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The average annual rate of $1,680 in Denver ZIP code 80219 is the most expensive for Colorado car insurance in the city – and the state, according to a CarInsurance.com analysis. But when compared to the city's overall average rate ($1,562), it comes in just $118 higher.
Many factors go into calculating car insurance rates, but a driver's location is typically used to kick off the process. Insurance companies assess ZIP codes’ risk levels based on the number and severity of car insurance claims within the area. They also use different formulas when deciding what you pay, which is why the price for the same policy varies significantly by insurer. For example, the highest rate from any carrier for ZIP 80219 in CarInsurance.com's analysis was $2,272 – more than double the lowest ($949).
The wide range in rates from different insurers shows why it's wise to compare car insurance rates. Enter your ZIP code in the average rate tool below to see the price for a policy in your neighborhood, as well as the highest and lowest cost fielded from six insurance companies.
CarInsurance.com commissioned Quadrant Information Services to provide a report of average auto insurance rates for a 2016 Honda Accord for nearly every ZIP code in the United States. We calculated rates using data for up to six large carriers (Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, Nationwide, Progressive and State Farm).
Averages for the default result are based on insurance for a married 40-year-old male who commutes 12 miles to work each day, with policy limits of 100/300/100 ($100,000 for injury liability for one person, $300,000 for all injuries and $100,000 for property damage in an accident) and a $500 deductible on collision and comprehensive coverage. The rate includes uninsured motorist coverage.
Averages for customized rates are based on drivers ages 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 and 70 for the following coverage levels: state minimum liability, liability of 50/100/50 and 100/300/100 with $500 deductible on comprehensive and collision. These hypothetical drivers have clean records and good credit. Average rates are for comparative purposes.
Your own rate will depend on your personal factors and vehicle.
State Minimum:
Required liability coverage to drive legally in your state; some states mandate additional coverage, such as personal injury protection, uninsured motorist, underinsured motorist.
Liability Only 50/100/50:
$50,000 per person/$100,000 maximum per accident for bodily injury; $50,000 for property damage. Liability pays for injuries/damage you cause others.
Full Coverage 100/300/100:
$100,000 per person/$300,000 maximum per accident for bodily injury; $100,000 for property damage; comprehensive and collision coverage with $500 deductible. Liability pays for injuries/damage you cause others. Comprehensive and collision pay for damage to your car.
80219- DENVER: $1,68080223- DENVER: $1,67680246- DENVER: $1,66680230- DENVER: $1,66480521- FORT COLLINS: $1,19680535- LAPORTE: $1,20180537- CAMPION: $1,20380525- FORT COLLINS: $1,209Rates aren't equal through all the Mile High City’s ZIP codes.
Here are the 10 most expensive ZIP codes for car insurance in Denver. You'll see in the chart below that you can save up to $1,300 just by comparing Denver car insurance quotes.
| ZIP code | Average annual rate | Highest rate | Lowest rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 80219 | $1,680 | $2,272 | $949 |
| 80223 | $1,676 | $2,187 | $942 |
| 80246 | $1,666 | $2,277 | $945 |
| 80230 | $1,664 | $2,288 | $930 |
| 80204 | $1,641 | $2,187 | $963 |
| 80294 | $1,635 | $2,211 | $923 |
| 80295 | $1,634 | $2,211 | $922 |
| 80293 | $1,632 | $2,211 | $910 |
| 80299 | $1,632 | $2,211 | $910 |
| 80205 | $1,612 | $2,105 | $923 |
*Methodology for rates by ZIP code:
CarInsurance.com commissioned Quadrant Information Services to run auto insurance rates for a 2016 Honda Accord for more than 30,000 ZIP codes in the United States using six large carriers -- Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, Nationwide, Progressive and State Farm. (In cases where an insurer’s rate wasn’t available, another major carrier's rate was substituted.) Averages are based on insurance for a single 40-year-old male who commutes 12 miles to work each day, with policy limits of 100/300/100 ($100,000 for injury liability for one person, $300,000 for all injuries and $100,000 for property damage in an accident) and a $500 deductible on collision and comprehensive coverage. This hypothetical driver has a clean record and good credit. The rate includes uninsured motorist coverage. Average rates are for comparative purposes. Your own rate will depend on your personal factors and vehicle.
Here's how Denver’s highest average rate ($1,680) for ZIP code 80219 compares to others, for a full coverage policy:
Here’s what the same driver would pay in the costliest ZIP codes in other large Colorado cities:
Denver car insurance requirements | |
|---|---|
| Colorado state law requires the following minimum car insurance coverage: | |
| Minimum bodily injury liability | $25,000/$50,000 |
| Minimum property damage liability | $15,000 |
Denver’s minimum car insurance requirements are relatively low compared to most states. The lowest liability limits your insurer offers is the cheapest policy you can buy. This will be the state minimum required to drive legally. In Denver, (written as 25/50/15) that means your liability car insurance would pay up to:
If you want to be sure you don't wind up putting your assets at risk, consider buying higher liability car insurance limits. To protect your car you need optional physical damage coverages. To protect your assets, you should buy liability insurance in the following amounts:
You should also consider buying these optional coverages:
If you have a newer model car, it makes sense to get comprehensive insurance and collision coverage. In Colorado, comprehensive costs $158 and collision costs $255, on average per year, according to the Insurance Information Institute. These optional coverages come with a deductible. That’s the amount you pay before your insurance company pays. Typical deductibles amounts are $1,000, $500 and $250 – you choose which one you want. The higher the deductible is, the lower your rate will be.
The state average rate for a year of minimum coverage is $592, according to our rate analysis. If you increased your coverage to 50/100/50, you would pay just $59 more annauly or less than $5 a month. To hike your protection to recommended full coverage limits with comprehensive and collision, Colorado drivers would pay $1,044 a year, or $87 monthly. Here are average rates by coverage level for Colorado:
Geico and State Farm rank as the cheapest car insurance companies in Denver, CO. See how major insurers compare on price for three different coverage levels:
| Company | State minimum |
|---|---|
| Geico | $418 |
| State Farm | $476 |
| Farmers | $588 |
| Progressive | $805 |
| Allstate | $834 |
| Company | 50/100/50 |
| Geico | $415 |
| State Farm | $554 |
| Farmers | $629 |
| Allstate | $882 |
| Progressive | $886 |
| Company | 100/300/100 |
| Geico | $881 |
| State Farm | $1,419 |
| Farmers | $1,673 |
| Progressive | $1,808 |
| Allstate | $2,031 |
Traffic tickets can increase your rates depending on the severity.
These rate hikes can stay on your auto insurance for five years. The exact number of years depends on the insurance company and state laws.
DUIs and other serious charges often stay on your driving record longer than a minor offense, such as speeding.
Here’s how much more you’ll pay, on average, for the following traffic violations.
| Violation | Annual average rate | Rate after violation | Dollar increase | Percent increase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DUI/DWI third offense | $1,759 | $5,917 | $4,158 | 236% |
| DUI/DWI second offense | $1,759 | $4,346 | $2,587 | 147% |
DUI/DWI first offense | $1,759 | $2,973 | $1,214 | 69% |
| Reckless driving | $1,759 | $2,936 | $1,177 | 67% |
Operating a vehicle in a race (highway racing) | $1,759 | $2,690 | $931 | 53% |
2 speeding tickets 11 mph or over | $1,759 | $2,374 | $615 | 35% |
| Careless driving | $1,759 | $2,089 | $330 | 19% |
Speeding | $1,759 | $2,087 | $327 | 19% |
| Failure to stop or yield | $1,759 | $2,085 | $326 | 19% |
| Improper turn | $1,759 | $2,085 | $326 | 19% |
| Improper/illegal pass | $1,759 | $2,085 | $326 | 19% |
| Following too closely | $1,759 | $2,067 | $308 | 18% |
| Talking on cellphone | $1,759 | $2,034 | $275 | 16% |
| Driving with a license, permit or insurance | $1,759 | $1,824 | $65 | 4% |
Methodology:
CarInsurance.com commissioned Quadrant Information Services in 2019 to field rates from up to six major insurers for 10 ZIP codes in the city for the following driver profile: male, age 40, good credit, clean driver record, driving 2017 Honda accord. We compared the clean record driver rate to the rate for various tickets and accident claims to get the average percentage and dollar increase, for the coverage level of 100/300/50; with comprehensive and collision and $500 deductible. These are estimates; your actual rate will depend on your personal rating factors.
Car accidents may increase your rates, especially if it’s a hit-and-run accident.
The exact increases depend on your plan. Some insurers offer accident-forgiveness. So, if you get into one at-fault accident, your rates may stay the same. If you get into a second accident, your rates may then skyrocket.
Here’s how accidents will increase your rates on average.
| Accident | Annual rate | Rate after claim | Dollar increase | Percent increase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
2 At-fault property damage accident over $2k | $1,759 | $3,474 | $1,715 | 97% |
Hit and run - injury or property damage | $1,759 | $3,168 | $1,408 | 80% |
1 At-fault property damage accident over $2K | $1,759 | $2,306 | $547 | 31% |
At-fault bodily injury accident | $1,759 | $2,272 | $512 | 29% |
1 At-fault property damage accident under $2K | $1,759 | $2,139 | $380 | 22% |
Methodology:
CarInsurance.com commissioned Quadrant Information Services in 2019 to field rates from up to six major insurers for 10 ZIP codes in the city for the following driver profile: male, age 40, good credit, clean driver record, driving 2017 Honda accord. We then averaged rates by company for each city for the following coverage level: 100/300/50, with comprehensive and collision and a $500 deductible. These are estimates; your actual rate will depend on your personal rating factors.
Poor credit can increase your rates more in Denver than reckless driving or speeding tickets.
Nearly all states allow insurers to charge higher auto insurance rates for people with bad credit. Insurers connect bad credit with higher risk. The theory is that someone with bad credit will be more apt to file multiple claims.
On average, Denver drivers car insurance rates increase 73% to more than $3,000 if you have poor credit. It increases 21% to more than $2,100 if you have fair credit.
Those are hikes, but still not as bad as Michigan, New Jersey, Arizona and other worst states for drivers with bad credit.
Only being convicted for your second or third DUI will increase your auto insurance rates more than adding a 16-year-old driver to your policy in Denver.
Auto insurers view new, teen drivers as risky. There’s a much better chance that the policyholder will have to file a claim if a teen is on the policy.
In Denver, the average rates increase 144% for adding a 16-year-old male driver and 114% for driving a 16-year-old female driver. That means the average rates jump from an average of $1,759 to $4,293 for a male driver and $3,772 for a female driver.
That’s quite a hit on your rates, but there are ways to limit the increase. Find out more about adding a teen to your car insurance.
Gap insurance helps drivers with new cars who have outstanding balances on their loans or leases that are worth more than the value of the vehicle. The coverage, also called loan-lease payoff coverage, pays the difference actual cash value (ACV) of the vehicle and the current outstanding balance.
Gap insurance pays the difference between what the car’s worth after you drive it off the lot. Not what you paid.
Gap insurance would add on average $52 or 3% to your annual car insurance costs in Denver.
SR-22 is an option for drivers if you’re convicted for a serious moving violation, such as a DUI, reckless driving or driving without insurance.
Though not car insurance, an insurer guarantees that you’re carrying legally mandated coverage when it issues you an SR-22. If you have an SR-22 and a DUI conviction, the average rate increases by $1,388 or 79%. That’s more than $3,000 total.
Ridesharing services have become a popular full-time job or way to supplement income. If you drive for Uber or Lyft, you need special car insurance coverage, which is called a ridesharing endorsement.
Costs for this coverage vary by insurer and it’s not available from every company. In Denver, adding Uber or Lyft insurance would add $462 on average to your car insurance bill. That’s a 25% increase.
Traffic in Denver: As with many major cities, traffic can be congested, especially during rush hour, but Denver did not make a list of the worst U.S. cities for traffic recently reported by USA Today.
Car crashes: Major accidents have resulted in an average of about 35 deaths a year in recent years (2012-2014).
Commuting: The average commute time in Denver is 26 minutes.
Public transportation: The U.S. Census Bureau says that the majority of riders in Denver who commute to work by public transportation are white (about 48 percent), Hispanic (about 32 percent) and black (about 16 percent). The bureau notes that commuting is the main reason people turn to mass transit.
High Occupancy Vehicle rules: The HOV lane, also known as the carpool or diamond lane, is designed to reduce traffic congestion and promote ride-sharing on freeways. In Colorado, only vehicles with at least two people, mass transit vehicles like buses, and motorcycles are allowed to use the lanes. Use may be restricted during specified hours.
Smog rules: In Denver you must have a 1982 or newer vehicle tested for emissions every two years; 1981 vehicles and older must be tested every year. Vehicles that are seven years old or less are exempt. After moving to Denver, your vehicle must be tested as part of the new registration process.
Bad intersection: Colorado Boulevard and 17th Avenue is considered one of the busiest intersections, with as many as 20,000 vehicles passing through it during the daily rush hour.
The information was gathered from various sources, including the U.S. Census Bureau, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Texas A&M Transportation Institute, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, state transportation departments and city police departments.
