Harrisburg Car Insurance
Find the right car insurance policy for you.
Written by
Ann Herro has been writing about insurance and employee benefits for over 15 years. She has covered topics as easy as insuring a car, and as difficult as transparency in healthcare costs.
Many people commute into Pennsylvania’s capital each day. In fact, the population of this city doubles each workday. This means many drivers are on the roads during rush hour, and this increased traffic adds to residents’ risk of a car accident. In fact, I-83 near Harrisburg, PA is one of the busiest stretches of roadway in central Pennsylvania, and there is an average of one crash every four days between the Eisenhower Interchange and the shores of Lemoyne. Regardless of where or how often you drive, if you own a vehicle in this state, you need to have a Harrisburg auto insurance policy that meets or exceeds Pennsylvania’s mandated coverage minimums.
Finding suitable car insurance at an affordable price is easy when you work with one of the many independent insurance agents in the Trusted Choice® network. Use our independent agent matching system to help explain your coverage options and answer your insurance-related questions. Once they have an understanding of your coverage needs, they can present you with a selection of customized and competitively priced Harrisburg car insurance quotes from a number of competing insurers. Find a Trusted Choice agent in or near Harrisburg to learn more.
- National average cost per year: $1,311
- Pennsylvania average cost per year: $1,304
- 23rd most expensive auto premium in U.S.
While the rates listed above can give you a general idea of what you might expect to pay, the only way to know what your quoted rates will be is to contact insurance companies and ask. Rates can vary significantly from one driver to the next because insurance companies calculate rates according to a number of different variables including the following:
- The ZIP code where you live
- The approximate number of miles you drive per year
- The make, model, year and safety features of the vehicle(s) you wish to insure
- The age, sex and marital status of the licensed drivers in your household
- The driving records and claims histories of the licensed drivers in your household
- The names of any of your household's licensed drivers that you are excluding from your coverage
- The amount of liability insurance you wish to purchase
- The coverage options you wish to include with your policy
- The deductible you are requesting
Every insurance company has its own proprietary method of assessing risk and assigning rates, so each company you contact is likely to give you a different quote. Comparison shopping puts you at an advantage by enabling you to choose the Harrisburg car insurance policy that provides the best value for your money.
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Pennsylvania Car Insurance Requirements
- Bodily injury liability: required
- Property damage liability: required
- Personal injury protection (PIP): required
- Uninsured motorist coverage: not required
- Minimum liability limits: 15/30/5: Coverage up to $30,000 for all persons injured in an accident, subject to a limit of $15,000 for one individual, and $5,000 coverage for property damage
These minimums are probably enough to cover your liability responsibilities in the case of a fender-bender. However, a major collision that involves serious injuries or significant property damage can easily exceed these limits, and in that case, you would be responsible for making up the difference out-of-pocket. For this reason, many Pennsylvanians opt to further protect their assets by purchasing coverage with higher liability limits.
Failure to carry auto insurance that meets or exceeds Pennsylvania’s minimum coverage requirements can result in fines of at least $300, a three-month suspension of your driver’s license and the possibility of having your vehicle impounded. If it is vital that you retain your driver’s license, you can opt to pay an additional $500 fine to avoid the three-month suspension, but you will also need to provide proof of coverage.
Number of Uninsured Motorists in Pennsylvania
- Number of uninsured U.S. drivers: 12.6%
- Number of uninsured Pennsylvania drivers: 6.50%
Although it is illegal to do so, some people continue to drive without insurance. If one of these drivers is at fault for a collision with you, the driver is responsible for covering your damage and injuries. Unfortunately, it may be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to collect reparations.
That is why including uninsured motorists coverage with your Harrisburg car insurance policy is so important. If you have this coverage, your insurance company covers your damage and then attempts to collect from the uninsured driver on its own behalf. This insurance option also covers damage and injuries caused by hit-and-run drivers.
Number of Auto Thefts in Pennsylvania
- National number of thefts per 1,000 vehicles: 2.94
- Pennsylvania number of thefts per 1,000 vehicles: 1.50
The rate of car theft in the state of Pennsylvania is lower than the national average, but in Harrisburg, the rate is higher. In 2013, there were 158 reported auto thefts in this city. That equates to about 3.18 thefts per 1,000 vehicles – slightly above the national rate.
You can lessen your risk of car theft by keeping your car locked when unoccupied, parking in well-lit or attended lots whenever possible and using a car alarm or other theft deterrent. If your car is stolen, your Harrisburg car insurance company provides you with compensation only if your policy includes comprehensive (“other than collision”) insurance. This insurance also covers damage caused by such hazards as floods, falling objects, fires if they are not caused by a motor vehicle accident, vandalism and other noncollision damage.
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Find the Best Harrisburg Car Insurance Policy
If you are looking for an affordable Harrisburg auto insurance policy that will provide you with the coverage that you and your family need, you can benefit from working with an independent agent in the Trusted Choice network. These agents work with several reputable insurance companies, so they can quickly provide you with a variety of policies and rates for you to compare.
There is no reason why you should pay more than you have to for your auto insurance coverage. There are several Trusted Choice agents located throughout the state of Pennsylvania, and some have offices in and around the city of Harrisburg. Find an agent near you to learn more about your coverage options, and discover how easy it is to save money on your premiums by comparing Harrisburg car insurance quotes.