Key Takeaways
- Average car insurance costs by state can vary from as much as $303 per year to $8,232 per year depending on the coverage you choose and where you live.
- New York is the state with the highest average car insurance rates at $8,232 per year for full coverage and $2,490 per year for minimum coverage.
- The state with the lowest average full-coverage car insurance rates is Maine with rates of $1,460 per year.
In this article, we at the MarketWatch Guides team will outline average car insurance rates by state. Our team has also ranked the cheapest and best car insurance companies to help you compare options and find the most ideal coverage for your needs.
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Car Insurance Comparison by State
Below, you can compare average full- and minimum-coverage costs by state:
The table below shows average full-coverage car insurance rates for every state and Washington, D.C. All the following cost estimates come from Quadrant Information Services and are for a 35-year-old driver with good credit and a clean driving record:
| State | Average Annual Minimum-Liability Premium | Average Annual Full-Coverage Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $572 | $2,048 |
| Alaska | $506 | $2,116 |
| Arizona | $956 | $3,127 |
| Arkansas | $589 | $2,398 |
| California | $736 | $3,040 |
| Colorado | $750 | $3,010 |
| Connecticut | $1,179 | $2,699 |
| Delaware | $1,288 | $3,364 |
| Florida | $1,605 | $3,795 |
| Georgia | $1,256 | $2,907 |
| Hawaii | $455 | $1,581 |
| Idaho | $463 | $1,588 |
| Illinois | $823 | $3,054 |
| Indiana | $557 | $1,949 |
| Iowa | $456 | $1,994 |
| Kansas | $683 | $2,421 |
| Kentucky | $1,072 | $2,545 |
| Louisiana | $1,497 | $4,357 |
| Maine | $456 | $1,460 |
| Maryland | $1,261 | $2,943 |
| Massachusetts | $759 | $2,620 |
| Michigan | $1,299 | $4,067 |
| Minnesota | $752 | $2,463 |
| Mississippi | $563 | $2,140 |
| Missouri | $752 | $2,613 |
| Montana | $517 | $2,368 |
| Nebraska | $545 | $2,252 |
| Nevada | $1,665 | $3,870 |
| New Hampshire | $594 | $1,766 |
| New Jersey | $1,408 | $3,034 |
| New Mexico | $608 | $2,335 |
| New York | $2,221 | $4,112 |
| North Carolina | $815 | $2,271 |
| North Dakota | $490 | $2,029 |
| Ohio | $511 | $1,660 |
| Oklahoma | $710 | $3,256 |
| Oregon | $1,161 | $2,408 |
| Pennsylvania | $893 | $3,909 |
| Rhode Island | $1,084 | $2,921 |
| South Carolina | $959 | $2,519 |
| South Dakota | $443 | $2,590 |
| Tennessee | $707 | $2,237 |
| Texas | $960 | $3,156 |
| Utah | $968 | $2,451 |
| Vermont | $366 | $1,539 |
| Virginia | $726 | $2,070 |
| Washington | $661 | $2,110 |
| Washington, D.C. | $870 | $2,636 |
| West Virginia | $617 | $2,308 |
| Wisconsin | $561 | $2,003 |
| Wyoming | $303 | $1,794 |
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Highest Car Insurance Rates by State
Below, we’ve summarized the states with the highest car insurance rates by state for minimum and full coverage.
States With the Highest Full-Coverage Car Insurance Rates
These are the most expensive states for full-coverage car insurance:
- Louisiana: $4,357 per year
- New York: $4,112 per year
- Michigan: $4,067 per year
- Pennsylvania: $3,909 per year
- Nevada: $3,870 per year
States With the Highest Minimum Liability Car Insurance
Drivers in these states pay the highest rates on average for minimum-liability car insurance:
- New York: $2,221 per year
- Nevada: $1,665 per year
- Florida: $1,605 per year
- Louisiana: $1,497 per year
- New Jersey: $1,408 per year
Lowest Car Insurance Rates by State
In the sections below, we’ve broken down the cheapest states for car insurance for both minimum and full coverage.
States With the Lowest Full-Coverage Car Insurance Rates
For full-coverage auto policies, you’ll find the cheapest car insurance on average in the following states:
- Maine: $1,460 per year
- Vermont: $1,539 per year
- Hawaii: $1,581 per year
- Idaho: $1,588 per year
- Ohio: $1,660 per year
States With the Lowest Minimum Liability Car Insurance Rates
The following states boast cheap car insurance rates for minimum-liability coverage:
- Wyoming: $303 per year
- Vermont: $366 per year
- South Dakota: $443 per year
- Hawaii: $455 per year
- Iowa: $456 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.
- Deductible: Drivers with full coverage can often choose a higher deductible to get lower premiums.
- Credit history: In most states, 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 in many states.
- 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.
- State insurance minimums: How much coverage you’re required to carry by local and state insurance laws can have a significant impact on average car insurance rates in your region.
- Gender: The gender listed on your driver’s license has an impact on insurance costs in most states. 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 Prices by State: The Bottom Line
The average cost of car insurance can vary significantly from one state to another. Drivers in Michigan and Florida pay some of the highest rates in the nation for both minimum liability and full-coverage policies. Vermont and Maine are two of the cheapest states for full coverage, while Iowa and Wyoming are cheaper for minimum coverage.
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. Travelers and State Farm, two of our top-rated insurance companies, are ideal places to begin your search for the right coverage.
Travelers: Best for Most Drivers
Travelers is a popular insurance provider that offers a variety of coverage options, plentiful discounts and affordable rates. The company’s IntelliDrive® program that can reduce insurance costs through safe driving habits. Travelers offers a variety of discounts for good drivers and similar discounts for customers with multiple covered vehicles. The company holds an A++ financial strength rating from AM Best and an A rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
Keep reading: Travelers Insurance Review
State Farm: Best Customer Experience
State Farm’s variety of coverage options, competitive rates and excellent industry reputation put it in one of the top spots of our industry-wide review. The company offers standard auto coverage options along with a range of add-on policies. 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
Car Insurance Cost by State: FAQ
Below are frequently asked questions about car insurance rates by state:
If paid on a monthly basis, $200 is around the average for full-coverage car insurance. The national average costs for car insurance are $223 per month for a full-coverage auto insurance policy. If you’re looking for minimum coverage, $72 per month is the national average.
Yes, a higher credit score leads to lower car insurance rates in all states except California, Hawaii, Massachusetts and Michigan. Your age, gender, driving record and where you live also play key roles in determining the cost of car insurance.
Our data shows New York has the highest car insurance on average with full-coverage rates of $8,232 per year or $686 per month.
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.
Here are the factors our ratings take into account:
- Coverage (30% of total score): Companies that offer a variety of choices for insurance coverage are more likely to meet consumer needs.
- Cost and Discounts (25% of total score): Auto insurance rate estimates generated by Quadrant Information Services and discount opportunities are both taken into consideration.
- Industry Standing (20% of total score): Our research team considers market share, ratings from industry experts and years in business when giving this score.
- Customer Experience (15% of total score): This score is based on volume of complaints reported by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) and customer satisfaction ratings reported by J.D. Power. We also consider the responsiveness, friendliness and helpfulness of each insurance company’s customer service team based on our own shopper analysis.
- Availability (10% of total score): Auto insurance companies with greater state availability and few eligibility requirements score highest in this category.
Our credentials:
- 800 hours researched
- 130+ companies reviewed
- 8,500+ consumers surveyed
*Data accurate at time of publication.
If you have feedback or questions about this article, please email the MarketWatch Guides team at editors@marketwatchguides.com.
