The average cost of car insurance varies wildly depending on your home state. Drivers in Louisiana, Florida and Washington, D.C. pay the most for car insurance nationwide, while drivers in Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine have the cheapest car insurance.

Every state has its own car insurance laws and requirements, and that’s one reason why car insurance rates by state vary dramatically.

Additionally, auto insurers assign risk levels to ZIP codes based on the number of uninsured drivers and the frequency of thefts, collisions and vandalism to gauge the likelihood of such incidents in an area.

CarInsurance.com Insights

  • Louisiana, Florida and Washington, D.C. drivers pay the highest car insurance rates in the nation.
  • Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine have the cheapest car insurance rates.
  • The national average annual cost for a full-coverage policy is $2,513.
Car insurance rates by state
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Car insurance in state

Average car insurance rates by state

CarInsurance.com gathered car insurance premium data from every state for nearly every ZIP, so you can see how much does car insurance cost in your state. The editors included data on which states offer the cheapest car insurance by state, on average, and which states have the most expensive car insurance rates.

The national average annual cost for a full-coverage policy is $2,513, but laws in your state and your driving profile and vehicle profile can cause rates to vary.

The editors’ findings might surprise you.

Some of the states with the lowest average annual car insurance premium rates are states where the cost of living, on average, is higher. Some of the smallest and least-populated states in the nation rank among the 10 states with the highest average annual car insurance premium rates.

See the table below for the average car insurance rates by state.

State name Annual rate Highest rate Lowest rate
Alaska$2,215$3,780$1,044
Alabama$2,107$3,791$1,207
Arkansas$2,723$5,481$1,336
Arizona$2,333$5,718$1,186
California$3,010$8,707$1,436
Colorado$3,222$6,203$1,329
Connecticut$2,726$8,841$1,233
Washington, D.C.$3,394$4,974$1,406
Delaware$3,097$9,503$1,529
Florida$3,852$11,916$1,624
Georgia$2,739$6,495$1,245
Hawaii$1,721$2,717$966
Iowa$2,228$4,856$1,065
Idaho$1,791$3,710$591
Illinois$1,901$5,067$1,089
Indiana$1,856$5,823$710
Kansas$2,410$5,849$1,082
Kentucky$2,976$9,728$1,141
Louisiana$4,180$13,560$1,533
Massachusetts$2,430$7,216$1,131
Maryland$2,273$6,735$1,064
Maine$1,701$3,073$790
Michigan$3,146$14,474$1,173
Minnesota$2,561$6,164$1,409
Missouri$2,410$6,357$1,072
Mississippi$2,455$4,804$1,215
Montana$2,541$4,510$1,121
North Carolina$2,587$5,902$923
North Dakota$2,079$3,397$855
Nebraska$2,387$6,283$1,342
New Hampshire$1,650$3,202$893
New Jersey$2,736$6,098$1,538
New Mexico$2,486$5,030$1,013
Nevada$3,284$9,608$1,478
New York$2,898$13,915$815
Ohio$1,739$3,245$836
Oklahoma$2,705$4,546$1,203
Oregon$1,927$5,089$910
Pennsylvania$2,428$8,281$1,012
Rhode Island$2,706$5,906$1,108
South Carolina$2,367$4,994$1,366
South Dakota$2,635$5,868$1,438
Tennessee$2,214$4,914$1,035
Texas$2,631$9,745$869
Utah$2,250$5,453$1,082
Virginia$1,837$5,686$847
Vermont$1,504$2,172$889
Washington$2,175$3,866$836
Wisconsin$2,026$7,062$868
West Virginia$2,557$4,932$1,223
Wyoming$1,984$3,623$774
Tip iconReal-world insight from Facebook

The experience of shopping for the best state for car insurance.

On November 13, Facebook user Jessie Morgan posted that she gets calls from friends and family shopping their insurance policies because of rising insurance rates.

“Wyoming, Vermont and New Hampshire have some of the cheapest full coverage car insurance rates in the country, while Florida, Louisiana and Rhode Island are the most expensive. While average car insurance rates can be a good indicator of what you may pay for coverage, your own price will likely be different.”

States with the most expensive auto insurance rates

Louisiana, Florida, Washington, D.C., Nevada and Colorado are the most expensive states for car insurance in the U.S.

Mark Friedlander, director of corporate communications for the Insurance Information Institute in St. Johns, Florida, says Florida rates are driven by severe weather and uninsured motorists.

“Florida drivers pay high average premiums in the United States due to a variety of factors,” Friedlander says. “These include the impact of severe weather on roadways, heavy traffic patterns on interstates generated by residents and millions of annual visitors, congested roadways in major metro areas, a state’s no-fault insurance law … and the fact that Florida has one of the highest uninsured motorist rates in the United States – 20.4%.”

Based on our research, the table below shows the states where average annual car insurance rates are the most expensive:

States with the most expensive annual full coverage car insurance
Graph
Table
State Average annual premium
Louisiana$4,180
Florida$3,852
Washington, D.C.$3,394
Nevada$3,284
Colorado$3,222
Michigan$3,146
Delaware$3,097
California$3,010
Kentucky$2,976
New York$2,898

States with cheapest car insurance rates

By contrast, the cheapest states for car insurance include Vermont and New Hampshire. 

“States that have the lowest overall car insurance premiums on average may have lower populations, which result in fewer car accidents and less money paid out by insurance companies, resulting in cheaper insurance premiums,” says Lauren McKenzie, an insurance broker at A Plus Insurance in Liberty, South Carolina.

Geoff Cudd, a Philadelphia-based consumer advocate and owner of FindTheBestCarPrice.com, says states with milder weather and rural areas pay cheaper car insurance rates.

“That generally means less chance of accidents and weather-related claims, which means car insurance companies will have to spend less money,” Cudd says.

See the states with the cheapest full coverage car insurance in the table below.

States with the cheapest annual full coverage car insurance
Graph
Table
State Average annual premium
Vermont$1,504
New Hampshire$1,650
Maine$1,701
Hawaii$1,721
Ohio$1,739
Idaho$1,791
Virginia$1,837
Indiana$1,856
Illinois$1,901
Oregon$1,927

How much have car insurance rates increased over time?

Car insurance rates have risen significantly since 2018, according to S&P Global. In 2023, 43 states and the District of Columbia saw an effective rate change exceeding 10%, resulting in a nationwide effective increase of 14.0% for the year. 

In comparison, only 26 states experienced a double-digit rate increase in 2022, leading to a national average increase of 11.4%.

Nevada recorded the highest effective rate increase in 2023 at 28.3%, followed by Minnesota at 19.8% and Washington at 19.7%. 

The states with the lowest average effective increases were Hawaii (3.8%), North Carolina (4.3%), and Colorado (4.5%).

Private auto effective rate change by state
State Cumulative change 2022 – YTD 2023 Cumulative change 2018 – YTD 2023
National average26.930.9
Alabama19.718.9
Alaska16.419.7
Arizona38.146.1
Arkansas2420.9
California12.918.5
Colorado18.233.2
Connecticut27.130.1
Delaware26.730.7
District of Columbia29.630
Florida25.938.6
Georgia34.342.6
Hawaii4.4-2
Idaho15.120.9
Illinois37.737.6
Indiana29.224.3
lowa20.123.1
Kansas30.633.9
Kentucky25.322.3
Louisiana27.929.1
Maine28.329.4
Maryland33.633
Massachusetts18.425
Michigan19.722.9
Minnesota3639.8
Mississippi23.623.3
Missouri3236.4
Montana19.118.3
Nebraska28.734
Nevada34.639.8
New Hampshire28.124.7
New Jersey17.321.5
New Mexico24.622.4
New York24.236.4
North Carolina8.26.3
North Dakota25.424.9
Ohio38.936.5
Oklahoma31.925
Oregon35.230.8
Pennsylvania30.228
Rhode Island19.524.7
South Carolina29.134.4
South Dakota24.526.1
Tennessee3735.7
Texas45.546.5
Utah33.744.4
Vermont19.615.4
Virginia3236.2
Washington23.1124.9
West Virginia22.416.9
Wisconsin29.630

Why do car insurance rates vary from state to state?

Each state has different insurance requirements that drivers must maintain to be considered legal on the road, which is why some states may cost more for insurance than others. Some states require personal injury protection or medical payment coverage, but others don’t.

“For example, South Carolina requires drivers to have uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury protection and property damage as a minimum requirement on their auto insurance policy, whereas many states offer that coverage but don’t require it,” McKenzie says. “That additional coverage has a price associated with it and will increase your total premium.”

State State minimum Liability only Full coverage Non-owners
Alaska$415$542$2,215$168
Alabama$514$703$2,107$389
Arkansas$503$763$2,723$337
Arizona$662$964$2,333$477
California$751$1,016$3,010$394
Colorado$547$898$3,222$345
Connecticut$1,039$1,119$2,726$991
Washington, D.C.$896$1,125$3,394$621
Delaware$1,277$1,498$3,097$762
Florida$1,208$2,220$3,852$925
Georgia$780$1,058$2,739$407
Hawaii$425$603$1,721$333
Iowa$330$405$2,228$171
Idaho$423$491$1,791$209
Illinois$462$503$1,901$395
Indiana$445$535$1,856$286
Kansas$520$579$2,410$340
Kentucky$708$957$2,976$399
Louisiana$993$1,664$4,180$419
Massachusetts$621$809$2,430$499
Maryland$815$840$2,273$471
Maine$377$384$1,701$201
Michigan$714$761$3,146$462
Minnesota$585$628$2,561$278
Missouri$544$645$2,410$440
Mississippi$510$729$2,455$339
Montana$422$604$2,541$326
North Carolina$644$717$2,587$581
North Dakota$354$377$2,079$200
Nebraska$369$422$2,387$277
New Hampshire$447$486$1,650$379
New Jersey$1,124$1,199$2,736$708
New Mexico$475$728$2,486$334
Nevada$908$1,540$3,284$569
New York$1,070$1,191$2,898$661
Ohio$390$474$1,739$245
Oklahoma$452$734$2,705$291
Oregon$715$775$1,927$676
Pennsylvania$421$586$2,428$352
Rhode Island$761$954$2,706$451
South Carolina$682$918$2,367$424
South Dakota$382$418$2,635$201
Tennessee$515$623$2,214$386
Texas$620$900$2,631$418
Utah$708$870$2,250$603
Virginia$528$538$1,837$378
Vermont$299$323$1,504$317
Washington$490$864$2,175$403
Wisconsin$407$479$2,026$290
West Virginia$577$651$2,557$229
Wyoming$286$327$1,984$215
  • Note:
    • State minimum BI/PD
    • Liability only: 50/100/50 BI/PD
    • Full coverage: 100/300/100 BI/PD

California’s car insurance coverage limits increased in 2025

The state of California increased its minimum car insurance coverage limits. As of January 1, 2025, drivers must carry a minimum of 30/60/15 coverage. This breaks down to a minimum of $30,000 for bodily injury liability per person, $60,000 per accident in bodily injury liability and $15,000 in property damage liability coverage. 

Does population density affect insurance rates in your state?

Where you live is a crucial factor in calculating the cost of what you will fork over for car insurance, and the population in your state can affect your rates.

“On average, drivers in more sparsely-populated states such as Idaho and North Dakota are going to pay much less for coverage than drivers in more populous states such as California, Florida and New York,” Friedlander says. “But it goes beyond just the state you live in. Insurers determine rates by the city you live in and even your specific ZIP code. Traffic volume, accident frequency and severity, as well as theft and vandalism data, vary in every city throughout every state.”

In other words, you could live in a large metro like Los Angeles or Chicago and pay significantly different rates based on your ZIP code within that city. Urban drivers generally pay much more for auto insurance than motorists in rural areas in the same state.

“If you live in an area with a high crime rate, a large number of accidents and large payouts, insurance prices will be higher there,” McKenzie says. “If you live in a state with busy, expensive cities where gas prices and rent costs are high, car insurance prices will be high as well.”

Tort states vs. no-fault states: What’s the difference?

State laws vary when it comes to who pays for damages; most states are either tort or no-fault states.

In general, car insurance is more expensive in no-fault states because no-fault law states that you do not need to prove who was at fault to receive compensation from your insurance company. In a no-fault state, each driver’s insurance covers their medical expenses and lost wages after an accident, regardless of who is at fault. This system limits the ability to sue the other driver, except in cases of severe injury or significant damages.

On the other hand, if you cause an accident in a tort state, your insurance company will be on the hook for any damage/injuries you’ve caused. A tort state is one where the driver found to be at fault in an accident is responsible for covering the damages and injuries of the other party in a car accident. 

Generally, this means the at-fault driver’s insurance company pays for the damages caused and medical costs of others involved in the accident. This system allows the injured party to sue the at-fault driver for compensation beyond what insurance covers.

How can I find the best car insurance rates in my state?

The best way to find cheap car insurance rates is to comparison shop for quotes around renewal time—at least annually, but every six months if you really want to save. 

“To find the best car insurance rates in your state, start by comparing quotes from multiple insurers online, using comparison websites to review coverage options and discounts,” says James Brau, Joel C. Peterson Professor of Finance at Brigham Young University. Additionally, you may want to check with your state’s insurance department for information on average rates and any other resources they may have.”

Get three quotes from different car insurance companies comparing the same coverages, and look at the companies’ financial strength ratings, claims scores and more from annual rankings, like the best car insurance companies.

It’s worth noting that although a minimum coverage policy often offers the cheapest car insurance price, it doesn’t necessarily make it the right car insurance policy for your financial situation. Some drivers may benefit from a full coverage car insurance policy, which includes both comprehensive and collision insurance to help you pay for repairs to your own vehicle after an accident. 

The extra protection provided for your wallet through a comprehensive and collision coverage policy might be worth paying more.

Minimum liability insurance requirements by state

Car insurance requirements and costs differ from state to state. Each state sets its minimum coverage limits, affecting how much drivers pay for basic liability insurance.

Some states require only liability coverage, while others mandate higher limits or additional coverages, such as personal injury protection (PIP) or uninsured motorist coverage.

The table below outlines the minimum car insurance requirements in each state.

State Minimum liability coverage limits Other insurance required (if any)
Alabama25/50/25 
Alaska50/100/25 
Arizona25/50/15 
Arkansas25/50/25 
California30/60/15 
Colorado25/50/15 
Connecticut25/50/25UM/UIM
Delaware25/50/10PIP
Washington, D.C.25/50/10UM, UMPD
Florida*0/0/10PIP
Georgia25/50/25 
Hawaii20/40/10PIP
Idaho20/50/15 
Illinois25/50/20UM
Indiana25/50/25UM/UIM
Iowa20/40/15 
Kansas25/50/25UM/UIM, PIP
Kentucky25/50/25
Louisiana15/30/25 
Maine50/100/25UM/UIM, MedPay
Maryland30/60/15UM/UIM, UMPD
Massachusetts25/50/30UM, PIP
Michigan20/40/10PIP, PPI
Minnesota30/60/10UM/UIM, PIP
Mississippi25/50/25 
Missouri25/50/25UM
Montana25/50/20 
Nebraska25/50/25UM/UIM
Nevada25/50/20 
New Hampshire**25/50/25UM/UIM, MedPay
New Jersey****15/30/5UM/UIM, PIP
New Mexico25/50/10 
New York25/50/10UM, PIP
North Carolina50/100/50UM, UIM
North Dakota25/50/25UM/UIM, PIP
Ohio25/50/25 
Oklahoma25/50/25 
Oregon25/50/20UM, PIP
Pennsylvania15/30/5PIP (First Party Benefits)
Rhode Island***25/50/25 
South Carolina25/50/25UM, UMPD
South Dakota25/50/25UM/UIM
Tennessee25/50/25 
Texas30/60/25 
Utah30/65/25UM, PIP
Vermont25/50/10UM/UIM, UMPD
Virginia50/100/25UM/UIM, UMPD
Washington25/50/10 
West Virginia25/50/25UM, UMPD
Wisconsin25/50/10UM, UIM, MedPay
Wyoming25/50/20 

* Florida doesn’t require bodily injury liability coverage, but many insurers only offer policies with minimum amounts of 10/20 of bodily injury coverage.
** Auto insurance isn’t mandatory in New Hampshire, but if you choose to buy insurance, these are the minimum amounts.
*** Rhode Island doesn’t require drivers to buy UM/UIM coverage if buying minimum liability coverage. If you buy higher liability limits, UM is required. 
****In New Jersey, a basic policy with lower limits is also available. Still, it should only be considered by those with few family responsibilities and few real assets and is not recommended.  

Are there any states where car insurance is not required?

Every state except for New Hampshire requires car insurance.

Virginia’s car insurance laws changed in 2024. Virginia’s minimum car insurance limits are: 

  • $50,000 for injury or death of one person
  • $100,000 for injury or death of two or more people and
  • $25,000 for property damage

Even if you aren’t required to carry auto insurance coverage, it’s often a good idea to pay for this coverage to protect your financial security. After all, uninsured drivers must pay for the damages they cause out of pocket without help from an auto insurance policy. 

In conversation with experts

Explore what experts have to say about car insurance rates below. 

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How important is it for car owners to shop around, and how often should they compare insurance rates?

You should shop around each time your policy renews. If you opt for a six-month policy, compare car insurance quotes from multiple companies before signing up for another six months. Putting the effort into finding the lowest car insurance rates can lead to big savings.

“Don’t hesitate to shop around and compare quotes from different insurers — prices can vary significantly for the same level of coverage,” says John Crist, founder of Prestizia Insurance. 

What advice would you give drivers in states with high insurance rates to help them reduce their premiums?

“For those in states with high insurance rates, understanding the factors affecting their premiums is a must,” says Scott Distasio, a Florida-based board-certified civil trial lawyer with extensive experience in auto accident law. “Simple actions like regularly checking credit reports, enrolling in defensive driving courses or leveraging multi-policy discounts can yield significant savings.”

For example, let’s say you live in Florida, where car insurance costs are relatively high. Maintaining a clean driving record, insuring multiple vehicles through a single insurance company and bundling your policies could help you keep your costs low for your state. 

What are some recent trends or changes in state laws that are significantly impacting car insurance rates?

“One emerging trend is the adoption of telematics programs, allowing insurers to base premiums on actual driving behavior,” Distasio says. “However, it’s important to be mindful of potential privacy issues. Also, some states are considering prohibiting the use of credit-based insurance scores that could dramatically change how premiums are calculated.”

“Some states are cracking down on gender-based pricing,” says Andrew Lokenauth, founder of Be Fluent In Finance, a publisher of financial information. This change could erase some of the standard differences in rates between male and female drivers. “Weather-related claims are driving up rates in many regions.” 

After severe weather strikes, a spike in claims can put a strain on the insurance industry. Generally, this strain leads to higher auto insurance premiums for drivers.

Final thoughts

Car insurance rates vary from state to state. Although you likely can’t change where you live easily, you can switch insurance companies painlessly. Make sure to shop around for the cheapest policies before signing up for an auto insurance policy. 

Frequently Asked Questions: Car insurance rates by state

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Will car insurance rates in my state continue to increase?

Car insurance costs have increased because of car repairs and inflation, pushing up prices for insurers and creating more expensive car insurance for customers.
“With more drivers on the road, higher inflation and replacement part costs continuing to escalate, this loss trend in the insurance industry is expected to continue, leading to rate increases from national and regional insurers,” Friedlander says.

How will my car insurance change if I move to a new state?

If you’re moving to a new state, you must inform your insurance company immediately. Check out this calculator to see how much your car insurance costs will increase or decrease when you move. And remember, the weather, crime rate and other factors also come into play for rate calculations.

Resources & Methodology

Sources

  1. U.S. Department of Transportation National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. “Overview of Motor Vehicle Crashes in 2020.” Accessed September 2025.
  2. Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. “Insurance Requirements.” Accessed September 2025.

Methodology

CarInsurance.com editors analyzed rates collected from Quadrant Information Services for a 40-year-old male and female driver carrying a full coverage insurance policy with limits 100/300/100 and $500 comprehensive and collision deductibles. Read the detailed methodology for more information.

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Meet our editorial team
author-img Sarah Sharkey Contributing Researcher
Sarah Sharkey is a personal finance writer with a master’s degree in management from the Hough School of Business at the University of Florida. She enjoys helping readers find money solutions that work. She has written for numerous personal finance publications including Money Under 30 and The College Investor.
author-img Dr. Siwei Gao Industry Expert
Dr. Gao is the director of Principles of Risk & Insurance, which she teaches at Eastern Kentucky University.
author-img Laura Longero Executive Editor
Laura Longero is an insurance expert with more than 15 years of experience educating people about personal finance topics and helping consumers navigate the complexities of auto insurance. She writes and edits for QuinStreet’s CarInsurance.com, Insurance.com and Insure.com. Prior to joining QuinStreet, she worked as a reporter and editor at the USA Today Network. Laura completed the pre-licensing course in Personal Lines Property & Casualty Insurance in Nevada.