Car Insurance in Delaware
Delaware drivers spend an average of $1,462 a year on auto insurance according to the NAIC — ▲ +14% versus the national average of $1,282, ranking 9th most expensive of 51. The state requires 25/50/10 liability coverage and follows an at-fault system.
Average car insurance cost in Delaware
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 $962 for liability, $423 for collision and $184 for comprehensive ($1,569 combined, versus $1,439 nationally). That average expenditure is 13% higher than the NAIC's previous data year ($1,296). Comprehensive coverage is cheaper than average here, a sign of lower weather and theft losses.
Minimum car insurance requirements in Delaware
Delaware's minimum is written as 25/50/10: $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident in bodily injury liability and $10,000 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 $1,165 a year here, $365 more than the minimum.
| 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 | $10,000 | Damage you cause to other vehicles and property |
| Personal injury protection (PIP) | Yes | 15,000/30,000 Personal injury protection of at least $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident is required. | Your own medical bills and lost wages, regardless of fault |
| Uninsured motorist (UM) | No | — Uninsured motorist coverage is optional; property damage claims carry a $250 deductible. | Your injuries when the at-fault driver has no insurance |
| Underinsured motorist (UIM) | No | — Underinsured motorist bodily injury coverage is optional. | The gap when the at-fault driver’s limits are too low |
| Medical payments (MedPay) | No | — Medical expenses are covered through required PIP. | Medical bills for you and your passengers |
A valid Delaware insurance identification card must be kept in the vehicle.
Compare with another state
Is Delaware a no-fault state?
No — Delaware is an at-fault (tort) state. Delaware is an at-fault state with required PIP: your own PIP pays initial injury costs regardless of fault, but the right to sue the at-fault driver is not restricted. Injured people can claim against the at-fault driver's insurer, use their own coverage, or sue.
Uninsured drivers in Delaware
The Insurance Research Council estimates 17.6% of Delaware drivers are uninsured — 13th highest in the country, compared with 15.4% nationally. That's roughly one uninsured driver in every 6 on the road. Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage isn't mandatory here (Uninsured motorist coverage is optional; property damage claims carry a $250 deductible), but with an above-average uninsured rate it is worth pricing.
SR-22 requirements in Delaware
Drivers who must prove financial responsibility after a DUI, an uninsured crash or a serious violation file proof of insurance through their insurer. Confirm the exact form and how long it must be kept with the Delaware Department of Insurance or your state motor vehicle agency.
By our model, a driver in their 30s with a DUI would pay about $1,510 a year for minimum coverage in Delaware, versus $800 with a clean record. What is SR-22 insurance?
Estimate your premium in Delaware
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Car insurance by city in Delaware
We cover 8 Delaware 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 Milford ($1,800) and the highest in Smyrna ($2,005).
- WilmingtonPop. 73,176 · New Castle County$1,965+11% vs state
- DoverPop. 40,191 · Kent County$1,805+2% vs state
- NewarkPop. 30,506 · New Castle County$1,810+2% vs state
- MiddletownPop. 25,686 · New Castle County$1,940+10% vs state
- MilfordPop. 14,079 · Sussex County$1,800+2% vs state
- SmyrnaPop. 13,326 · Kent County$2,005+13% vs state
- SeafordPop. 8,952 · Sussex County$1,905+8% vs state
- GeorgetownPop. 8,098 · Sussex County$1,905+8% vs state
Estimated cost by driver profile in Delaware
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 Delaware.
| Driver | Minimum | Standard | Full coverage | Full / month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teen driver (18, own policy) | $2,205 | $3,200 | $4,865 | $405 |
| Young adult (22) | $1,285 | $1,860 | $2,830 | $236 |
| Adult in their 30s | $800 | $1,165 | $1,770 | $148 |
| Adult in their 50s | $740 | $1,070 | $1,630 | $136 |
| Senior (72) | $900 | $1,300 | $1,980 | $165 |
| 30s, one at-fault accident | $1,165 | $1,685 | $2,565 | $214 |
| 30s, DUI on record | $1,485 | $2,150 | $3,275 | $273 |
By coverage level
| 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. | $800 | $67 | $660–$945 |
| Standard liability (100/300/100) | Higher liability limits plus uninsured motorist coverage. Still no coverage for damage to your own car. | $1,165 | $97 | $955–$1,370 |
| Full coverage | Standard liability plus collision and comprehensive, typically required on a financed or leased car. | $1,770 | $147 | $1,450–$2,090 |
Cheapest and most expensive cars to insure in Delaware
Full-coverage estimates for current models, using HLDI insurance-loss data where available. Vehicle choice alone can swing the premium by more than $3,225 a year here.
| Model | Segment | Est. / year |
|---|---|---|
| GMC Acadia | Midsize SUV | $1,105 |
| Chevrolet Traverse | Midsize SUV | $1,190 |
| Subaru Forester | Small SUV | $1,285 |
| Honda Pilot | Midsize SUV | $1,315 |
| Subaru Outback | Wagon | $1,320 |
| Subaru Crosstrek | Small SUV | $1,320 |
| Honda CR-V | Small SUV | $1,355 |
| MINI Cooper | Subcompact car | $1,360 |
| Toyota Land Cruiser | Large SUV | $1,360 |
| Volvo XC60 | Luxury SUV | $1,380 |
| Model | Segment | Est. / year |
|---|---|---|
| BMW M4 | Luxury sports car | $4,330 |
| BMW M3 | Luxury car | $4,185 |
| Lamborghini Urus | Luxury SUV | $3,840 |
| BMW 7 Series | Luxury car | $3,760 |
| Mercedes-Benz S-Class | Luxury car | $3,045 |
| Lucid Air | Luxury car | $2,920 |
| Audi RS 7 | Luxury car | $2,560 |
| Mercedes-Benz G-Class | Luxury SUV | $2,520 |
| Alfa Romeo Giulia | Luxury car | $2,495 |
| Lexus LS | Luxury car | $2,445 |
Cheap car insurance in Delaware: how to lower your rate
- Raise your deductible. Going from $500 to $1,000 on collision and comprehensive saves about $85 a year on a typical Delaware 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 $1,495 to $1,165.
- Drive less, pay less. Low-mileage and usage-based programs can save around $125 a year if you drive under 7,500 miles.
- Protect your record. A single speeding ticket adds roughly $390 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.
- 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: Delaware Department of Insurance
The Delaware Department of Insurance licenses insurers and agents, reviews rates and handles consumer complaints about claims, cancellations and billing — free of charge.
- Website
- insurance.delaware.gov
- File a complaint
- Consumer complaint page
- Consumer helpline
- 1-800-282-8611
Delaware vs. neighboring states
| State | NAIC avg. | Minimums | System | Uninsured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware | $1,462 | 25/50/10 | At-fault (tort) | 17.6% |
| Maryland | $1,477 | 30/60/15 | At-fault (tort) | 16.9% |
| New Jersey | $1,573 | 35/70/25 | Choice no-fault | 14.1% |
| Pennsylvania | $1,155 | 15/30/5 | Choice no-fault | 11.0% |
Frequently asked questions
How much is car insurance in Delaware?
NAIC data puts the average Delaware auto insurance expenditure at $1,462 a year, 14% more than the national average of $1,282 (rank 9 of 51, where 1 is the most expensive). Our estimate for full coverage for a driver in their 30s with a clean record is about $1,770 a year ($147 a month); state-minimum liability is about $800.
What is the minimum car insurance required in Delaware?
Delaware requires at least 25/50/10 liability coverage: $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident for bodily injury and $10,000 for property damage, plus personal injury protection (PIP) of 15,000/30,000.
Is Delaware a no-fault state?
No. Delaware is an at-fault state with required PIP: your own PIP pays initial injury costs regardless of fault, but the right to sue the at-fault driver is not restricted.
How many drivers in Delaware are uninsured?
The Insurance Research Council estimates that about 17.6% of Delaware drivers are uninsured, ranking 13th in the nation (national estimate: 15.4%).
Which Delaware city has the cheapest car insurance?
Among the 8 cities we cover, Milford has the lowest full-coverage estimate at about $1,800 a year, while Smyrna is the highest at about $2,005. Differences come from population density, commute length and local weather risk.
How much does car insurance cost for a teen driver in Delaware?
An 18-year-old on their own full-coverage policy would pay roughly $4,865 a year in Delaware by our estimate, or about $2,205 for minimum coverage. Joining a parent's policy usually costs less.
How do I file a complaint against a car insurance company in Delaware?
Contact the Delaware Department of Insurance (consumer line 1-800-282-8611). It handles consumer complaints about claims, cancellations and rates at no cost.
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.
- Delaware DMV: Vehicle registration insurance requirements
- Delaware DMV: Frequently Asked Questions (liability insurance)
- Delaware Department of Insurance: The Instant Insurance Guide: Auto
- Delaware Department of Insurance: File a Complaint
- NAIC 2022/2023 Auto Insurance Database Report
- 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: population estimates and American Community Survey
- FEMA National Risk Index