Car Insurance in Knoxville, Tennessee
Estimated full coverage in Knoxville runs about $1,375 a year ($115/month) — ▲ +4% versus the Tennessee average, ranking 6th most expensive of the 10 Tennessee cities we cover.
Why car insurance in Knoxville costs more than the Tennessee average
Insurers price by territory, and Knoxville's numbers explain most of the gap. With 198,722 residents on 98.7 square miles, the city's density (2,013 people per square mile) is 4.9 times the density where the typical Tennessee resident lives (410). The average commute is 20.2 minutes (Tennessee: 25.7), and 73% of workers drive alone. Together these put our location factor at 1.04× the state baseline for liability and collision, and 1.04× for comprehensive once FEMA weather risk for Knox County is included.
| Factor | Knoxville | Tennessee ref. | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population density | 2,013 / sq mi | 410 / sq mi | More vehicles per mile of road means more fender-benders and claims. |
| Average commute | 20.2 min | 25.7 min | Longer daily drives add exposure to crashes. |
| Commutes over 60 min | 2.4% | — | Long highway commutes raise mileage-based risk. |
| Drive alone to work | 73.1% | — | Share of workers commuting by car. |
| Public transit to work | 1.0% | — | Transit use lowers how much residents drive. |
| Work from home | 13.2% | — | Remote workers may qualify for low-mileage pricing. |
| Households without a car | 9.1% | — | Context for non-owner and occasional-driver policies. |
| Weather hazard score (FEMA) | 80.9 | 78.8 | Hail, wind, flood and hurricane exposure drive comprehensive claims. |
Car insurance cost by ZIP code in Knoxville
Rates can change from one ZIP code to the next. Across 10 Knoxville ZIP codes, our full-coverage estimate ranges from $1,310 in 37914 to $1,450 in 37915. Denser, longer-commute neighborhoods estimate higher. Click a column to sort.
| ZIP | Population | Density / sq mi | Commute | No car | Est. full / yr | vs. city |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 37920 | 44,995 | 622 | 22.4 min | 4.4% | $1,320 | −4% |
| 37919 | 31,754 | 1,662 | 19.0 min | 7.7% | $1,350 | −2% |
| 37921 | 28,717 | 1,806 | 20.0 min | 4.7% | $1,365 | −1% |
| 37917 | 24,615 | 2,591 | 20.6 min | 12.9% | $1,395 | +1% |
| 37912 | 21,505 | 2,037 | 21.2 min | 4.5% | $1,385 | +1% |
| 37914 | 21,478 | 541 | 22.4 min | 7.3% | $1,310 | −5% |
| 37909 | 16,774 | 2,466 | 19.7 min | 6.3% | $1,385 | +1% |
| 37916 | 15,583 | 11,060 | 14.1 min | 9.0% | $1,425 | +4% |
| 37915 | 5,991 | 3,162 | 23.9 min | 38.9% | $1,450 | +5% |
| 37902 | 2,412 | 5,457 | 15.8 min | 24.2% | $1,395 | +1% |
Minimum car insurance in Knoxville
Knoxville drivers follow Tennessee's rules: at least 25/50/25 liability coverage. Tennessee is at-fault (tort). We estimate state-minimum coverage in Knoxville at $470 a year, and $680 for 100/300/100 limits.
| Coverage | Required? | Minimum | What it pays for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability | Yes | $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident | Injuries you cause to other people |
| Property damage liability | Yes | $25,000 | Damage you cause to other vehicles and property |
| Personal injury protection (PIP) | No | — Tennessee does not require personal injury protection. | Your own medical bills and lost wages, regardless of fault |
| Uninsured motorist (UM) | No | — Uninsured motorist coverage is included unless the named insured affirmatively declines it. | Your injuries when the at-fault driver has no insurance |
| Underinsured motorist (UIM) | No | — Underinsured protection is part of Tennessee's uninsured motorist coverage. | The gap when the at-fault driver’s limits are too low |
| Medical payments (MedPay) | No | — Medical payments coverage is optional. | Medical bills for you and your passengers |
The minimum property damage limit was raised from $15,000.
Risk factors that shape Knoxville premiums
Accidents
Tennessee recorded 1,197 traffic deaths, or 1.52 per 100 million vehicle miles (U.S.: 1.19), in the latest full year of federal crash data. Local crash frequency is folded into our density and commute factors.
Vehicle theft
Tennessee's vehicle theft rate is 226 per 100,000 residents (U.S.: 197). The most-stolen vehicle in the state is the Chevrolet Pickup (Full Size) (NICB). Theft losses are paid by comprehensive coverage.
Weather
FEMA rates Knox County as relatively low for hail, relatively moderate for inland flooding and relatively high for strong wind, and relatively low for hurricanes.
Traffic & commuting
2.4% of Knoxville commuters spend an hour or more getting to work, and there are 1.63 vehicles per household. 13.2% work from home — worth mentioning to insurers that offer low-mileage pricing.
| Hazard | Risk rating | Score (0–100) | Insurance impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hail | 59.7 | Comprehensive (car); roof claims (home) | |
| Tornado | 96.7 | Comprehensive; dwelling | |
| Hurricane | 65.8 | Comprehensive; wind/hurricane deductibles (home) | |
| Inland (river) flooding | 92.8 | Comprehensive; home needs a separate flood policy | |
| Coastal flooding | — | Comprehensive; home needs a separate flood policy | |
| Strong wind | 89.3 | Comprehensive; dwelling | |
| Winter weather | 95.5 | Collision (icy roads); frozen pipes (home) |
Scores are national percentiles of FEMA's county risk (higher means more expected loss than most other U.S. counties).
Estimated car insurance in Knoxville by driver profile
A clean-record driver in their 50s pays the least in our Knoxville model (about $1,265 for full coverage); an 18-year-old on their own policy pays about $3,780, and a DUI pushes a 30-something to $2,545.
| Driver | Minimum | Standard | Full coverage | Full / month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teen driver (18, own policy) | $1,290 | $1,870 | $3,780 | $315 |
| Young adult (22) | $750 | $1,085 | $2,200 | $183 |
| Adult in their 30s | $470 | $680 | $1,375 | $115 |
| Adult in their 50s | $430 | $625 | $1,265 | $105 |
| Senior (72) | $525 | $760 | $1,540 | $128 |
| 30s, one at-fault accident | $680 | $985 | $1,995 | $166 |
| 30s, DUI on record | $865 | $1,255 | $2,545 | $212 |
Minimum vs. standard vs. full coverage in Knoxville
| Coverage level | What it includes | Per year | Per month | Typical range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State minimum liability | Only the liability (and PIP/UM where required) limits your state mandates. No coverage for your own car. | $470 | $39 | $385–$555 |
| Standard liability (100/300/100) | Higher liability limits plus uninsured motorist coverage. Still no coverage for damage to your own car. | $680 | $57 | $555–$800 |
| Full coverage | Standard liability plus collision and comprehensive, typically required on a financed or leased car. | $1,375 | $115 | $1,130–$1,625 |
Estimate your premium in Knoxville
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Cheap car insurance in Knoxville: how to lower your rate
The cheapest policy is the one that fits your situation. These levers are priced with Knoxville's own numbers:
| Change | Est. yearly savings | Good fit if… |
|---|---|---|
| Raise collision/comprehensive deductible from $500 to $1,000 | $95 | You have savings to cover a bigger out-of-pocket repair. |
| Low-mileage / usage-based pricing (under 7,500 mi) | $95 | You're among the 13.2% of Knoxville workers who work from home, or you rarely drive. |
| Drop collision & comprehensive on an older car | $380 | The car is paid off and worth little more than a year of premiums. |
| Standard (100/300/100) instead of full coverage | $695 | No loan or lease requires physical-damage coverage. |
| Avoid one speeding ticket | $305 | Everyone — violations typically affect rates for three to five years. |
Also ask about bundling, good-student, paid-in-full and defensive-driving discounts, and re-shop at every renewal — the same driver can be priced very differently by different insurers. We don't recommend specific companies. Common car insurance discounts.
Comparing car insurance quotes in Knoxville
- Use identical limits and deductibles on every quote — e.g. 100/300/100 liability with $1,000 deductibles — or prices aren't comparable.
- Get quotes from different channels: captive agents, independent agents who quote several insurers, and direct online insurers. There are 41 offices listed below.
- Check complaint records with the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance (complaint information) before you buy.
- Mention your ZIP code accurately — within Knoxville, our estimates differ by up to $140 a year between neighborhoods.
Car insurance agents near Knoxville, TN
We found 41 insurance offices within about 8 miles of central Knoxville, from open map data. Hover over a listing to show it on the map, click it to open the address in Google Maps, or tap it on a phone to start navigation. We don't sell insurance, rate these offices or receive anything from them.
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Tyler Miller - Allstate
1501 Cline St, Knoxville, TN 37921 -
Petie Wilson - State Farm
1811 Liberty Street, Knoxville, TN 37921 -
Nicole Yarbrough - State Farm
2451 University Commons Way, Knoxville, TN 37919 -
Jared Hall - State Farm
4313 Ball Camp Pike, Suite 101, Knoxville, TN 37921 -
Farmers Insurance
TN -
Robert Elmore - Allstate
4419 Western Ave, Ste 103, Knoxville, TN 37921 -
Freeway Insurance
2001 North Broadway, Knoxville, TN 37917 -
Evan Seivers - State Farm
2006 N Broadway Street, Knoxville, TN 37917 -
Erie Insurance
900 E Hill Avenue, Suite 110, Knoxville, TN 37915 -
Erie Insurance
4601 Central Avenue Pike, Knoxville, TN 37912 -
Alex Miller - Allstate
4706 Papermill Dr, Knoxville, TN 37909 -
Erie Insurance
1204 Kenesaw Avenue, Suite B, Knoxville, TN 37919 -
Direct Auto Insurance
5400 Clinton Highway, #103, Knoxville, TN 37912 -
Farmers Insurance
TN -
Matt Penland - State Farm
227 W Young High Pike, Knoxville, TN 37920 -
State Farm
5718 Western Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37921 -
Daniel Austin - Allstate
5816 Kingston Pike, Ste 5, Knoxville, TN 37919 -
Erie Insurance
4433 Landon Drive, Knoxville, TN 37921 -
Brent Bell - Allstate
4883 N Broadway St, Ste 111, Knoxville, TN 37918 -
Erie Insurance
6423 Deane Hill Drive, Knoxville, TN 37919 -
Shawn Travis Wandell - Farmers Insurance
6515 Clinton Hwy, #202, Knoxville, TN 37912 -
Paul Humphries - State Farm
6636 Central Ave Pike, ste 104, Knoxville, TN 37912 -
Nationwide
6545 Clinton Highway, Knoxville, TN 37912 -
Farmers Insurance
TN -
Erie Insurance
113 Legacy View Way, Knoxville, TN 37918 -
Erie Insurance
7042 Seaver Drive, Knoxville, TN 37909 -
Karen Teske - Allstate
4752 Centerline Dr, Knoxville, TN 37917 -
Brian Chapman - GEICO
7824 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919 -
Matt Cunningham - State Farm
7671 S. Northshore Dr, Suite 1, Knoxville, TN 37919 -
Erie Insurance
7311 Clinton Hwy, Suite B1, Powell, TN 37849 -
Mike Davis - State Farm
5336 Millertown Pike, Knoxville, TN 37924 -
Bryan Walton - State Farm
2725 Asbury Road, Suite 105, Knoxville, TN 37914 -
Erie Insurance
1501 Cline Street, Ste 101, Knoxville, TN 37921 -
Erie Insurance
528 W Emory Road, Powell, TN 37849 -
Allstate
Maynardville Pike, Halls Crossroads, TN 37918 -
State Farm
TN -
Erie Insurance
3605 Neal Drive, Knoxville, TN 37918 -
Erie Insurance
301 S Gallaher View Road, Suite 229, Knoxville, TN 37919 -
State Farm
TN -
State Farm
TN
Map © Google. Office list: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0) - https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright; All The Places (alltheplaces.xyz), data released under the CC-0 waiver; run 2026-09-19-13-32-18. OSM license. Listings are informational and may be out of date.
Insurance cost of popular cars in Knoxville
| Model | Segment | Est. full coverage / yr | vs. average car |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honda CR-V | Small SUV | $1,025 | −25% |
| Subaru Outback | Wagon | $1,025 | −25% |
| Tesla Model 3 | Midsize car | $1,460 | +6% |
| Subaru Forester | Small SUV | $1,005 | −27% |
| Honda Civic | Compact car | $1,565 | +14% |
| Toyota Corolla | Compact car | $1,455 | +6% |
| Jeep Wrangler | Midsize SUV | $1,120 | −19% |
| Mazda CX-5 | Small SUV | $1,155 | −16% |
| MINI Cooper | Subcompact car | $1,040 | −24% |
| Tesla Model Y | Midsize SUV | $1,315 | −4% |
Car insurance in nearby Tennessee cities
- Kingsport $1,305/yr · 87 mi
- Johnson City $1,330/yr · 91 mi
- Chattanooga $1,325/yr · 96 mi
- Murfreesboro $1,480/yr · 139 mi
- Nashville $1,415/yr · 159 mi
- Franklin $1,415/yr · 162 mi
- Clarksville $1,455/yr · 194 mi
- Jackson $1,305/yr · 275 mi
- Memphis $1,385/yr · 344 mi
All Tennessee cities and state rules · Homeowners insurance in Knoxville
Frequently asked questions
How much is car insurance in Knoxville, TN?
We estimate full coverage in Knoxville at about $1,375 a year ($115 a month) for a driver in their 30s with a clean record, and about $470 for Tennessee's minimum liability coverage. Real quotes vary by insurer, driver and vehicle.
Why is car insurance in Knoxville more expensive than the Tennessee average?
Our Knoxville estimate is 4% higher than the statewide figure. The model reflects a population density of 2,013 people per square mile (the typical Tennessee resident lives at about 410) and an average commute of 20.2 minutes versus 25.7 statewide. Denser traffic and longer drives mean more claims, which insurers price into local rates.
What car insurance is required in Knoxville?
Drivers in Knoxville follow Tennessee law: at least 25/50/25 liability coverage.
Which ZIP code in Knoxville has the cheapest car insurance?
Among Knoxville's 10 ZIP codes, 37914 has the lowest estimate (about $1,310 a year for full coverage) and 37915 the highest (about $1,450), mainly because of differences in density and commute times.
How much is car insurance for a teenager in Knoxville?
An 18-year-old with their own full-coverage policy would pay around $3,780 a year in Knoxville by our estimate ($1,290 for minimum coverage). Adding a teen to a parent's policy is usually cheaper.
Does weather affect car insurance in Knoxville?
Yes. FEMA's National Risk Index rates Knox County for tornado (relatively high) risk. Weather mainly affects the comprehensive part of a policy, which pays for hail, flood and wind damage.
Are there car insurance agents near me in Knoxville?
We list 41 insurance offices in and around Knoxville, with addresses, phone numbers where published, and directions. We don't sell insurance or rank these offices.
How we estimate this
We start from the state's average liability, collision and comprehensive premiums published by the NAIC, then apply a location factor (population density and commute time from the Census ACS, weather hazard scores from FEMA's National Risk Index), a vehicle factor (HLDI insurance-loss data where available, otherwise vehicle segment), and a driver-profile multiplier. Results are rounded ranges for comparison, not quotes. Read the full methodology.
- Tennessee Department of Revenue: Financial Responsibility Law
- Tennessee Department of Safety: Do I need SR-22 Insurance?
- NAIC 2022/2023 Auto Insurance Database Report, Table 41 (liability limits history)
- Tennessee Insurance: File an Insurance Complaint
- NAIC Homeowners Insurance Report: Data for 2023
- Insurance Research Council uninsured motorist estimates (via Triple-I)
- IIHS Fatality Facts: state by state
- FBI Crime Data Explorer: Crime in the United States 2025 (Table 4)
- NICB 2022 Vehicle Theft Data: top 10 stolen vehicles by state
- FHWA Highway Statistics 2024, Table DL-1C (licensed drivers)
- FHWA Highway Statistics 2024, Table MV-1 (registrations)
- FHWA Highway Statistics 2024, Table VM-2 (vehicle-miles traveled)
- U.S. Census Bureau Vintage 2024 population estimates
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (Knoxville and ZIP code tabulation areas)
- U.S. Census Bureau population estimates and Gazetteer files
- FEMA National Risk Index (county hazard ratings)
- Insurance office locations: OpenStreetMap contributors and All The Places