Auto Insurance in Knoxville, TN
Auto insurance pays for injuries and damage you cause to others and, with the right coverage, damage to your own car. Tennessee requires at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $25,000 for property damage (often written 25/50/25). Those minimums are low next to the cost of a serious crash on I-40, I-75 or Pellissippi Parkway, so most of our clients carry higher limits.
Elite Insurance Group is an independent agency in Knoxville. We work with several auto carriers, including Progressive, Travelers, Nationwide and Erie, so we can match you with a company that fits your car, your driving record and your budget instead of fitting you into one company's rules.
Coverage options
- Liability (required) for injuries and damage you cause to others
- Uninsured and underinsured motorist, which pays you and your passengers when the at-fault driver has little or no insurance
- Collision and comprehensive for damage to your own vehicle, including hail, deer and theft. Lenders require both on financed and leased cars.
- Medical payments for you and your passengers, regardless of fault
- Rental reimbursement and roadside assistance
- Gap coverage for loans and leases
- SR-22 filings for drivers the state requires to prove insurance. See our SR-22 insurance page.
How Tennessee auto claims work
Tennessee is an at-fault state. The driver who causes a crash, and their insurance company, pays for the other driver's injuries and damage. Tennessee also uses modified comparative fault: you can recover damages only if you're less than 50% at fault, and your recovery is reduced by your share of the blame. That's one reason uninsured motorist coverage matters so much. If the other driver can't pay, it's your own policy that steps in.
Tennessee checks insurance electronically, so keep your coverage active without gaps. A lapse can lead to fines and problems registering your vehicle, and it usually raises your rate when you buy again.
Teen and new drivers
Adding a teen driver is one of the biggest changes a household policy will see. We'll walk you through the options: listing the teen on the right car, good-student discounts, driver training and telematics programs, and liability limits that protect the family if a new driver causes a serious accident. Many families add an umbrella policy at the same time.
Ways to lower your premium
- Bundle with home or renters insurance
- Raise your deductible if you have the savings to cover it
- Ask about safe-driver, good-student, paid-in-full and telematics discounts
- Tell us when something changes: a driver moves out, you drive less, you pay off a car or you move
- Ask for a rate checkup at renewal. If your premium jumps, we'll look at the carriers we work with and tell you honestly whether a change makes sense.
After an accident
If you're in a wreck, check for injuries, call 911 or KPD's non-emergency line, and take photos before the cars are moved. Then call us. Our car accident checklist covers the first hour and the first weeks, including Tennessee's 20-day crash report rule.
Classic and collector cars
Collector vehicles belong on a separate agreed-value policy. See collector car insurance.
Why East Tennessee clients choose Elite Insurance Group
- The right market: we work with more than 30 insurance companies across personal, business, bonds and excess and surplus lines, so we can place hard-to-fit risks, not only the easy ones.
- A second look: a licensed agent checks your coverage for gaps before you buy: limits, deductibles, roof and water coverage, and easy-to-miss add-ons.
- Rate checkups: when your life changes, we look for every discount you qualify for and update what matters, like a new roof year, a driver added or removed, or a move. No agency fees on top of your premium.
- Claim-day help: we walk you through what to do next, help you report the claim and follow up if it stalls.
- Local people: a family-owned Knoxville agency serving clients for more than 25 years. Requests sent through our Client Service page reach our team even on nights and weekends.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum car insurance required in Tennessee?
Tennessee requires liability coverage of at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, plus $25,000 for property damage. Most drivers should carry more.
Do I need uninsured motorist coverage in Tennessee?
We strongly recommend it. Tennessee insurers must include uninsured motorist coverage unless you reject it in writing, and it protects you and your passengers when the at-fault driver can't pay.
Is Tennessee a no-fault state?
No. Tennessee is an at-fault state. The at-fault driver's insurance pays for the other driver's injuries and damage, and you can recover only if you're less than 50% at fault.
Why did my car insurance go up without a claim?
Carriers reprice based on statewide claim trends, repair and medical costs and vehicle values, not just your record. Ask us for a rate checkup. We'll review your discounts and details and tell you whether another company we work with fits better.
Can you insure a driver with tickets, an accident or a DUI?
Often, yes. We work with carriers that write drivers with tickets, accidents, lapses and DUIs, and we can file an SR-22 when the state requires one.
Does my car insurance cover hitting a deer?
Yes, if you carry comprehensive coverage. Deer collisions are usually handled under comprehensive, not collision, so your comprehensive deductible applies.
Related coverage
SR-22 insurance · Home insurance · Renters insurance · Umbrella insurance · Collector car insurance · Commercial auto and trucking
Get a quote
Tell us what you need and a licensed local agent will follow up. Start your auto insurance quote or call (865) 687-5140, Monday to Friday, 9 to 5.