When it comes to auto insurance, New Hampshire is one of the most lenient states, as drivers are not required to have one.
In case of a car accident, however, the person at fault will be responsible for reimbursing all medical costs and property damage. That can easily be financially devastating, so it is best to have good coverage.
The state’s uninsured rate is only 9.9%, considerably lower than the US average of 12.9%. One reason might be that car insurance companies in NH generally have excellent and affordable services.
We have compiled a list of expert reviews of the best providers in the state to help you find the one that suits your needs and budget.
The Best Car Insurance in NH
- Amica Mutual: Overall Winner
- State Farm: Runner Up
- GEICO: Best for Its Variety of Discounts and Coverages
- State Farm: Cheapest
- Progressive: Cheapest for Drivers with DUI
- USAA: Best for the Military
Overall Winner: Amica Mutual
Amica Mutual offers an excellent combination of high customer satisfaction ratings, competitive prices, and many coverage options. According to J.D. Power, the company has the highest customer satisfaction rates in New England — 863/1,000 — much better than the regional average.
Amica Mutual also excels in financial stability, with A+ (Superior) AM Best rating. Its prices are not the cheapest but are still among the most affordable New Hampshire auto insurance options.
What makes it even more appealing is the dividend policy. The clients participate in the profit-sharing, and they can choose how they want to use the money.
Unfortunately, the company doesn’t offer rideshare car insurance in New Hampshire, and tech-savvy customers may have some objections about the website and the apps.
Customer Service
Discounts & Optional Coverages
Financial Strength
Prices
Choose Amica Mutual if you want excellent customer service and affordable prices.
Look elsewhere if you want top-notch online tools and rideshare insurance.
4.5
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The Runner Up: State Farm
State Farm is one of the best options for car insurance in New Hampshire. It is second in our review because of the customer satisfaction rating — only eight points lower than Amica’s in the J.D. Power rating list.
State Farm wins when it comes to prices — it’s the most affordable car insurance provider in NH. It has an A++ financial rating, which means it can pay its clients’ claims without a problem.
State Farm is one of the best car insurance companies in NH for safe drivers. The ones with bad driving habits or poor credit, however, might want to consider other options. The company tends to increase its premiums considerably because of such offenses.
Customer Service
Discounts & Optional Coverages
Financial Strength
Prices
Choose State Farm if you are looking for low prices and good customer care.
Look elsewhere if you have bad driving habits or poor credit.
4.5
Best for Its Variety of Discounts and Coverages: GEICO
GEICO NH holds a large segment of the car insurance market in New Hampshire. Besides offering competitive prices, excellent coverage, and good customer service, it also provides a wide array of discounts.
The provider is primarily oriented towards active and retired government employees, including the military. In addition, GEICO also offers discounts to over 500 member groups. But, government and membership discounts can’t be combined.
When it comes to financial strength, it’s hard to find a New Hampshire insurance company that can match it. The company’s owner is Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway, ranking sixth on the Fortune 500 list.
GEICO has an A++ financial strength rating. The customer satisfaction ratings are good — the company holds third place on the J.D. Power 2020 list, with 841/1,000 points.
Customer Service
Discounts & Optional Coverages
Financial Strength
Prices
Choose GEICO if you want a wide array of discounts and good coverage options.
Look elsewhere if your only priority is the lowest price.
4.5
Cheapest Overall: State Farm
State Farm offers the lowest auto insurance quotes in NH for safe drivers and clients with good credit. The company also believes that everyone deserves a chance, so it doesn’t punish drivers who have a misdemeanor — it is the most affordable option for drivers with a single accident or a speeding violation.
However, State Farm significantly increases their NH car insurance rates for high-risk drivers with more offenses on their records. Also, the company doesn’t look favorably upon DUI either. So if you have one on your record, you would be better off with another provider from our list.
Customer Service
Discounts & Optional Coverages
Financial Strength
Prices
Choose State Farm if your priorities are generally low prices and good customer care.
Look elsewhere if you have a bad driving record or poor credit.
4.5
Cheapest for Drivers with DUI: Progressive Insurance
Progressive is not preferred only among drivers with one DUI on their record. Their market share accounts for 13.65% of NH car insurance. It is a solid provider, with customer satisfaction ratings little below the average, according to the J.D. Power 2020 study.
As the company has A+ (Superior) A.M. Best financial rating, the clients don’t have to worry about their claims being paid.
Progressive has some excellent online tools, such as “Name Your Price” — you can state the amount you are willing to spend, and the agents will make the most comprehensive insurance package for the money. Progressive is also the cheapest car insurance in NH for some senior citizens but one of the priciest for drivers with poor credit.
Customer Service
Discounts & Optional Coverages
Financial Strength
Prices
Choose Progressive if you have one DUI on record and for useful online tools.
Look elsewhere if you have poor credit.
4.25
Best for the Military: USAA
With this insurance, you will get top-notch customer support, excellent coverage options, and the lowest prices on the market, but only if you are a former or active member of the army or a relative.
USAA car insurance is the overall winner in the J.D. Power customer satisfaction study, but it caters only to a specific group. USAA is rated A++ (Superior), which is the highest possible mark for financial stability.
Besides offering all the standard discounts — for safe drivers, active and passive safety devices, bundling insurance policies — the company also provides discounts designed primarily for military members. There can be emergency deployment, parking it in the military base, etc., as part of this New Hampshire auto insurance company’s plan.
Customer Service
Discounts & Optional Coverages
Financial Strength
Prices
Choose USAA if you want the lowest prices and best customer satisfaction ratings on the market.
Look elsewhere If you are not an army member.
5
Cheapest Car Insurance in NH (By City)
In order to get the complete info and insight into the New Hampshire insurance market, we’ve requested quotes from leading auto insurance companies for a 35-year-old driver with a clean driving record and good credit. The vehicle is a 2012 Honda Accord EX, a four-door sedan, fully paid-off.
Below you can see the results we have gathered, searching for cheap auto insurance in NH.
Manchester
Manchester was one of the fastest-developing industrial centers in the US, and in 1846 it became home to the largest cotton mill in the world — 900 feet long and 103 feet wide.
According to Forbes, modern-day Manchester is one of the best places to live and start a business in the US. The comedians Adam Sandler, Seth Meyers, and Sarah Silverman were born or raised there.
When it comes to car insurance, the companies provide good coverage and affordable rates. State Farm, Progressive, Amica, and GEICO in Manchester, NH, are the cheapest for minimum liability insurance.
If you want a more comprehensive package, State Farm, Amica, and GEICO have the most affordable options, depending on the deductible.
Concord
Concord is the capital of New Hampshire but only the third-largest city in New Hampshire. One of the most notable things about it is the local cemetery. It is the final resting place of the 14th President of the United States, Franklin Pierce.
One of the largest employers in the city is the Lincoln Financial Group, a Fortune 250 company. It is a significant player in the finance and insurance market.
Allstate offers the cheapest minimum liability car insurance in Concord, NH, and GEICO and Progressive follow. The minimum price, however, is the only advantage Allstate has. When it comes to user satisfaction, discounts, and optional coverages, it falls behind.
The final price you will get from GEICO or Progressive will likely be lower than Allstate’s auto insurance in NH when all discounts are included. Even if not, you’ll be much more satisfied with the service.
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is not a large city but has a rich history. Its famous residents included John Paul Jones, often referred to as one of the fathers of the US Navy, and Barney and Betty Hill. The couple claimed to have been abducted by aliens, sparking public interest in the subject. They are still the most famous people with such experience.
Car insurance in Portsmouth, NH, can cover pretty much everything if you decide on a comprehensive package. The cheapest full coverage insurance is offered by GEICO, followed by State Farm and Progressive. One of the pricier options, especially for teen drivers, is Liberty Mutual.
Our recommendations are GEICO and State Farm because they have good customer satisfaction ratings, many discounts, and lower-than-average cost of car insurance in New Hampshire.
Berlin
Berlin is a small but interesting city, with just over 10,000 residents. It has two large government correctional facilities with almost 2,000 inmates. Many of the city residents are of French-Canadian descent, and about 65% of the people there speak a modification of New England French, known as Berlin French.
Despite the vicinity of two large prisons, the city is very safe, and the car insurance premiums are quite affordable. State Farm is the cheapest auto insurance in New Hampshire and in Berlin specifically.
Amica Mutual and GEICO follow with good coverage and customer satisfaction ratings. So, it all comes down to your personal preferences and specifics when choosing the best one for you.
Claremont
Thanks to the abundance of wood and good transport connections, Claremont was once famous for its many paper mills and now is an essential fine cabinetry production center.
One of the most prominent residents was Benjamin Tyler Henry, the creator of the famous Henry rifle — a weapon that shaped US history.
The insurance companies in NH consider Claremont a low-risk city and offer very low rates. Allstate, Travelers, and Progressive are the cheapest options.
We advise you to go with Progressive or even State Farm — one of the pricier options — due to their much better user satisfaction ratings.
Lebanon
Lebanon is located in Western New Hampshire. It is home to Dartmouth–Hitchcock Medical Center and Dartmouth College’s Geisel School of Medicine — an Ivy-League research university and the fourth-oldest medical school in the US. These two institutions make the city one of the most important medical centers in the country.
The auto insurance companies in NH are not keeping their premiums low in Lebanon. It is one of the pricier cities for car insurance, probably due to the high standard of living.
The most affordable insurers are Liberty Mutual and Travelers, and Nationwide is the most expensive option. Although they are not the cheapest providers, we advise you to take a look at Amica Mutual and State Farm. They offer better overall service and have higher client satisfaction rates than Liberty Mutual insurance in New Hampshire.
Nashua
Nashua is the second-largest city in New England and is most famous for its high-tech industry. Thanks to the Nashua Corporation, it was the floppy disc capital of the world in the 90s.
Floppy disks were eventually replaced, but the IT sector thrives through companies like BAE Systems, Oracle, Dell, etc. The city has been voted twice the best place to live in the US.
Having one of the most affordable car insurance in NH may have contributed to this title. The cheapest options are State Farm, Liberty Mutual, and Travelers, and Nationwide is a bit pricier.
Besides being the most affordable, State Farm provides excellent coverage and has the best customer satisfaction ratings — so it is easy to decide which one to choose.
New Hampshire Auto Insurance Laws
Drivers in New Hampshire are not required by law to have car insurance. Still, they have to submit proof that they can pay for bodily injuries or property damages in case of an accident.
The state can instruct drivers to buy insurance if they are convicted of offenses such as DUI, leaving an accident scene, homicide, car crash, etc.
Even though New Hampshire is one of the few states that don’t require car insurance, it’s recommended for drivers to buy one still because medical expenses or property damages can be financially devastating.
Everyone can make a mistake, and even the most careful drivers can cause an accident. This state has a low percentage of uninsured cars on the road, 9.9%, while the US average is 12.9%.
New Hampshire Auto Insurance Requirements
NH doesn’t require car insurance by law, but if you decide to buy it, the minimal coverage is:
- $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident for bodily injury
- $25,000 per accident for property damage
- $1,000 per person for medical payments
- Uninsured motorist coverage of the exact amounts as in your liability policy
It’s always best to go over the bare minimum and get a more comprehensive package. For example, the average price of a new family car is more than $40,000, and medical care in the US is costly. The minimum coverage may not be able to cover all expenses.
New Hampshire Automobile Insurance Plan
The Automobile Insurance Plan (AIP) was established to provide insurance to those who could not buy it on the open market, such as high-risk drivers or people with bad credit.
Anyone who has been declined car insurance or was offered prices exceeding the AIP’s can apply.
All insurers must participate in this program based on their overall market share in the state.
Price Optimization in New Hampshire
New Hampshire car insurance laws do not mention price optimization. That is a highly controversial but widely accepted practice. The companies use information and factors unrelated to risk management to determine the insurance price for their clients.
In practice, if the company picks up that its client is shopping around, it will probably offer them a lower price. On the contrary, if clients are loyal to their provider, the NH car insurance cost increases.
Even though many states declared this practice illegal and discriminatory, the New Hampshire Insurance Commissioner has yet to take a stand on the subject and give a formal opinion or recommendation.
We can’t say if the companies in NH are using price optimization, so the safest bet is to consider they are. Do research, shop around, and ask for quotes from different companies.
SR22 New Hampshire Car Insurance
An SR22 certificate is proof that you have insurance with adequate limits. Although car insurance isn’t mandatory in New Hampshire, the state and DMV may require some drivers to buy it.
These are people who were found at fault after an uninsured accident, left the scene of an accident, or had other inappropriate conduct after an accident.
When it comes to SR22 insurance in NH, the insurance companies prepare the forms and send them to the DMV. Entering the program means that the driver’s record will be monitored for the next three years.
If the period passes without similar offenses, the driver will be able to buy regular auto insurance.
NH Car Insurance for New Residents
Since New Hampshire doesn’t require car insurance, there is no legal limit on how long you can drive a car insured in another state. But it is advised to update your policy as soon as possible.
Make sure to buy new insurance before canceling your old one. Insurance misconduct can negatively affect your future premiums.
No-Fault Laws in New Hampshire
New Hampshire is still an at-fault state. Many states have moved to a no-fault system, but New Hampshire is not one of them for now. The NH driving laws determine that whoever is responsible for the accident pays for the bodily injuries and property damages.
The fault is decided at court, and it can be shared.
How to Get the Cheapest Auto Insurance in NH
Check Car Insurance Reviews
Going through each insurance company’s offers is a tiresome and overwhelming job. That’s why it’s best to go for customer and expert reviews. Insurance professionals have dedicated time and effort to analyze the offers and point out the good and the bad practices.
Customer reviews will let you know what individuals recommend as a sound option and what to avoid, thanks to their experience.
We have compiled a list of detailed expert reviews for all the major NH auto insurance companies. There, you can find anything you need to decide which providers suit your needs and budget.
Compare Car Insurance Quotes in NH
The process of generating car insurance quotes is very complex. Companies consider numerous factors, such as age, driving and credit record, marital status, area and zip code, etc. Every provider values each of these factors differently. That’s why insurance quotes can vary.
Another reason is that price optimization is not illegal in New Hampshire. Even if you don’t plan to change your current insurer, you should visit insurance websites, read reviews, request quotes online and in person, etc.
That may alert your New Hampshire auto insurance company that you are considering your options, and it will give you a better quote to keep you as a customer.
See Who Provides the Highest Discounts
Discounts can significantly reduce the price of your car insurance. For example, you can get discounts for safe drivers, active and passive safety features on your car, or if you are an army or government employee, etc.
The list is very long, but not all insurers offer the same discounts. You should see which company provides discounts you will be eligible for.
Auto Insurance New Hampshire – Conclusion
When it comes to auto insurance, New Hampshire is quite affordable, despite the state’s high standard of living. The only question is which company to choose.
It is a competitive market, and the insurers are doing their best to make a reasonable offer, making choosing harder. The important thing is to research and shop around as you can save hundreds of dollars with the right policy.
Reading both customer and expert reviews is an excellent place to start to determine which companies offer comprehensible and affordable insurance plans, valuable discounts, and good customer service.
People Also Ask
Are you required to have car insurance in New Hampshire?
No, you are not required to have car insurance in New Hampshire, but you have to prove that you can cover any medical treatment or property damages in the event of an at-fault accident.
If you consider that the average price of a new car is around $40,000 and that the medical expenses can easily go over that amount, buying car insurance is a very sound decision.
Most of the drivers in New Hampshire believe so, and the state has one of the lowest uninsured driver percentages in the US.
Is car insurance cheaper in NH?
Yes, car insurance in New Hampshire is generally one of the cheapest in the US. The average auto insurance rate is $1,083 per year, about 24% less than the national average.
But, your rate will depend on your driving record and many other factors. That’s why it’s essential to shop around before making a decision.
How much does car insurance cost in NH?
Car insurance in New Hampshire is generally one of the cheapest in the US. The minimum liability insurance costs $415 a year, and the drivers will pay around $1,080 for full coverage.
But, these are only average prices. The final offer each driver will get depends on many different factors, including age, residency, car model, group memberships, etc.
Who has the cheapest car insurance right now?
Most car insurers in New Hampshire generally have low prices, and this state is one of the most affordable in that regard. But if you are looking for the cheapest option, go for State Farm.
Besides offering the lowest prices, the company also has good customer satisfaction ratings, a wide array of optional coverages, and different discounts that can lower the cost further.
What is the cheapest way to insure a car?
The cheapest way to insure a car is by researching, shopping around, and asking for quotes. New Hampshire doesn’t find price optimization illegal, so doing the things we’ve mentioned above will likely reduce the price, even if you don’t plan to change your car insurance.
Other ways are being a safe driver, keeping your driving record clean, and maintaining good credit. That will make you eligible for many different discounts, which will further reduce the premium.
Is NH a no-fault state?
No, New Hampshire is not a no-fault state. The person found responsible for the accident is also the one covering bodily injury claims and property damage. If the person has a liability policy, the provider will take care of these costs, up to the insured amounts.
The fault is decided at court, and if the judge deems it was shared, the expenses will be divided between the accident participants. If you consider that the average price of a new car in the US is around $40,000 and that medical expenses can be much higher, getting full coverage seems like a good idea.
And when it comes to full coverage auto insurance, New Hampshire is one of the cheapest states in the US.
