Car Insurance Rates by State in 2024

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The national average rate for full coverage car insurance is $1,895, but how much you’ll pay depends largely on where you live. The state you reside in is one of the biggest factors influencing the price of your auto insurance premium.

Louisiana is the most expensive state for car insurance with an average auto insurance premium of $2,883 annually. Maine’s average insurance premium for full coverage is $1,175 annually, making this the cheapest state for car insurance in 2024.

Below is the detailed list of the top 10 most and least expensive states for car insurance, along with their rates.

Rank	Top 10 most expensive states for car insurance	Top 10 cheapest states for car insurance
1	Louisiana: $2,883	Maine: $1,175
2	Florida: $2,694	New Hampshire: $1,265
3	California: $2,416	Vermont: $1,319
4	Colorado: $2,337	Ohio: $1,417
5	South Dakota: $2,280	Idaho: $1,428
6	Michigan: $2,266	Virginia: $1,469
7	Kentucky: $2,228	Indiana: $1,515
8	Montana: $2,193	Hawaii: $1,517
9	Washington, D.C.: $2,157	Illinois: $1,532
10	Oklahoma: $2,138	Washington: $1,608

Key Takeaways

Maine is the cheapest state for car insurance at $1,175 annually, or $97 monthly, for a full coverage policy.
Louisiana is the most expensive state for car insurance at $2,883 annually for a full coverage policy.
Car insurance premium spikes in 2023 were attributed to inflation, weather and accident claims, poor driving habits and population density.

Estimate auto insurance rates in your state

The average car insurance cost in Florida is $2,694 per year, based on Insure.com's analysis.
In Florida, the average premium for car insurance is $224 per month.
State Farm has the cheapest car insurance rates in Florida, at an average annual rate of $2,119 a year.

Read more about average car insurance cost in Florida

Behind Louisiana, Florida, California, Colorado and South Dakota followed as the most expensive states in the country for auto insurance.

In general, rates have increased due to inflation affecting the cost of parts and repairs, but other factors that spike car insurance rates include higher population, crime rates and weather trends. Additionally, more uninsured drivers and costly lawsuits always push up premiums.

Rates in Louisiana have seen a significant increase this year, with a $189 difference between the Pelican State and Florida, the second-most expensive state for full coverage car insurance. Louisiana’s rates have ticked to the top of the list mainly due to inflation and national car insurance premium hikes.

“If driving in one state is more dangerous than another, insurance companies will charge higher rates for their policies,” says Jim Brau, Joel C. Peterson professor of finance at Brigham Young University’s Marriott School of Business.

When it comes to the most affordable car insurance full coverage premiums, Maine has the cheapest rates in 2023. New Hampshire came in second, followed by Vermont, Ohio and Idaho.

In Maine, the average full coverage premium is $1,175 annually, 38% less than the national average of $1,895. With a lower population density and fewer car insurance claims, Maine residents benefit from more affordable car insurance options.

Average car insurance rates by state

Here is detailed information on the average auto insurance rates in each state. We have included all types of auto insurance rates to simplify the process of shopping for insurance.

State	Average annual rate (full coverage)	Average annual rate (liability-only)	Average annual rate (state-minimum liability-only)
Alabama	$1,860	$639	$433
Alaska	$1,676	$508	$398
Arizona	$1,812	$764	$516
Arkansas	$1,957	$589	$397
California	$2,416	$864	$551
Colorado	$2,337	$717	$437
Connecticut	$1,725	$783	$704
Delaware	$2,063	$1,022	$788
Florida	$2,694	$1,629	$993
Georgia	$1,970	$789	$577
Hawaii	$1,517	$572	$396
Idaho	$1,428	$440	$357
Illinois	$1,532	$471	$421
Indiana	$1,515	$498	$417
Iowa	$1,630	$320	$260
Kansas	$1,900	$471	$434
Kentucky	$2,228	$810	$606
Louisiana	$2,883	$1,266	$722
Maine	$1,175	$341	$335
Maryland	$1,746	$756	$727
Massachusetts	$1,726	$655	$511
Michigan	$2,266	$645	$604
Minnesota	$1,911	$512	$475
Mississippi	$2,008	$637	$463
Missouri	$1,982	$582	$488
Montana	$2,193	$540	$350
Nebraska	$1,902	$373	$331
Nevada	$2,060	$1,042	$720
New Hampshire	$1,265	$416	$397
New Jersey	$1,902	$915	$853
New Mexico	$2,049	$658	$421
New York	$1,870	$827	$731
North Carolina	$1,741	$523	$476
North Dakota	$1,665	$370	$349
Ohio	$1,417	$446	$362
Oklahoma	$2,138	$657	$408
Oregon	$1,678	$710	$641
Pennsylvania	$1,872	$504	$375
Rhode Island	$2,061	$808	$646
South Carolina	$2,009	$925	$720
South Dakota	$2,280	$338	$307
Tennessee	$1,677	$547	$442
Texas	$2,043	$774	$572
Utah	$1,825	$756	$582
Vermont	$1,319	$324	$306
Virginia	$1,469	$477	$428
Washington	$1,608	$731	$438
Washington, D.C.	$2,157	$785	$558
West Virginia	$2,005	$585	$510
Wisconsin	$1,664	$425	$365
Wyoming	$1,758	$331	$288

The most expensive states for car insurance

According to data analysis by Insure.com, Louisiana tops the list of most expensive states for car insurance in 2024 with an average annual premium of $2,883, followed closely by Florida at $2,694 and California at $2,416.

Other high-cost states include Colorado and South Dakota, with averages of $2,337 and $2,280, respectively.

Top 10 states with highest car insurance rates

Rank	State	Average annual rate (full coverage)
1	Louisiana	$2,883
2	Florida	$2,694
3	California	$2,416
4	Colorado	$2,337
5	South Dakota	$2,280
6	Michigan	$2,266
7	Kentucky	$2,228
8	Montana	$2,193
9	Washington, D.C.	$2,157
10	Oklahoma	$2,138

The cheapest states for car insurance

While car insurance rates are increasing across the country, residents in some states still get to enjoy affordable prices — for now. Residents of Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont see the cheapest rates across the country.

Top 10 states with cheapest car insurance rates

Rank	State	Average annual rate (full coverage)
1	Maine	$1,175
2	New Hampshire	$1,265
3	Vermont	$1,319
4	Ohio	$1,417
5	Idaho	$1,428
6	Virginia	$1,469
7	Indiana	$1,515
8	Hawaii	$1,517
9	Illinois	$1,532
10	Washington	$1,608

The cheapest state for car insurance: Maine

The average premium in the Pine Tree State is $1,175.

“Maine’s historically low auto insurance losses have helped to keep premiums low, as has the state’s competitive auto insurance market,” says Judi Watters, consumer outreach specialist with the Maine Bureau of Insurance.

Low density and plenty of insured drivers help drive low insurance rates. Maine ranks 42nd for population density, leading to fewer accidents and claims when compared to our most expensive states.

New Hampshire and Vermont follow at average annual premiums of $1,265 and $1,319, respectively.

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How have car insurance rates changed over the past two years?

Car insurance rates saw an uptick in 2023 — more than 19% from 2022, according to analysis from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. While inflation impacts the cost of repairs and parts, medical and insurance claims have also increased since the pandemic as noted in a recent study by the American Property Casualty Insurance Association (APCIA).

Pennsylvania, South Dakota and Ohio all had increases of more than 40% from 2022 to 2023. See more year-over-year increases in the chart below.

State	2023 rates	2022 rates	Percent increase from 2022-2023	Dollar increase from 2022-2023
Alabama	$1,860	$1,451	28%	$409
Alaska	$1,676	$1,354	24%	$322
Arizona	$1,812	$1,480	22%	$332
Arkansas	$1,957	$1,423	38%	$534
California	$2,416	$2,110	15%	$306
Colorado	$2,337	$1,807	29%	$530
Connecticut	$1,725	$1,736	-1%	-$11
Delaware	$2,063	$2,135	-3%	-$72
Florida	$2,694	$2,583	4%	$111
Georgia	$1,970	$1,570	25%	$400
Hawaii	$1,517	$1,306	16%	$211
Idaho	$1,428	$1,045	37%	$383
Illinois	$1,532	$1,378	11%	$154
Indiana	$1,515	$1,184	28%	$331
Iowa	$1,630	$1,319	24%	$311
Kansas	$1,900	$1,529	24%	$371
Kentucky	$2,228	$1,869	19%	$359
Louisiana	$2,883	$2,535	14%	$348
Maine	$1,175	$1,100	7%	$75
Maryland	$1,746	$1,486	17%	$260
Massachusetts	$1,726	$1,528	13%	$198
Michigan	$2,266	$2,158	5%	$108
Minnesota	$1,911	$1,463	31%	$448
Mississippi	$2,008	$1,494	34%	$514
Missouri	$1,982	$1,948	2%	$34
Montana	$2,193	$1,751	25%	$442
Nebraska	$1,902	$1,955	-3%	-$53
Nevada	$2,060	$1,978	4%	$82
New Hampshire	$1,265	$1,268	0%	-$3
New Jersey	$1,902	$1,928	-1%	-$26
New Mexico	$2,049	$1,516	35%	$533
New York	$1,870	$2,072	-10%	-$202
North Carolina	$1,741	$1,324	31%	$417
North Dakota	$1,665	$1,285	30%	$380
Ohio	$1,417	$998	42%	$419
Oklahoma	$2,138	$1,700	26%	$438
Oregon	$1,678	$1,249	34%	$429
Pennsylvania	$1,872	$1,256	49%	$616
Rhode Island	$2,061	$1,717	20%	$344
South Carolina	$2,009	$1,902	6%	$107
South Dakota	$2,280	$1,553	47%	$727
Tennessee	$1,677	$1,313	28%	$364
Texas	$2,043	$1,796	14%	$247
Utah	$1,825	$1,428	28%	$397
Vermont	$1,319	$1,081	22%	$238
Virginia	$1,469	$1,224	20%	$245
Washington	$1,608	$1,213	33%	$395
Washington, D.C.	$2,157	$1,845	17%	$312
West Virginia	$2,005	$1,536	31%	$469
Wisconsin	$1,664	$1,311	27%	$353
Wyoming	$1,758	$1,617	9%	$141

The top five most expensive states each face various factors impacting high premiums

1st most expensive state: Louisiana sees rate hikes by state regulators

Louisiana saw an average premium increase of 14% in 2023, jumping $348 from 2022 to 2023, from $2,535 to $2,883 for full coverage car insurance. Rates in Louisiana increased a whopping 73% from 2019.

While the Pelican State has been in the top three most expensive states for car insurance since 2017, it rose to first place this year for several reasons.

State regulators approved Louisiana car insurers to increase rates across the board in August 2023. According to Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon, significant rate increases have been seen as inflation impacts increase the cost of parts and labor.

Additionally, Louisiana has statistically high numbers of uninsured and underinsured drivers. In a 2019 report, the state had an estimated 11.7% uninsured driver rate. This high percentage creates an increased risk of lawsuits and uninsured motorist claims, which will cause car insurance rates to spike.

Florida drops from the most expensive state for car insurance to the second-most expensive in 2024 — with Louisiana seeing $189 more annually than the Sunshine State. The average 2023 premium for full coverage in Florida was up 4%, or $111, from $2,583 in 2022 to $2,694 annually.

Florida is no stranger to high car insurance premiums. The state sits in “hurricane alley” — a prime location for consistent high winds, flooding and property damage. Weather-related claims from hail and water damage in Florida led to substantial underwriting losses, which caused premiums in Florida to spike. Some insurers left the market altogether.

With 12 universities, an enrollment of more than 300,000 students, and many more colleges and trade and art schools, there are a lot of young drivers on the road in the state. This poses a high risk for accidents and claims, which increases car insurance premiums.

Florida also has a high number of uninsured drivers on the road: more than 20%. This is one of the highest rates in the country for uninsured drivers, 9% less than Mississippi’s 29% — the highest rate for uninsured motorists in the U.S.

3rd most-expensive state: California sees state-approved rate increases and insurer policy approval slow down

California’s insurance premiums climbed from an annual average of $2,110 in 2022 to $2,416 in 2023, making the state the top three most expensive in the country for full coverage car insurance. This 15% increase can be attributed to state-mandated car insurance changes, car insurance company processes and inflation increases in auto parts and labor services.

In 2023, the state insurance department approved 111 car insurance rate increases. Residents also saw a slowdown in new car insurance approvals as California auto insurers aimed to stem losses by discouraging, delaying and denying customer access to insurance, according to California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara.

Nearing the end of 2023, Lara said that the “insurers’ passive-aggressive tactics are unacceptable, dangerous, and will not be tolerated.” The state Insurance Commissioner’s office will continue to monitor insurers’ processes and take action against them if laws are not being followed.

4th most-expensive state: Colorado rates increase 29% with inflation, poor driving habits and legality issues

Coloradans are seeing hikes in their car insurance premiums due to a perfect storm of rising costs, risky driving behaviors and murky car insurance policy laws. Rising 29% to an average annual rate of $2,337 from $1,807 — Colorado drivers saw an increase of $530 full coverage insurance in 2023.

According to the Rocky Mountain Insurance Association, insurance rates have seen a 53% increase over the past decade, and recent hikes in costs can be attributed to inflation, higher claims and legal factors. The report highlights a sharp 40% increase in bodily injury claim severity between 2018 and 2022, attributed to medical inflation, legal system abuse and a rise in fatalities.

Additionally, legal transparency and clarity in insurance policies are needed as policyholders have double-dipped on medical payment coverages and lawsuits have followed some market-based incidents. These factors also impact premium increases.

5th most-expensive state: South Dakota rates rise 47% as accidents and claims see a sharp uptick

In 2023, South Dakota full coverage car insurance premiums nearly doubled, from $1,553 to $2,280 annually. This sharp increase can be attributed to rising inflation costs, increased road accidents and claims and more driving miles.

State Farm Agent Ryan Reiner recently stated to Dakota News Now the state has seen more drivers on the road since 2020, which is causing an uptick in accidents. These claims, mixed with inflation increasing the cost of labor and parts, contribute to the increase in insurance premiums. Additionally, some insurers are increasing their rates for driving miles — a 7% to 8% increase from 7,500 miles to 10,000 miles per year, Reiner says.

The most expensive states for liability-only car insurance

Liability-only insurance provides bare-bones liability coverage. Drivers can add additional coverage options to their policy to ensure their vehicle and health are covered during an accident. Before opting for additional protections, you should know how your state ranks for liability-only car insurance.

Find out which states ranked the highest for the most expensive liability-only car insurance below.

1. Florida: $1,629 annually

2. Louisiana: $1,266 annually

3. Nevada: $1,042 annually

4. Delaware: $1,022 annually

5. South Dakota: $925 annually

Most expensive liability-only car insurance average annual rates by state

State	Average annual rate (50/100/50 liability-only)
Florida	$1,629
Louisiana	$1,266
Nevada	$1,042
Delaware	$1,022
South Carolina	$925
New Jersey	$915
California	$864
New York	$827
Kentucky	$810
Rhode Island	$808
Georgia	$789
Washington, D.C.	$785
Connecticut	$783
Texas	$774
Arizona	$764
Maryland	$756
Utah	$756
Washington	$731
Colorado	$717
Oregon	$710
New Mexico	$658
Oklahoma	$657
Massachusetts	$655
Michigan	$645
Alabama	$639
Mississippi	$637
Arkansas	$589
West Virginia	$585
Missouri	$582
Hawaii	$572
Tennessee	$547
Montana	$540
North Carolina	$523
Minnesota	$512
Alaska	$508
Pennsylvania	$504
Indiana	$498
Virginia	$477
Illinois	$471
Kansas	$471
Ohio	$446
Idaho	$440
Wisconsin	$425
New Hampshire	$416
Nebraska	$373
North Dakota	$370
Maine	$341
South Dakota	$338
Wyoming	$331
Vermont	$324
Iowa	$320

Cheapest states for liability-only car insurance

Some states have much lower liability-only car insurance than others. Residents of Iowa, Vermont and Wyoming see the cheapest rates nationwide for liability-only policies with limits of 50/100/50.

1. Iowa: $320

2. Vermont: $324

3. Wyoming: $331

4. South Dakota: $338

5. Maine: $341

Rank	State	Average annual rate (50/100/50 liability-only)
1	Iowa	$320
2	Vermont	$324
3	Wyoming	$331
4	South Dakota	$338
5	Maine	$341
6	North Dakota	$370
7	Nebraska	$373
8	New Hampshire	$416
9	Wisconsin	$425
10	Idaho	$440
11	Ohio	$446
12	Kansas	$471
13	Illinois	$471
14	Virginia	$477
15	Indiana	$498
16	Pennsylvania	$504
17	Alaska	$508
18	Minnesota	$512
19	North Carolina	$523
20	Montana	$540
21	Tennessee	$547
22	Hawaii	$572
23	Missouri	$582
24	West Virginia	$585
25	Arkansas	$589
26	Mississippi	$637
27	Alabama	$639
28	Michigan	$645
29	Massachusetts	$655
30	Oklahoma	$657
31	New Mexico	$658
32	Oregon	$710
33	Colorado	$717
34	Washington	$731
35	Utah	$756
36	Maryland	$756
37	Arizona	$764
38	Texas	$774
39	Connecticut	$783
40	Washington, D.C.	$785
41	Georgia	$789
42	Rhode Island	$808
43	Kentucky	$810
44	New York	$827
45	California	$864
46	New Jersey	$915
47	South Carolina	$925
48	Delaware	$1,022
49	Nevada	$1,042
50	Louisiana	$1,266
51	Florida	$1,629

Most expensive states for state minimum liability-only car insurance

Nearly every state requires drivers to carry a minimum amount of car insurance coverage — typically liability-only. This type of car insurance generally provides both bodily injury and property damage coverages for other drivers should you be involved in a car accident.

The priciest states for state-minimum-only car insurance:

Florida: $993 annually
New Jersey: $853 annually
Delaware: $788 annually
New York: $731 annually
Maryland: $727 annually

While this insurance is mandatory, it often doesn’t cover the full financial obligations resulting from an accident. Find out which states have the most expensive liability-only car insurance below.

Rank	State	State-minimum liability-only car insurance rates
1	Florida	$993
2	New Jersey	$853
3	Delaware	$788
4	New York	$731
5	Maryland	$727
6	Louisiana	$722
7	South Carolina	$720
8	Nevada	$720
9	Connecticut	$704
10	Rhode Island	$646
11	Oregon	$641
12	Kentucky	$606
13	Michigan	$604
14	Utah	$582
15	Georgia	$577
16	Texas	$572
17	Washington, D.C.	$558
18	California	$551
19	Arizona	$516
20	Massachusetts	$511
21	West Virginia	$510
22	Missouri	$488
23	North Carolina	$476
24	Minnesota	$475
25	Mississippi	$463
26	Tennessee	$442
27	Washington	$438
28	Colorado	$437
29	Kansas	$434
30	Alabama	$433
31	Virginia	$428
32	Illinois	$421
33	New Mexico	$421
34	Indiana	$417
35	Oklahoma	$408
36	Alaska	$398
37	New Hampshire	$397
38	Arkansas	$397
39	Hawaii	$396
40	Pennsylvania	$375
41	Wisconsin	$365
42	Ohio	$362
43	Idaho	$357
44	Montana	$350
45	North Dakota	$349
46	Maine	$335
47	Nebraska	$331
48	South Dakota	$307
49	Vermont	$306
50	Wyoming	$288
51	Iowa	$260

Cheapest states for state minimum liability-only car insurance

Iowa, Wyoming, Vermont, South Dakota and Nebraska residents pay the least for the state minimum car insurance in the U.S. Find the cheapest states for liability-only car insurance below.

The cheapest states for state-minimum-only car insurance:

Iowa: $260 annually
Wyoming: $288 annually
Vermont: $306 annually
South Dakota: $307 annually
Nebraska: $331 annually

Rank	State	State-minimum liability-only car insurance rates
1	Iowa	$260
2	Wyoming	$288
3	Vermont	$306
4	South Dakota	$307
5	Nebraska	$331
6	Maine	$335
7	North Dakota	$349
8	Montana	$350
9	Idaho	$357
10	Ohio	$362
11	Wisconsin	$365
12	Pennsylvania	$375
13	Hawaii	$396
14	Arkansas	$397
15	New Hampshire	$397
16	Alaska	$398
17	Oklahoma	$408
18	Indiana	$417
19	New Mexico	$421
20	Illinois	$421
21	Virginia	$428
22	Alabama	$433
23	Kansas	$434
24	Colorado	$437
25	Washington	$438
26	Tennessee	$442
27	Mississippi	$463
28	Minnesota	$475
29	North Carolina	$476
30	Missouri	$488
31	West Virginia	$510
32	Massachusetts	$511
33	Arizona	$516
34	California	$551
35	Washington, D.C.	$558
36	Texas	$572
37	Georgia	$577
38	Utah	$582
39	Michigan	$604
40	Kentucky	$606
41	Oregon	$641
42	Rhode Island	$646
43	Connecticut	$704
44	Nevada	$720
45	South Carolina	$720
46	Louisiana	$722
47	Maryland	$727
48	New York	$731
49	Delaware	$788
50	New Jersey	$853
51	Florida	$993

Why do car insurance costs vary by state?

Each state has regulations regarding premiums determined by certain factors such as population density, weather and driving incident data. When looking at driving data, insurance companies consider what collision and claims records state and identify risk areas and prices accordingly. There are also state-mandated insurance laws that insurance companies must abide by and provide insurance coverage options for. These can vary in cost.

For example, some states are tort states — where the at-fault driver’s insurance pays for the other driver’s injuries and property damage. On the other hand, some states are no-fault states — where your insurance pays for your medical costs when you’re involved in an accident, regardless of who is at fault.

What your state requires you to carry coverage for — liability minimum, medical coverage or personal injury protection (PIP) — can impact insurance premiums.

Which states do not require car insurance?

All U.S. states except New Hampshire require drivers to carry some form of coverage. Drivers in the Granite State are not mandated to carry car insurance. Still, they must prove they have sufficient funds to meet the state’s financial responsibility requirements should they be in an accident. Additionally, Virginia drivers can opt out of the state’s insurance requirements if they pay the uninsured motorist fee annually. They will still be responsible for at-fault accident damages.

How can moving states affect your car insurance premiums?

Relocation has been trending for several years as more people seek new opportunities and affordable living. However, it’s important to consider how your car insurance could be impacted when setting up a new life in a new state.

Before you pack the moving truck, calculate the cost of living in your soon-to-be new home state. Knowing how your everyday expenses will vary from ZIP code to ZIP code and how much you can anticipate spending (or saving!) on home and car insurance is valuable.

Typically, car insurance rates are partially based on an area’s claims history — thefts, break-ins, accidents — and crime rates in your new hometown help determine car insurance premiums. It will also help to consider your potential commute and how that may impact your premium (or provide a low-mileage discount!).

How to save money on auto insurance rates in any state

One easy way to find cheap car insurance in your state is to ask your insurance company about available discounts. Here are several common cost-saving discount options:

Receive a good or safe driver discount by keeping your driving record clear of any violations or accidents.
Purchase your home, auto and life insurance policies from the same insurance company to bundle your premiums and save.
Students can receive good student discounts for good grades.
Sign up for online statements and automatic bill pay often discounts a small amount from your monthly bill.
Drivers who travel less than 10,000 miles can apply for a low-mileage discount.
Take courses, such as defensive driving or training classes, to earn a safe driver discount.

What our expert says

Q: Why do car insurance rates vary so much from state to state?

Dr. James BrauJoel C. Peterson Professor of Finance Brigham Young University

It all comes down to risk. If driving in one state is more dangerous than another, insurance companies will charge higher rates for their policies. For example, suppose most of the population in one state lives in a very large city where there are relatively more wrecks and thefts. In that case, insurance rates will be higher than in another state where maybe there aren’t as many people and the rural areas don’t have these problems as much.

Frequently asked questions

What states have the highest car insurance rates?

Our data finds that the 10 most expensive states for car insurance in 2024 are:

Louisiana: $2,883 a year
Florida: $2,694 a year
California: $2,416 a year
Colorado: $2,337 a year
South Dakota: $2,280 a year
Michigan: $2,266 a year
Kentucky: $2,228 a year
Montana: $2,193 a year
Washington, D.C.: $2,157 a year
Oklahoma: $2,138 a year

How are car insurance rates determined?

Car insurance rates are set based on numerous factors and vary by state. Some of the top factors include the following:

Driving record: One of the essential elements in determining rates is a driver’s record. Accidents, claims and violations raise your premiums. For the best rates, drive safely and obey all traffic rules.

Gender and age: When calculating insurance rates, the driver’s gender and age matter in most states. When an insurance company assesses risk, these two factors can spike rates if the driver is in a high-risk group. For example, male teen drivers’ rates are typically higher because they have an increased risk of being in an accident and are likely to file a claim.

Location: If you live in a populated city with higher rates of crime and traffic violations, you’ll likely pay more. Insurers evaluate local data and make risk-based decisions based on where you live. Increased crime or claim frequencies will result in higher premiums. Weather is also considered, as is where you park your car at night. For example, your rate may be lower if you park in a garage.

Credit score: Your credit score is used by insurance companies in most states. It is a big component of many insurers’ scores. Typically, if your credit score is lower or you show high revolving accounts and missed payments, your car insurance premium can be higher. Currently, insurance companies are not permitted to consider your credit score in the following states: California, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Oregon and Utah.

The type of vehicle you drive: The car you drive will impact your insurance premium. Again, insurance companies are assessing risk and potential claims costs. If you drive a luxury vehicle with premium parts, you may be looking at a higher insurance premium as a collision with your car could be an expensive claim.

How to get the best car insurance rates

While there’s no one way to get the best car insurance rates, there are some money-saving strategies you can try. In addition to maintaining safe driving habits, you can shop around for new premiums a couple of times a year, inquire about available discounts and improve your credit report.

One way to improve your driving habits would be to avoid speeding tickets and drive defensively to avoid accidents. Some insurance companies also offer usage-based safe driving programs that monitor your driving habits and reward you with discounts or a monthly decrease in your premium rate.
Improve your credit rating by consistently paying down debts and not accruing new debts, contacting debtors to work on payment plans, making on-time payments and monitoring your account for fraudulent activity.
Talk to your insurance company about bundling your car insurance and inquire about available discounts. You may be able to bundle your car insurance policy with another vehicle in your home or add it to your home insurance policy for a discount.

Some insurance companies offer pay-per-mile insurance coverage — where you pay a monthly base rate plus a per-mile fee. This billing type is great for drivers who don’t drive frequently or travel far from home.

Read more:

Methodology

Insure.com editors in 2023 collected rates from Quadrant Information Services for a 40-year-old driving a Honda Accord LX with a good insurance score and no violation on record with a 12-mile commute and 10,000 annual mileage. We analyzed 51,088,003 records, 34,588 ZIP codes and 167 insurance companies nationwide.

Sources:

American Property Casualty Insurance Association (APCIA). “APCIA Releases New Study: Auto Insurance: The Uncertain Road Ahead; Highlights Continued Impact of Inflation and other Trends.” Accessed January 2024.
Dakota News Now. “Rising car insurance rates: Causes and tips to save.” Accessed January 2024.
Florida Department of Education. “Higher education.” Accessed January 2024.
Insurance Business. “Florida facing skyrocketing auto insurance rates.” Accessed January 2024.
Insurance Information Institute (III). “Facts + statistics: Uninsured motorists.” Accessed January 2024.
Insurance Newsnet. “Calif. Insurers continue tactics to slow new policies, stem losses.” Accessed January 2024.
NOLA.com. “Car insurance rates are rising: See which of Louisiana’s top 5 has the biggest increase.” Accessed January 2024.
Progressive Insurance. “Do I have to change my car insurance when moving?” Accessed January 2024.
Rocky Mountain Insurance Association. “What’s fueling Colorado car insurance rates?” Accessed January 2024.
United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Consumer Price Index News Release.” Accessed January 2024.

How much is car insurance in your state or city

Compare car insurance rates by state and learn about how car insurance works in your area. Select your state or city from the below list to get an estimate of car insurance cost.

Alaska ($1,359/year)

Fairbanks|Wasilla

Alabama ($1,542/year)

Birmingham|Huntsville|Mobile|Montgomery|Tuscaloosa

Arkansas ($1,597/year)

Fayetteville|Fort Smith|Jonesboro|Little Rock

Arizona ($1,617/year)

Chandler|Mesa|Phoenix|Scottsdale|Tucson

California ($2,115/year)

Fresno|Los Angeles|San Diego|San Francisco|San Jose

Colorado ($1,940/year)

Aurora|Colorado Springs|Denver|Fort Collins|Lakewood

Connecticut ($1,750/year)

Bridgeport|Hartford|New Haven|Stamford|Waterbury

Delaware ($2,137/year)

Dover|Newark|Wilmington

Florida ($2,560/year)

Jacksonville|Miami|Orlando|Tampa

Georgia ($1,647/year)

Atlanta|Augusta|Columbus|Sandy Springs|Savannah

Hawaii ($1,306/year)

Iowa ($1,321/year)

Cedar Rapids|Davenport|Des Moines|Iowa City|Sioux City

Katrina Raenell

Contributing Researcher

Katrina Raenell is a writer, editor and educator with 20 years of experience in content and communications for international organizations, nonprofits and start-ups. In her previous roles, she was a communications manager for study abroad, content project manager for higher education and finance websites, reported on arts and culture, and was a managing editor for an online health and wellness publication.