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If you’re researching car insurance quotes in Pittsburgh or trying to find cheap car insurance quotes in Pittsburgh while shopping for a policy, you’ll find all the information you need here. We provide average car insurance rates for Pittsburgh listed by ZIP code and company. That way you can get a reference point for how much you can expect to pay. We’ll also explain how coverage works, and how much car insurance you need.
While Pittsburgh rates are well below archrival Philadelphia's -- which are among the highest in the country -- they still aren't cheap. Two drivers with the same car might well pay rates for Pennsylvania car insurance that differ by hundreds of dollars when one lives in South Hills and the other in Oakland.
No matter where you live, you'll find car insurance rates vary -- sometimes by a great deal. Each car insurance company uses its own formula when deciding what you’ll pay, so the same policy can have many different price points. For example, Pittsburgh ZIP code 15219, with an average rate of $1,569, is the most expensive in the city, according to a CarInsurance.com analysis. The highest rate from insurers surveyed for that neighborhood ($3,316) was $2,645 more than the lowest ($671), according our rate analysis. The wide range in rates from different insurers shows why it's wise to compare car insurance quotes for Pittsburgh rates.
To see how other Pennsylvania car insurance rates compare, use our average rates tool below. Enter a ZIP code and choose from among six age groups and three coverage levels and it will show the average rate, as well as the highest and lowest, for your location.
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.
19132- PHILADELPHIA: $3,18919139- PHILADELPHIA: $3,16919140- PHILADELPHIA: $3,12719133- PHILADELPHIA: $3,12316801- BOALSBURG: $1,16616802- PENN STATE UNIVERSITY: $1,19116823- BELLEFONTE: $1,19617843- BEAVER SPRINGS: $1,200Here's how Pittsburgh’s highest average rate ($1,569) compares to others, for a full coverage policy:
Here are the 10 most and least expensive ZIP codes for car insurance in Pittsburgh. You'll see in the chart below that you can save $3,000 to $4,000 just by doing a car insurance comparison, no matter which address you call home.
| ZIP code | Average annual rate | Highest rate | Lowest rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15219 | $1,569 | $3,316 | $671 |
| 15272 | $1,519 | $3,316 | $627 |
| 15261 | $1,517 | $3,128 | $623 |
| 15282 | $1,510 | $3,066 | $602 |
| 15217 | $1,508 | $3,177 | $623 |
| 15232 | $1,505 | $3,007 | $623 |
| 15260 | $1,503 | $3,214 | $580 |
| 15222 | $1,500 | $3,010 | $627 |
| 15265 | $1,498 | $3,128 | $737 |
| 15267 | $1,498 | $3,128 | $737 |
| Least expensive | |||
| ZIP code | Average annual rate | Highest rate | Lowest rate |
| 15276 | $1,354 | $2,801 | $620 |
| 15277 | $1,354 | $2,801 | $620 |
| 15278 | $1,354 | $2,801 | $620 |
| 15279 | $1,354 | $2,801 | $620 |
| 15275 | $1,354 | $2,796 | $595 |
| 15295 | $1,384 | $2,759 | $680 |
| 15229 | $1,395 | $2,940 | $597 |
| 15281 | $1,404 | $3,066 | $602 |
| 15290 | $1,461 | $3,184 | $660 |
| 15252 | $1,463 | $3,203 | $660 |
*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.
Pittsburgh car insurance requirements | |
|---|---|
| Pennsylvania state law requires the following minimum car insurance coverage: | |
| Minimum bodily injury liability | $15,000/$30,000 |
| Minimum property damage liability | $5,000 |
| First party benefits (medical) | $5,000 |
To drive legally, you need at least state minimum insurance required. This will be the lowest liability car insurance limits your insurer offers. In Pennsylvania, (written as 15/30/5) that means your liability car insurance would pay up to:
Pennsylvania also requires you to buy a minimum of $5,000 of first party benefits medical coverage. It pays medical expenses for you and anyone on your policy up to its limits, even if the accident was your fault.
Best car insurance in Pittsburgh
Even a minor accident can put your savings and home in jeopardy if you have just the state required minimum of insurance. To protect your assets, you should buy liability insurance in the following amounts:
You should also consider buying these optional coverages:
Comprehensive insurance and collision coverage are advised unless you have a very old car that’s of little value. In Pennsylvania, comprehensive costs $132 and collision costs $301, on average per year, for drivers, 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.
Based on an analysis outlined below of rate fielded from six major insurers for Pittsburgh ZIP codes, increasing your insurance from the state minimum to full coverage with a $500 deductible costs, on average, $979 more, or $82 a month. But just hiking to higher liability costs just $43 yearly, or $4 a month.
Below you'll see average annual rates for Pittsburgh, ranked cheapest to most expensive, for three coverage levels:
| Company | State minimum |
|---|---|
| Nationwide | $252 |
| Geico | $299 |
| State Farm | $323 |
| Allstate | $712 |
| Progressive | $844 |
| Company | 100/50/100 |
| Nationwide | $274 |
| Geico | $309 |
| State Farm | $396 |
| Allstate | $709 |
| Progressive | $959 |
| Company | 100/300/100 |
| Nationwide | $662 |
| Geico | $693 |
| State Farm | $1,143 |
| Allstate | $1,746 |
| Progressive | $3,080 |
Traffic tickets can make your auto insurance rates skyrocket based on the seriousness of the infraction. How much more you’ll pay depends on the insurance company and state laws.
The increase can stay on your auto insurance for five years. DUIs and other serious charges often remain 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 | $1,295 | $3,191 | $1,896 | 146% |
DUI/DWI second offense | $1,295 | $2,734 | $1,438 | 111% |
Reckless driving | $1,295 | $2,276 | $981 | 76% |
Operating a vehicle in a race (highway racing) | $1,295 | $2,244 | $949 | 73% |
DUI/DWI first offense | $1,295 | $1,992 | $696 | 54% |
Careless driving | $1,295 | $1,816 | $521 | 40% |
2 speeding tickets 11 mph or over | $1,295 | $1,778 | $482 | 37% |
Driving without a license or permit | $1,295 | $1,453 | $157 | 12% |
Failure to stop or yield | $1,295 | $1,404 | $108 | 8% |
Following too closely | $1,295 | $1,404 | $108 | 8% |
Improper turn | $1,295 | $1,404 | $108 | 8% |
Improper/illegal pass | $1,295 | $1,404 | $108 | 8% |
Speeding | $1,295 | $1,404 | $108 | 8% |
Talking on cellphone | $1,295 | $1,392 | $97 | 7% |
Driving without insurance | $1,295 | $1,324 | $29 | 2% |
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.
Being at-fault in a car accident usually leads to higher rates. How much depends on your policy and location.
Some insurance companies won’t increase your rates after one accident, but a second one could lead to much higher rates.
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 | $1,295 | $2,891 | $1,596 | 123% |
Hit and run - injury | $1,295 | $2,375 | $1,079 | 83% |
Hit and run - property damage | $1,295 | $2,270 | $974 | 75% |
1 At-fault property damage accident over $2K | $1,295 | $1,654 | $358 | 28% |
At-fault bodily injury accident | $1,295 | $1,654 | $358 | 28% |
1 At-fault property damage accident under $2K | $1,295 | $1,344 | $49 | 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 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.
Having poor or fair credit increases your auto insurance costs.
Insurers gauge your credit history when setting rates. Insurance companies view people with bad credit as higher risk and more likely to file claims.
The average rate increase for drivers with poor credit in Pittsburgh is higher than if you caused a hit-and-run accident with property damage or were charging with DUI for the first time.
Pittsburgh drivers with poor credit pay $1,017 more on average than other drivers. Drivers with fair credit pay $313 more on average than other drivers.
You’ll pay more having poor or fair credit in Pittsburgh, but the costs aren’t as bad as Michigan, New Jersey, Arizona, and other worst states for drivers with bad credit.
Putting a 16-year-old driver on your auto insurance policy in Pittsburgh more than doubles your rates. Adding an inexperienced driver will increase your insurance rates more than any traffic ticket.
Adding a 16-year-old male driver increases car insurance rates in Pittsburgh by an average of $1,322. Putting on a 16-year-old female driver adds $1,323.
Insurers charge more for adding a young driver on your policy since inexperienced motorists are more likely to be involved in an accident.
Parents pay much more when they add teens to their policies, but there are ways to reduce your rates. Make sure to talk to your insurer about any possible discounts to help you reduce your rates. That includes good student discounts, which many insurers offer.
Find out more about adding a teen to your car insurance.
Gap insurance pays the difference between a vehicle’s actual cash value (ACV) and the current outstanding balance. The coverage is for people who purchase a new car and then take a large loan or lease on the vehicle.
Gap insurance doesn’t consider what you paid for the car. Instead, it’s about the loan and what the car is actually worth.
Gap insurance would add on average $18 or 1% to your annual car insurance costs in Pittsburgh.
SR-22 is an option for drivers if you’re convicted for a serious moving violation. Those violations include a DUI, reckless driving or driving without insurance.
With an SR-22, an insurer guarantees that you’re carrying legally mandated coverage.
If you have an SR-22 and a DUI conviction, the average car insurance increases by $827.
Traffic in Pittsburgh: As with many major cities, traffic can be congested, especially during rush hour, but Pittsburgh 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 20 deaths a year in recent years (2012-2014).
Commuting: The average commute in Pittsburgh lasts 22.8 minutes.
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 the Pittsburgh area, only vehicles with at least two people, mass transit vehicles like buses, and motorcycles are allowed to use the lanes. The lanes may be restricted during specified hours.
Public transportation: The U.S. Census Bureau says that the majority of riders in Pittsburgh who commute to work by public transportation are white (about 53 percent), Hispanic (about 3 percent) and black (about 34 percent). The bureau notes that commuting is the main reason people use mass transit.
Smog rules: In Pittsburgh you must have a vehicle (model year 1975 or newer) tested for emissions before registering and annually after that. After moving to Pittsburgh, the vehicle must be tested as part of the registration process.
Bad intersection: Where 18th and Carson streets meet is considered one of the most dangerous in Pittsburgh, especially for unwary pedestrians.
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.
