insurance that meets the minimum coverage required by law. Drivers searching for cheap car insurance in Mississippi should compare pricing from as many auto insurers as possible to get the best rates. There can be as much as an 85% difference between the cheapest car insurance in Mississippi and the most expensive alternative. Mississippi residents can contact national and local insurers to determine pricing specific to their age and accident history. The best car insurance companies have customizable policies and responsive customer service.
Do Drivers Need To Have Car Insurance in Mississippi?
Yes, car insurance is necessary for drivers in Mississippi. Drivers without auto insurance could have their license suspended or be fined up to $500.
Minimum Car Insurance Requirements in Mississippi
Drivers need to have specific insurance coverage for bodily injuries and property damage. The minimum standard for property damage coverage is $25,000 for each accident. When it comes to bodily injury liability coverage, drivers must have coverage of at least $50,000 per accident and $25,000 per person.
What Does the Average Auto Insurance Cost?
The average cost of minimum coverage car insurance is $657 per year, which is 16% less than the U.S. average. Different Mississippi cities have varying auto insurance rates depending on traffic patterns and auto theft statistics. Hermanville has the highest rates for full car insurance coverage, while Mississippi State University in Starkville has the lowest.
The Cheapest Car Insurance Rates in Mississippi
Active military personnel, veterans, and their family members are eligible for the cheapest Mississippi car insurance rates through USAA. USAA offers special military annual rates as low as $290. Otherwise, the lowest-cost auto insurance available is State Farm Insurance. At around $468 a year, State Farm insurance is below the annual state average of $657 for minimum liability insurance. At the other end of the spectrum, Shelter charges approximately $1,161 annually.
Cheapest Full Coverage Auto Insurance
While minimum coverage insurance is sufficient to meet Mississippi state requirements, out-of-pocket costs can be expensive for drivers who get into accidents. That’s why full coverage auto insurance is a good option for drivers who can afford it.
The main difference between minimum coverage and full coverage is that minimum coverage only covers liability for damage or injury caused to others by the policyholder, while full coverage insures Mississippi drivers against collisions, weather incidents, and theft. Even if a driver is at fault, collision insurance covers the damage from an accident.
Drivers who lease their cars or have outstanding loan agreements may be contractually bound to purchase a full coverage car insurance policy. Full coverage insurance also makes sense for drivers whose car value exceeds the price difference between a minimum and full coverage policy. State Farm is known to have the lowest full coverage insurance quotes at about $1,308 per year. Some insurance companies ask drivers to pay an annual membership fee to access the lowest full coverage auto insurance rates.
Factors Affecting Your Auto Insurance Quote
Many factors may affect a driver’s ability to find cheap car insurance in Mississippi. These may be:
- DUI convictions
- Accidents
- Speeding tickets
Drivers who have a DUI conviction on their record have to pay rates up to 88% higher than drivers who have never been convicted of a DUI offense. Farm Bureau has annual rates of about $2,413 for drivers with DUI convictions. Sometimes drivers who have lost their license after a DUI conviction need to get an SR-22 certificate to become licensed to drive again.
Speeding tickets are another reason why drivers might have high insurance premiums. When drivers have a record of exceeding the speed limit, auto insurers think that they are more likely to have accidents, so insurance prices go up to cover the increased risk.
Low-Cost Car Insurance for Drivers With Previous Accidents
Every car accident that a driver is involved in pushes their car insurance rates higher. When a driver has made a claim because of an accident, insurance companies expect the driver to make additional future claims. Insurance companies also differentiate between not-at-fault and at-fault accidents.
When a driver is at fault, the effect on insurance premiums is greater than if the accident happened for reasons out of the driver’s control. The lowest post-accident car insurance rates in Mississippi are 42% less than the state average. State Farm and Farm Bureau have the most affordable rates for Mississippi drivers after accidents. Other insurance companies assess steep penalties against drivers involved in accidents.
Cheapest Auto Insurance for Drivers With Low Credit Scores
A driver’s credit score doesn’t affect the likelihood of accidents. Even so, insurers react negatively to drivers with low credit scores by raising their rates. Drivers with low credit scores looking for cheap car insurance in Mississippi should consider Farm Bureau or Nationwide. Farm Bureau’s rates for drivers with low credit scores are 25% less than the Mississippi average.
Best Priced Car Insurance for Married Drivers
Married drivers actually pay less for insurance than single drivers. In Mississippi, that’s a 13% difference in insurance rates. Almost all insurance companies give a discount to married couples. Progressive and Shelter give the biggest discounts, but USAA and Farm Bureau have the lowest car insurance rates for married drivers in Mississippi.
Lowest Cost Car Insurance for Mississippi Teens
Teenagers don’t have as much experience as adult drivers, which is why they have to pay more for car insurance. There’s a huge difference between the cheapest minimum coverage and full coverage insurance policies for teens and the state average. Full coverage insurance ranges from $2,100 to $9,565 annually. These prices get even higher when a teen driver receives a ticket for a traffic violation. The average increase in insurance rates for ticketed teen drivers is 15%. That’s why parents with teen drivers should search for auto insurers with the lowest rate increase. There are many ways for teen drivers to lower their insurance premiums and take advantage of affordable joint policies. Teens can share policies with their parents or an older sibling.
Mississippi drivers should review their accident history and consider any factors that could give them lower or higher insurance rates. Deciding between minimum and full coverage insurance is about maximizing value and minimizing potential losses. Insurance rates change regularly, so switching insurers can be a financially sound decision to get the best discounts.
At FIXD, our mission is to make car ownership as simple, easy, and affordable as possible. Our research team utilizes the latest automotive data and insights to create tools and resources that help drivers get peace of mind and save money over the life of their car.
