Cheapest Auto Insurance When Unemployed in 2025 (Save Big With These 9 Companies!)

Looking for the cheapest auto insurance when unemployed? The best rates are at Erie Insurance for $27 a month, followed by Geico and State Farm.

Our Top 9 Company Picks: Cheap Auto Insurance When Unemployed

Some of the other best auto insurance companies for unemployed drivers are Nationwide and Progressive auto insurance.

Low-mileage discounts can help you get the cheapest car insurance when unemployed from most companies, but the one that’s best for you depends on what rates and perks you are looking for.

Read on to find cheaper car insurance for unemployed drivers, from the cheapest companies to discount savings. You can also compare quotes from the top insurers by entering your ZIP code into our free comparison tool.

Unemployment and Auto Insurance Rates

Does being unemployed affect your car insurance? Not really, which means affordable car insurance for the unemployed isn’t out of reach. Shopping for coverage at one of the companies below will ensure you get the cheapest rate possible.

Erie and Geico have the cheapest car insurance when unemployed for both minimum and full coverage policies. How much is insurance when you’re unemployed? Monthly rates start at $27 at Erie Insurance.

Do you need a job to get car insurance? No, your employment status can’t affect your ability to buy insurance. Insurance companies check employment status, but if a provider were to deny coverage or raise rates because applicants were unemployed, the state regulatory officials would penalize them.

Is there auto insurance for the unemployed in California? Not exactly, but California is one of the few states to offer low-income auto insurance plans.

Credit Scores & Unemployed Auto Insurance Rates

Auto insurance and your credit score are important. If your credit score goes down while you’re unemployed, your rates may go up. A majority of states allow insurance companies to look at your credit when calculating rates, and this table shows how rates change by credit score.

Auto Insurance Monthly Rates by Credit Score

Providers use credit and insurance scores, which are calculated by agencies such as FICO or LexisNexis, to assess a person’s likelihood of filing a claim. While delinquencies in credit will affect your score, there are factors that can’t be reported. One of these factors is employment status. Credit-based auto insurance companies can raise your rates at renewal if your credit score has gone down, but not because you lost your job.

How to Save Money on Auto Insurance When Unemployed

Your employment status isn’t a rating factor, but if you go from employed to unemployed, there are a few things you can do to save money on insurance. For instance, your vehicle usage could change when you’re unemployed, and you might qualify for pay-per-mile insurance if you drive less while out of work.

It might sound like a silly question, depending on how it’s phrased, but your insurer wants to know whether or not you commute to and from work or school. There are three usage categories. These include business-use and pleasure-use vs. commuter auto insurance. If you go from driving as a commuter or for business, you’ll see your rates drop when you become a pleasure user.

Insurance companies have different mileage rating bands. The higher your annual mileage, the higher your premiums will be. When your annual mileage goes down, you can get low-mileage discounts that help lower premiums and save you money while you’re unemployed.

Auto Insurance Discounts for Unemployed Drivers

After you cut out that commute, your annual mileage will go down. If it goes down enough, you can qualify for a low-mileage discount. There are also other discounts available to unemployed drivers. These discounts vary by provider, but often offer big savings.

Top Auto Insurance Discounts for the Unemployed

For example, there is a good selection of State Farm auto insurance discounts that young drivers can use to save on unemployed car insurance, including student discounts and taking defensive driving courses online.

Cheap usage-based auto insurance for unemployed drivers is also an affordable option for safe drivers who aren’t on the road often.

Best Occupation for Cheap Car Insurance

Does your job affect auto insurance? For most drivers, employment status does not affect car insurance. Your job will only impact life insurance rates if you have a risky occupation, like a logger or firefighter, but there is no lowest-risk occupation for car insurance. As you can see, auto insurance rates are pretty much the same across the 20 most common careers.

Auto Insurance Monthly Rates by Occupation

The cheapest profession for car insurance will be one with a short commute or a job that allows you to work from home. The best jobs for cheap car insurance will qualify for occupation-based discounts, such as educators, first responders, and government employees.

Companies With The Cheapest Auto Insurance When Unemployed

Can you get car insurance if unemployed? Yes, and Erie, Geico, and State Farm have the cheapest auto insurance for the unemployed.

How much is insurance when you’re unemployed? Erie has the lowest rates at $27 per month, but it’s only available in a handful of states. Geico and State Farm Insurance are the top two national companies with the cheapest car insurance when unemployed. Scroll down for the pros and cons of all nine companies.

#1 – Erie: Top Pick Overall

Pros

• Affordable Rates: Erie has the best cheap car insurance for unemployed drivers, starting at $27 a month for minimum coverage.
• Great Customer Service: Erie has great customer satisfaction ratings, including for claims handling. See full scores and ratings in our Erie auto insurance review.
• Policy perks: Erie offers perks in its standard coverages that aren’t typical at most providers, such as pet injury coverage of up to $500 per pet ($1,000 total) if your pet is injured in an accident.

Cons

• Availability is Limited: Erie is not available in every state, so some unemployed drivers may not be able to get coverage at Erie.
• Stricter Eligibility Process: Erie’s low rates are partly due to its stricter underwriting process, which means it may be harder for high-risk drivers to qualify for Erie Insurance with SR-22.

#2 – Geico: Cheapest Online Rates

Pros

• Affordable Online Quotes: Geico offers multiple types of coverage to meet unemployed drivers’ budgets, starting at $35 per month. Compare rates and coverage options in our Geico Insurance review.
• Mobile-Friendly: Geico insurance apps are well-rated, and its website is easy to navigate, making it simple for drivers to manage their policies when unemployed.
• Multiple Discounts: There are plenty of Geico auto insurance discounts for unemployed drivers to choose from, including low-mileage and safe driving.

Cons

• Mixed Claims Reviews: Geico has some negative claims handling customer service reviews, although this is typical of any large auto insurance company.
• Location Rates Vary: Geico is generally one of the cheapest auto insurance companies available, but in some states, it’s more expensive.

#3 – State Farm: Cheapest for Young Drivers

Pros

• Cheap Young Driver Rates: Generally, State Farm offers affordable rates for younger drivers, particularly for high school and college students who are unemployed while in school.
• Local Agent Network: State Farm is well-known for its local agents, which is helpful for unemployed drivers who want in-person assistance with lowering their rates.
• Multiple Coverages: Unemployed drivers can pick and choose how much coverage they want. Learn more about your policy options in our State Farm auto insurance review.

 

Cons

• Variable Customer Service: State Farm has a few negative customer service reviews, so drivers may have a negative experience working with a specific agent.
• Fewer High-Risk Options: State Farm is not the best company for high-risk unemployed drivers, as it may deny coverage or charge high rates.

#4 – Travelers: Cheapest for Safe Drivers

Pros

• Responsible Driver Plans: Travelers offers two policy tiers for safe drivers with clean records who may have lost their jobs, which include accident forgiveness and deductible waivers.
• Usage-Based Discounts: Travelers offers a good selection of discounts to unemployed drivers, including a 30% usage-based discount. Learn how it works in our Travelers IntelliDrive app review.
• Strong Financial Stability: Travelers has superior A++ A.M. Best ratings and is well-established to pay out auto insurance claims, which you can learn more about in our Travelers review.

Cons

• Limited Local Agents: Travelers doesn’t have as many local agents as companies like State Farm, so unemployed drivers may not be able to find in-person help.
• Regional Rates Vary: Travelers’ rates vary by region, so it may not be the most cost-effective choice in some states.

#5 – Progressive: Best Budgeting Tools

Pros

• Name Your Price Tool: Unemployed drivers can use the online Name Your Price Tool to choose coverage that matches their budget if they’re experiencing job loss.
• Usage-Based Program: Drivers can save on unemployment car insurance with Progressive’s Snapshot program. Learn how to get the biggest discount in our Progressive Snapshot review.
• User-Friendly Apps: Progressive insurance apps and website are easy to use, making policy management easy for unemployed drivers.

Cons

• Mixed Customer Service Reviews: Progressive has some negative reviews regarding claims handling and customer service. Learn more in our Progressive auto insurance review.
• Accident Rate Increases: Progressive is a more expensive company for unemployed drivers with accidents.

#6 – American Family: Cheapest for Bundling Policies

Pros

• Bundling Discounts: American Family bundling discounts can help unemployed drivers save. Read about other available discounts in our American Family Insurance review.
• Great Customer Service: AmFam has received good customer service ratings in most states and an average claims satisfaction rating, which is higher than its competitors.
• Affordable High-Risk Rates: Unemployed drivers under 25 or those with DUIs find cheaper rates at American Family than with other companies.

Cons

• Limited Availability: American Family does not sell auto insurance in every state, so its availability is limited to unemployed drivers.
• Poor UBI Reviews: American Family usage-based insurance is not as streamlined as its competitors, and Nationwide and State Farm have bigger UBI discounts.

#7 – Nationwide: Cheapest for Roadside Assistance

Pros

• Comprehensive Roadside Assistance: Nationwide roadside assistance includes winching, locksmith services, jumpstart, gas delivery, and tire changes for less than $5 per month.
• Strong Financial Stability: Nationwide has strong financial ratings, which you can learn more about in our Nationwide auto insurance review.
• Low-Mileage Savings: Drivers can lower their auto insurance when unemployed if they drive less than 8,000 miles a year with Nationwide SmartMiles pay-as-you-go.

Cons

• Limited Availability: Nationwide auto insurance and roadside assistance for unemployed drivers are only available in 46 states.
• Mixed Customer Reviews: Nationwide has some mixed customer service reviews, like most larger companies, so read local reviews for more accurate ratings.

#8 – Farmers: Cheapest 24/7 Support

Pros

• 24/7 Assistance: Farmers offers 24/7 assistance with claims and policies so that unemployed drivers can get help at any time of the day.
• Good Customer Service Reviews: Farmers has good customer service reviews regarding claims satisfaction (read more in our Farmers auto insurance review).
• Multiple Discounts: There is a good selection of discounts to choose from at Farmers, including a usage-based discount through the Farmers’ Signal program (read more: Farmers Signal review).

Cons

• Rates Vary by Location: Farmers may not be the best choice for cheap car insurance for unemployed drivers in some states.
• No Gap Insurance: Farmers has a great selection of coverages and add-on coverages, but it is missing gap insurance.

#9 – Allstate: Best Usage-Based Discounts

Pros

• Usage-Based Discount: Allstate offers Drivewise, a usage-based program that can help unemployed drivers save on their auto insurance coverage (read more in our Allstate Drivewise review).
• Local Agent Availability: Allstate has local agents in some areas, so some unemployed drivers may be able to get in-person assistance with decreasing rates.
• Multiple Coverages: Allstate’s coverage options are diverse, allowing drivers to carry as much or as little coverage as they wish.

Cons

• Higher Rates for Some Demographics: Allstate’s rates are more expensive for high-risk drivers, so it may not be the most economical choice.
• Mixed Customer Reviews: Allstate has mixed customer service reviews, which you can learn more about in our Allstate auto insurance review.

Get Personalized Auto Insurance for Unemployed Drivers

Erie, Geico, and State Farm have the cheapest auto insurance when unemployed, but your costs will vary based on your unique situation. Auto insurance rates are personalized. This is why you, your friends, and your family members all pay very different premiums.

Auto insurance carriers use rating factors to come up with a custom price for the coverage that you select when getting a quote from their website. Each factor is related to the policyholder’s hypothetical probability of filing a claim. Some factors are beyond your control, and others aren’t. Here are the most common:

• Age, gender, and marital status
• Driving record and claim history
• Credit score (only in some states)
• Vehicle size, claims data, and safety features
• Mileage and vehicle usage (learn how annual mileage affects insurance rates)

Garaging ZIP code and claims reported in your city and state also impact rates, as well as local weather-related risks. If you’re looking to lower your insurance costs, it’s important to shop around for the best rates for your budget.

Can you get car insurance without a job? When it comes to car insurance, occupation or being unemployed won’t impact your rates too much. If you’re ready to find the cheapest car insurance when unemployed, enter your ZIP code to compare rates from multiple companies near you.