Call Us Toll Free:
1-855-430-7753
Houston ZIP code 77076 is the most expensive for car insurance in the city, and among the priciest in the state, being beat only by several neighborhoods in Dallas.
But even if you live in one of the most expensive areasfor car insurance in the state, you can still save money by shopping around. No two insurance companies will charge the same amount of money for the same policy. So if you compare rates and opt for the lowest, you won’t over pay. For example, the highest rate from any carrier for ZIP 77076 in CarInsurance.com's analysis was $2,706 -- more than twice the lowest ($1,085).
Many factors go into calculating car insurance rates, but a driver's location is typically used to kick off the process. ZIP codes are judged to have different risk levels based on the number and severity of car insurance claims within the area. Car insurance companies create the base rate used as the starting point for drivers buying coverage, and then add other pricing factors such as the driver's age, driving record and type of car.
To see how other Houston car insurance rates compare, use our average rates tool below. Enter a ZIP code, select 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.
75242- DALLAS: $1,78075207- DALLAS: $1,77875260- DALLAS: $1,70775241- DALLAS: $1,68876901- GRAPE CREEK: $1,08176502- TEMPLE: $1,08876543- KILLEEN: $1,09177845- COLLEGE STATION: $1,100CarInsurance.com analyzed car insurance rates from six car insurance companies for nearly every ZIP code in Texas. Here's how Houston’s highest average rate ($1,659) for ZIP 77076 compares to others:
Here are the 12 most expensive ZIP codes for car insurance in Houston. You'll see how much you can save by comparing car insurance companies.
| ZIP code | Average rate | Highest rate | Lowest rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 77076 | $1,659 | $2,706 | $1,085 |
| 77093 | $1,654 | $2,701 | $1,108 |
| 77016 | $1,648 | $2,731 | $1,065 |
| 77020 | $1,645 | $2,867 | $1,068 |
| 77022 | $1,637 | $2,706 | $1,085 |
| 77078 | $1,635 | $2,731 | $1,086 |
| 77028 | $1,629 | $2,867 | $1,053 |
| 77011 | $1,629 | $2,867 | $1,045 |
| 77091 | $1,626 | $2,706 | $1,047 |
| 77038 | $1,623 | $2,635 | $1,071 |
| 77204 | $1,623 | $2,706 | $1,029 |
| 77050 | $1,618 | $2,710 | $1,055 |
*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.
The lowest liability car insurance limits your insurer offers is the cheapest policy you can buy. This will be the state minimum required to drive legally. In Texas, (written as 30/60/25) that means your liability car insurance would pay up to:
Geico and Farmers have the cheapest car insurance rates in Houston, based on our rate analysis for three different coverage levels. You can see how major insurers rank for price in the chart below.
| Company | State minimum |
|---|---|
| Geico | $442 |
| Farmers | $469 |
| State Farm | $542 |
| Colonial | $600 |
| Allstate | $610 |
| Progressive | $660 |
| Company | 50/100/50 |
| Geico | $439 |
| Farmers | $485 |
| State Farm | $605 |
| Colonial | $628 |
| Allstate | $637 |
| Progressive | $702 |
| Company | 100/300/100 |
| Farmers | $1,060 |
| Geico | $1,205 |
| Colonial | $1,337 |
| Progressive | $1,491 |
| State Farm | $1,529 |
| Allstate | $2,345 |
The best car insurance coverage usually isn’t the cheapest. You may be sued if you’re in an accident and your insurance doesn’t cover all of the damages. That means your home or savings could be in jeopardy. 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 Texas, comprehensive costs $199 and collision costs $358, 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 $465, according to our rate analysis. If you increased your coverage to 50/100/50, you would pay just $23 more a year. You can get full coverage (100/300/100) by paying $70 more a month, or an additional $839 a year more than minimum-level coverage.
CarInsurance.com’s rate analysis shows that drivers in Houston can expect to pay, on average, from about $160 to about $275 more a year for car insurance after minor violations such as tailgating. More serious infractions, such as DUI can hike rates as much as $1,122 . Minor traffic violations typically stay on your record for about three years, and you can expect to see the rate increase upon your policy renewal date.
| Violation | Average rate | Rate after violation | Dollar increase | Percentage increase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reckless driving | $1,890 | $3,336 | $1,446 | 76% |
| DUI/DWI first offense | $1,890 | $3,012 | $1,122 | 59% |
| Operating a vehicle in a race (highway racing) | $1,890 | $3,003 | $1,113 | 59% |
Speeding 16 to 30+ over limit | $1,890 | $2,662 | $772 | 41% |
| Careless driving | $1,890 | $2,438 | $548 | 29% |
| 2 speeding tickets 11 mph or over | $1,890 | $2,392 | $502 | 27% |
| Driving without a license or permit | $1,890 | $2,352 | $461 | 24% |
| Lapse of coverage for 60 days | $1,890 | $2,299 | $409 | 22% |
| Driving without insurance | $1,890 | $2,182 | $292 | 15% |
| Failure to stop or yield | $1,890 | $2,162 | $272 | 14% |
| Following too closely | $1,890 | $2,162 | $272 | 14% |
| Improper turn | $1,890 | $2,162 | $272 | 14% |
| Improper/illegal pass | $1,890 | $2,162 | $272 | 14% |
| Speeding ticket 1-15 MPH over limit | $1,890 | $2,133 | $242 | 13% |
| Lapse of coverage for 30 days | $1,890 | $2,070 | $180 | 10% |
| Lapse of coverage for 7 to 15 days | $1,890 | $2,050 | $160 | 8% |
*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.
When you file a claim for an accident that's your fault, typically your car insurance rates will increase. The table below shows how much for drivers in Houston can expect to pay for common car insurance claims.
| Claim | Average rate | Rate after claim | Dollar increase | Percentage increase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 At-fault property damage accident over $2k | $1,890 | $3,889 | $1,999 | 106% |
| Hit and run - injury | $1,890 | $3,336 | $1,446 | 76% |
| Hit and run � property damage | $1,890 | $3,336 | $1,446 | 76% |
| 1 At-fault property damage accident over $2K | $1,890 | $2,668 | $777 | 41% |
| At-fault bodily injury accident | $1,890 | $2,668 | $777 | 41% |
| 1 At-fault property damage accident under $2K | $1,890 | $2,424 | $534 | 28% |
| 2 comprehensive claims for over $2k | $1,890 | $2,081 | $191 | 10% |
| 1 comprehensive claim for over $2k | $1,890 | $1,943 | $53 | 3% |
| 1 comprehensive claim for under $2k | $1,890 | $1,943 | $53 | 3% |
Teen drivers are inexperienced, and are involved in more accidents than older drivers, so they cost more to insure. In Houston, adding a 16-year-old daughter to your policy will hike your rates by $2,641 annually, or 140 percent. It's more for boys. Insuring your 16-year-old son will increase your yearly rate by $3,290, or 174 percent, according to CarInsurance.com rate data. If you're insuring a teen driver of any age, you can get expert tips, more rate data by age and details from our "Parents guide to insuring a teen driver."
Having a low credit score and poor credit history significantly increases how much you pay for car insurance, unless you live in Hawaii, California or Massachusetts where the practice is banned. Texas ranks fourth among the worst states for drivers with bad credit. Houston drivers with bad credit can expect rates to go up by $1,771, or 84 percent, on average, yearly. Even with bad credit, you can still save money on car insurance, as some insurance companies will increase rates higher than others for those with less than perfect credit. That's why it's always prudent to compare car insurance quotes at least once a year.
If you're convicted of a serious offense, such as DUI or reckless driving, you may be required to have your insurance company file an SR-22 form on your behalf. An SR-22 is a car insurance company’s guarantee to the state that you are carrying the legally mandated coverage. If you are required to have an SR-22 filed, your car insurance rates will increase. CarInsurance.com data show that for drivers in Houston, your rate will go up by an average of $1,218, or 64 percent.
Traffic in Houston: The city and nearby areas came in fourth for the worst traffic in the country in a recent report by USA Today, which noted that drivers spend about 58 hours a year stuck in traffic.
Car crashes: Major accidents have resulted in an average of 180 deaths a year in recent year (2012-2014).
Commuting: The average commute in Houston lasts 27 minutes.
Public transportation: The U.S. Census Bureau says that the majority of riders in Houston who commute to work by public transportation are white (about 16 percent), Hispanic (about 41 percent) and black (about 37 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 Texas, 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: Texas requires Houston residents with vehicles two to 24 years old to have emissions testing every year as part of the registration process. New Houston residents must have the vehicle tested within 30 days of moving to the city to register it.
Bad intersection: The meeting of Genoa Red Bluff Road and Beltway 8 has consistently been called one of the worst intersections in the Houston area.
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.
