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Car Insurance Rates by State

Every state in the U.S. has different car insurance rates — learn which states pay the highest and lowest minimum and full-coverage rates on average.

Discover if you are overpaying for car insurance below.

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Updated: Jun 23, 2024

Written by: Daniel Robinson

Written by: Daniel Robinson Writer

Daniel Robinson is a writer based in Greenville, N.C. with expertise in auto insurance, loans, warranty options and more. Away from the keyboard, Daniel spends time with his wife and son, plays guitar and obsesses over the Beatles and Baltimore Orioles.

Writer

Edited by: Rashawn Mitchner

Edited by: Rashawn Mitchner Managing Editor

RaShawn Mitchner is a MarketWatch Guides team senior editor covering personal finance topics and insurance. She’s spent over a decade writing and editing articles about how to save money on things including travel, entertainment and household services.

Senior Editor

Key Takeaways:

Average car insurance costs by state can vary from as much as $274 per year to $3,643 per year depending on the coverage you choose.
Michigan is the state with the highest average car insurance rates at $3,643 per year for full coverage and $1,360 per year for minimum coverage.
The state with the lowest average car insurance rates is Vermont with rates of $1,199 per year for full coverage and $310 per year for minimum coverage.

In this article, 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 best coverage for your needs.

Car Insurance Comparison by State

Below, you can compare average full and minimum coverage costs by state and see how much rates have changed from 2023 to 2024.

The table below shows average full-coverage car insurance rates for every state and Washington, D.C. All the following cost estimates 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	$502	$1,775
Alaska	$486	$1,685
Arizona	$635	$2,008
Arkansas	$451	$2,038
California	$602	$2,313
Colorado	$566	$2,173
Connecticut	$980	$1,919
Delaware	$1,194	$2,881
Florida	$1,385	$3,244
Georgia	$680	$1,973
Hawaii	$529	$1,656
Idaho	$378	$1,402
Illinois	$441	$1,541
Indiana	$432	$1,587
Iowa	$274	$1,563
Kansas	$475	$1,918
Kentucky	$682	$2,522
Louisiana	$925	$3,040
Maine	$380	$1,238
Maryland	$901	$1,833
Massachusetts	$754	$2,430
Michigan	$1,360	$3,643
Minnesota	$481	$1,766
Mississippi	$453	$1,658
Missouri	$560	$2,104
Montana	$398	$1,979
Nebraska	$356	$1,871
Nevada	$1,283	$2,788
New Hampshire	$415	$1,362
New Jersey	$1,332	$2,513
New Mexico	$536	$1,943
New York	$870	$2,088
North Carolina	$469	$1,627
North Dakota	$445	$1,916
Ohio	$536	$1,599
Oklahoma	$516	$2,278
Oregon	$953	$1,925
Pennsylvania	$437	$1,981
Rhode Island	$1,036	$2,357
South Carolina	$701	$1,845
South Dakota	$328	$2,291
Tennessee	$404	$1,524
Texas	$683	$2,205
Utah	$732	$1,928
Vermont	$310	$1,199
Virginia	$545	$1,781
Washington	$561	$1,616
Washington, D.C.	$686	$2,218
West Virginia	$604	$2,177
Wisconsin	$408	$1,694
Wyoming	$308	$1,702

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:

Michigan: $3,643 per year
Florida: $3,244 per year
Louisiana: $3,040 per year
Delaware: $2,881 per year
Nevada: $2,788 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:

Florida: $1,385 per year
Michigan: $1,360 per year
New Jersey: $1,332 per year
Nevada: $1,283 per year
Delaware: $1,194 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:

Vermont: $1,199 per year
Maine: $1,238 per year
New Hampshire: $1,362 per year
Idaho: $1,402 per year
Tennessee: $1,524 per year

States With the Lowest Minimum Liability Car Insurance Rates

The following states boast cheap car insurance rates for minimum-liability coverage:

Iowa: $274 per year
Wyoming: $308 per year
Vermont: $310 per year
South Dakota: $328 per year
Nebraska: $356 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: 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.
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. 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

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 a lot to pay for car insurance. The national average costs for car insurance are $52 per month for minimum liability coverage and $167 per month for a full-coverage auto insurance policy. However, costs vary widely based on location, so $200 may be closer to the average cost of coverage in your state.

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 Michigan has the highest car insurance on average with full-coverage rates of $3,643 per year or $304 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 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: