Car Insurance in Colorado

Average car insurance cost in Colorado

The NAIC average expenditure is what insured drivers actually paid on average, including people who carry only liability. For those who buy each coverage, the average premium was $782 for liability, $427 for collision and $447 for comprehensive ($1,655 combined, versus $1,439 nationally). That average expenditure is 14% higher than the NAIC's previous data year ($1,275). Comprehensive coverage costs notably more than the U.S. average here, which usually reflects weather (hail, wind, flooding) and theft losses.

Minimum car insurance requirements in Colorado

Colorado's minimum is written as 25/50/15: $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident in bodily injury liability and $15,000 in property damage liability. Those limits are low compared with the cost of a serious injury claim, so many drivers choose 100/300/100 — we estimate that "standard" level at about $945 a year here, $295 more than the minimum.

Is Colorado a no-fault state?

No — Colorado is an at-fault (tort) state. Colorado is an at-fault (tort) state: the driver responsible for a crash, through their liability insurance, pays for the other party's injuries and property damage. Injured people can claim against the at-fault driver's insurer, use their own coverage, or sue.

No-fault vs. at-fault explained

Uninsured drivers in Colorado

The Insurance Research Council estimates 19.7% of Colorado drivers are uninsured — 9th highest in the country, compared with 15.4% nationally. That's roughly one uninsured driver in every 5 on the road. Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage isn't mandatory here (Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage is included in the policy unless the named insured rejects it in writing; uninsured motorist property damage is optional), but with an above-average uninsured rate it is worth pricing.

SR-22 requirements in Colorado

Colorado uses the SR-22 — a certificate your insurer files with the state to prove you carry at least the minimum liability coverage. It is usually ordered after a DUI, driving uninsured, serious violations or a license suspension, and is typically kept for about 3 years. The Colorado DMV requires SR-22 insurance for three years to reinstate after certain suspensions, such as an at-fault crash without insurance.

By our model, a driver in their 30s with a DUI would pay about $1,230 a year for minimum coverage in Colorado, versus $650 with a clean record. What is SR-22 insurance?

Car insurance by city in Colorado

We cover 13 Colorado cities. Estimates are for full coverage for a driver in their 30s with a clean record; hover a city to find it on the map. The lowest estimate is in Pueblo ($1,815) and the highest in Thornton ($2,105).

Estimated cost by driver profile in Colorado

Age and driving record move premiums more than almost anything else. A teen on their own policy pays about 2.7× what a driver in their 30s pays for the same full coverage in Colorado.

By coverage level

Cheapest and most expensive cars to insure in Colorado

Full-coverage estimates for current models, using HLDI insurance-loss data where available. Vehicle choice alone can swing the premium by more than $3,840 a year here.

Cheap car insurance in Colorado: how to lower your rate

• Raise your deductible. Going from $500 to $1,000 on collision and comprehensive saves about $125 a year on a typical Colorado full-coverage policy.
• Match coverage to your car's value. On a 10-year-old car, dropping collision and comprehensive could cut the bill from about $1,425 to $945.
• Drive less, pay less. Low-mileage and usage-based programs can save around $130 a year if you drive under 7,500 miles.
• Protect your record. A single speeding ticket adds roughly $400 a year in our model; an at-fault accident adds much more.
• Shop at renewal. Rates for the same driver differ widely between insurers. Compare identical limits and deductibles. The Colorado Division of Insurance publishes a rate comparison tool.
• Ask about discounts — bundling home and auto, good student, safe-driver, paid-in-full and defensive-driving course discounts. See common discounts.

Complaints and help: Colorado Division of Insurance

The Colorado Division of Insurance licenses insurers and agents, reviews rates and handles consumer complaints about claims, cancellations and billing — free of charge.

Website

doi.colorado.gov

File a complaint

Consumer complaint page

Consumer helpline

1-800-930-3745

Rate comparison

Official premium comparison

Homeowners insurance in Colorado →

Colorado vs. neighboring states