Cheap Car Insurance in Arkansas
Arkansas is one of the prettiest states in America. But to experience all it has to offer, you’re going to need good Arkansas car insurance.
That’s because this state offers everything from state parks and hot springs to cultural museums and water parks. And if you’re a “foodie,” you’re going to spend a lot of time tracking down delicious dishes like fried pickles, chocolate gravy, the garden sandwich, and so much more.
But seeing (and eating) everything means you need a good car to get you where you’re going, and that means you need good Arkansas car insurance. Fortunately, our guide will help you discover how much insurance you need, as well as how to save some serious money!
Quick Facts
- The average annual cost of full coverage car insurance is $1,914
- In 2019, there were a total of 467 fatal car accidents
How Much Is Car Insurance in Arkansas?
Currently, the average annual cost of full coverage car insurance in Arkansas is $1,914. This is a bit cheaper than the national average cost of car insurance, which is $1,935.
However, this state average may or may not accurately represent how much you pay for your own insurance. This is because various factors can influence the cost, and different kinds of insurance coverage can raise or lower how much you pay.
What Is the Average Premium in Arkansas for Full Coverage Car Insurance?
In Arkansas, the average cost for full coverage insurance is $1,914. Interestingly, this is just slightly less expensive than the national average cost of full coverage insurance, which is $1,935.
Sometimes, drivers and insurance companies refer to “full coverage” insurance. Technically, this is not a separate form of insurance. Instead, it is a combination of three different types of insurance. Those types of insurance are as follows:
- Liability insurance- Pays for damage you cause.
- Collision insurance- Pays to cover damage to your car.
- Comprehensive insurance- Only pays to cover damage to your car from things other than a car accident.
As you can see, “full coverage” refers to your car being protected by different types of coverage. However, full coverage isn’t cheap and is typically much more expensive than simply getting the minimum required insurance for the state.
How Much Is It for Just the Minimum Required Car Insurance in Arkansas?
In Arkansas, the average annual cost of minimum car insurance is $470. And if you’re looking to save a few bucks, this might seem like an attractive option.
However, full coverage car insurance means that your car has a high level of protection. On the opposite side of this is liability car insurance, also known as the minimum amount of car insurance you are legally required to have in Arkansas.
Keep in mind that liability insurance only pays to cover damage you cause in accidents where you are found to be at fault. This means it will pay nothing to repair or replace your car. In the long run, getting only the minimum amount of car insurance may be a very expensive choice!
How Do Rates Compare Across Major Cities in Arkansas?
Another reason the state average may or may not represent your own car insurance premium is very simple. Your car insurance carrier is allowed to consider many different factors when setting the price, and one of those factors is your zip code. Because of this, different cities may have very different average car insurance prices.
To help prove it, we have a breakdown below of the average monthly car insurance price you can expect to pay in different cities throughout Arkansas.
| City | Full Coverage | State-Required Minimum or Liability Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Fort Smith | $131 | $39 |
| Hot Springs | $151 | $45 |
| Jonesboro | $141 | $42 |
| Little Rock | $161 | $50 |
| North Little Rock | $160 | $50 |
Unless otherwise specified, we use the following methodology to arrive at our average cost: male, age 30, lowest possible legal coverage allowed by state. Your rates will be determined by several factors, including your age, your gender and the amount of coverage you want to purchase.
Is There a Good Driver Discount in Arkansas?
Every insurance company is allowed to offer discounts to their customers. This may include good student discounts for high school and college drivers and safety discounts for drivers who install antitheft devices and other safety devices on their cars.
And one of the discounts available throughout Arkansas is the good driver discount. If you have a clean driving record and no recent insurance claims, it’s worth calling your carrier to determine if they offer this discount.
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Arkansas Car Insurance Laws
If you don’t have many car insurance claims, you may think that you don’t need to know much about car insurance in the state. However, you’d be wrong! If you end up violating Arkansas car insurance rules, you could end up facing heavy fines and even potential jail time.
Additionally, you should know that insurance carriers report the insurance status of vehicles to the state. So, if you let your insurance lapse, it won’t be long before the state knows. The solution is simple: you need to find affordable car insurance and continue your coverage to keep both you and your car protected!
What Are the Mandatory Car Insurance Requirements in Arkansas?
Previously, we touched on the average costs for the minimum insurance in Arkansas. The minimum insurance is liability coverage, but it’s not enough to have any form of liability insurance. You must also have coverage that meets the mandatory requirements set by the state.
What are those mandatory requirements, though? Below, we have a breakdown of Arkansas state minimum requirements for car insurance:
- Bodily injury liability coverage: $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident
- Property damage liability coverage: $25,000 per person
Keep in mind that both getting additional types of insurance and increasing your coverage amounts can better protect you and your car against potential future accidents.
What Is the Penalty for Driving Without Insurance in Arkansas?
One of the reasons we encourage people to get more than the minimum required insurance is because it can save them a lot of money in the event of an accident. Therefore, driving without enough insurance is a mistake that people pay for (quite literally) every day. But what if you are caught driving without any insurance at all in Arkansas?
For the first offense, you may have to pay a fine of up to $250 and face the removal of your license plate. For the second offense, you may have to pay a fine of up to $500 and the suspension of your registration. For third offenses and beyond, you may have to pay a fine of $1,000. Arkansas may also require you to file proof of insurance through an SR-22 form, which can be very expensive.
What Factors Does Arkansas Law Allow in Determining Your Premiums?
Your zip code, as we discussed before, plays a part in how much you pay for car insurance. However, this is only one factor that your insurance carrier will look at. And there are several other factors that play a major role in how much you pay.
- Driving record and claims history
- Your zip code and address
- Gender
- Marital status
- Age
- Type of vehicle
- Credit score
It’s in your own best interests to update your insurance carrier if any of these things change (for example, if you end up getting married or improving your credit score). In some cases, a big change in one of these factors can lead to a big reduction in how much you pay for your premium!
Am I Required to Report an Accident in Arkansas to Authorities?
Sometimes, drivers are hesitant to report a car accident to the authorities. That is because the driver’s insurance company will find out, and this (along with most insurance claims in general) is likely to raise the premium. And that brings us to another big question: do drivers in Arkansas actually have to report accidents to the authorities?
It all depends on the accident. You are only obligated to report an accident if it results in injury or death or if it causes more than $1,000 in damage. Otherwise, you and the other party can work out some kind of arrangement without getting the authorities or your insurance company involved.
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What Is Driving Like in Arkansas?
How Many Car Accidents Happen in Arkansas?
The reason that insurance companies care about where you live is fairly straightforward. Car accidents and other automobile-related insurance claims in the area are used to determine the insurance company’s risk. And areas that aren’t very safe command higher insurance premiums.
How safe, then, is Arkansas as a whole? In 2019, there were a total of 467 fatal car accidents. However, some counties are more dangerous than others. Below, we have a breakdown of car accidents in some of the largest counties throughout Arkansas.
| County | Fatal Car Accidents in 2019 |
|---|---|
| Benton | 22 |
| Pulaski | 55 |
| Sebastian | 9 |
| Washington | 20 |
How Many Uninsured/Underinsured Motorists Are in Arkansas?
States like Arkansas require drivers to have liability insurance so they will be able to pay for any damage they cause. However, if a driver does not have such insurance, then whoever they hit may be stuck paying the bill.
How many uninsured drivers are there in Arkansas? According to the Insurance Information Institute, 19.3% of drivers in the state have no insurance. In other words, nearly 1 out of 5 drivers you encounter may be driving without insurance!
To protect yourself against such drivers, you can always take out uninsured/underinsured motorist protection. And, of course, we always recommend taking out a good collision policy on your vehicle.
FAQs About Arkansas Car Insurance
I Am a Low-Income Driver. What Can I Do About Getting Car Insurance in Arkansas?
Previously, we touched on the primary reasons you should have more than liability insurance on your vehicle. But the more insurance you have, the higher your monthly premium. And if you don’t have much money in the first place, it can be difficult to get good insurance coverage.
Fortunately, there may be a way to strike a balance between getting too little insurance and paying too much for it. Here are a few easy steps that low-income drivers can take to get car insurance in the state.
The best way to save money is to shop around and get quotes from multiple insurance carriers. If you pay for insurance by the month, you can switch carriers at any time and potentially get serious savings from a new insurance company.
It’s also possible to qualify for one or more discounts that can lower your monthly bill. To knock out two birds with one stone, ask potential new carriers about the discounts they offer when you are gathering quotes.
Finally, consider improving your credit score. Free credit monitoring sites online make it easy for you to do so, and a higher credit score can help you negotiate for a lower car insurance premium.
Can an Undocumented Worker Get Car Insurance in Arkansas?
It is sometimes difficult for undocumented workers to know if they can get car insurance or not. That is because while insurance carriers do not always require a Social Security Number, they do always require a driver’s license, and only certain states allow undocumented workers to earn a license.
Unfortunately, Arkansas does not allow undocumented workers to earn a license. Because of that, you may be unable to get car insurance in the state.
Is It Possible to Get Car Insurance in Arkansas with a DUI Mark on my Record?
As far as moving violations go, very few things are as bad as getting a DUI. Once you have a DUI on your driving record, it can negatively impact your insurance. And this leaves many drivers wondering: is it possible to even get car insurance in Arkansas if you have a DUI on your record?
The short answer is “yes.” The longer answer is “yes, but the rate will be rather high.”
Once you get a DUI, you will be required to file an SR-22 with the state. And those who have an SR-22 on file must pay a higher (sometimes much higher) rate for their insurance. As usual, we recommend shopping around to get the best possible rate.
Get a Low-Cost Arkansas Car Insurance Quote Online Today!
We’ve focused on how shopping around is the best way to get good prices on car insurance. But what if you could get quotes from multiple carriers at the click of a button?
Here at Freeway Insurance, we make it easy for you to get started and begin saving money with a quote online, at an Arkansas office near you or over the phone at (800) 777-5620. Contact us today!
