The Ultimate Louisiana Car Insurance Guide (Costs + Coverage)

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Melanie Musson

Published Insurance Expert

Melanie Musson is the fourth generation in her family to work in the insurance industry. She grew up with insurance talk as part of her everyday conversation and has studied to gain an in-depth knowledge of state-specific car insurance laws and dynamics as well as a broad understanding of how insurance fits into every person’s life, from budgets to coverage levels. She also specializes in sustai...

Published Insurance Expert

Rachael Brennan

Licensed Insurance Agent

Rachael Brennan has been working in the insurance industry since 2006 when she began working as a licensed insurance representative for 21st Century Insurance, during which time she earned her Property and Casualty license in all 50 states. After several years she expanded her insurance expertise, earning her license in Health and AD&D insurance as well. She has worked for small health in...

Licensed Insurance Agent

UPDATED: Feb 16, 2024

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Louisiana Stats SummaryDetails
Miles of RoadwayMiles in State: 61,419
Miles Driven: 48,180 million
VehiclesRegistered: 3,787,356
Thefts: 9,741
State Population4,671,211
Most Popular Vehicle in StateFord F150
Percent of Uninsured Motorists13%
State Rank: 20th
Driving Related DeathsSpeeding Fatalities: 177
Drunk Driving Fatalities: 212
Average Annual PremiumsLiability: $775
Collision: $414
Comprehensive: $215
Cheapest ProviderState Farm and USAA

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From New Orleans to Baton Rouge, Louisiana is a cultural melting pot of fun, food, and music that charms people from all over the country.

As per a recent report, nearly 18 million people visited New Orleans in 2017 to absorb the flavors of the city’s unique French heritage, southern hospitality, and Mardi Gras.

Experiencing the eclectic vibe of Louisiana is everyone’s dream with so much to explore and eat, but between all this, do not forget to buy the right car insurance coverage for yourself to protect you on those overcrowded roads.

For some people, buying car insurance is an errand that they would like to delay for as long as possible, however, researching about the right coverage options for your needs and finding the best car insurer would help you in the long run.

In the market for cheap Louisiana car insurance? If you are living in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport, Lafayette, or Lake Charles, you can acquire up to eight rate quotes from first rate insurers in the area through AutoInsuranceEZ.com. Price ranges fluctuate by provider and you should compare rates carefully before you purchase a policy. We’ll enable you to acquire the coverage to suit your needs.

You can dive right into our car insurance guide for Louisiana or start comparison shopping today using our FREE online tool. Enter your zip code above to get started.

Table of Contents

Car Insurance Coverage and Rates in Louisiana

Do you know what kind of car insurance coverage do you need?

Though buying liability coverage is mandatory in almost every other state, there are many other types of coverage options that you may require depending on your personal situation.

There’s no ‘one size fits all policy’ in car insurance, no matter how much your insurance agent tries to convince you.

So, let’s understand what options are there and how you should select coverage.

Car Culture in Louisiana

Not only is Ford F150 the most popular vehicle in the state, around eight full-size SUV’s have twice the market share in Louisiana than their overall share in America.

The fascination of residents with trucks and SUVs is quite evident from these numbers. Car enthusiasts in Louisiana regularly put up regular events and shows featuring car racing shows and antique cars.

The urban roads in your state, even some rural highways, are heavily traveled by motorists especially during the weekends when there are festivals.

– Minimum Auto Insurance Coverage in Louisiana

Before we get into the details of what is the minimum auto insurance you need to buy in Louisiana, you should understand the basic law that governs coverage in your state.

Louisiana follows the at-fault system when it comes to injuries from car accidents which means that the motorist who is at fault is liable to pay the damages from the accident.

Now that you know who’s liable to pay for damages in an accident, let’s look at how much you’re required to buy as per the law.

Type of CoverageMinimum Requirement
Bodily Injury Liability$15,000 per person/$30,000 per accident
Property Damage Liability$25,000

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The mandatory coverage requirement for motorists is 15/30/25 in Louisiana or $15,000 per person for personal injury liability with an overall limit of $30,000 per accident and $25,000 for property damage liability.

This is how it works – If you were to get involved in an accident and you happen to be the at-fault party, your state-mandated coverage would only pay for the medical injuries of the passengers in the other car subjected to a cap of $15,000 per person and $30,000 overall for everyone injured in that accident.

In addition, the policy would also cover damages of $25,000 to the third-party’ car.

Here’s a short one-minute video that will make it simpler for you to understand auto liability coverage.

Do remember, however, that this basic liability insurance wouldn’t cover any damages that you or your co-passengers may sustain in a car accident.

That’s why you should consider other coverage options to protect yourself and your family in an accident.

Types of CoverageWhat it Covers
Collision Collision helps to recover the cost of repair or replacement if your car is damaged due to a collision with another object, such as tree, fence, or another car.
ComprehensiveComprehensive covers damages to your car that happen due to causes out of your control, such as storms, theft, fire, etc.
Medical PaymentsMed Pay helps to cover the medical expenses from injury to you or your passengers in an accident irrespective of the fault.
Personal Injury Protection (PIP)PIP, as the name suggests, kicks in to cover your personal injury expenses in an accident irrespective of fault. Along with medical expenses, PIP also covers lost wages.

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And, while it’s important to add some of these coverage options to your policy, do not forget to buy the right policy limit for your auto liability.

Now the question is, how much liability coverage should you have?

Imagine a scenario where you rear-end a high-end luxurious car which ends up injuring the people inside quite severely.

The car damage and medical expenses in itself would cost a lot. But, if you’re unlucky, the third-party may choose to file a lawsuit against you.

What will happen next?

Multiple court hearings and lawyer fees. If you’re carrying just the state-mandated limits, you would have to use your personal assets to settle the damages, and even then it may not be enough to cover all the piling expenses.

That’s why experts recommend minimum liability coverage of $500,000 to cover bodily injury and property damage.

– Premiums as a Percentage of Income in Louisiana

Details201220132014
Disposable Income$36,448$36,244$37,787
Average Annual Premiums$1,275.10$1,307.72$1,364.17
Percentage of Income3.50%3.61%3.61%

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Motorists in Louisiana spend almost 3.61 percent of their disposable income on car insurance premiums as per data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.

If you look at the neighboring states of Mississippi and Texas, the percentage of premium to income was 3.05 percent and 2.59 percent in 2014, respectively.

Disposable income is the amount left for households after paying off income taxes and social security charges.

The car insurance cost to income ratio of Louisiana is one of the highest in America. Therefore, budgeting for this expense in advance would help you to account for other household expenses better.

– Core Coverage Auto Premiums in Louisiana

Types of CoverageAverage Annual Premiums
Liability$775.83
Collision$414.36
Comprehensive$215.17
Full Coverage$1,405.36

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Before buying any auto policy, you should have an idea about the average costs in your state so that you will know why you’re paying more or less.

Being aware also helps you to negotiate better with your agent and get add-ons or optional coverages with your main coverage.

Average annual premiums for liability coverage, which is always more expensive than other types of coverage, is $775 while the national average liability premium is $538.

Additional Liability Coverage in Louisiana

We have already talked about the types of coverage that you should consider with your basic liability insurance.

To cover your personal injuries in an accident, you have two options to consider – Medical Payments and Personal Injury Protection (PIP) while Collision and Comprehensive cover damages to your car.

But, what should you choose for personal injury – Medical Pay or PIP?

As you’re aware by now that both these coverage options would pay for your medical expenses in the event of an accident.

Medical Pay is specifically designed to cover all your medical expenses, but PIP also covers any lost income that you wouldn’t be able to earn because you’re injured and can’t work for the time being.

By definition, PIP would be a better option, however, if you have a passive income source then choosing PIP doesn’t make any sense.

Moreover, Medical Pay follows the policyholder, so whether you’re walking, sitting as a passenger or driving, Medical Pay would cover your injuries.

In the end, what you choose would depend on your specific needs. Doing a cost comparison can also help you in making a decision – since both these options cover medical expenses by and large.

Loss Ratio Table201520142013
Medical Payments86.66%85.62%85.88%
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage99.68%100.11%92.10%

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If you want to see whether insurance carriers are paying off specific claims, you can check their loss ratio.

Loss ratio is the ratio of total claims settled to premiums earned by an insurer. When the loss ratio of an insurer is 60 percent, it means that out of $100 earned in premiums, $60 was paid out in claims.

For uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, the loss ratio of insurers in Louisiana is unusually high. Anything above 100 percent means that insurance carriers are losing money.

Around 13 percent of motorists in Louisiana are uninsured and almost 40 percent of the motorists buy only the state-mandated minimum coverage. This is a major reason behind the high loss ratio of carriers and also the rising premiums costs in Louisiana.

So, what happens when you are hit by an uninsured/underinsured driver?

If the at-fault driver isn’t adequately covered, you would have to either ask the other party for an out-of-pocket settlement or use your personal assets to pay for any damages. Both of these options are stressful and expensive.

Therefore, you would be better off by investing in an uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage that would pay for your damages if you’re hit by an uninsured driver.

Here’s a superhero explaining uninsured coverage for you.

Add-ons, Endorsements, and Riders in Louisiana

If you’re a car enthusiast, you would know that a classic car needs a different kind of insurance coverage because it holds special value, right?

Auto insurers are aware of the varied needs that car owners have and offer many add-ons and riders to cover those needs.

Have a look below at the available options:

We know that insurance coverage costs a lot of money in Louisiana, and if you get add-ons or endorsements, costs would rise further.

Like other motorists in Louisiana, the consistently rising auto premium costs makes you uneasy about buying anything extra.

Though you can’t do anything to change the driving behavior of others on the road, that’s causing rates to rise, you can definitely get rewarded for being a safe driver.

Do you know how? – By enrolling in a usage-based insurance program.

Usage-based insurance, also known as pay-as-you-drive, uses telematics technology to track your driving behavior. If you follow the speed limits everywhere or don’t slam your brakes too often, you might be eligible for discounts.

The telematics technology uses a pre-installed device or a mobile app to collect data about your driving behaviour – such as, miles driven, how you’re braking, acceleration, when do you drive, etc.

Each insurer has its own metric to track driving and offers discounts once you have successfully completed a pre-defined time under the program.

– Male vs Female Auto Insurance Rates in Louisiana

Insurance CompanySingle 17-year old femaleSingle 17-year old maleSingle 25-year old femaleSingle 25-year old maleMarried 35-year old femaleMarried 35-year old maleMarried 60-year old femaleMarried 60-year old male
Allstate P&C$9,256.33$11,657.16$4,694.46$5,083.73$4,254.40$4,254.40$4,394.91$4,394.91
Geico Cas$12,767.36$13,458.88$3,309.53$3,204.45$3,430.68$3,952.72$4,103.66$5,009.51
Progressive Security Ins.$16,529.91$18,373.77$4,746.19$4,834.20$4,158.02$3,880.90$3,483.46$3,762.32
State Farm Mutual Auto$8,404.12$10,538.72$3,180.57$3,569.11$2,851.05$2,851.05$2,619.17$2,619.17
USAA$8,021.04$9,403.41$3,286.33$3,597.39$2,678.38$2,634.64$2,612.63$2,591.11

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Insurance rates also vary by gender among other factors as you can see in the table above. Teenagers usually have the highest rates for auto insurance, because of their inexperience, with males being charged much more than their female counterparts.

For those above 25, the rates are more or less the same between men and women with slight differences here and there which might be on account of some other factors.

You can also see the rankings of different carriers based on their insurance rates.

CompanyDemographicAverage Annual RateRank
Progressive Security Ins.Single 17-year old male$18,373.771
Progressive Security Ins.Single 17-year old female$16,529.912
Geico CasSingle 17-year old male$13,458.883
Geico CasSingle 17-year old female$12,767.364
Allstate P&CSingle 17-year old male$11,657.165
State Farm Mutual AutoSingle 17-year old male$10,538.726
USAASingle 17-year old male$9,403.417
Allstate P&CSingle 17-year old female$9,256.338
State Farm Mutual AutoSingle 17-year old female$8,404.129
USAASingle 17-year old female$8,021.0410
Allstate P&CSingle 25-year old male$5,083.7311
Geico CasMarried 60-year old male$5,009.5112
Progressive Security Ins.Single 25-year old male$4,834.2013
Progressive Security Ins.Single 25-year old female$4,746.1914
Allstate P&CSingle 25-year old female$4,694.4615
Allstate P&CMarried 60-year old female$4,394.9116
Allstate P&CMarried 60-year old male$4,394.9116
Allstate P&CMarried 35-year old female$4,254.4018
Allstate P&CMarried 35-year old male$4,254.4018
Progressive Security Ins.Married 35-year old female$4,158.0220
Geico CasMarried 60-year old female$4,103.6621
Geico CasMarried 35-year old male$3,952.7222
Progressive Security Ins.Married 35-year old male$3,880.9023
Progressive Security Ins.Married 60-year old male$3,762.3224
USAASingle 25-year old male$3,597.3925
State Farm Mutual AutoSingle 25-year old male$3,569.1126
Progressive Security Ins.Married 60-year old female$3,483.4627
Geico CasMarried 35-year old female$3,430.6828
Geico CasSingle 25-year old female$3,309.5329
USAASingle 25-year old female$3,286.3330
Geico CasSingle 25-year old male$3,204.4531
State Farm Mutual AutoSingle 25-year old female$3,180.5732
State Farm Mutual AutoMarried 35-year old female$2,851.0533
State Farm Mutual AutoMarried 35-year old male$2,851.0533
USAAMarried 35-year old female$2,678.3835
USAAMarried 35-year old male$2,634.6436
State Farm Mutual AutoMarried 60-year old female$2,619.1737
State Farm Mutual AutoMarried 60-year old male$2,619.1737
USAAMarried 60-year old female$2,612.6339
USAAMarried 60-year old male$2,591.1140

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Auto Insurance Rates by ZIP Code in Louisiana

When you start your research for car insurance rates, you would notice that what you are being asked is different from your friend’s rate who lives in another ZIP code.

Since the risk factors that insurance carriers take into account vary by ZIP code, the rates also differ.

Cheapest ZIP Codes in Louisiana CityAverage by ZIP CodesMost Expensive CompanyMost Expensive Rate2nd Most Expensive Company2nd Most Expensive RateCheapest CompanyCheapest Rate2nd Cheapest Company2nd Cheapest Rate
71439HORNBECK$4,332.48Allstate$5,413.73Progressive$5,142.31USAA$3,187.12State Farm$3,544.31
71443KURTHWOOD$4,355.93Allstate$5,413.73Progressive$5,152.75USAA$2,981.19State Farm$3,857.06
71459FORT POLK$4,397.96Allstate$5,579.18Progressive$5,152.75USAA$2,981.19State Farm$3,926.59
71446LEESVILLE$4,408.37Allstate$5,579.18Progressive$5,152.75USAA$2,981.19State Farm$3,978.60
71403ANACOCO$4,430.85Allstate$5,413.73Progressive$5,142.31USAA$3,418.09State Farm$3,805.20
71474SIMPSON$4,435.33Allstate$5,579.18Progressive$5,152.75USAA$3,173.59State Farm$3,921.03
71461NEWLLANO$4,440.21Allstate$5,579.18Progressive$5,152.75USAA$3,172.35State Farm$3,946.65
71475SLAGLE$4,471.44Allstate$5,579.18Progressive$5,152.75USAA$3,418.09State Farm$3,857.06
71075SPRINGHILL$4,474.44Allstate$5,413.73Geico$5,046.39State Farm$3,419.17USAA$3,645.13
71429FLORIEN$4,476.94Allstate$5,413.73Progressive$5,177.85State Farm$3,406.01USAA$3,555.97
71071SAREPTA$4,477.36Allstate$5,413.73Geico$5,046.39State Farm$3,433.73USAA$3,645.13
71449MANY$4,546.33Allstate$5,413.73Progressive$5,387.48State Farm$3,543.35USAA$3,555.97
71426FISHER$4,568.59Allstate$5,413.73Progressive$5,177.85USAA$3,555.97State Farm$3,864.26
71486ZWOLLE$4,580.26Progressive$5,600.85Allstate$5,413.73State Farm$3,499.60USAA$3,555.97
71462NOBLE$4,587.34Progressive$5,600.85Allstate$5,413.73State Farm$3,534.99USAA$3,555.97
71468PROVENCAL$4,591.96Allstate$5,413.73Progressive$5,170.17USAA$3,580.55State Farm$3,785.75
71016CASTOR$4,592.82Allstate$5,413.73Progressive$5,270.63State Farm$3,553.73USAA$3,843.04
71072SHONGALOO$4,595.44Progressive$5,439.25Allstate$5,413.73State Farm$3,403.32USAA$3,645.13
71048LISBON$4,601.27Allstate$5,413.73Progressive$5,298.84State Farm$3,624.07USAA$3,645.13
71001ARCADIA$4,604.07Allstate$5,413.73Progressive$5,206.83State Farm$3,594.95USAA$3,758.45
71045JAMESTOWN$4,608.94Allstate$5,413.73Progressive$5,270.63State Farm$3,634.33USAA$3,843.04
71460NEGREET$4,610.52Allstate$5,413.73Progressive$5,387.48USAA$3,555.97State Farm$3,864.26
71406BELMONT$4,610.84Progressive$5,614.41Allstate$5,413.73USAA$3,555.97State Farm$3,577.97
71068RINGGOLD$4,613.19Allstate$5,413.73Progressive$5,216.23State Farm$3,709.97USAA$3,843.04
71038HAYNESVILLE$4,630.28Progressive$5,439.25Allstate$5,413.73State Farm$3,577.56USAA$3,645.13

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New Orleans’ ZIP codes are the most expensive.

Most Expensive ZIP Codes in Louisiana CityAverage by ZIP CodeMost Expensive CompanyMost Expensive Rate2nd Most Expensive Company2nd Most Expensive RateCheapest CompanyCheapest Rate2nd Cheapest Company2nd Cheapest Rate
70117NEW ORLEANS$9,303.50Progressive$11,349.19Geico$10,722.66USAA$6,335.87State Farm$7,915.53
70127NEW ORLEANS$9,249.24Progressive$11,400.32Geico$10,518.81USAA$6,555.17State Farm$7,577.65
70128NEW ORLEANS$9,203.05Progressive$11,483.77Geico$10,518.81USAA$6,562.78State Farm$7,255.65
70126NEW ORLEANS$9,155.49Progressive$11,193.79Geico$10,418.61USAA$6,628.66State Farm$7,342.14
70129NEW ORLEANS$9,123.75Progressive$11,277.24Geico$10,565.56USAA$6,562.78State Farm$7,018.93
70113NEW ORLEANS$9,085.51Progressive$11,349.19Geico$10,470.09USAA$6,205.63State Farm$7,208.41
70145NEW ORLEANS$9,034.55Progressive$11,349.19Geico$10,722.66USAA$5,708.44State Farm$7,198.23
70146NEW ORLEANS$9,034.55Progressive$11,349.19Geico$10,722.66USAA$5,708.44State Farm$7,198.23
70116NEW ORLEANS$9,013.80Progressive$11,286.61Allstate$10,194.23USAA$6,225.89State Farm$7,667.52
70122NEW ORLEANS$8,940.09Progressive$11,349.19Geico$10,626.87USAA$5,798.83State Farm$6,731.32
70148NEW ORLEANS$8,877.47Progressive$11,349.19Geico$10,626.87USAA$5,708.44State Farm$6,508.60
70119NEW ORLEANS$8,860.81Progressive$11,297.04Allstate$10,194.23USAA$6,016.67State Farm$7,081.33
70139NEW ORLEANS$8,675.04Progressive$11,286.61Allstate$10,194.23USAA$5,708.44State Farm$7,198.23
70163NEW ORLEANS$8,547.15Progressive$11,349.19Allstate$10,194.23USAA$5,708.44State Farm$7,198.23
70130NEW ORLEANS$8,542.14Progressive$11,286.61Allstate$10,194.23USAA$5,708.44State Farm$7,235.76
70112NEW ORLEANS$8,540.11Progressive$11,286.61Allstate$10,194.23USAA$5,708.44State Farm$7,428.67
70170NEW ORLEANS$8,521.57Progressive$11,286.61Allstate$10,194.23USAA$5,708.44State Farm$7,198.23
70125NEW ORLEANS$8,459.50Progressive$11,116.86Allstate$10,194.23USAA$6,004.41State Farm$6,878.72
70114NEW ORLEANS$8,180.81Progressive$11,286.61Geico$9,623.03USAA$5,846.50State Farm$6,330.33
70032ARABI$8,001.83Progressive$11,220.15Geico$8,646.01USAA$5,601.65State Farm$7,180.78
70058HARVEY$7,919.05Progressive$11,116.86Geico$9,080.79USAA$5,410.50State Farm$6,169.49
70131NEW ORLEANS$7,899.82Progressive$11,411.76Geico$8,621.16USAA$5,502.31State Farm$6,146.30
70053GRETNA$7,895.98Progressive$11,054.29Geico$9,043.51USAA$5,455.88State Farm$6,108.63
70072MARRERO$7,857.95Progressive$10,759.92Geico$8,816.72USAA$5,929.56State Farm$5,965.95
70043CHALMETTE$7,852.33Progressive$11,251.46Geico$8,284.43USAA$5,601.65State Farm$6,763.55

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Auto Insurance Rates by City in Louisiana

Next, take a look at the tables below to see which cities have the best rates.

Cheapest Cities in Louisiana Average by CityMost Expensive CompanyMost Expensive Rate2nd Most Expensive Company2nd Most Expensive RateCheapest CompanyCheapest Rate2nd Cheapest Company2nd Cheapest Rate
Hornbeck$4,332.48Allstate$5,413.73Progressive$5,142.31USAA$3,187.12State Farm$3,544.31
Kurthwood$4,355.93Allstate$5,413.73Progressive$5,152.75USAA$2,981.19State Farm$3,857.06
Fort Polk$4,397.96Allstate$5,579.18Progressive$5,152.75USAA$2,981.19State Farm$3,926.59
Leesville$4,408.37Allstate$5,579.18Progressive$5,152.75USAA$2,981.19State Farm$3,978.60
Anacoco$4,430.85Allstate$5,413.73Progressive$5,142.31USAA$3,418.09State Farm$3,805.20
Simpson$4,435.33Allstate$5,579.18Progressive$5,152.75USAA$3,173.59State Farm$3,921.03
New Llano$4,440.21Allstate$5,579.18Progressive$5,152.75USAA$3,172.35State Farm$3,946.65
Slagle$4,471.44Allstate$5,579.18Progressive$5,152.75USAA$3,418.09State Farm$3,857.06
Cullen$4,474.44Allstate$5,413.73Geico$5,046.39State Farm$3,419.17USAA$3,645.13
Florien$4,476.94Allstate$5,413.73Progressive$5,177.85State Farm$3,406.01USAA$3,555.97
Sarepta$4,477.35Allstate$5,413.73Geico$5,046.39State Farm$3,433.73USAA$3,645.13
Many$4,546.33Allstate$5,413.73Progressive$5,387.48State Farm$3,543.35USAA$3,555.97
Fisher$4,568.59Allstate$5,413.73Progressive$5,177.85USAA$3,555.97State Farm$3,864.26
Zwolle$4,580.26Progressive$5,600.85Allstate$5,413.73State Farm$3,499.60USAA$3,555.97
Noble$4,587.34Progressive$5,600.85Allstate$5,413.73State Farm$3,534.99USAA$3,555.97
Provencal$4,591.96Allstate$5,413.73Progressive$5,170.17USAA$3,580.55State Farm$3,785.75
Castor$4,592.82Allstate$5,413.73Progressive$5,270.63State Farm$3,553.73USAA$3,843.04
Shongaloo$4,595.44Progressive$5,439.25Allstate$5,413.73State Farm$3,403.32USAA$3,645.13
Lisbon$4,601.27Allstate$5,413.73Progressive$5,298.84State Farm$3,624.07USAA$3,645.13
Arcadia$4,604.07Allstate$5,413.73Progressive$5,206.83State Farm$3,594.95USAA$3,758.45
Jamestown$4,608.94Allstate$5,413.73Progressive$5,270.63State Farm$3,634.33USAA$3,843.04
Negreet$4,610.51Allstate$5,413.73Progressive$5,387.48USAA$3,555.97State Farm$3,864.26
Belmont$4,610.84Progressive$5,614.41Allstate$5,413.73USAA$3,555.97State Farm$3,577.97
Ringgold$4,613.19Allstate$5,413.73Progressive$5,216.23State Farm$3,709.97USAA$3,843.04
Haynesville$4,630.28Progressive$5,439.25Allstate$5,413.73State Farm$3,577.56USAA$3,645.13

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The average annual premium in Louisiana is $5,711 and the rates in New Orleans are almost $3,000 over that.

Most Expensive Cities in Louisiana Average by CityMost Expensive CompanyMost Expensive Rate2nd Most Expensive Company2nd Most Expensive RateCheapest CompanyCheapest Rate2nd Cheapest Company2nd Cheapest Rate
New Orleans$8,649.31Progressive$11,225.41Allstate$9,603.97USAA$5,944.69State Farm$6,997.47
Arabi$8,001.83Progressive$11,220.15Geico$8,646.01USAA$5,601.65State Farm$7,180.78
Harvey$7,919.05Progressive$11,116.86Geico$9,080.79USAA$5,410.50State Farm$6,169.49
Gretna$7,860.34Progressive$10,956.51Geico$8,939.46USAA$5,455.88State Farm$6,132.24
Estelle$7,857.95Progressive$10,759.92Geico$8,816.72USAA$5,929.56State Farm$5,965.95
Chalmette$7,852.33Progressive$11,251.46Geico$8,284.43USAA$5,601.65State Farm$6,763.55
Meraux$7,789.28Progressive$11,282.73Geico$8,452.79USAA$5,601.65State Farm$6,248.68
Poydras$7,346.93Progressive$11,312.43Allstate$7,360.57USAA$4,869.75State Farm$6,208.18
Lafitte$7,282.71Progressive$11,379.45Allstate$7,817.59State Farm$4,851.62USAA$5,264.66
Barataria$7,257.44Progressive$11,379.45Allstate$7,817.59State Farm$4,725.25USAA$5,264.66
Pointe A La Hache$7,254.34Progressive$11,312.43Allstate$8,110.10USAA$4,869.75State Farm$4,879.19
Kenner$7,250.98Progressive$10,866.48Geico$7,913.35USAA$5,527.33State Farm$5,756.15
Avondale$7,150.36Progressive$10,423.27Geico$8,215.55Allstate$5,175.46USAA$5,929.56
Belle Chasse$7,147.88Progressive$9,986.77Allstate$8,110.10USAA$4,869.75State Farm$5,430.25
Braithwaite$7,070.65Progressive$11,312.43Allstate$7,360.57State Farm$4,710.25USAA$4,869.75
Metairie$7,028.30Progressive$10,954.16Geico$7,457.85USAA$5,202.82State Farm$5,401.80
Uncle Sam$7,025.29Progressive$11,546.32Geico$6,829.86USAA$4,890.31State Farm$5,056.99
Burnside$7,011.06Progressive$11,546.32Geico$6,829.86USAA$4,819.16State Farm$5,056.99
Port Sulphur$6,988.27Progressive$9,986.77Allstate$8,110.10USAA$4,869.75State Farm$4,874.50
Elmwood$6,943.52Progressive$10,878.87Geico$7,590.53USAA$5,006.83State Farm$5,116.54
Baton Rouge$6,786.59Progressive$9,301.30Geico$7,607.46USAA$4,869.88State Farm$5,317.05
Pilottown$6,775.22Progressive$8,916.82Allstate$8,110.10USAA$4,869.75State Farm$4,879.19
Boothville$6,756.68Progressive$8,916.82Allstate$8,110.10State Farm$4,786.49USAA$4,869.75
Venice$6,749.62Progressive$8,916.82Allstate$8,110.10State Farm$4,751.19USAA$4,869.75
Baker$6,694.24Progressive$9,061.48Geico$7,592.92USAA$4,737.73State Farm$5,276.11

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The high number of uninsured drivers and distracted driving are some of the reasons that rates are so high in Louisiana but the situation gets worse when you step into the state’s most populated city, New Orleans.

As per Louisiana Insurance Commissioner, Jim Donelon, rates are 25 percent higher on an average for those living in the metro areas of New Orleans or Baton Rouge which gets a large share of auto litigation cases.

Moreover, many motorists carry only the minimum coverage and when these people hit someone on the road, they usually end up getting sued which in turn raises the premium rates for everyone.

Find the Cheapest Insurance in Your City: Louisiana Rates Comparison

Looking for the most affordable insurance rates in Louisiana? Our table provides a quick comparison of insurance costs across major cities in the state. Whether you’re in Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Lake Charles, New Orleans, or Shreveport, finding the cheapest insurance option is just a click away. Start comparing rates now to secure the best deal for your needs.

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Best Auto Insurance Carriers in Louisiana

When it comes to selecting an insurance carrier, everyone has a different criterion. Some motorists look for ease of digital communication with agents while others look for insurers who offer the best add-ons.

Along with your personal preferences for the type of auto insurance carrier you want to buy a policy from, there are some basic things that you must look at such as – customer reviews, financial ratings, and complaint numbers.

Buying a policy from an insurer who’s financially secure and responds to customer requests promptly should be your first priority.

Let’s see how leading insurers in Louisiana fare on these parameters.

Financial Ratings of the Leading Car Insurers in Louisiana

Leading Insurance CompanyAM Best Rating
State Farm GroupA++
Progressive GroupA+
Allstate Insurance GroupA+
GeicoA++
Liberty Mutual GroupA
USAA GroupA++
Southern Farm Bureau Casualty GroupA+
Goauto Insurance CoNR
Amtrust NGH GroupA-
Safeway Insurance GroupA

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Read more: GoAuto Auto Insurance Review

To give you an idea of how the leading insurance companies are rated on their financial strength, we have used data from AM Best.

AM Best, with its unique focus on the insurance sector, offers an independent opinion on the financial strength and long-term contractual obligations of insurance carriers.

To make it simple for everyone to understand, AM Best assigns a rating to all insurance carriers from A++ to D that signifies a superior to poor ability, respectively, in meeting their obligations.

Whenever you’re planning to buy a policy, make sure that it’s rated somewhere between A++ to B+, anything beyond that would mean a certain level of uncertainty about the provider’s financial condition.

Car Insurance Companies with Best Customer Reviews in Louisiana

Financial strength rating would help you to know whether an insurer is capable of meeting its obligations, however, customer reviews can actually tell you whether they do so or not.

Apart from settling claims, you also expect your insurance carrier to answer your queries timely, respond to the first notice of loss promptly, and share your premium payment receipts regularly through a medium of your choice.

That’s why it’s important to check customer reviews thoroughly before buying a policy so that you know whether an insurer offers everything that you need.

As per the J.D. Power 2019 U.S. Auto Insurance Study, customer satisfaction levels with auto insurance carriers has reached a new level of high with the availability of do-it-yourself tools that bypass agents and allow customers to buy policies online.

Senior consultant at J.D. Power, Robert Lajdziak, noted that “Auto insurance customers have more access, control, and visibility into the details of their policies, and that is translating into record-high levels of customer satisfaction.”

If digital access to your policy details is important to you, buying from an insurer who sends all documentation by mail only can make your life difficult.

Here’s the overall satisfaction index from the J.D. Power study.

JD Power 2019 Auto Insurance Study-Southeast Region

The 2019 study by J.D. Power that allows customers to rate insurance companies which helps others in making a choice assesses customer satisfaction on five factors:

  • Interaction
  • Policy offerings
  • Price
  • Billing process and policy information
  • Claims

In the southeast region, Farm Bureau Insurance was rated the highest among all insurers. The responses of this study were solicited from 42,759 auto insurance customers.

Complaint Numbers of Leading Car Insurance Companies in Louisiana

Insurance CompanyComplaint Numbers
State Farm Group1482
Progressive Group120
Allstate Insurance Group163
Geico333
Liberty Mutual Group222
USAA Group296
Southern Farm Bureau Casualty Group3
Goauto Insurance Co25
Amtrust NGH Group2
Safeway Insurance Group30

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You should also look at the complaints registered against the auto insurers in your state because that also would tell you how satisfied customers are with their services.

Average Annual Premiums by Insurance Carrier in Louisiana

Insurance CompanyAverage Annual PremiumsCompared to State Average (+/-)Percentage Change (+/-)
Allstate P&C$5,998.79$287.444.79%
Geico Cas$6,154.60$443.257.20%
Progressive Security Ins.$7,471.10$1,759.7523.55%
State Farm Mutual Auto$4,579.12-$1,132.22-24.73%
USAA$4,353.12-$1,358.23-31.20%

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The average annual premiums in Louisiana is $5,711 so you can compare rates across insurance carriers in the table above.

Average Annual Premiums by Commute Rate in Louisiana

Insurance Company10 miles commute/ 6000 annual mileage25 miles commute/ 12000 annual mileage
Allstate$5,998.79$5,998.79
Geico$6,034.79$6,274.40
Progressive$7,471.10$7,471.10
State Farm$4,461.13$4,697.11
USAA$4,218.32$4,487.91

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If you drive less on a regular basis, you might be eligible for low mileage discounts. 

As you can see in the table, Geico, State Farm, and USAA offer low-mileage discounts i.e. if you clock around 10 miles/day you would have to pay lower premiums.

Though not every insurer in your state offers this discount, you should always ask before buying a policy if you plan to use public transport or work from home mostly.

Average Annual Premiums by Coverage Level in Louisiana

Insurance CompanyLowMediumHigh
Allstate$5,185.16$6,109.21$6,702.00
Geico$5,086.66$6,176.92$7,200.21
Progressive$6,193.86$7,406.27$8,813.16
State Farm$3,962.47$4,568.03$5,206.86
USAA$3,776.25$4,420.47$4,862.64

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Insurance premiums vary by the level of coverage you choose, if your coverage level is high, your premiums would be considerably higher.

You might lower your coverage to pay low premiums, but if you were to get involved in a major accident, your coverage might not be enough to pay off the medical expenses or property damage costs.

And, Louisiana is famous for its staggering number of auto liability litigations which might put you in a difficult situation if you carry the minimum coverage as required by the law.

In April 2019, legislators passed a bill to curb the rising insurance premiums in Louisiana due to the high number of auto liability lawsuits in the state.

Average Annual Premiums by Credit History in Louisiana

Insurance CompanyPoorFairGood
Allstate$7,859.57$5,410.52$4,726.27
Geico$7,322.08$6,353.32$4,788.40
Progressive$8,444.80$7,236.85$6,731.64
State Farm$6,350.34$4,086.69$3,300.33
USAA$6,010.39$3,841.14$3,207.81

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If you have defaulted on your payments earlier or have a poor credit rating, insurance carriers would charge a much higher premium from you than others.

Almost all insurance carriers, as per data in the table, charge an exorbitantly high premium from motorists with a poor or fair credit rating.

As per data from Consumer Reports, adult single drivers can expect to pay $1,649 over the base premium rate if they have a poor credit rating in Louisiana.

What’s the average credit score in Louisiana?

As per Experian’s State of Credit Survey 2017, the average vantage score of Louisiana was 650 while the national average was 675.

Vantage score, developed by Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion, is a credit rating model that assigns scores to individuals in the range of 300-850.

Louisiana is amongst the top ten states with the lowest vantage scores which means that motorists usually are charged much higher rates because of their credit scores.

Average Annual Premiums by Driving Record in Louisiana

Insurance CompanyClean recordWith 1 accidentWith 1 DUIWith 1 speeding violation
Allstate$4,753.81$7,221.89$6,443.95$5,575.49
Geico$4,180.19$6,755.09$8,315.63$5,367.48
Progressive$6,223.20$8,352.66$8,027.23$7,281.29
State Farm$4,196.97$4,961.27$4,579.12$4,579.12
USAA$3,321.63$4,611.20$5,514.32$3,965.32

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Driving carelessly and accumulating points on your driving record isn’t just unsafe, it also leads to an increase in your premium rates.

How much your premiums rise depends on your insurer and type of violation – some carriers take accidents more seriously while others penalize those with a DUI on their record.

Leading Car Insurance Companies in Louisiana

RankInsurance CompanyDirect Written PremiumsLoss RatioMarket Share
1State Farm Group$1,512,62273.76%33.57%
2Progressive Group$602,56465.32%13.37%
3Allstate Insurance Group$502,61653.33%11.15%
4Geico$432,09575.64%9.59%
5Liberty Mutual Group$253,83668.10%5.63%
6USAA Group$248,89486.36%5.52%
7Southern Farm Bureau Casualty Group$231,08670.01%5.13%
8Goauto Insurance Co$144,62674.36%3.21%
9Amtrust NGH Group$104,34367.11%2.32%
10Safeway Insurance Group$72,94067.02%1.62%

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Number of Insurers in Louisiana

Type of InsurerNumber
Foreign819
Domestic34

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State Laws in Louisiana

While we have covered the basic information that you need to get auto insurance coverage in Louisiana in the previous sections, we would now explain the state laws that govern auto insurance in Louisiana.

Why is that important?

Though you wouldn’t need to know the state laws at the back of your mind always, you should still be aware of how auto insurance works and how rates are determined.

Also, we would highlight some laws related to high-risk insurance, drunk driving, insurance fraud, etc. that might be useful while driving or buying insurance.

Car Insurance Laws in Louisiana

We would first start with laws related to mainly car insurance – what is unique and what you may not know about.

How State Laws for Car Insurance are Determined

Auto insurance, like every other industry, is governed by state laws which determine the framework for day-to-day operations.

Tort law and its threshold, liability insurance requirements, and premium rates are all decided by your state’s legislators before becoming they can be put into practice.

Rate and Form Filing: In Louisiana, insurance companies need to file rates and forms for approval with the state insurance department before use.

This process has a 45-day deemer provision which means that rates or files get automatically approved if not denied within 45 days.

Financial Responsibility Laws: The financial responsibility laws in Louisiana require all motorists to either carry auto liability policy with limits stated by the state or a certificate of self-insurance or a cash deposit with the state treasurer or a motor vehicle liability bond.

Windshield Coverage Laws in Louisiana

There aren’t any specific windshield coverage laws in Louisiana but motorists aren’t allowed to drive with posters or signs on the windshield if it obstructs the view of the driver.

High-Risk Car Insurance in Louisiana

Motorists who have a poor credit record or were at-fault in an accident usually pay a higher premium rate than others.

But, what if someone has multiple violations on their driving record?

Motorists who have multiple violations on record can be refused insurance in the voluntary market if they are considered high-risk.

And, when you’re high-risk, you can either buy insurance from companies who specialize in high-risk insurance or apply to the Louisiana Automobile Insurance Plan.

What is the Louisiana Automobile Insurance Plan?

The Louisiana Automobile Insurance Plan allows high-risk motorists to buy coverage from an auto insurance company assigned to them.

This state-initiated plan, established in 1972, assigns high-risk drivers equitably amongst all insurers as per their market share in Louisiana.

As the probability of a claim is high, the plan makes it fair for all auto insurance companies by assigning them a percentage of these high-risk drivers.

How does the plan work?

If you were denied coverage in the voluntary market, you can apply to the Louisiana Automobile Insurance Plan, provided you’re eligible.

Once your application is accepted, you’re assigned to an auto insurer who would provide you coverage for a pre-defined time limit.

Though the plan enables high-risk drivers to get coverage, it tends to be expensive because of the risks involved in the transaction. Hence, you should try your best to become a safe driver.

Automobile Insurance Fraud in Louisiana

Auto insurance fraud is the act of misrepresenting or concealing information for the sake of personal financial gains.

Around 10 percent of the losses in the property and casualty insurance industry can be traced to insurance fraud as per estimates.

Whenever any fraudulent act is committed, it’s not only illegal but also leads to an increase in premium rates for everyone. Therefore, if you come across anything that seems unusual, do report it.

To combat auto insurance fraud, http://www.ldi.la.gov/consumers/boards-commissions/latifpa was established under the Department of Insurance.

You can report insurance fraud to the Louisiana Department of Insurance online or by phone at 225-342-4956 or mail to the Fraud Division, Louisiana Department of Insurance, Post Office Box 3096, Baton Rouge, LA 70821.

Statute of Limitations in Louisiana

If you’re severely injured in an accident or your car has been damaged beyond repair, you may want to pursue a lawsuit to get the right compensation.

But, did you know that there’s a time limit to bring a lawsuit after an accident?

According to the law in Louisiana, you have one year from the day of the accident to file a lawsuit for personal injury or property damage whether you’re a driver, passenger, motorcyclist, or pedestrian.

Vehicle Licensing Laws in Louisiana

New regulations regarding licensing or identification documents keep getting updated as and when a new requirement comes up in the legislation.

For instance, Real ID was introduced across all states to improve the existing security standards.

Let’s look at the laws related to your vehicle license.

Real ID in Louisiana

To improve the reliability of identification documents, Louisiana became compliant with the Real ID Act which enables federal agencies to accept driver’s licenses from the state for entry into certain federal facilities and fly by commercial airlines.

Real ID is an effort by the federal and state governments to enhance national security by ensuring authentication through state-issued identification documents.

If you haven’t applied for a Real Id compliant license, you can do so by visiting your local Office of Motor Vehicles with the required documentation.

By when can you use your driver’s license to enter federal facilities?

After October 2020, federal agencies wouldn’t accept any non-compliant state-issued documents for entry into federal facilities or nuclear power plants or for taking a commercial flight. You can still use your passport or any other federal ID to gain access.

What documents do you need to get a Real ID license?

You have to prove your identity, date of birth, lawful status in the country, residence in the state (two documents), and social security number. Common documents that you may need to bring are:

  • Original or certified birth certificate (primary)
  • U.S. passport (primary)
  • Permanent resident card (primary)
  • Social security card (secondary)
  • Voter registration card (secondary)

If you aren’t a citizen, you have to bring your foreign passport with the arrival/departure records (I-94, CBP I-94A or I-797A).

How can you recognize a Real ID-compliant license?

A Real ID-compliant card has a start on the upper right corner while a non-compliant license would mention “not for federal identification.”

Penalties for Driving without Insurance In Louisiana

Laws in Louisiana require all motorists to carry the state-mandated minimum liability coverage at the least. If you fail to do so, you may have to face consequences, such as:

  • Motorists who drive without insurance can be subjected to fines in the range of $500-$1,000. You can also face penalties for lack of proof of insurance or driving with a lapsed insurance policy.
  • Along with the fines, driving without insurance could lead to registration revocation or license plate cancellation.
  • If you happen to be involved in an accident without insurance, your driver’s license and registration may be revoked for a period of 180 days.
  • Falsely claiming to have bought insurance can lead to license revocation for 12 to 18 months.

Those who think they can get by without insurance and also claim damages in an accident because of the other party’s fault, there’s a “No Pay, No Play” law in Louisiana for them.

The No Pay, No Play law prohibits motorists without any insurance to collect the first $15,000 in personal injuries and the first $25,000 in property damages irrespective of who was at fault in an accident.

How do the law enforcement officers check for auto insurance coverage?

In 2015, the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles had issued 1.2 million letters requesting people to pay their fines for lapsed insurance policies.

With the rising number of uninsured motorists in Louisiana, many of whom let their policy lapse, a new real-time monitoring system was launched in 2016 that enables police officers to check whether a motorist has coverage or not.

Teen Driver Laws in Louisiana

Teaching your children about safe driving from an early age can ensure everyone’s safety on the roads. And, the best way to do that is by practicing safe driving so that kids can learn while they are being driven around by you.

The state of Louisiana uses a Graduated Licensing Program to inculcate the habit of safe driving amongst kids before they can get a permanent unrestricted license.

Before we into the details of the program, you may watch this video for tips on safe driving.

All applicants under 17 get their driver’s license by progressing through the different stages of the Graduated Licensing Program.

Learner’s Permit: If you’re at least 15, you can get a learner’s permit after passing the knowledge and vision test. But, you must follow a few rules:

  • Present a completion certificate of a 38-hour approved driver education course
  • Must maintain the learner’s permit for at least 180 days and apply for the next stage only when you’re 16
  • Should drive with a licensed adult driver who’s at least 21 or with a licensed sibling who’s at least 21 or a licensed parent/guardian

Intermediate License: When you’re 16, you can apply for an intermediate license but must follow a few rules:

  • Complete supervised driving for 50 hours, including 15 hours of nighttime driving under the supervision of a parent/guardian or an adult who’s at least 21
  • Pass the road test
  • Can not drive between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. except when accompanied by a licensed parent/guardian or an adult who’s at least 21 or a licensed sibling who’s at least 18
  • Between 6 p.m. and 5 a.m., you can not drive with a passenger below 21, who isn’t an immediate family member, unless accompanied by a licensed adult who’s at least 21

Permanent License: As soon as you turn 17, you can apply for a permanent license provided:

  • You haven’t been involved in an at-fault accident during the intermediate stage
  • You haven’t been convicted for curfew, seat belt, or moving violations during the intermediate stage

License Renewal Procedure in Louisiana

Your Lousiana driver’s license is valid for only six years after which you must renew it by person or mail or online. If you don’t renew your license within 180 days before expiration, you would have to pay a fee of $15 if it has been expired for more than 10 days.

For a mail or online renewal, you would receive an invitation from the office otherwise you are required to renew it in person.

Please note that if you need any change of personal information in the license, you would have to visit the office.

New Residents in Louisiana

If you’re moving to Louisiana from another state, do note that you would be required to get a local license within 30 days of getting a residence.

Please visit your local OMV for a Louisiana license with documents such as valid out-of-state driver’s license, proof of residency, social security verification, and primary and secondary documents.

Rules of the Road in Louisiana

Abiding by the rules of the road is the best way to avoid accidents and in turn a spike in your premium rates.

While everyone tries to follow the speed limits, there aren’t many who completely understand laws related to seat belts or keeping right on highways.

Fault vs No-Fault Law

Louisiana follows the tort law where the at-fault party is responsible to settle damages sustained by the third-party in an accident through his/her auto liability insurance.

The tort law in Louisiana operates under comparative fault which means that the fault of everyone involved in an accident is assessed and if the victim is found partially responsible, he/she would have to share the cost of the claim.

Seat Belt and Car Seat Laws in Louisiana

The laws in Louisiana make it mandatory for front-seat passengers to wear seat belts and police officers can issue a citation if a motorist is caught without wearing one.

Violations are also subject to fines:

  • First Offense: $25
  • Second Offense: $50
  • Third Offense: $50 plus court fees

Adults can wear their own seat belts but restraining a child properly in the car seat is a driver’s responsibility who should ensure that seats are fastened as per the instructions.

Until now, Louisiana followed the federal standards for child safety seats but from August 1, 2019, residents would have to abide by the new car seat law.

The general guidelines, which takes into consideration the child’s height and weight, are as follows:

  • Below 2: Must ride in child safety seat which is rear-facing
  • Age 2 to 4: When they outgrow their previous seat, they should be restrained in a forward-facing seat that has an internal harness
  • Age 4 to 9: As children grow bigger, they should be put into booster seats
  • Age 9 to 12: Children can now be allowed to drive without a booster seat if their back sticks to the car’s back seat, their knee bends over the edge, and the seat belt passes through their chest.

If you’re caught violating the seat belt law, you would have to pay fines:

  • First Offense: $50
  • Second Offense: $100
  • Third or Subsequent Offenses: $100 plus court fee

In addition, your driving license would be confiscated and driving rights suspended until you prove that you have bought a car seat that meets the requirements under the law.

Keep Right and Move Over Laws in Louisiana

The law in Louisiana requires motorists to keep right while driving and use the left lane only to pass.

The move over laws of Louisiana require every motorist approaching a stationary vehicle with flashing lights to change the lane, farther from the parked vehicle, if it’s safe to do so.

If it’s unsafe to change lanes or when driving on a two-lane highway, motorists should slow down to maintain a safe speed.

Speed Limits in Louisiana

Although you should keep an eye on speed limits posted on the roads you’re driving, having an idea about the statutory limits can help.

  • Interstate highways: 70mph
  • Multi-lane divided highways: 65 mph
  • Other roads: 55 mph

Ridesharing Laws in Louisiana

Until now, ridesharing companies, Uber and Lyft, were operating in a few locations of Louisiana i.e. Lafayette, the greater New Orleans area, and Baton Rouge.

Why was it not available across the state? Because of the lack of statewide regulations for ridesharing services although attempts have been made to pass a bill that would regulate such companies.

In June 2019, Gov. John Bel Edwards signed the house bill 575 that establishes statewide regulations for ridesharing companies and allows them to operate across the state.

The law took effect on July 1st and it would take Uber/Lyft a few months to spread their operations across the state.

Automation on the Road in Louisiana

Much like the rest of the country, Louisiana also wants to understand how autonomous vehicles can manage the traffic on roads and help everyone to get to their destination faster.

In 2017, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development signed a multi-year contract with Arcadis US to develop a strategic implementation plan for autonomous vehicles and study its impact on the future of transportation.

Not only that, Louisiana recently passed a bill, which takes effect from August 2019, to allow the operation of commercial motor vehicles in the state.

The requirements in the new bill state that these autonomous vehicles must meet the federal and state regulations as well as carry insurance coverage of at least $2 million.

Safety Laws in Louisiana

There can be many causes of accidents but if it’s driving under the influence of alcohol/drugs, law enforcement rarely shows any mercy.

That’s why you should refrain from driving after consuming anything that can slow down your ability to think.

Let’s look at what safety laws you need to follow in Louisiana.

DUI Laws in Louisiana

Known as OWI or operating under the influence (of alcohol/drugs) in the state’s statute, the DUI laws of Louisiana prohibit motorists from driving if their Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) level is above 0.08 percent.

Penalties for any violations are as follows:

OffensePrisonFinesIgnition Interlock Device
First OffenseUp to 6 months$300-$1,000

Can be ordered to install
Second OffenseUp to 6 months$750-$1,000Must install for a minimum of six months and during probation
Third Offense1 to 5 years$2,000Must be installed during treatment and probation

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For motorists under the age of 21, the law tends to be stricter and prohibits the operation of a vehicle if the driver’s BAC level is above 0.02 percent.

Do remember that a DWI record for underage motorists can really mess up premium rates for a long period of time.

Penalties can include prison time, fines, and community work.

  • For the first offense, you’re liable to pay a fine between $100 and $250 and complete substance abuse driver improvement program. In addition, your driving rights would be suspended for six months.
  • For the second and subsequent offenses, you would have to pay a fine between $150 and $500 and spend up to three months in prison. This jail time could be suspended if the offender serves a minimum of 48 hours in prison, completes a substance abuse driver improvement program, and spends 80 hours on community service. In addition, the driver’s license would be suspended for a year.

Distracted Driving Laws in Louisiana

When you’re driving, it’s safer to delay watching a youtube video or responding to a text for later i.e. when you have killed your car’s ignition.

You might think that you’re good at multitasking, but it takes just a millisecond of distraction to lose control of your vehicle.

From 2011 to 2015, around 192 deaths and 26,977 injuries were reported in Louisiana from accidents due to distracted driving, mainly involving cell phone usage and texting.

Here’s an infographic from the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission highlighting the types of distraction while driving.

Distracted Driving

As per the law in Louisiana, texting is completely banned for everyone and cellphone usage isn’t allowed for drivers under 16.

In school zones, the usage of mobile devices is prohibited for any purpose during the posted hours, except for a few emergency situations.

If you violate the law, you would be fined $175 the first time and $500 every time for any subsequent offenses.

Driving in Louisiana

Your driving experience is a summation of many factors on the roads in your state which also influence premiums rates in your zip code.

How many people live in a city, what percentage of these people use public transportation, why are there fatal crashes in your zip code – these facts can help you understand the driving conditions in your state.

Vehicle Theft in Louisiana

RankMake & ModelYear of VehicleNumber of Thefts
1Chevrolet Pickup (Full Size)2006671
2Ford Pickup (Full Size)2006584
3GMC Pickup (Full Size)2006253
4Toyota Camry2007224
5Dodge Pickup (Full Size)2003222
6Nissan Altima2014215
7Honda Accord2008209
8Chevrolet Impala2008177
9GMC Yukon2003125
10Chevrolet Tahoe2007114

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From the data, the fascination of thieves for pickup trucks is quite evident much like the preference of residents for pickup trucks and SUVs.

You can also see the vehicle theft numbers in your city.

CityMotor
vehicle
theft
Abbeville6
Addis0
Alexandria257
Baker12
Ball2
Bastrop32
Baton Rouge991
Berwick0
Blanchard4
Bogalusa36
Bossier City283
Breaux Bridge4
Broussard12
Brusly0
Carencro14
Church Point8
Clinton0
Cottonport1
Covington9
Crowley28
Cullen0
Denham Springs4
De Ridder10
Epps0
Erath3
Eunice21
Farmerville1
Ferriday0
Fisher0
Florien0
Folsom1
Franklin6
Franklinton9
French Settlement0
Georgetown0
Golden Meadow0
Gonzales37
Gramercy38
Greenwood7
Gretna32
Hammond79
Harahan4
Haughton4
Houma50
Ida0
Independence8
Iowa2
Jena0
Jennings1
Kaplan1
Kenner128
Kentwood9
Kinder2
Krotz Springs3
Lafayette297
Lake Charles259
Lake Providence0
Leesville13
Lutcher3
Mandeville4
Mansfield2
Many5
Marion2
Marksville7
Minden8
Monroe3204
Montgomery0
Moreauville2
Morgan City29
Natchitoches25
New Orleans2,531
Norwood0
Oak Grove3
Oil City1
Olla1
Opelousas42
Patterson1
Pearl River6
Pineville42
Plaquemine5
Pollock0
Ponchatoula20
Port Allen8
Port Vincent4
Rayne9
Ringgold0
Ruston13
Scott17
Shreveport884
Sibley1
Slidell43
Springhill1
St. Gabriel6
Sulphur69
Tallulah1
Thibodaux21
Tickfaw0
Vidalia3
Ville Platte19
Walker14
Welsh3
Westlake0
West Monroe49
Westwego7
Wilson0
Youngsville2
Zachary24
Zwolle0

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New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and Shreveport had the highest number of motor vehicle thefts in 2017 as per data from FBI.

Road Fatalities in Louisiana

We would cover the fatality rates and reasons behind accidents in Louisiana in this section through data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Fatal Crashes by Weather Condition and Light Condition in Louisiana

Weather ConditionDaylightDark, but LightedDarkDawn or DuskOther / UnknownTotal
Normal27693219321621
Rain2015164055
Snow/Sleet100001
Other2480014
Unknown011035
Total299113244364696

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Fatalities (All Crashes) by County in Louisiana

County Name20132014201520162017
Acadia Parish1218171212
Allen Parish36665
Ascension Parish2323192128
Assumption Parish511562
Avoyelles Parish913767
Beauregard Parish56558
Bienville Parish43162
Bossier Parish914121115
Caddo Parish2940362736
Calcasieu Parish2424364738
Caldwell Parish45414
Cameron Parish11103
Catahoula Parish10321
Claiborne Parish22341
Concordia Parish74731
De Soto Parish45358
East Baton Rouge Parish4150435265
East Carroll Parish11400
East Feliciana Parish268168
Evangeline Parish62986
Franklin Parish25754
Grant Parish16526
Iberia Parish161524158
Iberville Parish61613186
Jackson Parish32423
Jefferson Davis Parish74101212
Jefferson Parish2224263428
La Salle Parish25352
Lafayette Parish3831292418
Lafourche Parish2429202423
Lincoln Parish88245
Livingston Parish2524182523
Madison Parish541147
Morehouse Parish93745
Natchitoches Parish1068106
Orleans Parish5350505544
Ouachita Parish2223212028
Plaquemines Parish34811
Pointe Coupee Parish6781111
Rapides Parish1622222013
Red River Parish44345
Richland Parish45635
Sabine Parish116368
St. Bernard Parish63623
St. Charles Parish136788
St. Helena Parish56629
St. James Parish76544
St. John The Baptist Parish1588108
St. Landry Parish2025211523
St. Martin Parish1416101317
St. Mary Parish12131249
St. Tammany Parish2022262330
Tangipahoa Parish2622364031
Tensas Parish12111
Terrebonne Parish2219162029
Union Parish76771
Vermilion Parish4614104
Vernon Parish131181311
Washington Parish1010101215
Webster Parish5541711
West Baton Rouge Parish11119512
West Carroll Parish11313
West Feliciana Parish23313
Winn Parish02337

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Traffic Fatalities in Louisiana

Type of Road2008200920102011201220132014201520162017
Rural502442391348345342389368368369
Urban414382330332378361351377385390

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Fatalities by Person Type in Louisiana

Person Type20132014201520162017
Passenger Car243258259254254
Light Truck - Pickup137150145138144
Light Truck - Utility8687727476
Light Truck - Van108161714
Large Truck132071130
Other/Unknown Occupants1510161411
Total Occupants504533519512529
Light Truck - Other00440
Total Motorcyclists8683919496
Pedestrian97105106127111
Bicyclist and Other Cyclist1413342222
Other/Unknown Nonoccupants26222
Total Nonoccupants113124142151135
Total703740752757760

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Fatalities by Crash Type in Louisiana

Crash Type20132014201520162017
Total Fatalities (All Crashes)703740752757760
Single Vehicle403467435418440
Involving a Large Truck84807989102
Involving Speeding193204171173177
Involving a Rollover197227204177204
Involving a Roadway Departure435467411415421
Involving an Intersection (or Intersection Related)119153151138141

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Fatalities Trend for the Top 10 Counties in Louisiana

Louisiana Counties by 2017 Ranking20132014201520162017
East Baton Rouge Parish4150435265
Orleans Parish5350505544
Calcasieu Parish2424364738
Caddo Parish2940362736
Tangipahoa Parish2622364031
St. Tammany Parish2022262330
Terrebonne Parish2219162029
Ascension Parish2323192128
Jefferson Parish2224263428
Ouachita Parish2223212028
Top Ten Counties305320328351357
All Other Counties398420424406403
All Counties703740752757760

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Fatalities Involving Speeding by County in Louisiana

County Name20132014201520162017
Acadia Parish48502
Allen Parish12210
Ascension Parish551087
Assumption Parish24121
Avoyelles Parish12220
Beauregard Parish22010
Bienville Parish00100
Bossier Parish33104
Caddo Parish13171259
Calcasieu Parish8108106
Caldwell Parish00102
Cameron Parish00000
Catahoula Parish00000
Claiborne Parish12020
Concordia Parish30530
De Soto Parish41322
East Baton Rouge Parish98539
East Carroll Parish00000
East Feliciana Parish01143
Evangeline Parish20032
Franklin Parish11211
Grant Parish02411
Iberia Parish32432
Iberville Parish110341
Jackson Parish01000
Jefferson Davis Parish11121
Jefferson Parish84683
La Salle Parish10130
Lafayette Parish98425
Lafourche Parish575511
Lincoln Parish03012
Livingston Parish58438
Madison Parish11201
Morehouse Parish33010
Natchitoches Parish21320
Orleans Parish869127
Ouachita Parish56306
Plaquemines Parish21401
Pointe Coupee Parish31272
Rapides Parish513574
Red River Parish32112
Richland Parish11101
Sabine Parish61211
St. Bernard Parish21011
St. Charles Parish84234
St. Helena Parish00401
St. James Parish02000
St. John The Baptist Parish63251
St. Landry Parish78532
St. Martin Parish27237
St. Mary Parish00001
St. Tammany Parish6510610
Tangipahoa Parish4681414
Tensas Parish00010
Terrebonne Parish994711
Union Parish32110
Vermilion Parish13320
Vernon Parish61126
Washington Parish02244
Webster Parish30171
West Baton Rouge Parish33124
West Carroll Parish10001
West Feliciana Parish10100
Winn Parish00122

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Fatalities in Crashes Involving an Alcohol-Impaired Driver (BAC = .08+) by County in Louisiana

County Name20132014201520162017
Acadia Parish25324
Allen Parish13200
Ascension Parish65467
Assumption Parish14110
Avoyelles Parish82213
Beauregard Parish44101
Bienville Parish00000
Bossier Parish14303
Caddo Parish61617714
Calcasieu Parish88131712
Caldwell Parish01201
Cameron Parish00101
Catahoula Parish10100
Claiborne Parish10020
Concordia Parish02120
De Soto Parish33111
East Baton Rouge Parish817141419
East Carroll Parish01100
East Feliciana Parish12182
Evangeline Parish20253
Franklin Parish22222
Grant Parish05112
Iberia Parish931462
Iberville Parish47152
Jackson Parish01101
Jefferson Davis Parish23422
Jefferson Parish697106
La Salle Parish10121
Lafayette Parish20121055
Lafourche Parish81845
Lincoln Parish22012
Livingston Parish611694
Madison Parish22311
Morehouse Parish11311
Natchitoches Parish32230
Orleans Parish2213182116
Ouachita Parish83848
Plaquemines Parish23511
Pointe Coupee Parish22653
Rapides Parish25442
Red River Parish12212
Richland Parish00201
Sabine Parish51122
St. Bernard Parish32110
St. Charles Parish72432
St. Helena Parish22106
St. James Parish24111
St. John The Baptist Parish43010
St. Landry Parish515557
St. Martin Parish76336
St. Mary Parish34113
St. Tammany Parish47766
Tangipahoa Parish8102087
Tensas Parish00010
Terrebonne Parish9881113
Union Parish10130
Vermilion Parish13352
Vernon Parish47363
Washington Parish43142
Webster Parish20063
West Baton Rouge Parish44525
West Carroll Parish00100
West Feliciana Parish11001
Winn Parish00000

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Teen Drinking and Driving in Louisiana

Louisiana registered 32 arrests on account of underage (below 18) drunk driving which is way below the numbers of other states in America. The state is ranked 45th in underage DUI arrests.

As per data from NHTSA, the under 21 drunk driving fatality rate per 100,000 people was 1.3 in Louisiana while the national average was 1.2 in 2016.

EMS Response Time in Louisiana

Type of RoadTime of Crash to EMS
Notification
EMS Notification to
EMS Arrival
EMS Arrival at Scene
to Hospital Arrival
Time of Crash to Hospital
Arrival
Total Fatal Crashes
Rural 5.9214.3246.1361.82325
Urban4.198.9232.7744.29370

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Transportation in Louisiana

Why is there always traffic congestion in New Orleans and Baton Rouge?

High population and tourism do fuel the constant congestions in some cities of Louisiana, but how people commute or how many cars does a household own also impacts the traffic condition.

Car Ownership in Louisiana

Car Ownership in Louisiana

Majority of the households in Louisiana own two cars as per data from the Census Bureau. The above chart from Data USA illustrates the car ownership pattern in Louisiana vs the US.

Commute Time in Louisiana

Commute Time in Louisiana

Fortunately, the commute time of motorists driving to work in Louisiana is 24.4 minutes which is slightly lower than the national average of 25.5 minutes.

Commuter Transportation in Louisiana

Commuter Transportation in Louisiana

Like the rest of America, most of the people (82.7 percent) prefer to drive alone to work in Louisiana.

Traffic Congestion in Louisiana

In world traffic congestion rankings, both Baton Rouge and New Orleans make it to the list of most congested cities to drive in which shouldn’t come as a surprise to the residents of Louisiana.

TomTom, a traffic index company, collects data on city rankings for traffic congestions that offer insights into quite a few data points.

CityWorld RankingCongestion LevelExtra Travel Time in Peak Hours
(per 30 minutes of travel)
Workdays Peak Congestion
Baton Rouge169Highway – 21%
Non-highway – 28%
Morning – +10 minutes
Evening – +20 minutes
Morning Peak – 34%
Evening Peak – 66%
New Orleans242Highway – 19%
Non-highway – 22%
Morning – +9 minutes
Evening – +14 minutes
Morning Peak – 31%
Evening Peak – 45%

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Now that you know quite a lot about car insurance in Louisiana, you can start comparison shopping today by entering your zip code in our FREE online tool below.

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