Here at Alexander Insurance Agency of St Charles, we’ve noticed car insurance is costing more and more. Nationally, full-coverage plans averaged $2,692 a year and minimum coverage ran about $808 in May 2025. However, those figures can mask substantial differences based on where you live—and in our region, those gaps can be particularly significant.
Your individual premium may vary significantly depending on factors such as your age, gender, marital status, driving record, credit history, and even the make and model of your vehicle. That’s why we work one-on-one with drivers here in St. Charles to craft personalized policies that don’t leave money on the table.
What You Can Do to Save on Car Insurance
1. Ask About Local Discounts
When it comes to car insurance in Missouri, one of the easiest ways to save money is by taking advantage of local and personalized discounts. Many insurance companies offer a wide variety of savings opportunities based on your lifestyle, profession, or driving habits—but they don’t always advertise them. That’s where we come in. Whether you’re a high school or college student with good grades, a veteran or active member of the military, or simply someone with a clean driving record, you may be eligible for significant discounts.
2. Pay Upfront
Paying in full also brings peace of mind, helping you avoid missed payments or late fees that can impact your coverage or even your credit score. Plus, insurers tend to view customers who pay upfront as more responsible, which could positively influence your renewal rates over time. At our agency, we help clients run the numbers and decide if paying upfront makes financial sense for their situation. When it does, it’s an easy win—one that can keep more money in your pocket year after year.
3. Avoid Extras You Don’t Need
Roadside assistance or rental reimbursement may already be covered through credit cards or memberships (AAA, for instance). We’ll help you identify and remove redundant coverages.
4. Weigh Your Coverage Wisely
If your car’s market value is less than ten times your annual premium, dropping comprehensive or collision coverage might make sense. We’ll help crunch the numbers to see if that applies to you.
5. Boost Your Credit Score
In Missouri, like in many other states, your credit score isn’t just used for loans or credit cards—it can also have a significant impact on your car insurance premiums. Simple steps like paying bills on time, reducing outstanding debt, and regularly checking your credit report for errors can make a meaningful difference. Even small improvements in your score may unlock better rates or additional discounts.
For drivers who’ve struggled with credit in the past, this is one of the most effective long-term strategies to lower car insurance costs. We work closely with clients to ensure they understand every factor impacting their rates—including credit. And if you’re on the road to rebuilding your score, we’ll help you find a policy that fits your budget while you improve your financial standing.
6. Raise Your Deductible
One of the most straightforward ways to lower your auto insurance premiums in Missouri is by raising your deductible—the amount you agree to pay out of pocket before your insurance kicks in after a claim. For example, increasing your deductible from $200 to $500 could reduce your collision and comprehensive premiums by around 30%. Raise it to $1,000, and you could save even more. That kind of savings adds up fast, especially over a full policy term.
7. Shop Around
We always encourage our clients to explore their options with a thorough side-by-side comparison. Getting quotes from at least three to five reputable insurers can reveal a wide range of pricing—even when the coverage levels and deductibles are the same. That’s because every insurance company uses its own formula to determine rates, factoring in things like your driving history, credit score, location, and vehicle type in different ways. What one insurer sees as a high risk, another might view more favorably.
We’ll gather and compare customized quotes from top carriers to ensure you’re not leaving potential savings on the table. Our goal is simple: to help you maximize value without compromising the quality of your coverage. With the right comparisons, you can drive with confidence—knowing you’re getting the best deal available.
Is $200 a Month Too Much for Car Insurance?
That depends on where you’re located. Nationwide, the average cost of full coverage car insurance is about $224 per month, so if you’re paying $200 a month, you’re actually doing better than average in many places.
However, costs vary widely across the country. For example, in Idaho, full coverage averages around $123 per month, which makes $200 seem steep. But in Florida, where drivers shell out roughly $343 monthly, $200 would feel like a steal.
Here in Missouri, rates tend to fall somewhere in between, but no matter where you live, working with a local agent can help you determine if you’re paying too much—and how to bring those premiums down.
Who Pays the Most for Car Insurance?
Generally speaking, new drivers and teenagers top the charts when it comes to high premiums. According to Bankrate, the average annual cost of car insurance for a policy that includes an 18-year-old driver and two adults comes out to about $5,170 per year. That’s significantly higher than what most adult-only households pay.
Why the higher price tag? Insurers view younger, inexperienced drivers as higher risk due to their lack of driving history—which statistically leads to more claims.
We specialize in helping families find ways to reduce these costs—whether that’s through good student discounts, driver education programs, or bundling policies. If you’re insuring a teen or young adult, let’s talk about how to keep those rates manageable.
Why Work With a Local Agency?
At Alexander Agency of St. Charles, we’ve helped countless drivers reduce their premiums while keeping solid coverage. We take the time to understand your needs, check for local discounts, and guide you through every option. National averages can hide what’s truly possible here in our community. With our local expertise and personalized service, you can drive smarter—and more affordable. Curious about what you could be saving? Let’s get started with a free policy review today!