How car insurance cost varies by state
Where you live is one of the biggest levers on your premium. The US average is about $1,438/yr for full coverage, but that hides a huge spread: Florida averages $1,994 while Maine is just $926 — over $1,068 apart for the exact same car and driver. State law, accident and theft rates, repair costs and population density all feed the number. Click any state below for its full breakdown.
NATIONAL
$1,438
US average / year
HIGHEST
Florida
most expensive ($1,994)
LOWEST
Maine
cheapest ($926)
RANGE
$1,068
high-to-low spread
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Car insurance cost by state — all 51 ranked
Average annual premium (combined liability + collision + comprehensive), most expensive first. Click a state for its full breakdown.
FIG.01
| # | State | Avg / yr | vs US | Liability-only |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florida | $1,994 | +39% | $1,294 |
| 2 | Louisiana | $1,979 | +38% | $1,052 |
| 3 | New York | $1,896 | +32% | $1,116 |
| 4 | District of Columbia | $1,818 | +26% | $891 |
| 5 | Georgia | $1,746 | +21% | $1,046 |
| 6 | Texas | $1,727 | +20% | $798 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $1,710 | +19% | $984 |
| 8 | New Jersey | $1,693 | +18% | $1,033 |
| 9 | Colorado | $1,655 | +15% | $782 |
| 10 | Maryland | $1,602 | +11% | $869 |
| 11 | Nevada | $1,600 | +11% | $1,040 |
| 12 | Michigan | $1,572 | +9% | $765 |
| 13 | Delaware | $1,569 | +9% | $962 |
| 14 | South Carolina | $1,517 | +5% | $879 |
| 15 | Connecticut | $1,508 | +5% | $854 |
| 16 | Arizona | $1,504 | +5% | $793 |
| 17 | California | $1,417 | -1% | $660 |
| 18 | Massachusetts | $1,413 | -2% | $710 |
| 19 | Mississippi | $1,395 | -3% | $637 |
| 20 | Oklahoma | $1,325 | -8% | $566 |
| 21 | Missouri | $1,323 | -8% | $614 |
| 22 | New Mexico | $1,301 | -10% | $624 |
| 23 | Arkansas | $1,297 | -10% | $538 |
| 24 | Utah | $1,285 | -11% | $746 |
| 25 | Pennsylvania | $1,274 | -11% | $567 |
| 26 | Alabama | $1,269 | -12% | $576 |
| 27 | Oregon | $1,268 | -12% | $751 |
| 28 | Alaska | $1,262 | -12% | $624 |
| 29 | Illinois | $1,257 | -13% | $598 |
| 30 | Virginia | $1,238 | -14% | $627 |
| 31 | Washington | $1,235 | -14% | $708 |
| 32 | West Virginia | $1,227 | -15% | $523 |
| 33 | Minnesota | $1,223 | -15% | $542 |
| 34 | Tennessee | $1,212 | -16% | $542 |
| 35 | Kentucky | $1,208 | -16% | $633 |
| 36 | Nebraska | $1,184 | -18% | $484 |
| 37 | Montana | $1,184 | -18% | $472 |
| 38 | Kansas | $1,182 | -18% | $483 |
| 39 | Wyoming | $1,180 | -18% | $390 |
| 40 | South Dakota | $1,158 | -20% | $378 |
| 41 | North Carolina | $1,097 | -24% | $448 |
| 42 | Ohio | $1,038 | -28% | $485 |
| 43 | New Hampshire | $1,032 | -28% | $482 |
| 44 | Indiana | $1,032 | -28% | $485 |
| 45 | Iowa | $1,010 | -30% | $387 |
| 46 | Wisconsin | $1,000 | -30% | $447 |
| 47 | Hawaii | $998 | -31% | $464 |
| 48 | Idaho | $981 | -32% | $482 |
| 49 | North Dakota | $961 | -33% | $331 |
| 50 | Vermont | $958 | -33% | $381 |
| 51 | Maine | $926 | -36% | $425 |
ROWS 51·SOURCE NAIC 2023
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Most expensive states for car insurance
The priciest states — Florida, Louisiana and New York lead — driven by dense traffic, high repair and medical costs, litigation and, in some, weather and theft.
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Cheapest states for car insurance
The cheapest states — Maine and its neighbors — tend to be rural, less litigious and lower-cost to repair. Insurance there runs well under the national average.
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Why car insurance costs more in some states
The same car and driver can cost twice as much to insure across a state line. The main drivers:
State lawMinimum coverage requirements and no-fault vs at-fault systems set the floor.
Accident rateDense traffic and more claims per driver push premiums up.
Repair & medical costHigher labor, parts and healthcare costs mean bigger claims to pay.
Theft & vandalismMore stolen and broken-into cars raise comprehensive premiums.
WeatherHail, floods and hurricanes drive up comprehensive claims in some states.
Litigation & fraudMore lawsuits and insurance fraud raise costs for everyone in the pool.
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Car insurance by state — FAQ
Which state has the most expensive car insurance?
Florida has the highest average car insurance in our data at about $1,994/yr for full coverage, followed by Louisiana and New York.
Which state has the cheapest car insurance?
Maine is the cheapest at about $926/yr — well below the US average of $1,438.
How much does car insurance vary by state?
A lot. Between Maine ($926) and Florida ($1,994) the gap is over $1,068/yr for the same car and driver.
Why is car insurance so expensive in some states?
State law, accident and theft rates, repair and medical costs, weather risk and litigation all feed the premium. Dense, high-cost states pay the most; rural, low-claim states pay the least.
What is the average car insurance cost in the US?
About $1,438 a year for full coverage (2023 NAIC data) — but your state can push that well above or below.
Average premiums by state computed by ForCar from NAIC state average premium data (combined liability, collision and comprehensive, 2023). State averages reflect all drivers and vehicles; your own quote varies with your car, age, record, credit and coverage. For research and comparison, not a quote. Reviewed by Denis Kataev, founder of ForCar.
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