Best Car Insurance in Colorado for 2024

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.

• Best overall: American Family
• Best budget pick: GEICO
• Best for typical drivers: American Family
• Best for customer satisfaction: State Farm
• Best for minimum coverage: GEICO
• Best for military veterans: USAA
• Best for teen drivers: American Family
• Best for drivers with one speeding ticket: State Farm

Best overall: American Family

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.

Best budget pick: Geico

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.

Best for typical drivers: American Family

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.

Best for customer satisfaction: State Farm

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.

Best for minimum coverage: Geico

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.

Best for military veterans: USAA

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.

Best for teen drivers: American Family

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.

How much does car insurance cost in Colorado?

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.

Average car insurance cost

The following table gives the average monthly and annual car insurance premiums for several common Colorado driver personas.

Colorado auto insurance laws

Here are a few Colorado auto insurance laws all drivers should be familiar with.

Colorado is an at-fault state

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.

Consequences for driving without insurance in Colorado

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:

• Fines of not less than $500 for a first offense and of not less than $1,000 for subsequent offenses
• Requirement to perform at least 40 hours of community service

What is the minimum car insurance required in Colorado?

All Colorado drivers must carry at least the following auto insurance:

• $25,000 of bodily injury liability coverage per person
• $50,000 of bodily injury liability coverage per accident
• $15,000 of property damage liability coverage per person

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.

Other things to consider when looking for car insurance in Colorado

Here are a few other things Colorado drivers should know when shopping for car insurance.

Colorado has a large percentage of uninsured drivers

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.

Vehicle thefts are common within the state

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.

How to find the best car insurance in Colorado

Here are a few things Colorado drivers can do to score the best auto insurance rates:

• Shop around: All auto insurers evaluate risk differently and offer unique rates because of it. Comparing quotes from several companies is the best way to find out which offers the most affordable deal.
• Check for discounts: Many insurers offer similar car insurance discounts, but some offer unique savings opportunities for drivers of hybrid vehicles, military veterans, and more. Those who think they may qualify for these savings should seek out insurers who reward them.
• Choose a higher deductible: A higher deductible will increase a driver's out-of-pocket costs in the event of an accident, but it will also lower monthly premiums.