Buying guide · estimates and public data, 2026
By our estimate, car insurance costs most in the District of Columbia, Michigan and California, and least in Vermont, Maine and New Hampshire. Where you live is only part of it: in most states a single at-fault accident or poor credit can raise a premium by far more than moving between neighbouring states. Prices rose 150% from 2009 to 2025, but have eased over the past year.
These are estimates, not quotes. The state map and the driver and car tables are our own estimates from public data, explained under "How we estimate". Your premium depends on your insurer, cover, car, address and history. Always compare real quotes.
How dear insurance is likely to be in each state compared with the middle state, from the public factors insurers price on.
| State | Estimated cost vs middle state |
|---|---|
| Alabama | −10% |
| Alaska | +5% |
| Arizona | +7% |
| Arkansas | −17% |
| California | +34% |
| Colorado | +22% |
| Connecticut | −4% |
| Delaware | +9% |
| District of Columbia | +60% |
| Florida | +13% |
| Georgia | 0% |
| Hawaii | +26% |
| Idaho | −30% |
| Illinois | +9% |
| Indiana | −10% |
| Iowa | −24% |
| Kansas | +8% |
| Kentucky | −2% |
| Louisiana | −16% |
| Maine | −36% |
| Maryland | +16% |
| Massachusetts | −5% |
| Michigan | +42% |
| Minnesota | +1% |
| Mississippi | +5% |
| Missouri | +9% |
| Montana | −25% |
| Nebraska | −12% |
| Nevada | +20% |
| New Hampshire | −34% |
| New Jersey | +15% |
| New Mexico | +26% |
| New York | +3% |
| North Carolina | +2% |
| North Dakota | −9% |
| Ohio | +1% |
| Oklahoma | −10% |
| Oregon | +7% |
| Pennsylvania | −9% |
| Rhode Island | −11% |
| South Carolina | −8% |
| South Dakota | −21% |
| Tennessee | +8% |
| Texas | +13% |
| Utah | −2% |
| Vermont | −44% |
| Virginia | −2% |
| Washington | +15% |
| West Virginia | −34% |
| Wisconsin | −15% |
| Wyoming | −30% |
Our estimate: see How we estimate below. It shows which states are likely dearer or cheaper, not what you will pay.
| State | Index | Rough yearly cost | Biggest reasons |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | 160 | about $3,440 | Car thefts per 100,000 people raises it; Urban share of population raises it |
| Michigan | 142 | about $3,060 | No-fault or choice state raises it; Uninsured drivers raises it |
| California | 134 | about $2,890 | Urban share of population raises it; Uninsured drivers raises it |
| New Mexico | 126 | about $2,710 | Uninsured drivers raises it; Car thefts per 100,000 people raises it |
| Hawaii | 126 | about $2,710 | No-fault or choice state raises it; Urban share of population raises it |
| Vermont | 56 | about $1,210 | Urban share of population lowers it; Car thefts per 100,000 people lowers it |
| Maine | 64 | about $1,380 | Urban share of population lowers it; Car thefts per 100,000 people lowers it |
| New Hampshire | 66 | about $1,420 | Car thefts per 100,000 people lowers it; Urban share of population lowers it |
| West Virginia | 66 | about $1,420 | Urban share of population lowers it; Car thefts per 100,000 people lowers it |
| Idaho | 70 | about $1,510 | Car thefts per 100,000 people lowers it; Uninsured drivers lowers it |
Rough yearly cost scales the national average household spend on vehicle insurance ($2,153 in 2025, BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey) by the index. That average includes households with no car and households insuring several, so treat it as a ballpark.
How much more (or less) a driver pays than a driver with good credit and a clean record, by our estimate.
| Credit | Clean record | Speeding ticket (over 10 mph) | At-fault accident with injury | DUI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Excellent | −10% | +40% | +53% | +296% |
| Good | Base | +55% | +70% | +340% |
| Fair | +25% | +94% | +112% | +450% |
| Poornot used in CA, HI, MA | +70% | +163% | +189% | +648% |
Driving-record steps follow North Carolina's regulator-set surcharges (NC Department of Insurance, Safe Driver Incentive Plan); other states' insurers set their own. Credit steps are our estimate, in line with the FTC's 2007 finding that drivers with the lowest credit-based insurance scores file about twice as many claims as those with the highest. In California, Hawaii and Massachusetts credit can't be used, so only the record columns apply.
Rough estimate of how the type of car changes the premium, against a typical midsize sedan.
| Type | vs midsize sedan | Why |
|---|---|---|
| MinivanHonda Odyssey, Toyota Sienna | −10% | Careful family drivers, modest repair costs, rarely stolen. |
| Small SUVHonda CR-V, Toyota RAV4 | −5% | Good safety ratings and common parts keep claims down. |
| Small carToyota Corolla, Honda Civic | −2% | Cheap to repair, but some models are stolen often. |
| Midsize sedanToyota Camry, Honda Accord | Base | The reference point. |
| Pickup truckFord F-150, Ram 1500 | Base | Cheaper injury claims, but higher values and theft for full-size models. |
| Midsize or large SUVFord Explorer, Chevy Tahoe | +8% | Higher values and more damage to other cars in a crash. |
| Electric carTesla Model 3, Chevy Bolt | +25% | Battery and body repairs cost more and take specialist shops. |
| Luxury carBMW 5 Series, Mercedes E-Class | +35% | Expensive parts, sensors and labour. |
| Sports carFord Mustang, Dodge Charger | +50% | More crashes and speeding claims, and some are theft targets. |
Our rule of thumb from what insurers price on: what the car costs to repair or replace, how often it's stolen and how its drivers claim. Individual models can differ a lot; get quotes for the exact car before you buy.
Change in the government's car insurance price index from the year before.
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, CPI-U: Motor vehicle insurance, US city average. Latest: September 2026, −5% on a year earlier. * 2025 averages the months published; October and November weren't collected during the government shutdown.
Higher legal minimums mean dearer basic policies, but the minimum is rarely enough to protect you.
| State | Minimum liability |
|---|---|
| Alabama | 25/50/25 |
| Alaska | 50/100/25 |
| Arizona | 25/50/15 |
| Arkansas | 25/50/25 |
| California | 30/60/15 |
| Colorado | 25/50/15 |
| Connecticut | 25/50/25 |
| Delaware | 25/50/10 |
| District of Columbia | 25/50/10 |
| Florida | 0/0/10 |
| Georgia | 25/50/25 |
| Hawaii | 40/80/20 |
| Idaho | 25/50/15 |
| Illinois | 25/50/20 |
| Indiana | 25/50/25 |
| Iowa | 20/40/15 |
| Kansas | 25/50/25 |
| Kentucky | 25/50/25 |
| Louisiana | 15/30/25 |
| Maine | 50/100/25 |
| Maryland | 30/60/15 |
| Massachusetts | 25/50/30 |
| Michigan | 50/100/10 |
| Minnesota | 30/60/10 |
| Mississippi | 25/50/25 |
| Missouri | 25/50/25 |
| Montana | 25/50/20 |
| Nebraska | 25/50/25 |
| Nevada | 25/50/20 |
| New Hampshire | 25/50/25 |
| New Jersey | 35/70/25 |
| New Mexico | 25/50/10 |
| New York | 25/50/10 |
| North Carolina | 50/100/50 |
| North Dakota | 25/50/25 |
| Ohio | 25/50/25 |
| Oklahoma | 25/50/25 |
| Oregon | 25/50/20 |
| Pennsylvania | 15/30/5 |
| Rhode Island | 25/50/25 |
| South Carolina | 25/50/25 |
| South Dakota | 25/50/25 |
| Tennessee | 25/50/25 |
| Texas | 30/60/25 |
| Utah | 30/65/25 |
| Vermont | 25/50/10 |
| Virginia | 50/100/25 |
| Washington | 25/50/10 |
| West Virginia | 25/50/25 |
| Wisconsin | 25/50/10 |
| Wyoming | 25/50/20 |
Source: Insurance Information Institute, Automobile Financial Responsibility Limits and Enforcement by State (Rev. 7/2024), as reprinted with III permission, updated from state insurance departments for 2025–2026 changes. New Hampshire doesn't require insurance but drivers must show they can pay for a crash.
In no-fault states your own policy pays your injury costs whoever caused the crash, which usually adds to the price.
No-faultChoiceTraditional (at-fault)
| State | System |
|---|---|
| Alabama | |
| Alaska | |
| Arizona | |
| Arkansas | |
| California | |
| Colorado | |
| Connecticut | |
| Delaware | |
| District of Columbia | |
| Florida | No-fault |
| Georgia | |
| Hawaii | No-fault |
| Idaho | |
| Illinois | |
| Indiana | |
| Iowa | |
| Kansas | No-fault |
| Kentucky | Choice |
| Louisiana | |
| Maine | |
| Maryland | |
| Massachusetts | No-fault |
| Michigan | No-fault |
| Minnesota | No-fault |
| Mississippi | |
| Missouri | |
| Montana | |
| Nebraska | |
| Nevada | |
| New Hampshire | |
| New Jersey | Choice |
| New Mexico | |
| New York | No-fault |
| North Carolina | |
| North Dakota | No-fault |
| Ohio | |
| Oklahoma | |
| Oregon | |
| Pennsylvania | Choice |
| Rhode Island | |
| South Carolina | |
| South Dakota | |
| Tennessee | |
| Texas | |
| Utah | No-fault |
| Vermont | |
| Virginia | |
| Washington | |
| West Virginia | |
| Wisconsin | |
| Wyoming |
Source: Insurance Information Institute, Background on: No-fault auto insurance.
Most states let insurers price on a credit-based insurance score.
Not allowedLimitedAllowed
| State | Credit use |
|---|---|
| Alabama | |
| Alaska | |
| Arizona | |
| Arkansas | |
| California | Banned |
| Colorado | |
| Connecticut | |
| Delaware | |
| District of Columbia | |
| Florida | |
| Georgia | |
| Hawaii | Banned |
| Idaho | |
| Illinois | |
| Indiana | |
| Iowa | |
| Kansas | |
| Kentucky | |
| Louisiana | |
| Maine | |
| Maryland | Limited |
| Massachusetts | Banned |
| Michigan | Limited |
| Minnesota | |
| Mississippi | |
| Missouri | |
| Montana | |
| Nebraska | |
| Nevada | |
| New Hampshire | |
| New Jersey | |
| New Mexico | |
| New York | |
| North Carolina | |
| North Dakota | |
| Ohio | |
| Oklahoma | |
| Oregon | Limited |
| Pennsylvania | |
| Rhode Island | |
| South Carolina | |
| South Dakota | |
| Tennessee | |
| Texas | |
| Utah | Limited |
| Vermont | |
| Virginia | |
| Washington | |
| West Virginia | |
| Wisconsin | |
| Wyoming |
Source: state insurance laws. Michigan, Maryland, Oregon and Utah limit how credit is used.
Where more drivers have no insurance, insured drivers pay more for uninsured-motorist cover.
| State | Uninsured drivers |
|---|---|
| Alabama | 17% |
| Alaska | 12% |
| Arizona | 11% |
| Arkansas | 12% |
| California | 20% |
| Colorado | 20% |
| Connecticut | 12% |
| Delaware | 18% |
| District of Columbia | 23% |
| Florida | 21% |
| Georgia | 19% |
| Hawaii | 10% |
| Idaho | 6% |
| Illinois | 15% |
| Indiana | 14% |
| Iowa | 11% |
| Kansas | 12% |
| Kentucky | 14% |
| Louisiana | 12% |
| Maine | 6% |
| Maryland | 17% |
| Massachusetts | 8% |
| Michigan | 22% |
| Minnesota | 11% |
| Mississippi | 28% |
| Missouri | 21% |
| Montana | 7% |
| Nebraska | 10% |
| Nevada | 11% |
| New Hampshire | 10% |
| New Jersey | 14% |
| New Mexico | 24% |
| New York | 9% |
| North Carolina | 12% |
| North Dakota | 11% |
| Ohio | 18% |
| Oklahoma | 12% |
| Oregon | 15% |
| Pennsylvania | 11% |
| Rhode Island | 12% |
| South Carolina | 10% |
| South Dakota | 9% |
| Tennessee | 21% |
| Texas | 14% |
| Utah | 6% |
| Vermont | 12% |
| Virginia | 13% |
| Washington | 19% |
| West Virginia | 8% |
| Wisconsin | 16% |
| Wyoming | 7% |
More thefts mean more comprehensive claims.
| State | Thefts per 100,000 |
|---|---|
| Alabama | 163 |
| Alaska | 281 |
| Arizona | 184 |
| Arkansas | 142 |
| California | 318 |
| Colorado | 314 |
| Connecticut | 172 |
| Delaware | 191 |
| District of Columbia | 699 |
| Florida | 116 |
| Georgia | 162 |
| Hawaii | 292 |
| Idaho | 54 |
| Illinois | 248 |
| Indiana | 176 |
| Iowa | 120 |
| Kansas | 225 |
| Kentucky | 193 |
| Louisiana | 168 |
| Maine | 60 |
| Maryland | 320 |
| Massachusetts | 89 |
| Michigan | 188 |
| Minnesota | 166 |
| Mississippi | 144 |
| Missouri | 298 |
| Montana | 137 |
| Nebraska | 186 |
| Nevada | 401 |
| New Hampshire | 54 |
| New Jersey | 148 |
| New Mexico | 336 |
| New York | 129 |
| North Carolina | 208 |
| North Dakota | 154 |
| Ohio | 191 |
| Oklahoma | 196 |
| Oregon | 217 |
| Pennsylvania | 191 |
| Rhode Island | 106 |
| South Carolina | 165 |
| South Dakota | 145 |
| Tennessee | 229 |
| Texas | 250 |
| Utah | 97 |
| Vermont | 49 |
| Virginia | 115 |
| Washington | 259 |
| West Virginia | 71 |
| Wisconsin | 135 |
| Wyoming | 82 |
A rough measure of how severe crashes are.
| State | Deaths per 100M miles |
|---|---|
| Alabama | 1.33 |
| Alaska | 1.22 |
| Arizona | 1.62 |
| Arkansas | 1.52 |
| California | 1.20 |
| Colorado | 1.25 |
| Connecticut | 0.99 |
| Delaware | 1.28 |
| District of Columbia | 1.37 |
| Florida | 1.29 |
| Georgia | 1.11 |
| Hawaii | 0.97 |
| Idaho | 1.18 |
| Illinois | 1.13 |
| Indiana | 0.96 |
| Iowa | 1.06 |
| Kansas | 1.05 |
| Kentucky | 1.44 |
| Louisiana | 1.35 |
| Maine | 1.17 |
| Maryland | 1.01 |
| Massachusetts | 0.59 |
| Michigan | 1.10 |
| Minnesota | 0.80 |
| Mississippi | 1.82 |
| Missouri | 1.17 |
| Montana | 1.49 |
| Nebraska | 1.15 |
| Nevada | 1.47 |
| New Hampshire | 0.97 |
| New Jersey | 0.85 |
| New Mexico | 1.43 |
| New York | 0.90 |
| North Carolina | 1.31 |
| North Dakota | 0.89 |
| Ohio | 1.01 |
| Oklahoma | 1.38 |
| Oregon | 1.45 |
| Pennsylvania | 1.12 |
| Rhode Island | 0.68 |
| South Carolina | 1.68 |
| South Dakota | 1.39 |
| Tennessee | 1.44 |
| Texas | 1.35 |
| Utah | 0.78 |
| Vermont | 0.81 |
| Virginia | 1.03 |
| Washington | 1.20 |
| West Virginia | 1.57 |
| Wisconsin | 0.87 |
| Wyoming | 1.10 |
This page is general information, not insurance advice.
By our estimate, the District of Columbia, Michigan and California. These states combine dense traffic with more thefts, more uninsured drivers or no-fault rules. Official averages put Florida, Louisiana, New York and Michigan near the top too; Louisiana's lawsuit climate is something our inputs can't measure.
The only full table of average premiums by state comes from the insurance regulators' association (NAIC), which doesn't allow it to be reproduced without permission. So we estimate the pattern from public facts insurers price on, and say so. If NAIC allows it, we'll show their averages here.
It varies by insurer and state. North Carolina, where the regulator sets surcharges, adds 70% for a typical at-fault accident and 55% for a minor speeding ticket, for three years. Other states' insurers set their own surcharges, often similar or higher.
In most states, yes: insurers use a credit-based insurance score, and drivers with poor credit can pay far more than those with excellent credit. California, Hawaii and Massachusetts don't allow it, and Michigan limits it.
Usually a modest small SUV, minivan or family sedan with good safety ratings. Sports cars, luxury cars and some EVs cost more, because they are dearer to repair, attract more claims or are stolen more often.