With over 600,000 acres of lakes and almost 10,000 miles of rivers and streams, Arkansas attracts sportsmen from all over the United States for its worldclass fishing. From fishing to hiking, the Ozarks and the Oachita mountain ranges offer popular destinations for tourists all year long. The “Natural State” lives up to its nickname with naturally preserved scenic views all across the land. Drivers can visit natural hot springs, snow-capped mountains, raging rivers and even a diamond mine in this Southern state. To keep these drivers protected, CheapCarInsurance.net has organized all the useful car insurance information in this one, compact list.
Cheapest Auto Insurance Companies in Arkansas
- The cheapest car insurance companies in Arkansas on average are Progressive, State Farm and Southern Farm Bureau. State minimum liability car insurance starts at $51 a month or $616 a year with Progressive. The cheapest full coverage car insurance starts at $225 a month or $2,701 a year with Southern Farm Bureau.
| Insurance Company: | State Minimum: | SM Monthly: | Full Coverage: | FC Monthly: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Progressive | $616 | $51 | $3,817 | $318 |
| State Farm | $634 | $53 | $2,750 | $229 |
| Southern Farm Bureau | $651 | $54 | $2,701 | $225 |
| Allstate | $717 | $60 | $3,496 | $291 |
| Shelter Ins. Co | $1,105 | $92 | $4,374 | $365 |
Average Cost for Car Insurance in Arkansas
- In Arkansas state minimum liability on average costs $59 a month or $768 a year. Full coverage policies cost around $260 a month or $3,117 a year in AR.
CheapCarInsurance pulls cost date from recent real time auto policy quotes across the state. Data is based on a driver profile of a single person with a clean driving record that is middle aged and drives a modern vehicle.
Average Cost of Car Insurance in Arkansas by County and Vehicle Type
The average cost of a car insurance policy in AR will vary depending on quite a few factors. Two major things that will have an impact on your overall cost of car insurance is location within Arkansas and type of vehicle you drive as seen below:
| Costs by County: | Sedan: | SUV: | Coupe: | Truck: | Hybrid: |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas | $875 | $698 | $920 | $732 | $866 |
| Ashley | $913 | $723 | $962 | $760 | $903 |
| Baxter | $828 | $660 | $873 | $694 | $818 |
| Benton | $866 | $702 | $912 | $736 | $857 |
| Boone | $869 | $699 | $914 | $733 | $860 |
| Bradley | $939 | $750 | $985 | $786 | $929 |
| Calhoun | $909 | $727 | $953 | $761 | $899 |
| Carroll | $848 | $678 | $893 | $712 | $839 |
| Chicot | $960 | $771 | $1,009 | $808 | $950 |
| Clark | $926 | $737 | $975 | $774 | $916 |
| Clay | $839 | $669 | $884 | $703 | $830 |
| Cleburne | $903 | $722 | $948 | $758 | $893 |
| Cleveland | $903 | $721 | $947 | $755 | $894 |
| Columbia | $939 | $750 | $985 | $786 | $929 |
| Conway | $870 | $700 | $915 | $734 | $860 |
Minimum Requirements for Car Insurance in Arkansas
- All drivers in Arkansas must be covered by a minimum liability insurance according to the State Insurance Department.
- Arkansas Liability Coverage minimums include:
- $25,000 for single-person bodily injury or death coverage.
- $50,000 for multiple-person bodily injury or death coverage.
- $25,000 for property-damage liability coverage.
- Failure to provide proof of insurance can result in suspension of registration and/or drivers license.
New Driver License Requirements
All drivers in Arkansas are required to have a valid drivers license by passing the required tests.
- Vision Test. The Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration states that applicants must pass the vision test with a visual acuity of 20/40 for a regular license and an acuity of 20/50 for a restricted license.
- Written Test. Every applicant has access to the Arkansas Driver License Study Guide which must be read in order to successfully pass the written test. The Arkansas State Police administer the test based on the information included in this study guide.
- Road Test. The road test is administered by the Arkansas State Police. The vehicle used for the test must be properly insured and registered and in safe working order. If the test administrator observes any unsafe behavior, the applicant can be automatically failed. The test evaluates the applicant’s ability in the following areas:
- Familiarity with vehicle controls
- Maintaining control of the vehicle
- Obeying all traffic laws, signs, speed limits, traffic lights, etc.
- Being aware of surrounding vehicles and traffic
- Proper adjustment to special driver situations such as construction or school zones
- Pay a License Fee. Applicants must pay a $20 fee for a regular (class D) driver license.
- Drivers Under the Age of 18. Applicants between the ages of 14 and under 18 can obtain a restricted license. The Arkansas Driver License Study Guide states that new drivers must obtain a graduated license by applying for an instruction permit. This permit allows an applicant to drive a vehicle only with another licensed driver who is age 21 or older.
If under 16 years of age, the applicant must pass the vision, knowledge and skills tests to be eligible for the Learner’s License. Applicants under the age of 18 must provide proof of school enrollment with a GPA of at least 2.00. The applicants must also be accompanied to the testing site by a parent or legal guardian.
Restrictions on a Learner’s License (ages 14-16) include:- Seat belts must be worn by all passengers at all times.
- The driver shall not use, unless in case of emergency, any cell phone or other wireless communication device.
- A licensed driver who is 21 years of age or older must accompany the driver.
DUI/DWI Laws
- BAC limit: .08 Arkansas state law requires a law enforcement officer to issue an Official Driver’s License Receipt and a Notice of Suspension/Revocation of Driving Privileges to a driver upon being stopped for suspicion of DUI/DWI. The driver is informed he/she must request a hearing within 7 days; however, their license is not immediately suspended or revoked. If at the hearing the driver is determined to have been DUI/DWI, the following penalties can be enforced:
- First Offense: License suspension of 6 months for DWI and/or 180 days for a Refusal to Test.
- Second Offense within 5 Years: License suspension of 2 years.
- Third Offense within 5 Years: License suspension of 30 months.
- A permanent license revocation occurs after the fourth offense in 5 years. Prior to re-instatement, the driver must pay a $150 fee per offense and complete an approved drug and alcohol treatment plan.
- In each offense, it is optional for the court to require an ignition interlock system for a required amount of time. The court does not stipulate or limit fees that may be assessed for the violator.
