Finding Cheap Car Insurance in Fort Smith, Arkansas

Fort Smith drivers pay an average of $251 per month for full coverage car insurance and $148 per month for minimum liability coverage. While rates are already below national and state averages, you can still find cheap car insurance in Fort Smith by comparing quotes and looking for discounts. This guide will explain how to get the lowest car insurance rates in Fort Smith.

Average Auto Insurance Rates in Fort Smith

The average car insurance rates in Fort Smith, Arkansas are:

• $251 per month for full coverage
• $148 per month for minimum liability coverage

Full coverage includes collision, comprehensive, and liability coverages. Minimum liability only includes bodily injury and property damage liability as required by Arkansas law.

Fort Smith’s average rates are lower than national averages of $253 per month for full coverage and $170 per month for minimum coverage. Rates in Fort Smith are also cheaper compared to other major Arkansas cities:

Factors Affecting Insurance Rates in Fort Smith

Multiple factors determine your exact car insurance rate, including:

Driver demographics – Age, gender, marital status, credit score

Driving history – Speeding tickets, accidents, DUIs on your record

Vehicle – Make, model, age, repair costs

Coverage limits – Higher liability limits cost more

Deductibles – Higher deductibles mean lower premiums

Discounts – Taking all available discounts will lower your rate

To find cheap car insurance quotes in Fort Smith, you’ll need to shop around and compare personalized rates. Let’s look at how to maximize savings.

How to Find the Cheapest Car Insurance in Fort Smith

Follow these steps to get the lowest possible car insurance rates in Fort Smith:

1. Decide What Coverages You Need

Determine what coverages and limits make sense for your situation. Arkansas requires:

• Bodily injury liability: $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident
• Property damage liability: $25,000

Higher liability limits will cost more but provide more protection. Also consider collision, comprehensive, uninsured motorist, and any other extra coverages you may want.

2. Adjust Deductibles

Deductibles are what you pay out-of-pocket when you file a claim. Choosing higher deductibles will lower your monthly premiums. Make sure you can afford the deductible amount in the event you need to file a claim.

3. Take Advantage of Discounts

Find an insurer that offers many car insurance discounts, and make sure you understand eligibility requirements. Common discounts include:

• Good driver discount
• Good student discount
• Multi-policy discount
• Anti-theft devices
• Defensive driver discount

4. Maintain a Good Credit Score

Insurers use credit-based insurance scores to set rates. Maintaining a good score will help you qualify for the best rates.

5. Consider Usage-Based Programs

Usage-based programs like pay-per-mile insurance or rates based on actual driving data can help infrequent drivers save money.

6. Bundle Insurance Policies

If you have homeowners or renters insurance, bundling them with the same company will unlock multi-policy discounts.

7. Compare Quotes

Get car insurance quotes from at least 4-5 different insurers to find the cheapest rate for your situation. Compare standardized quotes for the same coverages.

Cheap Car Insurance Companies in Fort Smith

These insurance companies offer some of the lowest average rates in Fort Smith, according to Insurify’s analysis:

However, the cheapest insurer will depend on your personal factors. Get multiple quotes to find the lowest rate tailored to you.

Safeco

Safeco offers liability insurance starting around $81 per month on average. Bundling policies and maintaining a good driving record can net further discounts. Safeco has an A.M. Best rating of A indicating excellent financial strength.

Nationwide

Nationwide’s average monthly premium is $180 for full coverage. The company offers discounts like multi-policy, accident forgiveness, and good student. An A+ rating from A.M. Best reflects Nationwide’s strong financials.

Direct Auto

Direct Auto specializes in minimum liability policies for high-risk drivers. Average rates start around $135 per month. Military members can save up to 25%. Direct Auto has an A rating from A.M. Best.

Midvale Home & Auto

Owned by American Family Insurance, Midvale Home & Auto offers discounts for students, households with more than one policy, and paperless billing. Midvale carries an A rating from A.M. Best.

Dairyland

Specializing in high-risk drivers, Dairyland offers rates starting around $220 per month on average. Discounts for safe driving and paperless billing can help reduce premiums. Dairyland has an A+ rating from A.M. Best.

Discounts to Look for in Fort Smith

Taking advantage of car insurance discounts is key to finding cheap rates. Here are some common discounts to look for from Fort Smith insurers:

• Good driver – Typically for 3+ years of clean driving
• Good student – Minimum 3.0 GPA or B average
• Defensive driver – For completing an approved course
• Multi-vehicle – Insuring more than one car with a company
• Multi-policy – Bundling two or more insurance policies
• Paid-in-full – Paying full 6-month or 12-month premium upfront
• Paperless documents – Opting into electronic documents
• Affinity group – Belonging to certain employers, groups, or alumni associations

Make sure to inquire about all possible discounts you may qualify for and compare discount opportunities across insurers. Taking advantage of discounts is key to securing a cheap car insurance policy.

Usage-Based Insurance Programs

Usage-based or pay-per-mile insurance bases rates partly on driving behaviors like mileage, braking habits, and time of day driven. These programs offer cheaper rates for drivers who don’t use their car often. Options include:

• Metromile – Pays monthly base rate plus per-mile fee
• Nationwide SmartMiles – Earn rewards for driving less
• Liberty Mutual RightTrack – Use driving app to earn discounts
• Allstate Drivewise – Save based on safe driving habits

Consider a usage-based program if you have a long commute or drive fewer than 10,000 miles per year.

High Liability Limits Aren’t Always Needed

Arkansas requires minimum 25/50/25 liability coverage. Higher 100/300/100 limits will cost $68 more per month on average. However, increasing your limits doesn’t always make sense.

Higher liability limits help protect assets in case you cause an accident with major damages. But if you don’t have many assets at risk, the extra cost may not be justified.

Consider your finances and assets before deciding if higher liability limits are worth the additional cost. Staying with lower required limits can help keep your insurance affordable.

Maintain a Good Credit Score

Your credit-based insurance score is a significant factor in determining premiums in Arkansas. Drivers with poor credit pay $147 more per month on average compared to those with excellent credit.

Make sure to check your credit report annually and dispute any errors that could be hurting your score. Pay all bills on time and pay down debts to help improve your credit standing with insurers.

Choose an Older Vehicle

Newer model cars generally cost more to insure because they have higher replacement costs and repair expenses.

Choosing an older, paid-off vehicle can help reduce your insurance premiums. Older cars can also mean dropping comprehensive and collision coverage since the cash value isn’t high enough to justify the additional cost.

Find Cheap Car Insurance Quotes in Fort Smith

Shopping around and comparing quotes is the best way to find cheap car insurance rates tailored to your situation. Be sure to compare the same types of coverage between insurers.

You can easily compare free quotes from top insurers at Insurify. Simply enter your ZIP code to see cheap car insurance rates personalized for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who has the cheapest car insurance in Fort Smith?

Based on Insurify’s analysis, the cheapest companies in Fort Smith are Safeco, Nationwide, and Direct Auto. However, make sure to compare multiple personalized quotes to find the lowest rate for your