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How much is car insurance?
The average cost of car insurance is $137 per month (based on rates for 30-45-year-old drivers) for a full-coverage policy. This means car insurance costs $1,652 per year on average.
But that’s what an average driver pays for insurance — what you’ll actually pay is based on your own personal details, like your age, driving history, and ZIP code.
We calculated how much car insurance costs using rates from across the U.S. Our analysis takes into account all of the factors that can affect your policy, so you can understand how much auto insurance really costs — and compare car insurance rates based on your needs.
Our team of data and insurance experts at Policygenius found the cost of car insurance for different types of drivers by analyzing hundreds of thousands of rates from every ZIP code and every state (including the District of Columbia). Our rates for most people used the sample profile of
a 30-year-old driver of a 2017 Toyota Camry with a clean driving record. This sample policy included coverage limits of: In addition to finding the costs for most people using this information, we
also determined how much car insurance costs for other drivers based on which states they live in; whether they have an accident, DUI, or other violation on their record; their gender; age; and coverage limits. Some carriers may be represented by affiliates or subsidiaries. Rates provided are a sample of costs. Your actual quotes may differ.
How much car insurance costs in each state
Where you live, including your state, city, and even your ZIP code are some of the most important factors that determine your car insurance rates.
The average cost of car insurance is $1,652 per year, but we found that the cost of car insurance in the most and least expensive states is separated by $1,905 per year.
There are a few reasons why the cost of car insurance varies so much based on your location. If your area is more densely populated, has higher crime rates, lots of uninsured drivers, or frequent natural disasters, that means more claims — and higher rates.
Alabama | $144 | $1,726 |
Alaska | $112 | $1,345 |
Arizona | $130 | $1,565 |
Arkansas | $148 | $1,772 |
California | $155 | $1,857 |
Colorado | $146 | $1,751 |
Connecticut | $149 | $1,790 |
Delaware | $176 | $2,110 |
District of Columbia | $150 | $1,796 |
Florida | $243 | $2,914 |
Georgia | $143 | $1,710 |
Hawaii | $100 | $1,200 |
Idaho | $92 | $1,109 |
Illinois | $117 | $1,403 |
Indiana | $102 | $1,219 |
Iowa | $96 | $1,152 |
Kansas | $134 | $1,604 |
Kentucky | $180 | $2,158 |
Louisiana | $242 | $2,906 |
Maine | $96 | $1,147 |
Maryland | $150 | $1,798 |
Massachusetts | $135 | $1,614 |
Michigan | $198 | $2,377 |
Minnesota | $118 | $1,418 |
Mississippi | $140 | $1,674 |
Missouri | $131 | $1,568 |
Montana | $157 | $1,888 |
Nebraska | $145 | $1,735 |
Nevada | $178 | $2,137 |
New Hampshire | $102 | $1,224 |
New Jersey | $188 | $2,259 |
New Mexico | $123 | $1,480 |
New York | $181 | $2,172 |
North Carolina | $84 | $1,009 |
North Dakota | $116 | $1,397 |
Ohio | $87 | $1,038 |
Oklahoma | $161 | $1,928 |
Oregon | $122 | $1,461 |
Pennsylvania | $134 | $1,605 |
Rhode Island | $155 | $1,860 |
South Carolina | $155 | $1,864 |
South Dakota | $135 | $1,618 |
Tennessee | $111 | $1,329 |
Texas | $153 | $1,840 |
Utah | $125 | $1,503 |
Vermont | $94 | $1,124 |
Virginia | $110 | $1,314 |
Washington | $138 | $1,651 |
West Virginia | $140 | $1,681 |
Wisconsin | $89 | $1,062 |
Wyoming | $117 | $1,398 |
Average rates for male and female drivers ages 30, 35, and 45. Rates provided by Quadrant Information Services. Rates provided are a sample of costs. Your actual quotes may differ.
The most expensive states for insurance
On average, auto insurance is most expensive in Florida, where rates are 76% more expensive than for most drivers nationwide. We found that the cost of car insurance in Florida is $105 more expensive per month, or $1,262 per year, compared to the national average.
Besides Florida, Louisiana, Michigan, New Jersey, and New York are the states with the most expensive average car insurance rates. The combined average cost of auto insurance in these states is 53% more expensive than the national average.
What if car insurance costs are too high in your state?
You can still get affordable coverage in states where average insurance costs are high. You can keep costs low by avoiding accidents and tickets, taking advantage of discounts, and by comparing quotes when it’s time to renew your policy — and switching companies if you find a better deal.
The cheapest states for car insurance
Car insurance is least expensive in North Carolina. Rates for car insurance in North Carolina are $54 per month (or $643 per year) cheaper than the national average.
Car insurance costs are also low in Ohio, Wisconsin, Idaho, and Vermont, according to our analysis. In these states, the monthly cost of car insurance is $49 cheaper than the national average.
States that have the lowest insurance costs sometimes have lower minimum coverage requirements, making it tempting to opt out of certain types of coverage. But this is a bad way to save money, since going without enough insurance can leave you on the hook for after an accident.
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How much car insurance costs by city
The cost of car insurance also varies by city, even within the same state. Average rates in one city can be hundreds or even thousands of dollars more expensive than another city in the same state, so you should be sure to compare quotes and estimate your costs before buying coverage.
The city with the most expensive car insurance prices is Detroit, where coverage costs $446 per month, or $5,357 per year — that’s $3,705 more each year than the national average rate. New York City, Miami, Philadelphia follow Detroit as the most expensive cities for car insurance.
Detroit, MI | $446 | $5,357 |
New York, NY | $402 | $4,822 |
Miami, FL | $352 | $4,222 |
Philadelphia, PA | $247 | $2,964 |
Palm Coast, FL | $243 | $2,914 |
Jacksonville, FL | $236 | $2,832 |
Las Vegas, NV | $234 | $2,806 |
Los Angeles, CA | $220 | $2,642 |
Fort Myers, FL | $217 | $2,598 |
Naples, FL | $203 | $2,431 |
Gainesville, FL | $190 | $2,283 |
Houston, TX | $187 | $2,245 |
San Francisco, CA | $183 | $2,194 |
Dallas, TX | $183 | $2,192 |
Seattle, WA | $174 | $2,085 |
Boston, MA | $171 | $2,053 |
Denver, CO | $171 | $2,049 |
Chicago, IL | $170 | $2,040 |
Phoenix, AZ | $166 | $1,988 |
Colorado Springs, CO | $165 | $1,980 |
San Antonio, TX | $163 | $1,951 |
Oklahoma City, OK | $161 | $1,928 |
Fort Worth, TX | $159 | $1,910 |
Plano, TX | $158 | $1,899 |
Austin, TX | $155 | $1,856 |
Corpus Christi, TX | $153 | $1,840 |
San Jose, CA | $152 | $1,829 |
El Paso, TX | $152 | $1,821 |
Washington, DC | $150 | $1,796 |
San Diego, CA | $148 | $1,775 |
Memphis, TN | $142 | $1,700 |
Albany, NY | $133 | $1,593 |
Nashville, TN | $117 | $1,407 |
Indianapolis, IN | $110 | $1,322 |
Cleveland, OH | $102 | $1,227 |
Charlotte, NC | $98 | $1,179 |
Columbus, OH | $87 | $1,038 |
Cities sorted from most to least expensive.
How much car insurance costs by company
Car insurance rates can cost thousands of dollars more per year at one insurance company compared to another. Our analysis found that the average cost of auto insurance can vary by as much as $222 per month (or $2,662 per year) depending on the company.
While many top auto insurance companies use the same factors to set your rate — including your location, age, and driving history — not every provider evaluates these factors the same way.
In our analysis, USAA has the best car insurance rates among the largest providers. But since USAA is only an option for people in the military, GEICO more often has the most affordable average car insurance rates for most people.
Smaller insurers, like Auto-Owners Insurance, or even local companies, may have cheap rates, too.
USAA | $87 | $1,039 |
MAPFRE | $87 | $1,040 |
Erie | $94 | $1,132 |
State Farm | $98 | $1,173 |
GEICO | $99 | $1,184 |
Auto-Owners Insurance | $99 | $1,192 |
COUNTRY Financial | $115 | $1,385 |
American Family | $118 | $1,415 |
Nationwide | $123 | $1,473 |
Farm Bureau | $123 | $1,476 |
NJ Manufacturers | $123 | $1,481 |
Travelers | $125 | $1,505 |
Kemper | $138 | $1,651 |
Amica | $141 | $1,687 |
National General | $143 | $1,714 |
Shelter Insurance | $146 | $1,747 |
Progressive | $148 | $1,774 |
The Hartford | $162 | $1,939 |
Farmers | $162 | $1,944 |
Allstate | $165 | $1,981 |
CSAA | $201 | $2,416 |
Auto Club Group | $215 | $2,578 |
Mercury Insurance | $217 | $2,598 |
Sentry Insurance | $270 | $3,237 |
Hanover | $308 | $3,701 |
Car insurance companies with at least $1 billion in written premiums, ordered from cheapest to most expensive costs of insurance.
How much car insurance costs by coverage type and amount
Your average cost of car insurance also depends on the kinds of coverage and the amount you want to get. A so-called full coverage auto insurance policy includes comprehensive and collision coverage in addition to liability, and raises the cost of insurance by hundreds of dollars a year.
Liability | $54 | $644 |
Collision | $32 | $378 |
Comprehensive | $14 | $168 |
Car insurance rates also depend on how much coverage you decide to purchase. Your auto insurance costs will go up when you choose full coverage over minimum coverage, add endorsements to a basic policy, and when you increase your liability coverage.
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On average, car insurance rates initially increase by 174% when you choose a full-coverage policy instead of getting the minimum amount, but your premiums only go up by 6% when you double your liability coverage.
Alabama | $51 | $155 | $167 |
Alaska | $36 | $118 | $127 |
Arizona | $53 | $138 | $149 |
Arkansas | $44 | $157 | $166 |
California | $50 | $161 | $170 |
Colorado | $45 | $163 | $176 |
Connecticut | $79 | $155 | $165 |
Delaware | $82 | $179 | $189 |
District of Columbia | $57 | $153 | $161 |
Florida | $104 | $238 | $264 |
Georgia | $68 | $147 | $157 |
Hawaii | $35 | $100 | $106 |
Idaho | $33 | $99 | $104 |
Illinois | $47 | $124 | $129 |
Indiana | $38 | $108 | $112 |
Iowa | $26 | $102 | $106 |
Kansas | $41 | $142 | $147 |
Kentucky | $78 | $188 | $203 |
Louisiana | $83 | $255 | $283 |
Maine | $37 | $103 | $107 |
Maryland | $75 | $158 | $166 |
Massachusetts | $51 | $141 | $147 |
Michigan | $74 | $204 | $210 |
Minnesota | $46 | $121 | $124 |
Mississippi | $45 | $151 | $160 |
Missouri | $47 | $139 | $146 |
Montana | $41 | $165 | $172 |
Nebraska | $35 | $154 | $158 |
Nevada | $80 | $184 | $203 |
New Hampshire | $39 | $104 | $108 |
New Jersey | $96 | $192 | $205 |
New Mexico | $38 | $130 | $139 |
New York | $81 | $184 | $191 |
North Carolina | $35 | $84 | $90 |
North Dakota | $34 | $122 | $124 |
Ohio | $32 | $91 | $95 |
Oklahoma | $41 | $155 | $163 |
Oregon | $64 | $125 | $132 |
Pennsylvania | $42 | $141 | $149 |
Rhode Island | $72 | $164 | $175 |
South Carolina | $65 | $163 | $178 |
South Dakota | $28 | $139 | $143 |
Tennessee | $38 | $119 | $126 |
Texas | $54 | $158 | $168 |
Utah | $56 | $131 | $140 |
Vermont | $32 | $102 | $106 |
Virginia | $48 | $117 | $123 |
Washington | $52 | $144 | $156 |
West Virginia | $52 | $148 | $157 |
Wisconsin | $29 | $93 | $97 |
Wyoming | $27 | $123 | $125 |
Monthly costs of car insurance based on different coverage amounts of bodily injury liability coverage. Minimum coverage includes enough insurance to meet the state's legal requirements, while the "full" and "most" columns are for $50,000 per person/$100,000 per accident and $100,000 per person/$300,000 per accident.
How much car insurance costs by age
Along with your location and the amount of insurance you have, age is one of the most important factors when it comes to auto insurance rates. Drivers under 25 tend to pay much more for coverage because of their inexperience behind the wheel.
The average cost of car insurance before you turn 25 can be thousands of dollars more expensive per year than for older drivers. For example, car insurance costs a newly licensed 16-year-old $404 more per month ($4,850 per year) than someone who’s 25 — an increase of 251%.
Join an existing policy for lower insurance costs
One of the best ways that you can find lower car insurance costs as a young driver is by joining your parents’ existing policy. We found that it’s $225 cheaper per month ($2,699 per year) for a teen to join an existing policy than to get their own.
Gen Zers have the most expensive costs of car insurance of any age group. Rates are $211 more expensive each month than average for these drivers and $140 more expensive than for the next youngest generation, millennials, and $222 higher than rates for Gen X.
Gen Z | $349 | $4,186 | 153% |
Millennials | $140 | $1,680 | 2% |
Gen X | $127 | $1,523 | -8% |
Baby boomers | $126 | $1,509 | -9% |
→ Read more about getting cheap coverage as a young driver
How much car insurance costs by gender
Gender can also have a small effect on your car insurance rates. On average, male drivers pay just $2 more per month than female drivers for coverage. And after age 25, the price is nearly equal for male and female drivers.
Male | $131 | $1,571 |
Female | $129 | $1,553 |
A handful of states prohibit insurers from setting rates according to gender, including:
California
Hawaii
Massachusetts
Michigan
North Carolina
Pennsylvania
→ Read more about how your gender can affect your average car insurance cost
How much car insurance costs by marital status
Your car insurance costs can be affected by whether you’re married, divorced, or single. We found that the cost of auto insurance is lowest for married drivers. If you’re married, your rates cost $5 less than average per month.
Being single or divorced means that your insurance costs will be more expensive. Car insurance costs drivers who are single $6 more per month than average, while rates are about $5 more expensive than average for single drivers.
Divorced | $144 | $1,723 |
Married | $133 | $1,591 |
Single | $143 | $1,721 |
How much car insurance costs after a driving violation
Your average car insurance costs will almost certainly get more expensive after a driving violation, like an accident or ticket. On average, a violation increases auto insurance rates by $60 per month, or $716 each year.
The average cost of car insurance changes differently depending on the violation. More serious violations usually lead to higher rate increases. For example, car insurance prices after a hit-and-run are $91 per month more expensive than for a driver cited for an illegal turn.
At-fault accident | $213 | $2,555 | 55% |
Driving with a suspended license | $260 | $3,117 | 89% |
Driving with an open container | $207 | $2,485 | 50% |
Driving with expired registration | $172 | $2,068 | 25% |
DUI | $263 | $3,153 | 91% |
Failure to stop at a red light | $177 | $2,122 | 28% |
Hit and run | $265 | $3,182 | 93% |
Illegal turn | $177 | $2,123 | 29% |
Improper passing | $179 | $2,152 | 30% |
Not-at-fault accident | $149 | $1,784 | 8% |
Reckless driving | $251 | $3,013 | 82% |
Speeding ticket | $190 | $2,277 | 38% |
Table sorted alphabetically by violation.
When do you need an SR-22?
After a DUI or serious driving violation, your state may require you to prove that you have insurance by getting an SR-22 or FR-44 form. Both of these forms carry an additional fee on top of your increased insurance costs.
→ Find the best companies for drivers with spotty records
How much car insurance costs by credit score
How much your car insurance is depends in part on credit score. Having poor credit can increase your insurance rates by as much — or more — than some serious driving violations.
The average cost of car insurance for drivers with poor credit is $260 per month. That’s $122 more expensive than the national monthly average.
On the other hand, your car insurance rates go down as your credit score improves. We found that for drivers with an excellent credit rating auto insurance costs $25 less each month than someone with a good rating.
Excellent | 823+ | $118 | $1,420 |
Very Good | 795-822 | $131 | $1,569 |
Good | 769-794 | $143 | $1,718 |
Fair | 710-740 | $174 | $2,084 |
Poor | 524-577 | $259 | $3,107 |
In some states, car insurance companies aren’t allowed to use your credit score to calculate your rates, so if you live in California, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Oregon, Utah, or Washington your credit score won’t matter when it comes to car insurance.
What’s the difference between an insurance score and your credit score?
Insurance companies use your auto insurance score to estimate how likely you are to make a claim. It’s different — but very similar — to your credit score. If you have a lower credit score, you can assume that your insurance score is lower, too.
How much car insurance costs for different vehicles
We found that the cost of car insurance can change by hundreds of dollars a year depending on the car that you drive. Our analysis shows that electric cars cost $49 more each month than an SUV does. In fact, the costs to insure a small and regular-sized SUV are nearly the same.
The cost of car insurance for electric vehicles is $68 more than average per year, making these EVs the most expensive vehicles to insure.
The average cost of car insurance for SUVs is the cheapest, but we found that the Ford F-150 (a truck) is the most affordable vehicle to insure. Auto insurance rates for Teslas tend to be much more expensive. Insurance for a Tesla Model 3 and Y costs $1,000 more per year than for a Ford truck.
Ford F-150 | $146 | $1,753 |
Honda CR-V | $148 | $1,779 |
GMC Sierra | $151 | $1,808 |
Toyota Tacoma | $152 | $1,821 |
Subaru Outback | $152 | $1,822 |
Chevrolet Equinox | $153 | $1,841 |
Ford Escape | $155 | $1,859 |
Jeep Wrangler | $156 | $1,871 |
Toyota Highlander | $157 | $1,885 |
Jeep Grand Cherokee | $160 | $1,914 |
Ford Explorer | $160 | $1,923 |
Subaru Forester | $161 | $1,932 |
Nissan Rogue | $162 | $1,939 |
Chevrolet Silverado | $164 | $1,964 |
Toyota RAV4 | $167 | $2,005 |
Nissan Leaf | $170 | $2,040 |
Honda Civic | $174 | $2,084 |
Chevrolet Bolt EV | $174 | $2,085 |
Toyota Camry | $174 | $2,088 |
Toyota Corolla | $174 | $2,090 |
Ram 1500 | $176 | $2,106 |
Honda Accord | $177 | $2,121 |
Tesla Model 3 | $231 | $2,771 |
Tesla Model Y | $248 | $2,974 |
How the cost of car insurance changes over time
The cost of car insurance tends to get more expensive each year — even for good drivers. From 2012 to 2021, the only year when costs fell was in 2020, when COVID unexpectedly changed the insurance industry.
Auto insurance rates have already gotten more expensive in 2022. In the first half of the year the cost of coverage increased by 4.6% compared to the previous year. [1]
2012 | 3.0% | 4.2% | 3.6% |
2013 | 4.6% | 3.9% | 4.2% |
2014 | 4.1% | 4.4% | 4.2% |
2015 | 5.4% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
2016 | 5.8% | 6.6% | 6.2% |
2017 | 7.4% | 8.0% | 7.7% |
2018 | 8.7% | 6.2% | 7.4% |
2019 | 1.7% | 0.2% | 0.9% |
2020 | -4.9% | -4.4% | -4.6% |
2021 | 3.7% | 3.9% | 3.8% |
2022 | 4.6% | -- | -- |
More from Policygenius about car insurance costs
If you want to learn more about what drives the cost of car insurance, you can check out more of the news and research we’ve done about costs, rate changes, and factors that cause drivers to pay more for insurance coverage.
Save
Car insurance rate changes
Nearly every year the cost of car insurance get more expensive for everyone, but what's to blame for higher prices?
Security
Car theft statistics
It's more expensive to get car insurance in areas where auto thefts are most common, even if your car hasn't been stolen.
Policy
Road rage and insurance
Aggressive driving makes the cost of car insurance 40% more expensive, but it can be more depending on the state.
Policy Scan
Auto insurance trends
Curious about how the auto insurance landscape changes? See how prices and the market have changed in recent years.
Auto
DUIs and insurance costs
Places with higher-than-average numbers of DUIs or DWIs have more expensive car insurance, even if you have a clean record.
Cost of car accidents
Car insurance costs are often higher in places where roads are more crowded and accidents happen more frequently.
What else affects my car insurance rate?
There are even more factors that can affect your car insurance rates besides location, coverage levels, age, gender, marital status, car type, driving history, and credit score. The cost of car insurance can also be influenced by:
The company you choose: Even if you live in a state where rates are higher than average, some companies offer more competitive rates than others, which is why it’s important to shop around.
Discounts: Some of the most common car insurance discounts include savings for bundling policies, completing a driving safety course, and paying your annual policy in full.
Insurance history: You may pay more for car insurance if you've had past coverage with a high-risk provider or if you have a lapse in coverage on your record. If you have a history of consistent coverage and on-time payments, on the other hand, you could see lower rates.
Your annual mileage: If you use your car often, your auto insurance will cost more than for someone who drives infrequently.
Your job and education: In some states it's illegal for insurers to use your occupation and education to set rates. However, in many places you could pay more for car insurance if you're unemployed or if you didn't graduate from college
How to save money on car insurance
From the moment you start shopping around for auto insurance, there are a number of ways you can save. Even if you already have an existing car insurance policy, there are still some steps you can take to lower your premiums.
Bundle your home and auto insurance: Combining multiple policies (like your home and auto insurance) with the same company can earn you serious savings.
Take advantage of car insurance discounts: Check with an agent to make sure you’re getting every discount you can, including discounts for having certain safety features in your car, or for taking a defensive driving course.
Change your coverage limits: Not every driver needs the highest level of every coverage. We recommend liability levels of $100,000 per person, $300,000 per accident in bodily injury liability and $100,000 per accident in property damage liability, typically written as 100/300/100 on your insurance policy.
Raise your deductible amount: A higher comprehensive or collision deductible (meaning the amount you have to pay out of pocket per claim) means lower premiums — just remember you may actually have to pay that amount when you file a claim
Shop around once a year: Even if you’re happy with your coverage, shopping for car insurance annually with Policygenius can help you save big and make sure you’re not paying too much for coverage.
→ Learn more about how to lower car insurance rates
Compare rates and shop affordable car insurance today
We don't sell your information to third parties.
Policygenius has found that the average cost of car insurance is $137 per month for a full-coverage policy. A minimum coverage policy is much cheaper at $52 per month, but this type of policy could leave drivers unprotected and force them to pay out of pocket for uncovered losses. Drivers with cheaper
cars typically pay less for coverage. You should still have relatively high liability limits, even if your car is a clunker, because you could easily cause thousands of dollars worth of damage in an accident. But if your car is worth less than a typical comprehensive or collision deductible and you would be fine paying out of pocket to replace it if it were stolen, you can limit your coverage to liability-only, and save by not paying for comp and collision. Car insurance rates are often based on your age, but
sometimes they’re actually based on your years of driving experience. That means that a newly licensed 40-year-old would pay as much as a newly-licensed-16-year-old (which is a lot). The good news is that inexperienced drivers will see their rates drop over time, as long as they maintain a clean driving record. Every member of your household should be listed on your auto insurance policy unless they’re specifically excluded from your coverage. That means that if you and your spouse share ownership
of the same car, you both need to be listed on the policy — otherwise you risk not being covered in an accident.Frequently asked questions
How much is car insurance per month?