Pennsylvania Car Insurance Guide (Cheap Rates + Best Companies)

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Rachel Bodine

Insurance Feature Writer

Rachel Bodine graduated from college with a BA in English. She has since worked as a Feature Writer in the insurance industry and gained a deep knowledge of state and countrywide insurance laws and rates. Her research and writing focus on helping readers understand their insurance coverage and how to find savings. Her expert advice on insurance has been featured on sites like PhotoEnforced, All...

Insurance Feature Writer

Eric Stauffer

Licensed Insurance Agent

Eric Stauffer is an insurance agent and banker-turned-consumer advocate. His priority is educating individuals and families about the different types of insurance coverage. He is passionate about helping consumers find the best coverage for their budgets and personal needs. Eric is the CEO of C Street Media, a full-service marketing firm and the co-founder of ProperCents.com, a financial educat...

Licensed Insurance Agent

UPDATED: Mar 9, 2024

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Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Statistic Summary
Road Miles 120,091
Registered Vehicles 10,205,304
State Population 12,807,060
Percentage of
Uninsured Motorists
7.60
Driving Deaths Speeding: 5,856 Drunk Driving: 3,853
Average Premiums Annually
Liability: $495.02 Collision: $307.31 Comprehensive: $132.01
Cheapest Provider: USAA and Geico Cas

Pennsylvania is home to a rich history. Philadelphia, a major city in Pennsylvania, has witnessed major revolutionary events like the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. So if you live in Pennsylvania, you may just find yourself humming Hamilton songs when you visit historical sights.

A less-interesting past time when living in this historically rich state, though, is purchasing car insurance.

We understand that researching car insurance can be hard, as there are tons of resources to slog through. To help you avoid wasting valuable time, we’ve done all the hard work for you.

Our guide will cover everything you need to know about car insurance in Pennsylvania, from car insurance rates to must-know driving laws. Keep reading for the only guide you need to learn about Pennsylvania’s car insurance.

And if you’re ready to compare quotes today, use our FREE tool above.

Table of Contents

What Should You Know about Car Insurance Coverage and Rates in Pennsylvania?

Every state has different rates. Some states simply have more expensive for car insurance because of several factors, such as what coverages the states require.

In all states, you can expect to pay a significant amount each month on car insurance. The good news is that with careful planning, you can bring your costs down to a manageable level while still getting great coverage. We understand it’s a balancing act. But you don’t want to get caught with no insurance for legal and liability reasons.

To see how much car insurance in Pennsylvania will cost, we will go through the required auto insurance coverages and the factors that influence rates in Pennsylvania.

Let’s begin!

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What’s Pennsylvania’s Car Culture like?

Before we get into coverage and rates, let’s see what vehicles most Pennsylvania residents own.

According to The Hartford, Pennsylvania drivers stick with “practical vehicles,” such as SUVs and minivans.

This doesn’t mean the car culture in Pennsylvania is limited to minivans. The Hartford says there are numerous racetracks in Pennsylvania, such as the NASCAR race track.

So if you move to Pennsylvania, don’t be surprised if your minivan-driving neighbors are enthusiastic.

What’s Pennsylvania Minimum Coverage?

Pennsylvania requires every driver to carry a minimum amount of liability coverage to protect others in an at-fault accident. This is true whether you have a DUI or a clean driving record for the past 20 years.

Unless you want heavy fines, you’ll need to have Pennsylvania’s minimum coverage on your vehicle. NOLO lists the required minimum coverages as follows:

Pennsylvania Required Coverage Minimum Coverage Amount Purpose
Bodily Injury Liability$15,000 per person
$30,000 per accident
For when you cause an accident and injure someone else
Property Damage Liability$5,000 per accidentFor when you cause an accident and damage someone else's property
Medical Benefits Coverage$5,000Pays medical bills of anyone under the policy after an accident (regardless of who caused the accident)

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In Pennsylvania, an all-purpose policy (of at least $35,000 total coverage) can also suffice to meet Pennsylvania’s minimum requirements. Bear in mind that these are just the minimum car insurance requirements.

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It’s always better to have more than the state minimum, as better coverage will help prevent the possibility of you paying out of pocket in an accident. The minimums are also only meant to cover other parties you may injure in some way while behind the wheel. If you want coverage for your auto damage and injuries, you’ll need collision coverage, comprehensive, and PIP. All this can be worked into insurance quotes.

What does the Form of Financial Responsibility mean?

Pennsylvania state laws requires all drivers to maintain proof of financial responsibility. You’ll need to produce this any time you get pulled over by a police officer. Your insurance company may also file proof with the state. Acceptable forms of financial responsibility include:

  • Insurance ID card
  • Declaration page of an issued insurance policy
  • Valid insurance binder (temporary proof of insurance valid for 30 or 60 days)
  • Copy of application for Pennsylvania Assigned Risk Plan
  • Letter from your insurance carrier that verifies financial responsibility

Pennsylvania also allows drivers to provide electronic proof of insurance. This means that you can download the electronic version of your ID card onto your phone and show it to officers.

Of course, we also recommend that you carry a paper version in case of technical difficulties.

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What Percentage of Income are Premiums?

A percentage of your annual income is eaten up every year by car insurance payments. To see what percentage of Pennsylvania residents’ income goes toward car insurance, let’s take a look at three years of data that we brought you by partnering with Quadrant.

Pennsylvania Statistics201220132014
Full Coverage $915.83$930.48$950.42
Disposable Income $41,020.00$40,840.00$42,414.00
Insurance as % of Income 2.23%2.28%2.24%

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You may be wondering what disposable income is. Disposable income is the amount you have left to spend after paying taxes.

The percentage of income going to car insurance has remained steady over the years, which is good news. While the cost of car insurance did increase slightly, the average income also increased, meaning the percentage didn’t change drastically.

The percentage of income going to car insurance in Pennsylvania in 2014 is just under the 2014 countrywide average of 2.4 percent.

Pennsylvania’s percentage of income going to car insurance is solidly in the middle out of all states, neither the cheapest nor the most expensive (the most expensive state is 3.5 percent, while the cheapest is 1.42 percent).

So rest assured that Pennsylvania is average — you won’t be paying exorbitant amounts of income on car insurance.

What are the Average Monthly Car Insurance Rates in PA (Liability, Collision, Comprehensive)?

Let’s break down the average premium in Pennsylvania by looking at the cost of different core coverages from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).

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Coverage TypeAverage Annual Costs
Liability$495.02
Collision$307.31
Comprehensive$132.01
Combined Total$934.34

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NAIC’s data is based on the state minimum, so you may find car insurance costs to be a little higher.

Pennsylvania’s average is $20 less than the countrywide average, so insurance costs in Pennsylvania are average. While they won’t be the cheapest, they also won’t cost you a month’s paycheck.

Is There an Additional Coverage?

To see if the additional coverages in Pennsylvania are worth the added cost, we are going to take a look at their loss ratios. Why do we care about loss ratios?

Because loss ratios show us whether or not companies are profitable and stable.

  • A High Loss Ratio (over 75 percent) indicates that the companies underestimated the frequency and severity of losses and how much premium would be needed to cover them. A high loss ratio is a good indicator of future rate increases.
  • A Low Loss Ratio (under 35 percent) could indicate that companies overestimated the frequency and severity of claims or overpriced their policies.

Broken down further, this means that if a company has a loss ratio of 50, it is paying out $50 in claims for every $100 earned in premiums.

With this in mind, let’s take a look at loss ratios for additional liability coverages in Pennsylvania.

Additional Liability Coverage in Pennsylvania Loss Ratio - 2013Loss Ratio - 2014Loss Ratio - 2015
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) 73.89%71.08%71.28%
Medical Payments (Med Pay) 252.44%37.16%9.24%
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage65.97%66.61%63.50%

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While PIP’s loss ratios have remained steady at a fantastic percentage, MedPay’s loss ratios were extremely high in 2013 before plummeting to less than 10 percent in 2015.

As for uninsured and underinsured’s loss ratios, the percentages look decent, as they’ve stayed steadily around 60 percent. What is uninsured and underinsured additional coverage?

If you are in an accident with uninsured or underinsured drivers, they will likely be unable to pay your accident costs if they are at fault. If you don’t have additional uninsured motorist coverage protecting you from uninsured/underinsured drivers, you’ll be forced to pay out of pocket.

The good news is Pennsylvania is ranked as 43rd in the U.S. for its number of uninsured drivers. This means that only 7.6 percent of drivers on the road in Pennsylvania are uninsured.

Still, to eliminate your chance of having to pay out pocket, consider getting additional coverage.

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Are There any Add-Ons, Endorsements, and Riders?

Thought we were done talking about your options for car insurance coverages? Not quite. While these coverages aren’t required in Pennsylvania, insurers offer them in case drivers want to add extra protection.

These additional add-ons can be useful if you want a specific service, such as emergency roadside assistance. Some of the options can also save you money, such as classic car insurance (classic car policies are cheaper than regular car policies) or usage-based insurance.

What are the Average Monthly Car Insurance Rates by Age & Gender in PA?

Now that we’ve covered car insurance coverages, let’s start diving into rates with data from Quadrant.

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In Pennsylvania, insurers are not allowed to base rates based on drivers’ gender. Pennsylvania is one of the first states to outlaw gender discrimination in car insurance, with states like Calfornia recently passing similar laws.

In fact, Pennsylvania will soon offer a gender-neutral driver’s license.

Let’s take a look at male versus female rates to see the rates for gender and age.

CompanySingle 17-year old female annual rateSingle 17-year old male annual rateSingle 25-year old female annual rateSingle 25-year old male annual rateMarried 35-year old female annual rateMarried 35-year old male annual rateMarried 60-year old female annual rateMarried 60-year old male annual rate
Allstate F&C$8,377.10$8,377.10$2,751.49$2,751.49$2,500.83$2,500.83$2,307.05$2,307.05
Geico Cas$5,122.03$4,441.41$2,063.97$1,785.69$2,050.13$1,773.78$1,932.09$1,672.62
First Liberty Ins Corp$11,576.65$11,576.65$5,037.27$5,037.27$3,969.70$3,969.70$3,637.16$3,637.16
Nationwide P&C$5,346.15$5,346.15$2,138.83$2,138.83$1,909.07$1,909.07$1,807.43$1,807.43
Progressive Specialty$8,952.27$8,952.27$3,557.57$3,557.57$2,795.84$2,795.84$2,498.30$2,498.30
State Farm Mutual Auto$5,944.71$5,944.71$1,859.05$1,859.05$1,685.65$1,685.65$1,487.48$1,487.48
Travelers Home & Marine Ins Co$25,635.88$25,635.88$2,104.67$2,104.67$1,747.11$1,747.11$1,882.23$1,882.23
USAA$3,463.40$3,463.40$1,524.42$1,524.42$1,148.03$1,148.03$1,037.62$1,037.62

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We should note that this Quadrant data is based on purchased coverages by Pennsylvania’s residents. Because of this, it includes rates for high-risk drivers, drivers who purchase more than the state minimum, and drivers who purchase additional coverages.

This means that depending on what you purchase, your rates could be higher or lower than the average rates shown above.

So now you know that providers in Pennsylvania do not base rates on gender. Age, however, does not get this same treatment; the younger you are in Pennsylvania, the more you pay.

This makes sense when you consider the driving experience of a teenager compared to that of a 60-year-old.

What are the Rates in Pennsylvania’s 10 Largest Cities?

Some of Pennsylvania’s largest cities are infamous in pop culture — think Rocky running up the stairs in Philadephia or Micheal Scott working in Scranton.

So let’s take a look at the costs of car insurance in the 10-most-populated cities in Pennsylvania.

City County Average Annual Rate
PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia $7,482.34
Upper Darby Delaware $6,231.76
BensalemBucks $5,764.41
Allentown Lehigh $4,300.91
Pittsburgh Allegheny $4,202.06
Reading Berks $4,195.76
Erie Erie $4,154.81
BethlehemNorthampton/Lehigh$4,043.19
Scranton Lackawanna$4,015.43
LancasterLancaster$3,615.61

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Philadelphia is the most populated city in Pennsylvania, and it also has the most expensive rates. The cheapest of the largest cities in Pennsylvania in Lancaster, also known to locals as Amish Country.

If you drive in Lancaster, you are likely to see multiple horse-drawn buggies, so be careful and keep an eye on the side of the road.

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What are the Cheapest Car Insurance Rates by ZIP Code?

If you are looking to save on car insurance, then take a look at the complete list of ZIP codes below to see what the cheapest and what the most-expensive ZIP codes are in Pennsylvania. We’ve also included providers’ prices for each ZIP code, so you can see who the cheapest provider is in your area.

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25 Most Expensive Zip Codes in Pennsylvania CityAverage Annual Rate by Zip CodeMost Expensive CompanyMost Expensive Annual Rate2nd Most Expensive Company2nd Most Expensive Annual RateCheapest CompanyCheapest Annual Rate2nd Cheapest Company2nd Cheapest Annual Rate
19133PHILADELPHIA$8,527.54Travelers$16,347.78Liberty Mutual$14,953.09USAA$3,130.55Nationwide$5,516.08
19132PHILADELPHIA$8,485.99Travelers$16,434.31Liberty Mutual$14,953.09USAA$2,979.83State Farm$5,345.97
19140PHILADELPHIA$8,482.06Travelers$15,656.34Liberty Mutual$14,953.09USAA$3,130.55Nationwide$5,531.40
19142PHILADELPHIA$8,438.04Travelers$16,063.64Liberty Mutual$14,953.09USAA$3,118.87Geico$5,402.37
19139PHILADELPHIA$8,431.95Travelers$15,900.83Liberty Mutual$14,953.09USAA$3,067.37Geico$5,332.66
19121PHILADELPHIA$8,402.97Travelers$15,667.55Liberty Mutual$14,953.09USAA$2,979.83Nationwide$5,103.03
19143PHILADELPHIA$8,335.24Travelers$15,329.68Liberty Mutual$14,953.09USAA$3,040.28Geico$5,332.66
19122PHILADELPHIA$8,251.79Travelers$15,965.31Liberty Mutual$14,953.09USAA$2,977.25Geico$5,059.59
19112PHILADELPHIA$8,120.94Travelers$15,996.78Liberty Mutual$14,953.09USAA$3,040.28State Farm$4,159.60
19141PHILADELPHIA$7,951.26Travelers$15,628.00Liberty Mutual$11,848.69USAA$3,168.09State Farm$5,393.39
19120PHILADELPHIA$7,934.92Travelers$15,270.43Liberty Mutual$11,848.69USAA$3,130.55Geico$5,059.59
19126PHILADELPHIA$7,875.75Travelers$15,023.64Liberty Mutual$11,848.69USAA$3,132.85State Farm$4,926.72
19145PHILADELPHIA$7,875.23Travelers$15,797.70Liberty Mutual$13,185.12USAA$3,040.28State Farm$4,614.78
19125PHILADELPHIA$7,867.88Travelers$15,280.25Liberty Mutual$13,185.12USAA$2,977.25Geico$5,059.59
19124PHILADELPHIA$7,839.78Travelers$15,192.97Liberty Mutual$11,848.69USAA$3,170.44Geico$5,059.59
19138PHILADELPHIA$7,813.73Travelers$15,422.93Liberty Mutual$11,848.69USAA$3,018.01State Farm$4,962.95
19153PHILADELPHIA$7,809.79Travelers$15,950.73Liberty Mutual$13,185.12USAA$3,040.28Nationwide$4,431.54
19134PHILADELPHIA$7,792.20Travelers$15,369.32Liberty Mutual$13,185.12USAA$3,130.55State Farm$5,003.80
19104PHILADELPHIA$7,718.61Travelers$15,015.69Liberty Mutual$14,953.09USAA$2,979.83Geico$3,727.54
19131PHILADELPHIA$7,711.11Travelers$15,520.29Liberty Mutual$11,848.69USAA$2,979.83State Farm$5,173.58
19190PHILADELPHIA$7,619.01Travelers$15,996.78Liberty Mutual$14,953.09USAA$2,684.13Geico$3,727.54
19109PHILADELPHIA$7,590.79Liberty Mutual$14,953.09Travelers$14,644.96USAA$2,802.84Geico$3,727.54
19148PHILADELPHIA$7,551.17Travelers$16,231.94Liberty Mutual$13,185.12USAA$3,040.28Geico$3,727.54
19144PHILADELPHIA$7,532.62Travelers$15,516.37Liberty Mutual$11,848.69USAA$2,864.58Geico$4,546.01
19147PHILADELPHIA$7,504.11Travelers$15,857.48Liberty Mutual$13,185.12USAA$3,040.28Geico$3,727.54

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25 Least Expensive
Zip Codes in Pennsylvania
CityAverage Annual by Zip CodesMost Expensive CompanyMost Expensive Annual Rate2nd Most Expensive Company2nd Most Expensive Annual RateCheapest CompanyCheapest Annual Rate2nd Cheapest Company2nd Cheapest Annual Rate
16823BELLEFONTE$3,116.01Travelers$5,623.33Liberty Mutual$4,826.44USAA$1,384.72Geico$1,816.07
16801STATE COLLEGE$3,156.82Travelers$6,027.64Liberty Mutual$4,826.44USAA$1,384.72Geico$1,816.07
16803STATE COLLEGE$3,205.35Travelers$6,206.11Liberty Mutual$4,826.44USAA$1,384.72Geico$1,816.07
17844MIFFLINBURG$3,205.40Travelers$5,668.37Liberty Mutual$4,835.16USAA$1,467.86Geico$2,051.84
16828CENTRE HALL$3,207.80Travelers$5,600.96Liberty Mutual$4,826.44USAA$1,384.72State Farm$1,979.70
16802UNIVERSITY PARK$3,211.08Travelers$6,155.13Liberty Mutual$4,826.44USAA$1,384.72Geico$1,816.07
16870PORT MATILDA$3,212.75Travelers$5,804.33Liberty Mutual$5,301.56USAA$1,385.22Geico$1,816.07
17013CARLISLE$3,217.12Travelers$6,210.08Liberty Mutual$4,364.46USAA$1,561.10Geico$1,897.92
17015CARLISLE$3,217.18Travelers$6,210.08Liberty Mutual$4,364.46USAA$1,561.10Geico$1,897.92
17837LEWISBURG$3,223.56Travelers$5,861.05Liberty Mutual$4,835.16USAA$1,467.86Geico$2,051.84
17065MOUNT HOLLY SPRINGS$3,237.78Travelers$6,004.88Liberty Mutual$4,801.54USAA$1,561.08Geico$1,897.92
16826BLANCHARD$3,242.81Travelers$5,623.33Liberty Mutual$5,301.56USAA$1,385.22State Farm$2,062.44
17842MIDDLEBURG$3,243.72Travelers$5,719.63Liberty Mutual$4,835.16USAA$1,467.86Geico$2,051.84
17887WHITE DEER$3,263.23Travelers$6,414.92Liberty Mutual$4,835.16USAA$1,467.86State Farm$2,038.07
17266WALNUT BOTTOM$3,264.01Travelers$6,163.01Liberty Mutual$4,801.54USAA$1,561.11Geico$1,897.92
17324GARDNERS$3,275.34Travelers$5,874.51Liberty Mutual$4,801.54USAA$1,561.11Geico$2,153.91
17343MC KNIGHTSTOWN$3,275.41Travelers$5,709.54Liberty Mutual$4,835.16USAA$1,540.87Geico$2,153.91
17007BOILING SPRINGS$3,282.20Travelers$6,303.42Liberty Mutual$4,801.54USAA$1,561.08Geico$1,897.92
17241NEWVILLE$3,288.08Travelers$6,018.29Liberty Mutual$4,801.54USAA$1,561.11Geico$1,897.92
16827BOALSBURG$3,288.82Travelers$6,427.94Liberty Mutual$4,826.44USAA$1,384.72Geico$1,816.07
17050MECHANICSBURG$3,290.99Travelers$6,645.72Liberty Mutual$4,364.46USAA$1,561.19Geico$1,897.92
17055MECHANICSBURG$3,291.15Travelers$6,761.33Liberty Mutual$4,364.46USAA$1,561.19Geico$1,897.92
16875SPRING MILLS$3,298.88Travelers$5,708.01Liberty Mutual$5,301.56USAA$1,384.72State Farm$2,096.21
17889WINFIELD$3,300.90Travelers$6,327.37Liberty Mutual$4,835.16USAA$1,467.86Geico$2,051.84
17870SELINSGROVE$3,301.85Travelers$6,493.74Liberty Mutual$4,835.16USAA$1,467.86Geico$2,051.84

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The variance in cost between the most and least expensive ZIP codes is over $5,300. If you live in a more expensive ZIP code, make sure you are picking a cheaper provider.

What are the Cheapest Car Insurance Rates by City?

While we’ve covered ZIP codes, we want to broaden our information a bit by looking at the most and least expensive cities in Pennsylvania.

10 Most Expensive Cities in Pennsylvania Average Annual Rate by CityMost Expensive CompanyMost Expensive Annual Rate2nd Most Expensive Company2nd Most Expensive Annual RateCheapest CompanyCheapest Annual Rate2nd Cheapest Company2nd Cheapest Annual Rate
Philadelphia$7,482.34Travelers$15,126.36Liberty Mutual$12,538.89USAA$2,954.06Geico$4,621.12
Sharon Hill$6,392.50Travelers$13,460.15Liberty Mutual$8,630.14USAA$2,363.32Nationwide$4,102.98
East Lansdowne$6,347.36Travelers$12,468.46Liberty Mutual$8,630.14USAA$2,511.37Nationwide$4,210.51
Collingdale$6,270.41Travelers$12,886.09Liberty Mutual$8,630.14USAA$2,511.37Nationwide$4,212.45
Millbourne$6,231.76Travelers$12,160.58Liberty Mutual$8,630.14USAA$2,207.63Nationwide$4,241.54
Bensalem$5,764.41Travelers$12,296.07Liberty Mutual$8,344.78USAA$1,908.22Geico$3,568.65
Cheltenham$5,733.79Travelers$12,436.54Liberty Mutual$7,629.84USAA$2,456.44Nationwide$3,835.72
Elkins Park$5,727.39Travelers$12,174.44Liberty Mutual$7,629.84USAA$2,154.94Nationwide$3,745.21
Chester$5,723.20Travelers$12,415.25Liberty Mutual$8,630.14USAA$2,363.32Geico$3,596.36
Glenolden$5,720.42Travelers$12,887.96Liberty Mutual$8,630.14USAA$2,395.86State Farm$3,491.05

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10 Least Expensive
Cities in Pennsylvania
Average Annual Rate by CityMost Expensive CompanyMost Expensive Annual Rate2nd Most Expensive Company2nd Most Expensive Annual RateCheapest CompanyCheapest Annual Rate2nd Cheapest Company2nd Cheapest Annual Rate
Bellefonte$3,116.01Travelers$5,623.33Liberty Mutual$4,826.44USAA$1,384.72Geico$1,816.07
Houserville$3,156.81Travelers$6,027.64Liberty Mutual$4,826.44USAA$1,384.72Geico$1,816.07
Park Forest Village$3,205.35Travelers$6,206.11Liberty Mutual$4,826.44USAA$1,384.72Geico$1,816.07
Mifflinburg$3,205.40Travelers$5,668.37Liberty Mutual$4,835.16USAA$1,467.86Geico$2,051.84
Centre Hall$3,207.80Travelers$5,600.96Liberty Mutual$4,826.44USAA$1,384.72State Farm$1,979.70
University Park$3,211.08Travelers$6,155.13Liberty Mutual$4,826.44USAA$1,384.72Geico$1,816.07
Port Matilda$3,212.75Travelers$5,804.33Liberty Mutual$5,301.56USAA$1,385.22Geico$1,816.07
Carlisle$3,217.14Travelers$6,210.08Liberty Mutual$4,364.46USAA$1,561.10Geico$1,897.92
Lewisburg$3,223.56Travelers$5,861.05Liberty Mutual$4,835.16USAA$1,467.86Geico$2,051.84
Mount Holly Springs$3,237.78Travelers$6,004.88Liberty Mutual$4,801.54USAA$1,561.08Geico$1,897.92

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Philadelphia is the most populated city in Pennsylvania and also the most expensive city for car insurance. Bellefonte, a small town with a population of less than 6,500, is the cheapest area for car insurance.

Between these two cities, there is a difference of over $4,000.

As the ZIP code data showed, even within a city the rates can vary, but the costs for cities should give you a good idea of what you’ll be paying on your vehicle. (For more information, read our “Car Insurance Rates by City“).

Who are the Best Pennsylvania Car Insurance Companies?

With so many drivers on the roads these days, there’s an equally large number of car insurance companies. It can be difficult to find the right car insurance company for your needs, which is why we are going to break down Pennsylvania companies.

This way, you can pick a car insurance company that has the right services and rates for you.

So stick with us as we go through everything from companies’ financial ratings to costs.

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What’s the Financial Rating of the Largest Companies?

A company’s financial rating will give you a good idea of a company’s stability. To see what Pennsylvania’s companies’ financial ratings are, we are going to look at AM Best ratings.

Company AM Best Rating Direct Premiums Written Loss Ratio Market Share
State Farm GroupA$1,779,91563.70%20.35%
Erie Insurance GroupA+$1,153,85664.93%13.19%
Allstate Insurance GroupA+$998,91955.64%11.42%
Progressive GroupA+$875,57958.55%10.01%
Nationwide Corp GroupA+$786,10959.96%8.99%
GeicoA++$706,89774.24%8.08%
Liberty Mutual GroupA$424,10661.06%4.85%
Travelers GroupA++$335,96362.41%3.84%
USAA GroupA++$299,48872.05%3.42%
Farmers Insurance GroupA$192,16274.14%2.20%

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All of the companies earned an A or higher (A++ is the highest possible), which means all the companies have a financial stability. Looking at the loss ratios confirms AM Best’s ratings, as all the loss ratios are great.

Which Companies have the Best Ratings?

While a stable financial future is great, another important part of a company’s success is customer satisfaction. JD Power’s recent study rates companies based on customer satisfaction surveys, which means JD Power is a good source to look at to see how well a company serves its customers.

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Erie Insurance earned the highest customer satisfaction rating in Pennsylvania, with Geico close behind. Allstate had the lowest number of points, earning only 816 points out of 1,000.

We should note that USAA earned the highest rating, but wasn’t included with the other companies because USAA is only available for military personnel and their families.

Which Companies have the Most Complaints in Pennsylvania?

Since complaints go along with customer satisfaction, we want to take a look at the NAIC’s data on complaint ratios for the top largest companies in Pennsylvania.

Company 2017 Complaint Ratio 2017 Number of Complaints
State Farm Group0.441,482
Liberty Mutual Group5.95222
Allstate Insurance Group0.5163
Progressive Group0.75120
Nationwide Corp Group0.2825
Erie Insurance Group0.722
Geico02
Travelers Group0.092
USAA Group02
Farmers Insurance Group00

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A high number of complaints doesn’t necessarily mean a company will have a high complaint ratio. While State Farm Group has a high number of complaints, the complainants only make up a small percentage of State Farm Group’s customers.

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Who are the Cheapest Car Insurance Companies in Pennsylvania?

Shopping around for rates can save you a significant amount each year, which is why we are going to go through Quadrant Information Services data on everything that impacts rates. Let’s start by seeing which Pennsylvania companies have the cheapest car insurance rates.

CompanyAverage Annual RateCompared to State Average (+/-)Compared to State Average (%)
Travelers Home & Marine Ins Co$7,842.47$3,807.9848.56%
First Liberty Ins Corp$6,055.19$2,020.7033.37%
Progressive Specialty$4,451.00$416.509.36%
Allstate F&C$3,984.12-$50.37-1.26%
Nationwide P&C$2,800.37-$1,234.13-44.07%
State Farm Mutual Auto$2,744.22-$1,290.27-47.02%
Geico Cas$2,605.22-$1,429.28-54.86%
USAA$1,793.37-$2,241.13-124.97%

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USAA and Geico have the cheapest rates in Pennsylvania, as they are significantly less than the state average.

Progressive is the most expensive out of the cheapest companies, costing almost 10 percent more than the state average in Pennsylvania.

What’s the Commute Rate by Companies?

Did you know that how far you drive can change your car insurance rates? Drivers with long commutes may find their insurers charge them a few hundred more.

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Let’s see what Pennsylvania insurers charge based on commute distance.

Group10 Miles Commute. 6,000 Annual Mileage.25 Miles Commute. 1,2000 Annual Mileage.
Travelers$7,842.47$7,842.47
Liberty Mutual$5,900.24$6,210.14
Progressive$4,451.00$4,451.00
Allstate$3,904.16$4,064.08
State Farm$2,661.82$2,826.63
Nationwide$2,800.37$2,800.37
Geico$2,562.81$2,647.62
USAA$1,742.14$1,844.59

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Travelers, Nationwide, and Progressive are the only companies who don’t increase rates based on commute distance, although Travelers has the highest rates, which means that a company that charges for commute distance will still be cheaper than Travelers.

As for companies that do increase costs, Liberty Mutual has the highest price increase — about $300.

Of course, don’t just go off of price increases. Instead, look at how much the final amount is when picking a provider. A company may have a high increase but still cost less than another company.

What are the Coverage Level Rates by Companies?

High coverage levels are always the best option in case of an accident, but the higher price tag most providers put on this coverage can make most consumers think twice.

To help you find a high coverage level at a reasonable cost, let’s take a look at companies’ prices.

Company Low CoverageMedium CoverageHigh Coverage
Allstate$3,794.20$4,010.08$4,148.08
Geico$2,375.50$2,629.30$2,810.85
Liberty Mutual$5,760.21$6,098.96$6,306.41
Nationwide$2,751.912,813.46$2,835.74
Progressive$4,058.80$4,484.26$4,809.93
State Farm$2,566.42$2,780.67$2,885.58
Travelers$7,782.26$7,848.30$7,896.86
USAA$1,662.36$1,810.30$1,907.44

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Progressive has the highest rate increase between low and high coverage, coming in at around $750. This isn’t terrible, but other companies have rate increases under a few hundred.

At Nationwide, for example, the price increase from low to high coverage is less than $100. This is a fantastic rate increase and makes Nationwide’s high coverage affordable for everyone.

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What are the Credit History Rates by Companies?

A credit score is vital in today’s world, as it is used for everything from bank loans to car insurance.

The average credit score in Pennsylvania is 687, which is higher than the national average of 675. This means most Pennsylvania residents have good credit scores.

A good credit score will save you hundreds a year, as insurers increase rates for poor and fair credit scores.

Below you can see rate increases for credit scores at Pennsylvania companies.

Company Good Fair Poor
Allstate$3,060.28$3,798.36$5,093.72
Geico$1,701.51$2,202.65$3,911.48
Liberty Mutual$4,895.54$5,542.86$7,727.18
Nationwide$2,411.94$2,701.68$3,287.49
Progressive$3,319.35$4,136.56$5,897.08
State Farm$1,909.14$2,418.55$3,904.98
Travelers$7,282.50$7,710.22$8,534.70
USAA$1,473.98$1,664.45$2,241.67

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If you have a poor credit history, picking a company with the least amount of penalty is important. For example, Nationwide’s and USAA’s price increases from poor to bad credit are less than $1,000.

This may seem like a lot, but other companies in Pennsylvania add on thousands to drivers’ insurance premiums, such as Allstate’s almost $2,000-price increase from good to bad credit.

So make sure to shop around if you don’t have good credit.

What are the Driving Record Rates by Companies?

Just like your credit score, your driving record plays a significant part in how much you’ll pay for car insurance. Any DUIs, accidents, or speeding tickets on your record will increase your insurance premiums.

Below you can see just how much Pennsylvania companies increase their prices based on driving records.

CompanyClean RecordWith 1 Speeding Violation With 1 Accident With 1 DUI
Allstate$3,813.11$3,813.11$4,497.16$3,813.11
Geico$1,916.13$2,653.35$3,282.78$2,568.60
Liberty Mutual$5,525.34$6,183.64$6,328.15$6,183.64
Nationwide$2,021.90$2,707.29$2,703.02$3,769.26
Progressive$4,034.71$4,045.00$5,570.34$4,153.94
State Farm$2,512.31$2,744.22$2,976.14$2,744.22
Travelers$5,566.16$7,914.42$7,914.42$9,974.88
USAA$1,442.82$1,612.21$1,992.43$2,126.01

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Companies in Pennsylvania vary in what they deem the worst offense to be. For example, Geico charges more for a speeding violation than a DUI, while other companies charge more for a DUI or accident than a speeding violation.

Whatever companies charge for individual offenses, a bad driving record will cost drivers hundreds or thousands at insurance providers.

Keep in mind, too, that the table shows the average price increases for the first offense. Subsequent offenses will cost more.

Who are the Largest Car Insurance Companies in State?

While we’ve gone through companies’ rates and customer satisfaction ratings, we want to take a look at the largest companies in Pennsylvania.

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Company Direct Premiums Written Loss Ratio Market Share
State Farm Group$1,779,91563.70%20.35%
Erie Insurance Group$1,153,85664.93%13.19%
Allstate Insurance Group$998,91955.64%11.42%
Progressive Group$875,57958.55%10.01%
Nationwide Corp Group$786,10959.96%8.99%
Geico$706,89774.24%8.08%
Liberty Mutual Group$424,10661.06%4.85%
Travelers Group$335,96362.41%3.84%
USAA Group$299,48872.05%3.42%
Farmers Insurance Group$192,16274.14%2.20%

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State Farm has the largest market share in Pennsylvania, followed by Erie Insurance. Farmers Insurance has the smallest market share, but don’t let this turn you away.

A company’s loss ratio is important, and Farmers Insurance has a great loss ratio. All of the largest companies earned their spots on the list, as they all have good loss ratios that show a solid financial future.

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What’s the Number of Insurers in Pennsylvania?

While we’ve looked at the largest insurers in Pennsylvania, there are quite a few more insurers than we’ve previously shown you.

PA Number of Insurers

With over a thousand insurers to choose from, it’s important to narrow down your choices. If it helps, the difference between domestic and foreign is the following:

Domestic insurers are in-state (local to your area), while foreign insurers are out-of-state but still insure in your area.

So if you want a local provider, a domestic insurer may be for you. Pennsylvania has a large number of domestic insurers — some states have less than 10.

What are the Pennsylvania State Laws?

Every state has different driving laws, which can be confusing when you move to a new state. Unfortunately, cops won’t take ignorance as an excuse if you break a state driving law.

To help you avoid a ticket, we are going to go through the state laws in Pennsylvania that you need to know. So keep reading to learn about everything from Pennsylvania’s car insurance laws to driver safety laws.

What are the Car Insurance Laws?

As we mentioned before, every state has different requirements on what amounts of insurance you need to have on your vehicle. Not having the proper auto insurance coverage is breaking the law, which is why we are going to go into what Pennsylvania requires.

From how state laws are determined to who’s eligible for low-cost insurance, it’s all covered here. Let’s begin.

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How State Laws for Insurance are Determined

According to the NAIC, the current rate filing law in Pennsylvania is that rates must have prior approval. This means that insurers must submit rates to a Pennsylvania state authority.

Before insurers can use rates, they must get approval from state authority. Because insurers take care of the legal side of rate approval, all you have to worry about is picking a provider with good rates.

How to Get Windshield Coverage

In Pennsylvania, the law doesn’t require insurers to replace windshields. However, comprehensive coverage will usually cover windshield repairs and replacements.

You also don’t have to use a specific repair shop of the insurer’s choosing, as you have the right to use whichever repair shop you want. It’s a good idea to get that windshield repaired promptly, as you could receive a ticket if a crack obscures your view of the road.

How to Get High-Risk Insurance

High-risk insurance is for drivers who have severe violations on their records, such as DUIs. However, high-risk insurance is not required in Pennsylvania (some states make high-risk drivers purchase a high-risk plan).

Because insurers have the right to refuse high-risk drivers, though, drivers may have to turn to the Pennsylvania Assigned Risk Plan for car insurance.

Insurers must accept drivers who apply through the Pennsylvania Assigned Risk Plan, regardless of what’s on the drivers’ records. If you are a high-risk driver, make sure to shop around for rates at different providers, because high-risk insurance is expensive.

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How to Get Low-Cost Insurance

Pennsylvania may have high-risk insurance, but it lacks a low-cost insurance program for low-income families.

Only three states have low-income car insurance programs: California, Hawaii, and New Jersey.

While Pennsylvania doesn’t offer a program for low-cost insurance, finding a provider with low rates will help make car insurance affordable.

Is There an Automobile Insurance Fraud in Pennsylvania?

Automobile insurance fraud is illegal in Pennsylvania. According to the Insurance Information Institute (iii), property and casualty insurance fraud equals about 30 billion a year.

The main ways people commit fraud are filing claims for accidents that never happened, adding fake costs onto an existing claim, or staging an accident.

Because insurance fraud is prevalent, Pennsylvania has four established fraud bureaus to catch fraudulent claims. If you want to learn more about insurance fraud, you can contact the Pennsylvania Insurance Department through their online contact form.

Although we can tell you that the best way to avoid committing an insurance fraud crime is to be honest about your claim.

What’s the Statute of Limitations?

After an accident happens, you only have a certain amount of time to file a claim (a statute of limitations). If you wait too long, your claim will be rejected. Why?

Because insurers and courts don’t want claims to drag on for years past the accident. Plus, details grow blurrier the longer the wait is between the accident and the claim.

So how long do you have to file a claim in Pennsylvania?

  • Personal Injury: Two years
  • Property Damage Liability coverage: Two years

Pennsylvania’s statute of limitations is fairly long, as you are allowed two years to file a claim. Of course, it’s always better to file a claim right away so you get the needed funds sooner.

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What does the Pennsylvania Unfair Claims Settlement Practices mean?

Pennsylvania has a law called the Unfair Claims Settlement Practices. What does this mean?

Insurers are held to fair business practices. This means they are required to reply promptly to claims, as well as disclose all information to customers.

The complete disclosure of all information is important, as insurers may “forget” benefits that you are eligible for in a claim. The Unfair Claims Settlement Practices Act ensures insurers are held to ethical business standards.

What are the Vehicle Licensing Laws?

Just like coverage laws, states have different laws and procedures for vehicle licensing. If you aren’t familiar with a state’s laws, you may find yourself with an expired license.

To help you navigate vehicle licensing, we are going to go through everything from REAL ID to how often you need to renew your license. So let’s jump right in.

Is Real ID Required in Pennsylvania?

If you’ve recently been to an airport, you may have noticed signs advertising REAL ID. In Pennsylvania, REAL IDs will be required on October 1, 2020, if you want to do the following:

  • Board a domestic commercial flight
  • Enter a federal building
  • Enter a military installation

If you don’t have a REAL ID, you won’t be able to fly out of Pennsylvania. Luckily, you may already have a REAL ID waiting for you if you got a driver’s license after September 1, 2003.

This is because PennDot will already have your required documents on file. If you got a driver’s license before 2003, you’ll need the following to apply for a REAL ID:

  • Birth certificate or valid U.S. passport
  • Social Security Card
  • Two proofs of current Pennsylvania address
  • Proof of legal name changes (if applicable)

A REAL ID is optional, but if you fly or enter federal/military buildings, you will need to get one. You don’t need a REAL ID to drive, vote, or any of the other things you use your driver’s license for.

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What are the Penalties for Driving Without Insurance?

Since car insurance is a legal requirement in Pennsylvania, officials will check for proof of insurance if you are pulled over or are in an accident. As a reminder, the following are acceptable proofs of insurance in Pennsylvania:

  • Insurance ID card
  • Declaration page of an issued insurance policy
  • Valid insurance binder (temporary proof of insurance valid for 30 or 60 days)
  • Copy of application for Pennsylvania Assigned Risk Plan
  • Letter from your insurance carrier that verifies financial responsibility

If you don’t have insurance, there are penalties enforced by the state.

Offense Registration SuspensionRestoration FeeCivil Penalty Fee
First Offense 3 months (unless lapse was for less than 31 days and the vehicle was not operated during that time)$88 plus proof of insurance required to get it back$500 is optional in lieu of registration suspension plus $88 restoration fee — can only use this option once within a 12-month period.

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We should also note that insurers’ rates go up if they see insurance lapses on your record, so driving without insurance will cost you more than the fines shown above.

How do you know when PennDot is suspending your registration? PennDot should send you an intent to suspend registration letter if you have done any of the following:

  • You didn’t respond to proof of insurance request.
  • You didn’t provide proof of insurance within 30 days of the cancellation date of previous insurance.
  • You didn’t submit a Statement of Non-Operation of Vehicle.
  • You didn’t provide proof of insurance at the time of a traffic offense.
  • You didn’t provide proof of insurance at the time of an accident.

Make sure to have proof of insurance on you at all times or you’ll have to fill out additional paperwork to prove you did have insurance after incidents.

What are the Teen Driver Laws?

Because teen drivers are inexperienced, there are laws in place to restrict their driving until they are prepared to drive alone. In Pennsylvania, teens must be at least 16-years-old to apply for a learner’s permit.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) lists restrictions for learner permit holders as the following:

Pennsylvania Learner Permit Requirements for Getting a License Time Restrictions
Mandatory Holding Period 6 months
Minimum Supervised Driving Time 65 hours (10 must be at night and 5 must be in inclement weather)
Minimum Age 16 years and 6 months

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Once learner permit holders complete the required time requirements and pass a driver’s test, they will have an intermediate driver’s license that has further restrictions.

Pennsylvania Restrictions for Intermediate Licenses Details
Nighttime restrictions11 p.m. to 5 a.m.
Passenger restrictions (family members excepted unless noted otherwise)First 6 months: no more than 1 passenger younger than 18
After 6 months: no more than 3 passengers
Minimum age at which restrictions may be liftedDetails
Nighttime restrictions 12 months and age 17 (if completed driver education) or age 18
Passenger restrictions 12 months and age 17 (if completed driver education) or age 18

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Pennsylvania intermediate drivers aren’t allowed to drive after 11 p.m., and they are only allowed to have a certain amount of passengers. These rules are intended to protect teen drivers by limiting dangerous driving conditions and distractions.

What are the License Renewal Procedures for Older Drivers?

Just like teen drivers, older drivers may have special licensing requirements. Let’s take a look at the licensing procedures for drivers older than 65.

Renewal CycleProof of Adequate Vision RequiredMail Renewal PermittedOnline Renewal Permitted
2 or 4 years (depends on personal preference)NoYesYes

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Older drivers have the same renewal options as the general population, although they have the option to renew their license every two years instead of four.

Older drivers can also renew their licenses online or through the mail, which means they can skip on visits to the DMV.

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What’s the Procedure for New Residents?

If you are new to Pennsylvania, you’ll have to go to a local DMV and get a Pennsylvania driver’s license. You’ll also need to contact your insurance provider with your change of address because your provider will need to change your rates and coverages to match Pennsylvania’s requirements.

So you can expect your rates to change if you move to Pennsylvania.

What is the License Renewal Procedure?

For those past their teen years and under the age of 65, the following license renewal procedures are in place:

Renewal CycleProof of Adequate Vision RequiredMail Renewal PermittedOnline Renewal Permitted
4 yearsNoYesYes

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Drivers only have to renew their licenses every four years, and since it can be done through mail or online, you won’t have to go in-person.

What does the Negligent Operator Treatment System mean?

If you drive recklessly or carelessly and are caught, you will face penalties. Below are the penalties for driving recklessly in Pennsylvania.

Offense Crime Classification FineJail Time License Suspension
First Summary Offense $200 Up to 90 days6 months

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However, if you cause serious bodily injuries to another person by driving recklessly, the offenses are much stricter than the ones shown above. You will be charged with assault by vehicle, face up to seven years in prison, have a one-year license suspension, and pay up to $15,000 in fines.

Pennsylvania takes reckless driving seriously, as reckless driving endangers everyone on the road. Careless driving is also serious, though it carries lesser penalties than reckless driving.

Offense Crime Classification FineJail Time License Suspension
Careless Driving Summary Offense Maximum $300 Up to 90 daysNone
Careless Driving that Caused Serious Bodily Injury to Another Person Summary Offense $250
$500 if caused death of another person
Up to 90 days 6 months

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Please, be a careful driver. Not just to avoid fines but also to avoid injuring someone else or yourself.

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What are the Rules of the Road?

We want to help you be the safest driver possible, which is why we are going to cover must-know rules of the road in Pennsylvania. Not only will following the rules of the road help you avoid a driving ticket, but it will keep you and others safe.

So let’s jump into everything from seat belt laws to automation laws.

Is Pennsylvania at Fault or No-Fault State?

Before we get into laws, we want to clarify that Pennsylvania is a combination of no-fault and at-fault. No-fault means the insurers will cover you regardless of who caused the accident.

However, Pennsylvania is tricky because it also allows drivers to file at-fault claims.

You can choose to have no-fault insurance or at-fault insurance, so make sure to choose one that fits your needs best. If you want your insurer to cover you each time, pick no-fault.

If you want the driver who caused the accident to pay, then at-fault insurance may be a better option.

What are the Seat Belt and Car Seat Laws?

Buckling up is the law in Pennsylvania.

Let’s take a look at IIHS’s information on the seat belt and car seat laws.

Pennsylvania Safety Belt Laws Details
Effective SinceNovember 23, 1987
Primary EnforcementNo (yes for children younger than 18)
Age/Seats Applicable18+ years old in front seat
1st Offense Max Fine$10 plus fees

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While seat belt enforcement isn’t primary in Pennsylvania (meaning officers need a reason besides seat belt use to pull you over), enforcement is primary for drivers and passengers under 18.

This means that if officers see drivers or passengers under 18 not wearing seat belts, they can pull the vehicle over and ticket the driver.

Now that we’ve covered seat belts, let’s take a look at laws for younger passengers.

Type of Car Seat RequiredAge/Weight
Rear-Facing Child Restraint Younger than two years (until child outgrows manufacturer's age/weight recommendations)
Forward-Facing Child Restraint Two to three years old
Child Booster SeatFour to seven years old
Adult Belt Permissible Eight through 17 years in all seats

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The fine for violating car seat laws is $75, significantly higher than the fine for seat belt violations. Seeing as these laws are made to keep children safe, the higher fine makes sense.

There are also restrictions in Pennsylvania on riding in the cargo areas of vehicles. The following types of passengers are exceptions to the prohibition on riding in cargo areas:

  • People 18 and older (vehicle must be going less than 35 mph)
  • People 17 and younger if the cargo area is enclosed
  • Parade, hunting, and farm operations

Children are only allowed to ride in enclosed cargo areas because there is always a risk of being thrown from a vehicle (even when driving slow).

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What are the Keep Right and Move Over Laws?

The keep right law in Pennsylvania is simple. If you are traveling slower than the speed of traffic, keep to the right. Generally, the left lane should be for passing slower vehicles only.

The move over law is also simple, but it has the potential to save lives if all drivers follow it.

You must move over in the following circumstances (unless it’s not safe to do so, then you must slow down):

  • When coming up on an emergency response area
  • Tow trucks
  • Utility vehicles

It’s also good practice to move over or slow down for any vehicle with flashing hazard lights, as someone may be walking around the vehicle.

If you ever pulled over with your hazard lights on and felt uncomfortable getting out of the vehicle with traffic speeding by, you can understand the importance of the move over law.

What’s the Speed Limit?

Speeding is one of the number-one cause of fatalities, which is why states have strictly enforced speed limits. Below are the speed limits for Pennsylvania.

Type of RoadwaySpeed Limit
Rural Interstates70 mph
Urban Interstates70 mph
Other Limited Access Roads70 mph
Other Roads55 mph

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These are the maximum speed limits, which means you won’t get out of a ticket if you ignore a posted speed limit and argue the maximum is 70 mph.

The maximum speed limit is simply the highest speed limit that can be posted, so follow posted speed limits to avoid tickets and increased premiums.

How does Ridesharing work?

All rideshare drivers must have ridesharing insurance on their vehicles. If you are driving your vehicle for a service like Uber or Lyft, then you need to buy ridesharing insurance.

The following providers offer rideshare insurance in Pennsylvania.

  • Erie
  • Geico
  • Liberty Mutual
  • Progressive

Beyond ridesharing insurance, you’ll also have to pass rideshare companies’ requirements. Generally, this means you have to have a clean record and at least a few years of driving experience.

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Is There an Automation on the Road?

Pennsylvania does have rules about the use of automated vehicles, although these regulations depend on the type of vehicle.

  • Type of driving automation allowed on public roads: PennDot authorizes the testing of vehicles that are highly automated and deployment of work-zone vehicles that are highly automated. Effective since April 22, 2019.
  • Operator license: Operators have to be licensed to test highly automated vehicles.
  • Operators in vehicles: Operators do not have to be in work-zone vehicles that are highly automated.

Unless you have a highly automated vehicle, you won’t need to worry about Pennsylvania’s laws. Most vehicles today have some level of automation, such as lane departure warning, but these vehicles don’t count as automated vehicles.

What are the Safety Laws?

Safety laws are important, as they discourage drivers from driving drunk or distracted. A state that has strict safety laws will probably have fewer dangerous drivers on the road.

So let’s go through the major safety laws in Pennsylvania and the penalties for breaking them.

What are the DUI Laws?

When you’re drunk, you’re more likely to make poor decisions like cutting your hair or blowing through a stop sign. Drunk driving is extremely dangerous, but sometimes people are a poor judge of deciding if they’re sober or buzzed.

In 2017, there was a total of 314 alcohol-impaired driving fatalities in Pennsylvania.

Below are the details of the DAI law in Pennsylvania.

DUI Law in PennsylvaniaDetails
Name for Offense Driving After Imbibing (DAI)
BAC Limit0.08
High BAC Limit 0.16
Criminal Status1st to 2nd offenses are misdemeanors; 3rd+ are second degree misdemeanors
Look Back Period 10 years

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A lookback period is how long a DAI remains on your record. Pennsylvania has also put the following penalties in place to discourage drunk driving:

Number of Offense License Revocation Jail Time Fines IID Lock Other
1st No minimum No minimum, but up to 6 months probation $300 NAAlcohol highway safety school, treatment when ordered
2nd 1 year 5 days to 6 months $300 to $1,5001 yearAlcohol highway safety school, treatment when ordered
3rd 1 year 10 days to 2 years $500 to $5,0001 year Treatment when ordered

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Remember that a DAI will raise insurance rates, and will cost drivers more than just the fines shown above.

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What are the Marijuana-Impaired Driving Laws?

Although medical marijuana has been legalized in the state, recreational marijuana is still illegal in Pennsylvania. Those with medical marijuana cards can drive as long as there is less than one nanogram of THC in their system.

THC is the active substance in marijuana that leads to inebriation and can make a person unsafe to drive.

This amount of THC is considered safe by the state, as any more will impair a driver’s ability to drive. The best rule of thumb is to not drive while even slightly high, as it’s impossible to determine the amount of THC in your system on your own.

Driving under the influence of marijuana will earn drivers the same penalties as drunk driving, such as fines, jail time, and license suspension.

What are the Distracted Driving Laws?

Distracted driving is another driving habit that is just as dangerous as impaired driving. Because of this, Pennsylvania has laws restricting drivers’ cellphone use in cars.

PenaltyBanned Status
Hand-Held BanNo
Young Drivers All Cellphone BanNo
Texting BanYes, all drivers
EnforcementPrimary

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Primary enforcement means law enforcement can pull drivers over if officers notice drivers texting. While Pennsylvania doesn’t have a hand-held ban (meaning you can use it for GPS or changing the music), it’s still a good idea to put the phone down in the car.

Some insurers even have safe-driving apps that reward you for not being on your phone in the car.

What’s Driving in Pennsylvania like?

There are always risks when you drive, no matter how good a driver you are. Inattentive drivers, iced-over roads, or an abundance of wildlife can all contribute to a crash.

Since every state has slightly different risks, being prepared for Pennsylvania’s road dangers can help you stay alert and avoid an accident.

For example, Pennsylvania is considered the likeliest state for deer collisions. Staying alert for deer during dusk and dawn can help you avoid a collision.

So let’s jump into the troublesome factors on Pennsylvania’s roads, from vehicle theft to traffic.

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Is There a Vehicle Theft in Pennsylvania?

Any time you own something valuable, it is at risk of being stolen. If you own one of the following vehicles, be aware that it is one of the top 10 stolen vehicles in Pennsylvania:

Make and Model Vehicle Year Total Thefts
Honda Accord1997544
Honda Civic1998539
Ford Pickup (Full Size)2006303
Toyota Camry2014269
Nissan Altima2015261
Chevrolet Impala2006224
Toyota Corolla2014210
Chevrolet Pickup (Full Size)2003203
Jeep Cherokee/Grand Cherokee1999188
Chevrolet Malibu2015159

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The vehicle year simply means that’s the most popular model year stolen. For example, there were 544 Honda Accords stolen (covering a wide range of years), but the most-popular majority stolen was 1997 Honda Accords.

Let’s dig a little deeper by looking at the FBI’s 2013 report on the number of vehicles stolen by city.

Pennsylvania Cities2013 Total Motor
Vehicle
Thefts
Abington Township, Montgomery County25
Adamstown1
Adams Township, Butler County2
Adams Township, Cambria County1
Akron0
Albion0
Alburtis0
Aldan3
Aleppo Township0
Aliquippa13
Allegheny Township, Blair County3
Allentown306
Altoona43
Ambler5
Ambridge12
Amity Township7
Annville Township0
Apollo0
Archbald2
Armagh Township0
Arnold12
Ashland4
Ashley1
Ashville0
Aspinwall0
Aston Township6
Athens0
Athens Township2
Avalon6
Avis0
Avoca1
Avondale0
Avonmore Boro0
Baden0
Baldwin Borough10
Baldwin Township1
Bally0
Bangor2
Beallsville0
Beaver4
Beaver Falls14
Beaver Meadows0
Bedford1
Bedminster Township1
Bell Acres0
Bellefonte0
Bellevue11
Bellwood1
Ben Avon0
Ben Avon Heights0
Bensalem Township70
Bentleyville1
Benton Area0
Berlin0
Bern Township6
Bernville0
Berwick5
Bessemer0
Bethel Park6
Bethel Township, Berks County2
Bethel Township, Delaware County0
Bethlehem48
Bethlehem Township19
Biglerville0
Birdsboro2
Birmingham Township0
Blacklick Township0
Blairsville2
Blair Township0
Blakely1
Blawnox0
Bloomsburg Town2
Blossburg0
Bonneauville2
Boyertown2
Brackenridge3
Braddock7
Braddock Hills0
Bradford5
Bradford Township0
Branch Township1
Brecknock Township, Berks County0
Brentwood4
Briar Creek Township1
Bridgeport2
Bridgeville0
Bridgewater0
Brighton Township0
Bristol8
Bristol Township85
Brockway0
Brookhaven5
Brookville0
Brownsville2
Bryn Athyn0
Buckingham Township3
Buffalo Township0
Buffalo Valley Regional0
Burgettstown0
Bushkill Township0
Butler17
Butler Township, Butler County5
Butler Township, Luzerne County4
Butler Township, Schuykill County2
Caernarvon Township, Berks County3
California2
Callery0
Caln Township17
Cambria Township2
Cambridge Springs0
Camp Hill2
Canonsburg0
Canton0
Carbondale2
Carlisle5
Carnegie0
Carrolltown0
Carroll Township, Washington County3
Carroll Township, York County5
Carroll Valley0
Cass Township1
Castle Shannon2
Catasauqua7
Catawissa0
Cecil Township1
Center Township0
Centerville0
Central Berks Regional5
Central Bucks Regional4
Chambersburg17
Charleroi Regional0
Chartiers Township1
Cherry Tree0
Chester141
Chester Township15
Cheswick0
Chippewa Township1
Christiana2
Churchill2
Clairton19
Clarion0
Clarks Summit1
Clearfield3
Cleona0
Clifton Heights10
Clymer0
Coaldale0
Coal Township5
Coatesville21
Cochranton0
Colebrookdale District0
Collegeville3
Collier Township3
Collingdale24
Colonial Regional7
Columbia5
Colwyn9
Conemaugh Township, Cambria County0
Conemaugh Township, Somerset County0
Conewago Township, Adams County2
Conewango Township0
Conneaut Lake Regional2
Connellsville11
Conoy Township2
Conshohocken4
Conway5
Conyngham0
Coopersburg3
Coplay0
Coraopolis3
Cornwall0
Corry2
Coudersport0
Courtdale0
Covington Township2
Crafton5
Cranberry Township7
Crescent Township0
Cresson0
Cresson Township0
Croyle Township0
Cumberland Township, Adams County6
Cumberland Township, Greene County9
Cumru Township7
Curwensville1
Dallas0
Dallas Township0
Dalton0
Danville4
Darby37
Darby Township16
Darlington Township1
Decatur Township0
Delano Township0
Delaware Water Gap0
Delmont0
Denver1
Derry0
Derry Township, Dauphin County4
Dickson City5
Donegal Township2
Donora0
Dormont6
Douglass Township, Berks County2
Douglass Township, Montgomery County1
Downingtown6
Doylestown Township2
Dublin Borough1
Du Bois1
Duboistown0
Dunbar0
Duncansville0
Dunnstable Township0
Dupont0
Duquesne26
Duryea4
Earl Township12
East Bangor0
East Berlin0
East Brandywine Township1
East Cocalico Township1
East Conemaugh1
East Coventry Township2
East Deer Township0
East Earl Township2
Eastern Adams Regional3
Eastern Pike Regional2
East Fallowfield Township2
East Franklin Township0
East Hempfield Township1
East Lampeter Township14
East Lansdowne1
East Marlborough Township0
East McKeesport1
East Norriton Township3
Easton25
East Pennsboro Township7
East Petersburg4
East Pikeland Township3
East Pittsburgh14
East Rochester0
East Taylor Township0
Easttown Township4
East Union Township1
East Vincent Township1
East Washington0
East Whiteland Township5
Ebensburg1
Economy1
Eddystone3
Edgewood2
Edgeworth0
Edinboro2
Edwardsville1
Elderton0
Elizabeth4
Elizabethtown2
Elizabeth Township0
Elkland3
Elk Lick Township0
Ellwood City5
Emlenton Borough1
Emmaus24
Emporium0
Emsworth0
Ephrata5
Ephrata Township4
Erie108
Etna4
Evans City-Seven Fields Regional0
Everett0
Everson0
Exeter3
Exeter Township, Berks County8
Fairfield0
Fairview Township, Luzerne County0
Fairview Township, York County1
Falls Township, Bucks County39
Farrell6
Fawn Township2
Fayette City0
Ferguson Township4
Ferndale0
Findlay Township2
Fleetwood6
Folcroft17
Ford City0
Forest City0
Forest Hills9
Forks Township2
Forty Fort1
Forward Township2
Foster Township, McKean County0
Foster Township, Schuykill County0
Fountain Hill4
Fox Chapel0
Frackville1
Franconia Township3
Franklin6
Franklin Park0
Franklin Township, Beaver County1
Franklin Township, Carbon County1
Franklin Township, Columbia County0
Frazer Township0
Freedom3
Freedom Township0
Freemansburg2
Freeport0
Gaines Township0
Galeton0
Gallitzin0
Gallitzin Township0
Garrett0
Geistown2
Gettysburg1
Gilpin Township0
Girard4
Girardville0
Glassport7
Glenolden17
Granville Township0
Great Bend0
Greencastle1
Greenfield Township, Blair County1
Greensburg4
Green Tree1
Greenville4
Greenwood Township0
Grove City2
Halifax0
Hamburg3
Hampden Township4
Hampton Township1
Hanover6
Hanover Township, Luzerne County4
Harmar Township4
Harmony Township2
Harrisburg183
Harrison Township4
Harrisville0
Hartleton0
Harveys Lake2
Hastings1
Hatboro6
Hatfield Township8
Haverford Township16
Hawley0
Hazleton31
Hegins Township1
Heidelberg0
Heidelberg Township, Berks County0
Hellam Township3
Hellertown1
Hemlock Township1
Hempfield Township, Mercer County1
Hermitage8
Hickory Township0
Highland Township0
Highspire0
Hilltown Township7
Hollidaysburg2
Homer City0
Homestead18
Honesdale2
Honey Brook2
Hooversville0
Hopewell Township4
Horsham Township14
Houston0
Hughestown1
Hughesville0
Hulmeville1
Hummelstown0
Huntingdon0
Independence Township, Beaver County4
Independence Township, Washington County0
Indiana4
Indiana Township1
Indian Lake0
Ingram2
Irwin0
Ivyland0
Jackson Township, Cambria County0
Jackson Township, Luzerne County0
Jamestown0
Jeannette0
Jefferson Hills Borough1
Jefferson Township, Lackawanna County0
Jefferson Township, Mercer County0
Jefferson Township, Washington County0
Jenkins Township1
Jenkintown1
Jennerstown0
Jermyn4
Jessup3
Jim Thorpe5
Johnsonburg2
Johnstown25
Kane1
Kenhorst3
Kennedy Township2
Kennett Square10
Kennett Township2
Kidder Township0
Kilbuck Township0
Kingston7
Kingston Township1
Kiskiminetas Township0
Kittanning9
Kline Township1
Knox0
Koppel1
Kulpmont1
Kutztown1
Lake City0
Lamar Township1
Lancaster105
Lancaster Township, Butler County0
Lancaster Township, Lancaster County25
Lanesboro0
Langhorne Manor0
Lansdale6
Lansdowne18
Lansford7
Larksville1
Latimore Township0
Latrobe4
Laureldale3
Lawrence Park Township0
Lawrence Township, Clearfield County6
Lawrence Township, Tioga County0
Lawrenceville0
Lebanon23
Leechburg5
Leetsdale0
Leet Township1
Lehighton5
Lehigh Township, Northampton County3
Lehigh Township, Wayne County0
Lehman Township1
Lewistown5
Liberty0
Liberty Township, Adams County0
Ligonier0
Ligonier Township3
Limerick Township7
Lincoln0
Linesville0
Lititz1
Little Beaver Township0
Littlestown0
Lock Haven2
Locust Township0
Logan Township5
Loretto0
Lower Allen Township4
Lower Burrell4
Lower Chichester Township10
Lower Frederick Township0
Lower Gwynedd Township9
Lower Heidelberg Township2
Lower Mahanoy Township0
Lower Makefield Township6
Lower Merion Township46
Lower Moreland Township9
Lower Paxton Township21
Lower Pottsgrove Township4
Lower Providence Township11
Lower Salford Township4
Lower Saucon Township2
Lower Southampton Township19
Lower Swatara Township0
Lower Windsor Township2
Luzerne Township0
Lykens0
Macungie0
Madison Township0
Mahanoy City0
Mahanoy Township0
Mahoning Township, Carbon County6
Mahoning Township, Lawrence County0
Mahoning Township, Montour County0
Main Township0
Malvern2
Manheim3
Manheim Township25
Manor1
Manor Township, Armstrong County1
Manor Township, Lancaster County10
Mansfield0
Marcus Hook5
Marietta3
Marion Township, Beaver County0
Marion Township, Berks County1
Marlborough Township0
Marple Township9
Mars0
Martinsburg1
Marysville0
Masontown5
Mayfield0
McAdoo1
McCandless2
McDonald Borough2
McKeesport61
McKees Rocks9
McSherrystown1
Meadville7
Media1
Mercer0
Mercersburg0
Meshoppen2
Meyersdale0
Middleburg0
Middlesex Township, Butler County3
Middlesex Township, Cumberland County3
Middletown0
Middletown Township27
Midland0
Midway0
Mifflinburg0
Mifflin County Regional2
Milford1
Millbourne2
Millcreek Township, Erie County22
Millcreek Township, Lebanon County0
Millersburg1
Millersville3
Mill Hall0
Millvale4
Millville0
Milton3
Minersville0
Mohnton0
Monaca12
Monessen1
Monongahela8
Monroeville22
Montgomery0
Montgomery Township3
Montoursville1
Montour Township0
Montrose0
Moon Township2
Moore Township1
Moosic9
Morrisville27
Morton1
Moscow0
Mount Carmel9
Mount Carmel Township2
Mount Gretna Borough0
Mount Holly Springs0
Mount Joy2
Mount Lebanon7
Mount Oliver2
Mount Pleasant0
Mount Pleasant Township0
Mount Union0
Mountville0
Muhlenberg Township24
Muncy1
Muncy Township0
Munhall1
Murrysville2
Nanticoke5
Nanty Glo0
Narberth1
Nazareth5
Nescopeck0
Neshannock Township1
Nether Providence Township1
Neville Township0
New Beaver0
New Berlin0
Newberry Township7
New Brighton8
New Britain Township1
New Castle24
New Castle Township0
New Cumberland2
New Florence0
New Hanover Township5
New Holland2
New Hope0
New Kensington32
New Philadelphia0
Newport Township1
New Sewickley Township8
Newtown1
Newtown Township, Bucks County3
Newtown Township, Delaware County8
New Wilmington0
Norristown44
Northampton8
Northampton Township12
North Beaver1
North Belle Vernon0
North Braddock0
North Buffalo0
North Catasauqua6
North Cornwall Township3
North Coventry Township0
Northeast, Bradford County1
North East, Erie County2
Northeastern Regional0
Northern Berks Regional6
Northern Cambria Borough1
Northern Lancaster County Regional7
Northern Regional8
Northern York Regional36
North Fayette Township2
North Franklin Township1
North Hopewell Township1
North Huntingdon Township18
North Lebanon Township4
North Londonderry Township0
North Middleton Township5
North Sewickley Township1
North Strabane Township2
Northumberland0
North Union Township0
North Versailles Township9
North Wales1
Northwest Lancaster County Regional3
North Woodbury1
Norwood4
Oakdale0
Oakland0
Oakmont4
O'Hara Township1
Ohio Township1
Ohioville5
Oil City1
Old Forge5
Old Lycoming Township4
Oley Township0
Olyphant0
Orwigsburg1
Osceola Township0
Otto Eldred Regional0
Overfield Township0
Oxford6
Palmerton8
Palmer Township11
Palmyra9
Parker0
Parkesburg6
Parkside6
Parks Township0
Patterson Township3
Patton0
Patton Township3
Penbrook3
Penn0
Penndel2
Penn Hills58
Pennridge Regional4
Penn Township, Butler County3
Penn Township, Westmoreland County1
Penn Township, York County4
Pequea Township2
Perkasie6
Perryopolis0
Peters Township0
Philadelphia5,483
Phoenixville6
Pine Creek Township0
Pine Grove0
Pitcairn2
Pittsburgh680
Pittston6
Pittston Township1
Plains Township6
Pleasant Hills2
Plum8
Plumstead Township5
Plymouth8
Plymouth Township, Montgomery County18
Pocono Mountain Regional19
Pocono Township7
Point Township1
Polk0
Portage0
Port Allegany0
Port Carbon0
Portersville0
Portland1
Port Vue1
Pottstown46
Pottsville6
Pringle2
Prospect0
Prospect Park2
Pulaski Township, Lawrence County4
Punxsutawney0
Pymatuning Township1
Quakertown5
Quarryville0
Raccoon Township0
Radnor Township18
Ralpho Township0
Rankin2
Reading197
Reading Township0
Redstone Township1
Reilly Township0
Renovo0
Resa Regional1
Reserve Township1
Reynoldsville0
Rice Township0
Richland Township, Bucks County7
Richland Township, Cambria County2
Ridgway3
Ridley Park5
Ridley Township16
Ringtown0
Riverside0
Roaring Brook Township0
Roaring Creek Township0
Roaring Spring0
Robeson Township4
Robinson Township, Allegheny County3
Robinson Township, Washington County1
Rochester3
Rochester Township1
Rockledge1
Rockwood0
Roseto1
Rosslyn Farms0
Ross Township16
Rostraver Township6
Royalton0
Royersford2
Rural Valley0
Rush Township1
Ryan Township0
Sadsbury Township, Chester County1
Salem Township, Luzerne County0
Salisbury Township9
Saltsburg0
Sandy Lake0
Sandy Township7
Sankertown0
Saxonburg0
Sayre0
Schuylkill Haven2
Schuylkill Township, Chester County1
Scottdale2
Scott Township, Allegheny County2
Scott Township, Columbia County2
Scott Township, Lackawanna County0
Scranton132
Selinsgrove1
Seward0
Sewickley1
Sewickley Heights0
Shade Township0
Shaler Township5
Shamokin7
Shamokin Dam2
Sharon18
Sharon Hill7
Sharpsburg3
Sharpsville2
Shenango Township, Lawrence County2
Shenango Township, Mercer County0
Shillington6
Shinglehouse0
Shippensburg3
Shippingport0
Shiremanstown0
Shohola Township2
Silver Lake Township1
Silver Spring Township0
Sinking Spring2
Slate Belt Regional5
Slatington3
Slippery Rock0
Smethport0
Smithton Borough0
Smith Township1
Solebury Township3
Somerset3
Souderton3
South Abington Township6
South Annville Township0
South Beaver Township0
South Buffalo Township1
South Centre Township0
South Coatesville7
South Connellsville Borough0
Southern Regional Lancaster County0
Southern Regional York County5
South Fayette Township1
South Fork0
South Greensburg0
South Heidelberg Township4
South Heights0
South Lebanon Township0
South Londonderry Township0
South Park Township2
South Pymatuning Township0
South Strabane Township4
Southwestern Regional7
Southwest Greensburg1
South Whitehall Township23
South Williamsport2
Spring City2
Springdale3
Springdale Township0
Springettsbury Township26
Springfield Township, Bucks County1
Springfield Township, Delaware County5
Springfield Township, Montgomery County18
Spring Garden Township20
Spring Township, Berks County8
Spring Township, Centre County0
State College5
St. Clair Boro0
St. Clair Township0
Steelton15
St. Marys City2
Stockertown0
Stoneboro0
Stowe Township10
Strasburg0
Stroud Area Regional25
Sugarcreek0
Sugarloaf Township, Luzerne County1
Sugar Notch0
Summerhill Township0
Summit Township0
Sunbury6
Susquehanna2
Susquehanna Regional2
Susquehanna Township, Dauphin County17
Swarthmore1
Swatara Township12
Sweden Township0
Swissvale13
Swoyersville1
Sykesville0
Tamaqua11
Tarentum4
Tatamy0
Taylor10
Telford3
Terre Hill0
Throop2
Tiadaghton Valley Regional1
Tidioute0
Tilden Township5
Tinicum Township, Bucks County0
Tinicum Township, Delaware County13
Tioga0
Titusville1
Towamencin Township4
Towanda4
Trainer9
Tredyffrin Township6
Troy1
Tullytown0
Tulpehocken Township0
Tunkhannock2
Tunkhannock Township, Wyoming County1
Turtle Creek0
Tyrone1
Union City0
Uniontown6
Union Township, Lawrence County1
Union Township, Schuylkill County0
Upland7
Upper Allen Township2
Upper Burrell Township0
Upper Chichester Township16
Upper Darby Township148
Upper Dublin Township7
Upper Gwynedd Township4
Upper Leacock Township7
Upper Macungie Township9
Upper Makefield Township0
Upper Merion Township20
Upper Moreland Township13
Upper Nazareth Township0
Upper Perkiomen1
Upper Pottsgrove Township0
Upper Providence Township, Delaware County0
Upper Providence Township, Montgomery County2
Upper Saucon Township11
Upper Southampton Township6
Upper St. Clair Township0
Upper Uwchlan Township0
Upper Yoder Township0
Uwchlan Township0
Valley Township3
Vandergrift1
Vandling0
Vernon Township0
Verona1
Versailles0
Vintondale0
Walker Township0
Walnutport0
Wampum0
Warminster Township21
Warren1
Warrington Township9
Warwick Township, Bucks County3
Washington, Washington County28
Washington Township, Fayette County0
Washington Township, Franklin County3
Washington Township, Northampton County2
Washington Township, Westmoreland County0
Watsontown1
Waverly Township0
Waymart1
Waynesboro6
Waynesburg3
Wayne Township, Lawrence County0
Weatherly0
Weissport0
Wellsboro0
Wesleyville2
West Brandywine Township6
West Brownsville0
West Caln Township5
West Carroll Township0
West Chester8
West Cocalico Township2
West Conshohocken3
West Cornwall Township0
West Deer Township3
West Earl Township5
Western Berks Regional3
West Fallowfield Township4
Westfield0
West Goshen Township6
West Hazleton4
West Hempfield Township3
West Hills Regional0
West Homestead0
West Kittanning0
West Lampeter Township3
West Lebanon Township1
West Leechburg0
West Mahanoy Township2
West Manchester Township9
West Manheim Township2
West Mead Township1
West Mifflin0
West Newton1
West Norriton Township5
West Nottingham Township0
West Penn Township0
West Pikeland Township1
West Pike Run1
West Pittston1
West Pottsgrove Township4
West Reading6
West Sadsbury Township1
West Salem Township4
West Shore Regional6
Westtown-East Goshen Regional7
West View3
West Vincent Township0
West Whiteland Township3
West Wyoming1
West York16
Whitaker Borough0
Whitehall3
Whitehall Township21
White Haven Borough1
Whitemarsh Township9
White Oak6
Whitpain Township6
Wiconisco Township0
Wilkes-Barre60
Wilkes-Barre Township2
Wilkinsburg62
Wilkins Township5
Williamsburg0
Williamsport20
Willistown Township3
Wilson11
Windber2
Womelsdorf1
Woodward Township0
Worthington0
Wrightsville0
Wright Township4
Wyoming1
Wyomissing2
Yardley0
Yeadon36
York152
York Area Regional16
Youngsville0
Zelienople0
Zerbe Township0

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Philadelphia had the highest number of vehicle thefts (5,483) in 2013, beating out other cities by over four thousand vehicles. If you live in Philadelphia, make sure you have comprehensive coverage to cover vandalism and vehicle theft.

What’s the Number of Road Fatalities in Pennsylvania?

Every state varies in how many fatalities occur on its roads. Generally, states with stricter enforcement of preventing impaired driving and other dangerous driving habits will have a lower fatality rate.

To see how well Pennsylvania works to get dangerous drivers off the road, we are going to go through fatalities and what causes them in Pennsylvania.

Let’s get started.

What’s the Most Fatal Highway in Pennsylvania?

The most dangerous highway in Pennsylvania is I-80.

I-80 has had 106 crashes and 115 fatalities.

The high number of crashes on I-80 has resulted in I-80 having a 0.5 fatal crash rate. If you frequently drive on I-80, be careful.

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What’s the Number of Fatal Crashes by Weather Condition and Light Condition?

Since some state’s inclement weather conditions can contribute to more crashes, we want to look at when fatal crashes occurred in Pennsylvania with 2017 data.

Weather ConditionDaylightDark, but LightedDarkDawn or DuskOther / UnknownTotal
Normal1684097100315
Rain4916234092
Snow/Sleet15172025
Other54125026
Unknown332109158242625
TOTAL5691702974521,083

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There are more crashes in rain in Pennsylvania than in snow or sleet. If you are unsure of how to avoid hydroplaning, taking a defensive driving course can prepare you for inclement weather conditions and unexpected maneuvers.

What’s the Number of Fatalities (All Crashes) by County?

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has recorded years’ worth of data on fatal crashes in Pennsylvania. Let’s start by looking at the total fatalities in different counties in Pennsylvania.

County 2013 2014 201520162017
Adams County5614155
Allegheny County6559547267
Armstrong County6141468
Beaver County131012517
Bedford County121371112
Berks County4133393548
Blair County241323229
Bradford County15816109
Bucks County4444565251
Butler County1825163017
Cambria County111391212
Cameron County21200
Carbon County161011129
Centre County1212152016
Chester County3334352435
Clarion County125447
Clearfield County151420916
Clinton County991069
Columbia County6111476
Crawford County291481210
Cumberland County1525132826
Dauphin County2517193036
Delaware County2726212925
Elk County874113
Erie County3430312727
Fayette County1718282223
Forest County50042
Franklin County2026252020
Fulton County19527
Greene County812659
Huntingdon County1411745
Indiana County15917217
Jefferson County857113
Juniata County651262
Lackawanna County2317192020
Lancaster County4562484442
Lawrence County81011109
Lebanon County188192122
Lehigh County3037372828
Luzerne County3938393227
Lycoming County101823159
Mc Kean County158773
Mercer County2814131510
Mifflin County95437
Monroe County2523342918
Montgomery County4038343243
Montour County12535
Northampton County1829282926
Northumberland County1569169
Perry County9711118
Philadelphia County89979410194
Pike County89764
Potter County30422
Schuylkill County2329151423
Snyder County47944
Somerset County111612811
Sullivan County01214
Susquehanna County81010159
Tioga County111051311
Union County57324
Venango County582116
Warren County43647
Washington County2929232227
Wayne County6118126
Westmoreland County3035413336
Wyoming County58427
York County4445403938

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Philadelphia County has had the largest number of fatalities in Pennsylvania, with a total of 475 fatalities over five years.

What’s the Number of Traffic Fatalities?

Rural roads can sometimes be more dangerous than urban roads. Why? Because drivers are more inclined to speed on rural roads and run the risk of animal collisions.

Urban roads hold their own risks, though, due to higher volumes of traffic and multiple intersections. The table below shows that rural roads have a slightly larger number of fatalities compared to urban roads.

Road Type 2008200920102011201220132014201520162017
Rural828649693640697629610616647607
Urban640607631646613581585581541528
Total 1468125613241286131012101195120011881137

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Whatever road you’re on, drive carefully and be aware of your surroundings.

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What’s the Number of Fatalities by Person Type?

When we say person type, we don’t mean a driver’s personality. Rather, person type looks at what type of car was in the crash and if the fatality was a car occupant, pedestrian, or cyclist.

Person Type 20132014201520162017
Passenger Car516514478494463
Light Truck - Pickup97841128790
Light Truck - Utility140130144136136
Light Truck - Van4740483727
Light Truck - Other10220
Large Truck3128302632
Bus80312
Other/Unknown Occupants2026322021
Total Occupants860822849803771
Total Motorcyclists182185178191187
Pedestrian147161151170147
Bicyclist and Other Cyclist1119161622
Other/Unknown Nonoccupants1086810
Total Nonoccupants168188173194179
Total1,2101,1951,2001,1881,137

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It’s important to remember that car occupants aren’t the only victims of car crashes.

Whenever you walk or cycle near a roadway, follow proper safety protocol, such as wearing bright clothing and staying on the shoulder of the road.

What’s the Number of Fatalities by Crash Type?

While we’ve covered all crashes in Pennsylvania, we want to break down what types of crashes contributed to these overall numbers.

Crash Type20132014201520162017
Single Vehicle680671678662620
Involving a Large Truck155162161165167
Involving Speeding552509540504468
Involving a Rollover272246250266213
Involving a Roadway Departure746711772669642
Involving an Intersection (or Intersection Related)224257241272252
Total Fatalities (All Crashes)1,2101,1951,2001,1881,137

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Roadway departures, single-vehicle crashes, and speeding have the most fatalities in Pennsylvania.

Five-Year Trend for the Top 10 Counties

Let’s see which counties have the most fatal crashes in Pennsylvania.

County 20132014201520162017
Philadelphia County89979410194
Allegheny County6559547267
Bucks County4444565251
Berks County4133393548
Montgomery County4038343243
Lancaster County4562484442
York County4445403938
Dauphin County2517193036
Westmoreland County3035413336
Chester County3334352435
Top Ten Counties' Total 474489483470490
All Other Counties' Total 735706717718647
Total 1,2091,1951,2001,1881,137

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Philadelphia County has the highest number of traffic deaths, followed by Allegheny County. If you live in any of the counties on the list above, be extra alert on roadways.

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What’s the Number of Fatalities Involving Speeding by County?

Remember when we said speeding is one of the major causes of fatalities? Let’s see which Pennsylvania counties have the worst speeding problems.

County 20132014201520162017
Adams County23764
Allegheny County1421172917
Armstrong County310414
Beaver County34437
Bedford County83258
Berks County2112152024
Blair County1441293
Bradford County651043
Bucks County1414222215
Butler County51071211
Cambria County87543
Cameron County20000
Carbon County68652
Centre County85568
Chester County1916211313
Clarion County83134
Clearfield County777511
Clinton County33725
Columbia County37833
Crawford County1610053
Cumberland County71481011
Dauphin County117101419
Delaware County181010911
Elk County24192
Erie County1514161012
Fayette County1111161515
Forest County50001
Franklin County8107711
Fulton County17014
Greene County47456
Huntingdon County76642
Indiana County339133
Jefferson County42322
Juniata County34251
Lackawanna County878117
Lancaster County2122241913
Lawrence County32754
Lebanon County120887
Lehigh County161018810
Luzerne County1817181012
Lycoming County691055
Mc Kean County35543
Mercer County166344
Mifflin County30102
Monroe County181717137
Montgomery County1815131115
Montour County10122
Northampton County7127126
Northumberland County41383
Perry County23823
Philadelphia County2134322229
Pike County24740
Potter County20201
Schuylkill County1010778
Snyder County23613
Somerset County74876
Sullivan County00101
Susquehanna County67636
Tioga County74074
Union County21113
Venango County40061
Warren County11233
Washington County1316141214
Wayne County463111
Westmoreland County2215191821
Wyoming County35215
York County2122271811

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In 2017, Berks County and Philadephia County had the highest number of speeding fatalities. Pike County and Cameron County are the only counties in 2017 that had zero speeding fatalities.

What’s the Number of Fatalities in Crashes Involving an Alcohol-Impaired Driver (BAC=.08) by County?

Everyone knows driving drunk is dangerous, but still, not all people drive sober. Below are the number of drunk driving crashes that occurred in Pennsylvania counties.

County 20132014201520162017
Adams County32423
Allegheny County2122162323
Armstrong County56713
Beaver County33024
Bedford County32222
Berks County136131311
Blair County93773
Bradford County34613
Bucks County1112141716
Butler County18467
Cambria County57425
Cameron County11000
Carbon County44422
Centre County32541
Chester County141114717
Clarion County52201
Clearfield County24714
Clinton County13302
Columbia County23510
Crawford County125263
Cumberland County37387
Dauphin County636118
Delaware County66678
Elk County44052
Erie County108769
Fayette County75767
Forest County10011
Franklin County24432
Fulton County03202
Greene County05311
Huntingdon County33221
Indiana County336131
Jefferson County02320
Juniata County00321
Lackawanna County67595
Lancaster County181615147
Lawrence County22332
Lebanon County71147
Lehigh County7713115
Luzerne County11201888
Lycoming County49644
Mc Kean County54321
Mercer County55344
Mifflin County10003
Monroe County1188114
Montgomery County11134715
Montour County01201
Northampton County768145
Northumberland County10342
Perry County71314
Philadelphia County2126312322
Pike County08411
Potter County10002
Schuylkill County25425
Snyder County20501
Somerset County64425
Sullivan County00200
Susquehanna County35373
Tioga County23142
Union County12001
Venango County21031
Warren County10002
Washington County811997
Wayne County31271
Westmoreland County178161211
Wyoming County23202
York County1510161212

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In 2017, Philadelphia County and Allegheny County had the highest number of drunk driving fatalities. Cameron County, Columbia County, and Sullivan County all earned the honor of having zero drunk driving deaths in 2017.

What’s the Ranking for Teen Drinking and Driving?

Adults aren’t the only ones who participate in risky behaviors when driving; teens also drink and drive.

In Pennsylvania, there are 0.8 underage alcohol-impaired driving fatalities per 100,000 people, which is lower than the national average of 1.2 underage alcohol-impaired driving fatalities per 100,000 people.

Since Pennsylvania’s underage drunk driving fatalities are less than the national average, let’s take a look at how many teenage arrests are made in Pennsylvania.

DUI Arrests (Under 18-years-old)DUI Arrests (Under 18-years-old) Total Per Million People Rank
365136.4612

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Pennsylvania ranks 12th in the U.S. for its number of underage drunk driving arrests. This is actually good, as each arrest means a teen was prevented from wrecking or hurting someone else.

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What’s the EMS Response Time?

We’ve covered a lot of grim statistics about fatalities in Pennsylvania, so we want to take things in a different direction by seeing how quickly help comes when an accident occurs.

Location of IncidentTime of Crash to EMS NotificationEMS Notification to EMS ArrivalEMS Arrival at Scene to Hospital ArrivalTime of Crash to Hospital ArrivalTotal Fatalities in Crashes
Rural4.79 min11.08 min39.55 min51.38 min574
Urban3.19 min6.70 min28.35 min36.32 min507

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In both rural and urban settings, you’ll be at the hospital in under an hour, which is good news if you’re injured in a crash.

What’s the Transportation like in Pennsylvania?

Before we conclude this guide, we want to take a look at transportation in Pennsylvania. Doing so will give you an idea of what driving around Pennsylvania is like.

So stick with us as we go through Data USA’s information on everything from car ownership to traffic congestion.

What is the Percentage of Car Ownership?

Most households today own more than one car. In Pennsylvania, 41.8 percent of households own two cars. The graphic below shows Pennsylvania’s averages (orange) compared to the U.S. averages.

A small percentage of households (3.37 percent) in Pennsylvania own more than five cars.

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What is the Average Commute Time?

The last thing anyone wants is spending hours commuting to work each day. Pennsylvania’s average commute time of 25.7 minutes (or 51.4 minutes a day) is just slightly higher than the national average of 25.1 minutes.

A small percentage (2.86 percent) of unlucky Pennsylvanians have a super commute of more than 90 minutes (or an hour and a half) a day.

What’s the Preferred Commuter Transportation?

How do you commute each day? The majority of people (76.2 percent) in Pennsylvania drive alone to work, though a small number also carpool or use public transit.

Is There a Traffic Congestion in Pennsylvania?

Sitting in traffic can be a nightmare, which is why we want to see how much traffic is present in Pennsylvania. Two of Pennsylvania’s cities made into Inrix, a major traffic scorecard.

Let’s take a look at congestion in these two cities.

City2018 Impact Rank (2017)Hours Lost in CongestionYear over Year ChangeCost of Congestion (per driver)Inner City Travel Time (minutes)Inner City Last Mile Speed (mph)
Philadelphia 69 (67)112 (95)0%$1,568610
Pittsburgh 59 (56)127 (77)5% (increase)$1,776513

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If you live in Philadephia or Pittsburgh, make sure to leave earlier to allow time for traffic congestion.

We hope this guide answered all your questions about car insurance in Pennsylvania. Hopefully, you are now ready to drive on Pennsylvania’s roads.

 

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State Minimum Car Insurance Rates Nationwide
Average Monthly Car Insurance Rates by State
Average Monthly Car Insurance Rates by Age & Gender in Pennsylvania
Monthly Pennsylvania Car Insurance Rates by ZIP Code
Pennsylvania Car Insurance Rates by Company vs. State Average
Factors Affecting Car Insurance Rates in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Car Insurers by Market Share %
State Minimum Car Insurance Rates Nationwide
Average Monthly Car Insurance Rates by State
Average Monthly Car Insurance Rates by Age & Gender in Pennsylvania
Monthly Pennsylvania Car Insurance Rates by ZIP Code
Pennsylvania Car Insurance Rates by Company vs. State Average
Factors Affecting Car Insurance Rates in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Car Insurers by Market Share %