Car Insurance Rates by State: 2026 Comparison

That's a difference of about $207 per month, or $2,478 per year, depending on the state where you live. Car insurance rates differ by location because of state regulations, weather, crime and road risks of different places.

Auto insurance rates by state

Nevada drivers pay an average of $335 per month for full coverage car insurance.

Vermont has the lowest car insurance rates, at $128 per month for full coverage. Full coverage auto insurance costs an average of $208 per month nationally.

In addition to the state where you live, factors like your age and driving history also affect your car insurance rates. For example, if you have a speeding ticket or caused a car accident, you'll usually pay more than someone with a clean driving record.

State rules that can raise your rates

Florida

Certain auto insurance requirements are partly to blame for whyFlorida car insurance is expensive. First, Florida is a no-fault state, which typically leads to higher rates because drivers tend to make more claims.

It requires drivers to have at least $10,000 in personal injury protection (PIP), but it doesn’t require them to get liability coverage to pay for another driver's injuries. It also requires only $10,000 to pay for damage to another vehicle they may have caused in a crash. As a result, the other driver’s own coverage has to pay after an accident, which contributes to higher rates.

---

California

Rates in California are a bit more expensive than average, in part because of certain requirements around credit scores and coverage.

California doesn't allow companies to consider your credit score when setting rates. This often means companies assume drivers have worse credit scores than they actually do, which can lead to higher prices.

The state also has higher-than-average coverage requirements, which makes rates more pricey.

---

New York

New York's car insurance rates are among the 15 most expensive in the country, partially because of its no-fault laws.

New York drivers need to have at least $50,000 of what's called personal injury protection (PIP) coverage, which pays for a driver's own injuries.

Rates also go up because of other factors, like crime and accident rates. For example, the heavy congestion in and around New York City leads to more accidents, more claims filed and then usually higher rates.

---

States with the cheapest car insurance

These states don't have big populations or large, congested cities, so they typically have lower accident and auto theft rates.

In addition, all four states have fewer uninsured drivers than the U.S. average. Those are some of the reasons why full coverage car insurance in Vermont, Maine, Wyoming and New Hampshire costs less than $135 per month, on average.

States with the highest car insurance rates

Nevada has the highest rates in the country largely because of bad traffic congestion around cities such as Las Vegas and Reno, where much of the state's population lives.

Traffic congestion is also a problem in Florida, along with a high rate of uninsured drivers.

Louisiana has a very high accident rate, compared to other states. Many drivers in Louisiana and Florida also have to worry about flood and hurricane damage.

Average car insurance rates by age and state

Younger drivers pay more for coverage in every state. As you get older, your rates will usually go down until about age 60 and then start rising.

Across the country, 18-year-old drivers are charged around three times as much as 30-year-old drivers for both full and minimum coverage. Hawaii, which bans the use of age in setting rates, has the smallest gap, while Rhode Island has the highest, with younger drivers paying about four times as much for the same coverage.

Monthly insurance rates by age and state

How do state requirements affect car insurance costs?

Each state has different car insurance laws. Most states usually require bodily injury and property damage liability insurance, which pay for damage you cause in an accident. Some states also require uninsured motorist coverage or personal injury protection (PIP) coverage.

All states require property damage liability coverage. And all states except Florida require bodily injury liability. About half of all states require uninsured or underinsured coverage, and 12 states require PIP.

No-fault states vs. fault states

Car insurance can be expensive in states that have no-fault car insurance. This means drivers need to have personal injury protection, or PIP insurance, to cover their own medical bills after an accident. A driver's right to sue after an accident is also limited.

Of the 12 no-fault states, three are in the top 10 for the highest auto insurance rates.

In at-fault states, the person who causes the car accident must use their liability insurance to pay for the other driver's injuries and property damage.

Three states—New Jersey,Pennsylvania and Kentucky—let you pay more to opt out of the no-fault system. This option allows you to sue for pain and suffering.

Some states, such as Delaware and Oregon, require PIP even though they are fault states.

Is full coverage required in my state?

However, your lender usually requires it if you have a car loan or lease.

Full coverage gives you more protection than a minimum coverage policy. It includes collision and comprehensive coverages to pay for nearly any damage to your car, regardless of whose fault it is. Full coverage can also have higher liability limits beyond what your state requires.

You should consider dropping full coverage if your car is worth less than $5,000 or if it's more than eight years old.

Of the major national companies, American Family is the cheapest company for full coverage. But you may find a better deal with a local or regional company, so make sure to get car insurance quotes from multiple companies before buying a policy.

What other factors besides your state affect auto insurance rates?

Your age, driving record and credit score typically have a big impact on your car insurance rates.

Every company has its own unique formula for setting rates, and some companies consider certain factors more than others. That's why it's so important to compare quotes so you can maximize your chance of getting the best rate.

How can moving states impact your car insurance rates?

As a general rule, auto insurance rates are usually higher in states that require more insurance to drive legally. States with lower requirements tend to have lower average insurance rates.

You can estimate what car insurance might cost in your new state before moving to see how your bills might change once you get there.

The driving conditions in your new state may also affect your rates. For example full coverage car insurance in Pennsylvania costs an average of $51 per month less than coverage in New Jersey. Both states have identical minimum coverage requirements and are no-fault states, but because New Jersey is more densely populated and has more traffic, there’s a greater risk of accidents and claims.

You should also consider the cost to change your registration and license with your new state DMV.

---

Frequently asked questions

---

Methodology

To find average car insurance prices by state, ValuePenguin collected quotes from 55 top insurance companies across all available ZIP codes in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Quotes are for a 30-year-old man with a 2018 Honda Civic EX and good credit.

Full coverage policies include coverage limits above minimum requirements.

ValuePenguin's analysis used insurance rate data from Quadrant Information Services. These rates were publicly sourced from insurer filings and should be used for comparative purposes only.