Car Insurance Cost by State (Cheapest and Most Expensive States)
The average cost of full coverage car insurance in the US is about $2,912 a year, or roughly $243 a month, according to Experian marketplace data as of September 2026. Costs vary widely by state: in that data, full coverage averages about $1,383 a year in Vermont, the cheapest state, and about $4,219 a year in Maryland, the most expensive. Minimum-coverage policies cost far less, averaging about $1,584 a year nationally. Your own premium can be much higher or lower than your state’s average depending on your age, driving record, vehicle, ZIP code and, in most states, your credit.
Average Car Insurance Cost by State
The table below shows the average annual cost of full coverage car insurance by state from Experian, based on policies sold through its insurance marketplace, with our monthly conversion. Alaska and Hawaii were not included in this dataset. Full coverage here means liability plus comprehensive and collision.
| State | Average annual cost | Average monthly cost | Vs. national average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $2,291 | $191 | -21% |
| Arizona | $2,521 | $210 | -13% |
| Arkansas | $2,561 | $213 | -12% |
| California | $2,993 | $249 | +3% |
| Colorado | $2,712 | $226 | -7% |
| Connecticut | $3,854 | $321 | +32% |
| Delaware | $3,514 | $293 | +21% |
| District of Columbia | $2,747 | $229 | -6% |
| Florida | $2,741 | $228 | -6% |
| Georgia | $3,834 | $320 | +32% |
| Idaho | $1,577 | $131 | -46% |
| Illinois | $2,542 | $212 | -13% |
| Indiana | $2,132 | $178 | -27% |
| Iowa | $1,933 | $161 | -34% |
| Kansas | $2,518 | $210 | -14% |
| Kentucky | $3,116 | $260 | +7% |
| Louisiana | $3,302 | $275 | +13% |
| Maine | $1,742 | $145 | -40% |
| Maryland | $4,219 | $352 | +45% |
| Massachusetts | $3,935 | $328 | +35% |
| Michigan | $3,836 | $320 | +32% |
| Minnesota | $2,338 | $195 | -20% |
| Mississippi | $2,543 | $212 | -13% |
| Missouri | $2,897 | $241 | -1% |
| Montana | $2,260 | $188 | -22% |
| Nebraska | $2,383 | $199 | -18% |
| Nevada | $3,732 | $311 | +28% |
| New Hampshire | $1,496 | $125 | -49% |
| New Jersey | $3,655 | $305 | +26% |
| New Mexico | $2,115 | $176 | -27% |
| New York | $3,452 | $288 | +19% |
| North Carolina | $2,180 | $182 | -25% |
| North Dakota | $2,834 | $236 | -3% |
| Ohio | $2,212 | $184 | -24% |
| Oklahoma | $2,235 | $186 | -23% |
| Oregon | $2,513 | $209 | -14% |
| Pennsylvania | $2,982 | $249 | +2% |
| Rhode Island | $3,294 | $275 | +13% |
| South Carolina | $3,480 | $290 | +20% |
| South Dakota | $2,063 | $172 | -29% |
| Tennessee | $2,478 | $207 | -15% |
| Texas | $2,897 | $241 | -1% |
| Utah | $2,457 | $205 | -16% |
| Vermont | $1,383 | $115 | -53% |
| Virginia | $2,866 | $239 | -2% |
| Washington | $2,867 | $239 | -2% |
| West Virginia | $2,734 | $228 | -6% |
| Wisconsin | $2,283 | $190 | -22% |
| Wyoming | $1,572 | $131 | -46% |
Source: Experian, average full coverage premiums by state, as of September 2026. Monthly figures are the annual average divided by 12 and rounded.
Most Expensive States for Car Insurance
| Rank | State | Annual | Monthly |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maryland | $4,219 | $352 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $3,935 | $328 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $3,854 | $321 |
| 4 | Michigan | $3,836 | $320 |
| 5 | Georgia | $3,834 | $320 |
| 6 | Nevada | $3,732 | $311 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $3,655 | $305 |
| 8 | Delaware | $3,514 | $293 |
| 9 | South Carolina | $3,480 | $290 |
| 10 | New York | $3,452 | $288 |
Cheapest States for Car Insurance
| Rank | State | Annual | Monthly |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vermont | $1,383 | $115 |
| 2 | New Hampshire | $1,496 | $125 |
| 3 | Wyoming | $1,572 | $131 |
| 4 | Idaho | $1,577 | $131 |
| 5 | Maine | $1,742 | $145 |
| 6 | Iowa | $1,933 | $161 |
| 7 | South Dakota | $2,063 | $172 |
| 8 | New Mexico | $2,115 | $176 |
| 9 | Indiana | $2,132 | $178 |
| 10 | North Carolina | $2,180 | $182 |
Why Car Insurance Costs Vary so Much by State
Insurance is regulated state by state, and each state has its own mix of rules, roads and risks. The biggest reasons one state costs more than another are:
- Required coverage: states set different minimum liability limits, and some require extra coverages such as personal injury protection (PIP) or uninsured motorist coverage.
- No-fault systems: about a dozen states use no-fault rules, including Michigan, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, where your own policy pays your injury costs regardless of fault. These systems often come with higher required coverage.
- Lawsuits and claim costs: states with more litigation, higher medical costs and more fraud tend to have higher premiums.
- Population density and traffic: crowded urban areas see more accidents, theft and vandalism.
- Weather: hail, hurricanes, flooding and wildfires drive up comprehensive claims.
- Uninsured drivers: where more drivers go without insurance, insured drivers pay more to cover the gap.
- Rating rules: California, Hawaii and Massachusetts ban the use of credit-based insurance scores in car insurance pricing, and some states limit other rating factors.
Why Different Studies Show Different Averages
If you compare several websites, you will see different averages and even different “most expensive” states. Some use quotes for a sample driver profile, some use rates filed with regulators, and others, like the Experian data above, use policies actually sold. Each method captures a different group of drivers and coverage levels. For example, U.S. News’ September 2026 analysis puts the national average at about $2,508 a year, and Insure.com’s September 2026 study ranks Louisiana as the most expensive state, while the Experian marketplace data above ranks Maryland highest. Use state averages to understand where your state sits, not to predict your exact premium.
Average Car Insurance Cost by Age and Gender
Where you live sets the baseline, but age is one of the biggest factors within any state. Experian’s September 2026 data shows how average annual premiums change with age:
| Age | Female (Annual) | Male (Annual) |
|---|---|---|
| Under 20 | $3,197 | $3,410 |
| 20–29 | $2,727 | $2,804 |
| 30–39 | $2,390 | $2,298 |
| 40–49 | $2,252 | $2,166 |
| 50–59 | $2,030 | $1,986 |
| 60–69 | $1,803 | $1,803 |
| 70–79 | $1,781 | $1,901 |
| 80+ | $1,757 | $1,997 |
Source: Experian, as of September 2026. Several states, including California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, North Carolina and Pennsylvania, ban or limit the use of gender in auto insurance pricing, so these differences do not apply everywhere.
How Your Driving Record Changes the Price
| Driving Record | Average Annual Premium |
|---|---|
| Clean record | $2,110 |
| One incident (such as an at-fault accident) | $2,477 |
| One violation (such as a speeding ticket) | $2,491 |
| Two incidents | $2,627 |
| Two violations | $2,577 |
| Three or more incidents | $3,050 |
| Three or more violations | $2,872 |
Source: Experian, as of September 2026. A single ticket or accident can add several hundred dollars a year, and the effect usually lasts three to five years. Serious violations such as a DUI raise rates much more.
Cheapest Car Insurance Companies Nationally
| Insurer | Average Full Coverage (Annual) | Monthly |
|---|---|---|
| Travelers | $1,774 | $148 |
| Lemonade | $1,971 | $164 |
| Nationwide | $2,265 | $189 |
| Root | $2,465 | $205 |
| Mercury | $2,654 | $221 |
Source: Experian marketplace data, as of September 2026. The cheapest company varies by state and by driver, and some insurers are not available everywhere, so compare quotes from several companies in your state.
What Else Affects Your Car Insurance Rate
Your state sets the starting point, but personal factors usually move your price more. In the same Experian data, drivers with a clean record averaged about $2,110 a year, while a single violation raised the average to about $2,491.
- Age and experience: teen and young drivers pay the most; rates usually fall through middle age.
- Driving record: accidents, speeding tickets and DUIs raise premiums for three to five years or more.
- Credit-based insurance score: used in most states and can make a large difference.
- ZIP code: rates can vary between neighborhoods in the same city.
- Vehicle: repair costs, theft rates and safety features all matter.
- Coverage and deductibles: higher limits cost more; higher deductibles cost less.
- Annual mileage and use: commuting long distances costs more than occasional driving.
Minimum vs Full Coverage
| Minimum coverage | Full coverage | |
|---|---|---|
| What it includes | Your state’s required liability (and PIP or uninsured motorist where required) | Liability plus comprehensive and collision |
| National average (Experian) | About $1,584 a year | About $2,912 a year |
| Pays for your car? | No | Yes, minus your deductible |
| Required by lenders? | No | Usually yes, for financed or leased cars |
Minimum coverage is the cheapest way to drive legally, but it will not repair or replace your own car after an accident you cause, and state minimum liability limits can be low compared with the cost of a serious crash.
Moving to a New State? Update Your Insurance
When you move, your insurance must meet your new state’s requirements, and your rate will be recalculated for your new address. Tell your insurer as soon as you know your moving date. Most states also expect you to register your car and get a new license within a set period, often 30 to 90 days. Our guides to car registration costs by state and buying a car out of state cover the paperwork side.
How to Lower Your Car Insurance Costs in Any State
- Compare quotes every year or two: prices for the same driver can differ by hundreds of dollars between insurers. Our guide to switching car insurance explains how to change without a coverage gap.
- Raise your deductible: if you can afford the higher out-of-pocket cost after a claim.
- Bundle policies: combine car with home or renters insurance.
- Ask for every discount: safe driver, good student, multi-car, paid-in-full, paperless and defensive-driving course discounts.
- Consider usage-based insurance: telematics programs can reward low mileage and careful driving.
- Improve your credit: in states that allow it, a better insurance score can lower rates.
- Review coverage on older cars: dropping collision on a low-value car can make sense.
Do not drive uninsured: every state except New Hampshire requires liability insurance or proof of financial responsibility, and even in New Hampshire you are liable for damage you cause. Driving uninsured can bring fines, license suspension and personal liability for injuries and damage. If you are between cars or policies, keep coverage in place until the new policy starts.
Special Situations
Some drivers need a different approach to insurance: insuring a car that belongs to someone else, or buying a policy before you have a license. Our guides on insuring a car not in your name and getting car insurance without a license cover both.
Related guides: what to do after a car accident, how long a car accident settlement takes and car loan calculator.
Car Insurance Cost by State FAQ
In Experian’s September 2026 data, Maryland has the highest average full coverage premium at about $4,219 a year, followed by Massachusetts, Connecticut, Michigan and Georgia. Other studies rank states differently.
In the same data, Vermont is cheapest at about $1,383 a year for full coverage, followed by New Hampshire, Wyoming, Idaho and Maine.
High claim costs, frequent lawsuits, dense traffic, severe weather, many uninsured drivers and required coverages such as no-fault PIP all push average premiums up.
It can go up or down. Your insurer recalculates the rate for your new address and your new state’s required coverage.
It is usually required for financed or leased cars and is worth it if you could not easily afford to repair or replace your car. On an older, low-value car, liability-only may make more sense.
Not for full coverage. $200 a month is about $2,400 a year, below Experian’s September 2026 full coverage average of about $243 a month, but well above its minimum coverage average of about $132 a month. Whether it is high for you depends on your state, age, driving record and car.
