Reading Car Insurance
Find the right car insurance policy for you.
Written by
Ann Herro has been writing about insurance and employee benefits for over 15 years. She has covered topics as easy as insuring a car, and as difficult as transparency in healthcare costs.
The city of Reading, PA is situated between Harrisburg and Philadelphia, and with major U.S. routes 222 and 422 passing within city limits, a lot of traffic runs through the Reading area. While some residents rely on the BARTA bus system to get to work, others prefer to drive, thus adding to the number of vehicles on the roadways. All this can increase your risk of a motor vehicle collision, so if you own a vehicle in this state, you need to have car insurance that meets or exceeds Pennsylvania’s mandated coverage minimums. When you compare Reading auto insurance quotes from at least three competing providers, you can be certain that you are not overpaying for the policy you choose.
Finding suitable insurance at an affordable price is easy when you work with a local independent insurance agent in the Trusted Choice® network. These agents can provide you with a selection of competitively priced Reading car insurance quotes from a number of competing insurers. They can also explain your coverage options, make coverage recommendations and answer any insurance-related questions you may have. Find a Trusted Choice agent in or near Reading to learn more.
- National average cost per year: $1,311
- Pennsylvania average cost per year: $1,304
- 23rd most expensive auto premium in U.S.
Auto insurance rates in Pennsylvania are on par with average rates across the country. Of course, the rates listed above will only give you a general idea of what you might expect to pay. Actual quotes will vary significantly from one driver to the next because each insurance company calculates rates according to a number of different variables. These include such things as the following:
- Your ZIP code
- The number of miles you drive your vehicle(s) each year
- The make, model, year and safety features of the vehicle(s) you wish to insure
- The age, sex, marital status and driving records of all licensed drivers in your household
- The amount of liability coverage you wish to purchase
- The coverage options you wish to include with your policy
- The deductible you are requesting
- Your bundling options, i.e., whether you are bundling your coverage with other policies
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Pennsylvania Car Insurance Requirements
- Bodily injury liability: required
- Property damage liability: required
- Personal injury protection (PIP): required
- Uninsured motorist coverage: not required
- Minimum liability limits: 15/30/5: Coverage up to $30,000 for all persons injured in an accident, subject to a limit of $15,000 for one individual, and $5,000 coverage for property damage
These minimums are intended to be enough to cover your financial responsibilities in the majority of vehicular accidents; but a major collision that involves serious injuries or significant property damage can easily exceed these limits. If that happens, you will need to make up the difference, which can place a substantial burden on your finances. You may want to consider purchasing coverage with higher liability limits. Your Trusted Choice agent can offer advice about how much is enough.
Number of Uninsured Motorists in Pennsylvania
- Number of uninsured U.S. drivers: 12.6%
- Number of uninsured Pennsylvania drivers: 6.5%
Although it is illegal to do so, some people drive without insurance anyway; and those who are caught face large fines and a suspended driver’s license. If one of these drivers is at fault for a collision with your vehicle, that driver is responsible for covering your damage and any injuries suffered by you or your passengers out of pocket. Unfortunately, it may be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to collect reparations from an uninsured driver.
That is why including uninsured motorist insurance with your Reading car insurance policy is so beneficial. If you have this coverage, your insurance company covers your damage up front and then tries to collect from the uninsured driver on its own. This insurance option also covers damage and injuries caused by collisions with hit-and-run drivers.
Number of Auto Thefts in Pennsylvania
- National number of thefts per 1,000 vehicles: 2.94
- Pennsylvania number of thefts per 1,000 vehicles: 1.50
The rate of car theft in the state of Pennsylvania is lower than the national average, but in Reading, the rate is higher – though it has dropped significantly over the last 10 years. In 2013, there were 294 reported auto thefts in this city. That equates to about 3.34 thefts per 1,000 vehicles. This is a great improvement over the 1,143 thefts that were reported in 2003, which was a rate of 14.19 thefts per 1,000 cars.
You can lessen your risk of car theft by always locking your vehicle when you leave it, parking in well-lit areas whenever possible and using a car alarm, club or other theft deterrent. If your car is stolen, you can only get reimbursed for your loss if your Reading car insurance policy includes comprehensive (or “other than collision”) insurance. This insurance also covers damage caused by other noncollision-related hazards, such as falling objects, fires, floods and vandalism.
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Find the Best Reading Car Insurance Policy
If you are looking for an affordable Reading auto insurance policy that will provide you with all the coverage you need at a rate you can afford, you may benefit from working with an independent agent in the Trusted Choice network. These agents work with several reputable insurance companies to obtain a variety of policies and rates that you can compare.
There is absolutely no reason why you should pay more than you have to for your car insurance. There are several Trusted Choice agents located throughout the state of Pennsylvania, and some have offices in and around the city of Reading. Find an agent near you to learn more about your coverage options. You will soon discover how easy it is to save money on your premiums by comparing Reading car insurance quotes.