Here’s a breakdown of how we reviewed and rated the top auto insurance providers
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Delaware ranks among the top 10 most densely populated states, so drivers deal with a higher risk of accidents on its congested roads. Delaware insurance costs are also higher than the nation’s average, but some companies offer better rates than others.
Of course, cost isn’t the only factor in finding the best car insurance in Delaware. Our team ranked popular Delaware providers on a variety of criteria to find the best auto insurance companies. Learn about our top picks and compare rates from multiple companies to find the right one for your situation.
Key Takeaways
- Good drivers in Delaware pay about $99 per month or $1,194 per year for minimum car insurance and $240 per month or $2,881 per year for full-coverage car insurance.
- State Farm is our top pick for the best car insurance in Delaware because it offers affordable rates and reliable customer service. Affordable car insurance options can help you save significantly on your premiums.
- Delaware requires drivers to carry liability coverage limits of $25,000 (bodily injury per person), $50,000 (bodily injury per accident) and $10,000 (property damage per person).
The listings that appear are from companies from which this website may receive compensation, which may impact how, where and in what order products appear. Not all companies, products or offers were reviewed in connection with this listing.
The MarketWatch Guides Team is committed to providing reliable information to help you make the best decision possible about insuring your vehicle. Because consumers rely on us to provide objective and accurate information, we created a comprehensive rating system to formulate our rankings of the best car insurance companies. We collected data on dozens of auto insurance providers to grade the companies on a wide range of ranking factors. After 800 hours of research, the end result was an overall rating for each provider, with the insurers that scored the most points topping the list.
Learn more about our methodology and editorial guidelines.
Best Car Insurance in Delaware
To find the best car insurance companies in Delaware, our team ranked multiple providers on reputation, availability, coverage, cost and customer experience. While we recommend companies with affordable average rates, our picks also excel in other areas such as providing many coverage options or reliable customer service.
Compare Delaware Auto Insurance
Below, you can compare our recommendations for the best Delaware car insurance.
| Best Car Insurance in Delaware | Our Score | Reputation | Availability | Coverage | Cost | Customer Experience |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State Farm | 9.4 | 10 | 9.8 | 9.2 | 9.3 | 9.3 |
| Travelers | 9.5 | 9 | 10 | 9.8 | 9.8 | 8.7 |
| Geico | 9.1 | 9.7 | 10 | 8.4 | 9.1 | 8.8 |
| USAA | 9.2 | 8.9 | 8 | 9.5 | 9.7 | 8.9 |
| American Family | 9.1 | 8.4 | 8.1 | 9.4 | 9.5 | 9.2 |
Customer Experience
According to our 2022 survey of almost 7,000 policyholders, customer experience is one of the most important factors when looking for a car insurance company. You might find the add-ons or discounts you want, but the experience can turn sour if you don’t work with good agents and adjusters.
Our team considered multiple data sources and our own secret shopping experiences to analyze customer service. We factored ratings from our survey, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and J.D. Power into our overall scores.
Best Car Insurance Companies in Delaware
Next, we’ll take a closer look at each of our top picks in detail, considering the pros and cons, coverage and reputation. The main J.D. Power scores come from the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Auto Insurance Study℠, which breaks customer satisfaction down by region. For this article, we’ll be using scores from the Mid-Atlantic region, which includes Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington, D.C. and West Virginia.
Unless otherwise noted, our rate data applies to 35-year-old drivers with good credit scores and clean driving records. When shopping for insurance, you may want to compare Geico and Progressive to see which offers better rates for your specific situation.
Affordable minimum- and full-coverage rates in Delaware
High customer service ratings
A++ financial strength rating
Not available for everyone
SafePilot® usage-based program not available in Delaware
You can get all the standard car insurance policies from State Farm:
- Liability insurance: Pays for other people’s medical and repair bills when you cause an accident (required in Delaware)
- Collision insurance: Repairs your vehicle after an accident no matter who was at fault
- Comprehensive coverage: Repairs your vehicle if you hit a stationary object or encounter environmental damage, theft or vandalism
- Medical payments: Covers your medical bills after an accident
- Personal injury protection (PIP): Covers your medical bills, lost wages and death benefits no matter who was at fault (required in Delaware)
- Uninsured motorist/underinsured motorist: Covers your repairs and medical bills if someone without insurance or enough coverage causes an accident
State Farm offers auto insurance coverage add-ons beyond the standard types. These include rideshare insurance, for people who work for companies like Uber, and roadside assistance for when you get stuck on the side of the road.
State Farm also offers rental car and trip interruption coverage in one bundle. This reimburses you for a rental car while your vehicle’s in the shop for a covered repair. It will pay for your food and lodging if your car is damaged when you’re over 50 miles from home.
Drivers under 25 can take advantage of State Farm’s SteerClear® program which rewards safe driving education with discounts. The same age group also gets a good student discount of up to 25% for having strong grades. And anyone can try the usage-based program, Drive Safe & Save™, to earn a discount based on current driving habits. To better understand Addition: State Farm insurance pricing, you can compare their rates with other providers in Delaware.
Cheapest full and minimum coverage in Delaware
12 car insurance discounts
Strong industry ratings
Mixed customer reviews
Travelers has well-rounded coverage options, which is one reason we rated it Best for Most Drivers nationwide. For instance, you can get loan/lease gap insurance, which covers what you owe on your loan after a total loss, and new car replacement, which can replace your car of up to five years old with a new model.
Travelers also offers accident forgiveness, which keeps your rates the same if you get into an accident and rideshare insurance covers you when you’re on the job and waiting to accept a trip. You can also get rental car coverage and roadside assistance, which are fairly standard for most companies.
Finally, you can try the IntelliDrive program to get a discount if you practice safe driving habits.
16 available discounts
Offers mechanical breakdown insurance
High financial strength rating from AM Best
Below-average scores on J.D. Power studies
Geico has all the bases covered for standard insurance options. You can also get a few add-ons from the company, such as:
- Roadside assistance: Covers towing, jump-start, lockout assistance, fuel delivery and spare tire installation
- Rental reimbursement: Pays for a rental car up to a limit during a covered claim
- Mechanical breakdown insurance (MBI): Covers mechanical and electrical failures like an extended warranty
Geico drivers can also use the DriveEasy program to save. The usage-based program tracks your driving habits and rewards safe driving practices.
Affordable minimum- and full-coverage rates in Delaware
High customer service ratings
A++ financial strength rating
Not available for everyone
SafePilot® usage-based program not available in Delaware
USAA is available to military members, veterans and their family members. The company offers a few coverage upgrades including roadside assistance and rental reimbursement. You can find these from most providers. One unique option from the company is car replacement assistance. This can cover up to 20% above your car’s value for a replacement if it gets totaled or stolen.
Most customers can use SafePilot to save on insurance, but unfortunately, this program isn’t available in Delaware.
Discounts for students, volunteering and generational customers
High score on J.D. Power Insurance Shopping and Auto Claims Satisfaction studies
Offers two different usage-based programs
Not the cheapest rates in Delaware
Doesn’t rank in all J.D. Power studies
American Family offers a few coverage upgrades including roadside assistance and rental car coverage. Besides that, you can get gap insurance to cover the difference on your loan if you have a total loss. You can also get accidental death and dismemberment coverage from the company. This covers death benefits and medical costs after a severe injury.
American Family offers two usage-based insurance programs: DriveMyWay and MilesMyWay. DriveMyWay awards discounts based on multiple factors of your driving habits, including speed and phone usage. MilesMyWay awards discounts solely on your mileage for a 30-day period.
What makes American Family stand out is its multiple discounts for young drivers. Students can save for having good grades and attending school without their vehicle. Young drivers who complete 40 hours of volunteer work per year get a discount, as do young drivers whose parents are American Family customers.
How To Find the Best Car Insurance in Delaware
There are plenty of car insurance options in Delaware, so it can be hard to narrow down the best choice. Below are some specific points for Delaware drivers to think about during the shopping process.
Know Delaware Car Insurance Requirements
Like nearly all other states, Delaware requires liability insurance to cover the damage you might cause other drivers in an at-fault accident. This includes:
- $25,000 of bodily injury liability per person
- $50,000 of bodily injury liability per accident
- $10,000 of property damage liability per accident
Bodily injury liability covers other people’s medical bills while property damage covers other people’s auto repair bills.
Delaware also mandates personal injury protection (PIP), which covers medical bills for you and your passengers regardless of who was at fault. The minimum requirement amounts are $15,000 for any one person and $30,000 per accident.
Consider Different Buying Options
You can purchase insurance in various ways, each with its pros and cons.
- Online comparison tool: You can compare insurance premiums for multiple companies but some tools don’t account for all situations.
- Online quote from one company: You can get a quick price and start coverage without the help of an insurance agent.
- Captive agent: An agent for a specific company can help you find the best option from that provider.
- Independent agent/broker: Independent agents and brokers can compare rates for multiple companies on your behalf, though your rate might be slightly higher to accommodate a fee.
Look For the Right Discounts
Some companies give better discounts for students while others give better discounts for multi-vehicle policies. The best provider for your situation might not be the best for your friend or neighbor. Take some time to see which companies offer the best discounts for you.
You may also be in a situation where you have a poor credit history or possibly a DUI, at-fault car accident or speeding ticket on your record. New drivers and those with less experience may also face higher rates, making it important to find affordable coverage for new drivers. If you’re considered a high-risk driver to an insurance company, you can expect to pay more. Coverage for new drivers and those with less experience may also face higher rates, making it important to find affordable options. Shop around for the cheapest car insurance companies for your specific situation.
Compare Multiple Companies
The last step is to look at rates from multiple companies. We recommend comparing rates from multiple companies. You’ll be surprised how much car insurance prices can vary, even though you’re entering the same vehicle and drivers on each quote.
Average Cost of Car Insurance in Delaware
Delaware car insurance rates are higher than the national average because of the state’s high population density and requirement for PIP insurance. Our data shows good drivers pay about $1,194 per year or $99 per month for state minimum coverage. This is almost twice the national average of $627 per year for a minimum coverage policy.
Similarly, full coverage in Delaware costs about $2,881 per year or $240 per month. This is about 43% higher than average car insurance costs national of $2,008 per year.
Delaware Car Insurance Costs by City
Car insurance prices can also vary depending on your town and zip code. Below, you can see how rates in Delaware vary by city.
| City | Monthly Average | Annual Average |
|---|---|---|
| Lewes | $149 | $1,783 |
| Milton | $157 | $1,889 |
| Selbyville | $157 | $1,881 |
| Milford | $158 | $1,897 |
| Millsboro | $158 | $1,896 |
| Georgetown | $159 | $1,902 |
| Harrington | $159 | $1,910 |
| Seaford | $160 | $1,922 |
| Camden | $161 | $1,931 |
| Dover | $165 | $1,976 |
| Middletown | $176 | $2,106 |
| Hockessin | $184 | $2,211 |
| Smyrna | $184 | $2,207 |
| Brookside | $193 | $2,316 |
| Newark | $195 | $2,338 |
| Bear | $200 | $2,405 |
| Claymont | $200 | $2,394 |
| Townsend | $204 | $2,446 |
| New Castle | $214 | $2,564 |
| Wilmington | $228 | $2,738 |
Note: These rates are based on 2022 data.
Car Insurance Discounts in Delaware
As you shop around, you’ll find discounts for taking a defensive driving course or having a car with safety features.
Defensive Driving Discount
If you’re over 50 years old, you can get a discount for sharpening your defensive driving skills with an approved course. Most providers offer this discount.
Safety Features Discount
Many providers also offer discounts for having safety features installed on your car. Qualifying features can include electronic stability control, adaptive headlights or anti-lock brakes.
Good Student Discount
Having good grades can pay off. Many insurers offer discounts of 15% to 25% for students with a B average or better. Eligibility can differ between providers.
Bundling Discounts
You can find bundling discounts from most major insurers, but the discount amount and requirements can vary. Bundling applies when you have multiple lines of coverage, like auto and homeowners, or insure multiple motor vehicles with one company.
Auto Insurance in Delaware: FAQ
Our rate data shows good drivers in Delaware pay about $1,194 per year for minimum coverage and $2,881 per year for full-coverage insurance. These average premium costs are higher than the national averages for those coverage types.
We found Travelers offers the cheapest rates for both full-coverage ($1,554 per year) and minimum-coverage ($614 per year) insurance policies in Delaware.
Car insurance in Delaware is expensive because the state has a high population density which increases the risk of accidents and theft. Also, Delaware requires more types of insurance than most states, which increases minimum-coverage rates.
State Farm is our top pick for car insurance in Delaware and it also offers a defensive driving discount to customers over 50 who complete an approved education course.
Our Methodology: Rating Car Insurance Companies
Because consumers rely on us to provide objective and accurate information, we created a comprehensive rating system to formulate our rankings of the best car insurance companies. We collected data on dozens of auto insurance providers to grade the companies on a wide range of ranking factors. The end result was an overall rating for each provider, with the insurers that scored the most points topping the list.
Here are the factors our ratings take into account:
- Coverage (30% of total score): Companies that offer a variety of choices for insurance coverage are more likely to meet consumer needs.
- Cost and Discounts (25% of total score): Auto insurance rate estimates generated by Quadrant Information Services and discount opportunities are both taken into consideration.
- Industry Standing (20% of total score): Our research team considers market share, ratings from industry experts and years in business when giving this score.
- Customer Experience (15% of total score): This score is based on volume of complaints reported by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) and customer satisfaction ratings reported by J.D. Power. We also consider the responsiveness, friendliness and helpfulness of each insurance company’s customer service team based on our own shopper analysis.
- Availability (10% of total score): Auto insurance companies with greater state availability and few eligibility requirements score highest in this category.
Our credentials:
- 800+ hours researched
- 130+ companies reviewed
- 8,500+ consumers surveyed
Studies and Ratings We Cite
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Our provider reviews cite several key industry studies and ratings, including:
- J.D. Power 2024 U.S. Insurance Shopping Study The annual J.D. Power U.S. Insurance Shopping Study measures customer satisfaction and purchase experience with auto insurance providers based on five categories: brand, price, distribution channel, quote process and policy offerings. The study average score is 676/1,000.
- J.D. Power 2024 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study The annual J.D. Power U.S. Auto Claims Study rates the claims experience customers have with different providers based on eight categories: trust, fairness of settlement, time to settle a claim, people, communication, ease of resolving a claim, ease of starting a claim and digital channels. Car insurance providers are assessed at the national level. The study average score is 697/1,000.
- NAIC Complaint Index The National Association of Insurance Commissioners Complaint Index is a representation of the number of complaints auto insurance providers receive relative to the average number of complaints for the industry based on their size. A score of 1 represents the average number of complaints for the industry.
*Data accurate at time of publication
