---
title: "Is Car Insurance Expensive in Delaware? What Drivers Pay and What Drives Your Quote"
description: "Delaware's 2022 average car insurance expenditure was $1,296.13 per vehicle, tenth highest in the US. See what the averages mean and what moves your own quote."
url: "https://riskado.com/average-cost-of-car-insurance-in-delaware/"
lang: "en"
published: "2026-01-18"
modified: "2026-01-18"
tags: ["car-insurance-cost","delaware-auto-insurance","auto-rates","personal-injury-protection","discounts"]
image: "https://riskado.com/og/blog-average-cost-of-car-insurance-in-delaware.jpg"
---

# Is Car Insurance Expensive in Delaware? What Drivers Pay and What Drives Your Quote

Riskado

Jan 18, 2026 · 10 min read

![Light traffic passing through a highway toll plaza in Delaware on an overcast day](https://riskado.com/blog/average-cost-of-car-insurance-in-delaware/featured.jpg)

Yes, by national standards Delaware car insurance is on the expensive side. In 2022 NAIC data reproduced by the [Insurance Information Institute (opens in a new tab)](https://www-legacy.iii.org/table-archive/21247), Delaware's average expenditure was $1,296.13 per vehicle for the year, the tenth highest among the states. Divided by 12, that is about $108.01 a month. These are statewide historical averages, not quotes. Your own price depends on your age, vehicle, driving record, where the car is kept, how it's used, the [coverage](https://riskado.com/insurance-terms/coverage/) and [deductibles](https://riskado.com/insurance-terms/deductible/) you pick, [credit-based insurance scoring](https://riskado.com/does-credit-score-affect-car-insurance/) and the discounts you qualify for, according to the [Delaware Department of Insurance Auto Insurance Guide (opens in a new tab)](https://insurance.delaware.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2022/09/Auto-Insurance-Guide.pdf).

### Key takeaways

- **Average expenditure**$1,296.13 per vehicle in 2022, the tenth highest among the states.
- **Monthly figure**About $108.01 a month, the annual average divided by 12.
- **Not a quote**These are statewide historical averages, not quotes.
- **What moves your price**Age, vehicle, driving record, where the car is kept, how it's used, coverage and deductibles, credit-based insurance scoring and discounts.

If a quote in front of you looks high, the useful next step is to figure out which of those factors is moving it, then compare it against other quotes built on identical terms.

## What Delaware drivers pay for liability, collision and comprehensive

The NAIC reports two different averages, and they answer slightly different questions. The average expenditure estimates what consumers actually spent per [insured](https://riskado.com/insurance-terms/policyholder/) vehicle. The combined average premium adds together the average premiums for [liability](https://riskado.com/insurance-terms/liability-insurance/), [collision](https://riskado.com/insurance-terms/collision-coverage/) and [comprehensive](https://riskado.com/insurance-terms/comprehensive-coverage/), so it reflects a policy that carries all three.

Delaware car insurance averages, 2022

Hover or tap a row to highlight it.

| Measure (Delaware, 2022) | Average | About per month |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Liability average premium | $867.77 | $72.31 |
| Collision average premium | $365.21 | $30.43 |
| Comprehensive average premium | $155.69 | $12.97 |
| Combined average premium | $1,388.67 | $115.72 |
| Average expenditure (ranked 10th) | $1,296.13 | $108.01 |

Source: [III table of NAIC data (opens in a new tab)](https://www-legacy.iii.org/table-archive/21247). Monthly figures are the annual averages divided by 12.

Delaware average premium by coverage, 2022

Liability867.77

Collision365.21

Comprehensive155.69

The NAIC data don't use the phrase "full coverage." The liability figure is the closest statewide benchmark for a liability-only policy, but it isn't a quote for a minimum-limit policy. The combined figure includes collision and comprehensive, yet real policies differ in limits, deductibles, PIP choices and uninsured motorist coverage, so no single number describes every "full coverage" quote.

For an earlier comparison, the [NAIC 2021 Auto Insurance Database Supplement (opens in a new tab)](https://content.naic.org/sites/default/files/adps-21_0.pdf) put Delaware's 2021 liability average premium at $856.16, its comprehensive average premium at $143.09 and its combined average premium at $1,351.19.

## Why Delaware insurance can cost more

Several separate pressures show up in a Delaware premium, and each one can be traced to a named source.

Required PIP is part of every policy. Delaware requires [personal injury protection](https://riskado.com/delaware-pip-coverage/), which pays medical expenses and lost wages for you and your passengers whether or not you caused the crash, under [21 Del. C. § 2118 (opens in a new tab)](https://delcode.delaware.gov/title21/c021/sc01/index.html). That required benefit is built into the cost of the minimum policy.

Claim and repair costs have climbed. Broader auto premium increases come from supply-chain issues, accident frequency and severity, distracted driving, traffic congestion, extreme weather, more claims and higher settlement costs, according to the Department's 2024 consumer newsletter, [What to Know About Auto Insurance (opens in a new tab)](https://insurance.delaware.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2024/02/DOInewsletter.pdf). Nationally, the average collision claim cost passed $6,150 in 2021, up 18.6% from 2020, according to the [NAIC's 2021-2022 Auto Insurance Database Report release (opens in a new tab)](https://content.naic.org/article/naic-releases-2021-2022-auto-insurance-database-report).

Location, vehicle and driver profile matter too. Urban areas usually have more claims, and densely populated areas often have more theft and vandalism, which push claims and premiums up, according to the [Department's Auto Insurance Guide (opens in a new tab)](https://insurance.delaware.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2022/09/Auto-Insurance-Guide.pdf). The same guide ties vehicle type to repair costs and the claims record for that model, and says coverage above the mandatory minimum and lower deductibles raise the premium.

![A family car parked in the driveway of a brick Delaware home beside a small front lawn](https://riskado.com/blog/average-cost-of-car-insurance-in-delaware/rating-factors.jpg)

Location, vehicle and driver profile each feed into a Delaware premium.

## What insurance Delaware requires

Every registered vehicle in Delaware needs three coverages. The minimums listed in the [Delaware Department of Insurance Auto Insurance Guide (opens in a new tab)](https://insurance.delaware.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2022/09/Auto-Insurance-Guide.pdf), based on [21 Del. C. § 2118 (opens in a new tab)](https://delcode.delaware.gov/title21/c021/sc01/index.html), are:

- Bodily injury liability: $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident.
- Property damage liability: $10,000.
- Personal injury protection (PIP): $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident.

PIP pays medical expenses and lost wages for the insured and passengers regardless of fault, and the Department's guide also lists up to $5,000 for funeral expenses. The share of your premium that goes to PIP varies by insurer, limit, deductible and rating plan, so ask the agency to show the premium with the required PIP and explain any PIP limit or deductible options.

## What is optional, and what a lender might require

[Collision and comprehensive](https://riskado.com/comprehensive-vs-collision-insurance/) cover damage to your own car. They are not required by Delaware law, but a lender will likely require them if the vehicle is financed, according to the [Department's guide (opens in a new tab)](https://insurance.delaware.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2022/09/Auto-Insurance-Guide.pdf). Other optional coverages in the guide include uninsured motorist and underinsured motorist coverage, towing, and rental reimbursement. Uninsured motorist coverage provisions sit in [Title 18, Chapter 39 of the Delaware Code (opens in a new tab)](https://delcode.delaware.gov/title18/c039/).

Each of these adds to the price, and each changes what the policy will pay after a crash. If you're comparing a liability-only quote with a quote that includes physical-damage coverage, you're comparing two different products.

![A closed folder, a set of car keys and a pen resting on a wooden kitchen table](https://riskado.com/blog/average-cost-of-car-insurance-in-delaware/required-coverage.jpg)

A liability-only quote and a quote with physical-damage coverage are two different products.

## What changes a Delaware quote

The [Delaware Department of Insurance (opens in a new tab)](https://insurance.delaware.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2022/09/Auto-Insurance-Guide.pdf) lists these rating factors: age, vehicle type and repair cost, driving record, discounts, amount of coverage, deductible, vehicle usage, where the vehicle is kept and used, and credit-based insurance scoring.

Age works at both ends. The youngest and oldest drivers typically have the most claims, according to the guide. Driving record counts as well: drivers with previous moving violations or accidents are considered higher risk and may pay more under the insurer's rating plan.

Credit has real limits in Delaware. Insurers may use credit information when you apply for a new policy. At renewal, credit information generally may not be requested unless you or your agent asks, and any rerating has to benefit you, according to the Department. Under [18 Del. C. § 8304 (opens in a new tab)](https://delcode.delaware.gov/title18/c083/index.html), an insurance score may not be based on income, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, education, address, ZIP code, race, ethnic group, religion, marital status or nationality, and an insurer may not deny, cancel, nonrenew or set a renewal rate solely on credit information.

That ZIP code restriction applies to the credit-based score. Location itself is still a listed rating factor, so where the car is garaged can affect your price through the insurer's territory rating.

A few other protections exist. [18 Del. C. § 2304 (opens in a new tab)](https://www.delcode.delaware.gov/title18/c023/index.html) restricts insurers from using certain non-driving-related arrests, charges and license actions in underwriting private passenger auto insurance. [Title 18, Chapter 25 (opens in a new tab)](https://delcode.delaware.gov/title18/c025/) bars a renewal increase based solely on reaching age 75 or older, and bars a higher rate solely because a spouse's death changed your marital status.

## Does where you live in Delaware matter?

Yes. Where you live is a listed rating factor, and urban areas tend to see more claims, theft and vandalism, according to the [Department's guide (opens in a new tab)](https://insurance.delaware.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2022/09/Auto-Insurance-Guide.pdf). That's why a Wilmington quote and a Sussex County quote for the same driver and car can differ.

To see how your address is being treated, ask the agency to quote using the vehicle's actual garaging address and to explain which territory classification applies. Use your real address. Falsely reporting where a vehicle is normally garaged is auto insurance fraud, according to the [Department's auto insurance fraud page (opens in a new tab)](https://insurance.delaware.gov/reportfraud/auto-insurance/).

![A compact car parked on a quiet residential street lined with trees in a small Delaware town](https://riskado.com/blog/average-cost-of-car-insurance-in-delaware/garaging-location.jpg)

Where the car is kept is a listed rating factor in Delaware.

## What young drivers should expect

Younger drivers have more claims on average, which is why age is a rating factor in Delaware. For a household adding a teen, ask for a quote that names the young driver, the vehicle they'll use, the coverage, the deductible and every discount applied.

Discounts can offset part of the increase. The [Department's guide (opens in a new tab)](https://insurance.delaware.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2022/09/Auto-Insurance-Guide.pdf) describes discounts for an approved defensive-driving course, good students, mature drivers, an accident-free record, multiple cars, airbags and anti-theft equipment, and other insurance with the same company. If all drivers of a vehicle complete an approved defensive-driving course, the discount can be 10% on a portion of the auto premium for three years, and a refresher course taken just before that period ends can bring a 15% discount, according to the guide. Confirm eligibility, the qualifying course and how the insurer applies the discount before you count on it.

## How to compare Delaware quotes fairly

Premiums vary between companies, so getting quotes from several licensed insurers is a sensible step, according to the [Department's Need Insurance page (opens in a new tab)](https://insurance.delaware.gov/divisions/consumerhp/need-insurance/). A quote is only an estimate, according to the [Department's guide (opens in a new tab)](https://insurance.delaware.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2022/09/Auto-Insurance-Guide.pdf).

Two quotes only tell you something when they describe the same policy. Keep these constant:

- Drivers and household members.
- Vehicle year, make, model and use.
- Garaging address.
- Liability and PIP limits.
- Collision and comprehensive deductibles.
- Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage.
- Rental reimbursement and towing.
- Discounts and payment plan.
- Effective date and policy term.

When you talk with an agency, these questions get to the heart of a high quote:

- Is this based on the minimum required coverage or more?
- How did my driving record and prior claims affect the price?
- Was credit information or an insurance score used, and when can the policy be rerated?
- Which discounts were applied, and is a defensive-driving or good-student discount available?
- Does a lender require collision or comprehensive on this car?
- What changes if I raise the deductible or drop an optional coverage?
- Are there payment-plan charges, and what happens if a payment is late?
- Is the insurer licensed in Delaware, and who handles claims?

[Riskado's directory](https://riskado.com/agencies/delaware/) lists insurance agencies across the US, state by state, including agencies in Wilmington, Newark, Dover and the rest of Delaware, so you can find several to ask.

![Two printed pages laid side by side on a table with a notepad, a pen and a cup of coffee](https://riskado.com/blog/average-cost-of-car-insurance-in-delaware/quote-comparison.jpg)

Two quotes line up only when drivers, limits, deductibles and coverages match.

## How tickets, accidents and lapses affect what you pay

Moving violations and accidents raise risk in an insurer's eyes, and the Delaware DMV tracks them with points. The [DMV's violations page (opens in a new tab)](https://dmv.de.gov/DriverServices/drivers_license/index.shtml?dc=dr_lic_violation) lists 2 points for speeding 1 to 9 mph over the limit, 4 points for 10 to 14 mph over, 5 points for 15 mph or more over, 3 points for running a stop sign or red light, and 6 points for reckless driving or passing a stopped school bus. Points count at full value for 12 months after the violation and at half value for the next 12 months. An advisory letter goes out at 8 points, 12 points brings a required behavior-modification course or a possible two-month suspension, and longer mandatory suspensions start at 14 points.

Delaware DMV points for common violations

Hover or tap a row to highlight it.

| Violation | Points |
| --- | --- |
| Speeding 1 to 9 mph over the limit | 2 |
| Running a stop sign or red light | 3 |
| Speeding 10 to 14 mph over the limit | 4 |
| Speeding 15 mph or more over the limit | 5 |
| Reckless driving or passing a stopped school bus | 6 |

If an agency asks about your record, you can buy a certified Delaware driving record online for $25, with three-year, five-year and full-history options, from the [DMV's driving record page (opens in a new tab)](https://dmv.de.gov/services/OnlineServices/drivingRecords/command-DrivingRecord.shtml). Mail and in-person requests are explained on the [DMV's record request page (opens in a new tab)](https://services.dmv.de.gov/DriverServices/other/index.shtml?dc=dr_oth_record_copy).

A coverage lapse costs money on its own. Under [21 Del. C. § 2118 (opens in a new tab)](https://delcode.delaware.gov/title21/c021/sc01/index.html), the DMV may suspend the registration and assess a $100 penalty per vehicle for up to 30 days, plus $5 for each day starting on day 31, and charge a $50 registration reinstatement fee. A first conviction for [driving without required insurance](https://riskado.com/delaware-driving-without-insurance/) carries a $1,500 to $2,000 fine and a six-month suspension; a second within three years carries $3,000 to $4,000 and another six-month suspension. If you're [switching insurers](https://riskado.com/how-to-switch-car-insurance/) to get a better price, make sure the new policy starts before the old one ends.

**Quiz: Check what you know about Delaware car insurance costs**

1. What was Delaware's 2022 average expenditure per vehicle?
   - $867.77
   - $1,296.13 **(correct answer)**
   - $1,388.67
2. Which coverages does Delaware require on every registered vehicle?
   - Collision, comprehensive and towing
   - Bodily injury liability, property damage liability and PIP **(correct answer)**
   - Liability only
3. Are collision and comprehensive required by Delaware law?
   - Yes, on every vehicle
   - No, although a lender will likely require them on a financed vehicle **(correct answer)**
   - Only for drivers under 25
4. What happens to DMV points after the first 12 months?
   - They are erased
   - They count at half value for the next 12 months **(correct answer)**
   - They double
5. What is the DMV registration reinstatement fee after a lapse?
   - $25
   - $50 **(correct answer)**
   - $100

## Frequently asked questions

### How much is car insurance per month in Delaware?

The 2022 statewide average expenditure of $1,296.13 works out to about $108.01 a month. A policy with liability, collision and comprehensive averaged $1,388.67 a year, or about $115.72 a month, according to the [III table of NAIC data (opens in a new tab)](https://www-legacy.iii.org/table-archive/21247). Neither is a quote.

### Is full coverage required in Delaware?

No. Delaware law requires bodily injury liability, property damage liability and PIP. Collision and comprehensive are optional under state law, though a lender will likely require them on a financed vehicle, according to the [Department of Insurance (opens in a new tab)](https://insurance.delaware.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2022/09/Auto-Insurance-Guide.pdf).

### Does a speeding ticket raise insurance in Delaware?

Previous moving violations mark a driver as higher risk, according to the Department of Insurance, and the size of any increase depends on the insurer's filed rating plan. On the DMV side, the points lose half their value after 12 months.

### Can a Delaware insurer raise my renewal because of my credit?

Not on credit alone. [18 Del. C. § 8304 (opens in a new tab)](https://delcode.delaware.gov/title18/c083/index.html) bars setting a renewal rate solely on credit information, and the Department says credit generally may not be pulled at renewal unless you or your agent request it.

## Getting a clearer number

Delaware's averages give you a benchmark, but your quote is built from your own drivers, car, address, record and coverage choices. Gather your current declarations page, your driving record if needed and the details for every household driver, then ask two or three licensed agencies to quote the same limits and deductibles. The differences between those quotes will tell you far more about your price than any statewide average.

### Terms used in this guide

Tap a term to see what it means.

**Average expenditure.** The NAIC's estimate of what consumers actually spent per insured vehicle, across vehicles with and without collision and comprehensive.

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- [Average Cost of Car Insurance in Rhode Island: What Drives Premiums and What You Can Do About Yours](https://riskado.com/average-cost-of-car-insurance-in-rhode-island/): Rhode Island drivers spent an average of $1,573.84 per insured vehicle on car insurance in 2022, per the NAIC. See what drives premiums and what you can do.

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- [Average Cost of Car Insurance in Maryland: What Drivers Pay and What Drives Your Quote](https://riskado.com/average-cost-of-car-insurance-in-maryland/): A Maryland policy with liability, collision and comprehensive averaged $1,767.57 a year in 2024, per the NAIC. See what averages mean and what moves a quote.

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