The average cost of car insurance varies significantly from one state to the next. In this article, our Guides Auto Team will outline average car insurance rates by state and highlight the cheapest providers in each state. Our team has also ranked the best car insurance companies to help you compare options and find the best coverage for your needs.
Car Insurance Costs: Minimum Liability vs. Full Coverage
Before we share state-by-state average car insurance costs, let’s define some basic coverage types. Most states have minimum coverage requirements that include some combination of bodily injury liability and property damage liability. These types of insurance help pay for other drivers’ medical bills and repairs to other people’s property from accidents you cause. Some states also require uninsured motorist coverage, personal injury protection (PIP) or medical payments coverage (MedPay).
A full-coverage car insurance policy includes collision coverage and comprehensive coverage in addition to liability coverage. Collision insurance pays for repairs to your own vehicle after an accident, while comprehensive coverage protects your vehicle from damage caused by environmental factors like fallen tree limbs and other natural causes, theft and vandalism. If you have an auto loan, your lender will likely require you to carry a full-coverage policy.
National Average Car Insurance Cost
According to cost data from Quadrant Information Services, Americans pay an average of $1,730 per year or $144 per month for full-coverage car insurance. For minimum-liability coverage, the average cost is $635 per year or $53 per month.
Average Full-Coverage Car Insurance Rates by State
Car insurance costs vary widely by location due to each different state’s minimum insurance requirements and laws, local risk factors and more. To see how full-coverage rates compare nationwide, see the map below.
States With the Lowest Average Full-Coverage Car Insurance Rates
For full-coverage auto policies, you’ll find the cheapest car insurance on average in the following states:
- Maine: $964 per year
- Ohio: $1,027 per year
- Vermont: $1,056 per year
- Idaho: $1,069 per year
- Virginia: $1,142 per year
States With the Highest Average Full-Coverage Car Insurance Rates
These are the most expensive states for full-coverage car insurance:
- Michigan: $3,785 per year
- Connecticut: $2,999 per year
- Florida: $2,947 per year
- New York: $2,783 per year
- Louisiana: $2,783 per year
Average Minimum-Liability Car Insurance Costs by State
The table below shows average minimum-liability coverage level costs in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
States With the Lowest Average Minimum-Liability Car Insurance Rates
The following states boast cheap car insurance rates for minimum-liability coverage:
- Vermont: $282 per year
- Iowa: $283 per year
- South Dakota: $290 per year
- Wyoming: $307 per year
- Idaho: $328 per year
States With the Highest Average Minimum-Liability Car Insurance Rates
Drivers in these states pay the highest rates on average for minimum-liability car insurance:
- Michigan: $1,604 per year
- Connecticut: $1,503 per year
- New York: $1,472 per year
- Florida: $1,343 per year
- New Jersey: $1,032 per year
Factors That Affect Car Insurance Costs
The price you pay for car insurance is determined by a wide range of variables. Providers focus on the following criteria when setting auto insurance premiums:
- Driving record: Drivers with speeding tickets, car accidents, driving under the influence (DUI) violations and other offenses on their records pay higher rates than those with clean driving histories.
- Credit history: Insurers evaluate credit scores as a way of determining financial responsibility.
- Age: Motorists with more experience behind the wheel pay lower rates than young drivers.
- Marital status: Married drivers typically pay lower car insurance premiums than their single counterparts.
- Location: Where you live plays a key role in how much you pay for auto coverage. Population density, the frequency of insurance claims and the number of uninsured drivers in your location all affect premiums.
- Gender: The gender listed on your driver’s license has an impact on insurance costs. Male drivers usually pay higher rates than female drivers.
- Vehicle type: Luxury cars and high-performance vehicles are among the vehicle types that come with above-average insurance costs.
Car Insurance Rates by State: Conclusion
The average cost of car insurance can vary significantly from one state to another. Drivers in Michigan, Connecticut and Florida pay some of the highest auto coverage rates in the nation. Vermont and Idaho are two of the cheapest states for both full-coverage policies and minimum-liability insurance.
Top Auto Insurance Recommendations
Wherever you live, the way to find the best price on auto coverage is to compare car insurance quotes from multiple providers. State Farm and Geico, two of our top-rated insurance companies, are ideal places to begin your search for the right coverage.
State Farm: Editor’s Choice
State Farm’s variety of coverage options, competitive rates and excellent industry reputation earn the provider our Editor’s Choice award. The company offers standard auto coverage options along with a range of add-on policies. Drive Safe & Save™ is State Farm’s usage-based program, which allows drivers to save up to 30% upon policy renewal if they display safe driving habits while enrolled.
Keep reading: State Farm insurance review
Geico: Affordable for Most Drivers
We recommend Geico because the company offers affordable rates for a wide range of driver profiles. The company also has higher coverage limits than its competitors. Along with standard coverage options, Geico offers mechanical breakdown insurance (MBI), which covers a variety of key components on your vehicle and functions like an extended warranty.
Keep reading: Geico insurance review
Car Insurance Rates by State: FAQ
Below are frequently asked questions about car insurance rates by state.
Our Methodology
Because consumers rely on us to provide objective and accurate information, we created a comprehensive rating system to formulate our rankings of the best car insurance companies. We collected data on dozens of auto insurance providers to grade the companies on a wide range of ranking factors. The end result was an overall rating for each provider, with the insurers that scored the most points topping the list.
In this article, we selected companies with high overall ratings and cost ratings. The cost ratings were informed by auto insurance rate estimates generated by Quadrant Information Services and discount opportunities.
*Data accurate at time of publication.
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