Car Insurance Rates by State: 2025 Comparison
The average cost of car insurance ranges from $103 per month in Maine to $286 per month in Nevada for full coverage.
That's a difference of about $183 per month, or $2,196 per year, depending on the state where you live. Car insurance rates vary by location because of state regulations, weather, crime and road risks of different places.
Find Cheap Car Insurance Quotes in Your Area
Car insurance rates by state
Nevada is the most expensive state for car insurance.
Nevada drivers pay an average of $286 per month for full coverage insurance.
Maine has the lowest car insurance rates, at $103 per month for full coverage. A typical full coverage auto insurance policy costs an average of $175 per month nationally.
Cost by state
Cheapest rates in each state
Most expensive rates in each state
Average monthly auto insurance cost by state
Cost by state
Average monthly auto insurance cost by state
Cheapest rates in each state
Lowest car insurance rates by state
State | Cheapest company | Monthly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | State Farm | $103 |
| Alaska | State Farm | $115 |
| Arizona | State Farm | $138 |
| Arkansas | State Farm | $113 |
| California | State Farm | $124 |
Rates are for a full coverage policy with collision and comprehensive coverage along with higher liability limits than the state requirement.
Most expensive rates in each state
Highest car insurance rates by state
State | Company | Monthly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Farmers | $337 |
| Alaska | Progressive | $183 |
| Arizona | Farmers | $343 |
| Arkansas | Farmers | $289 |
| California | Farmers | $267 |
Rates are for a full coverage policy with higher liability limits than the state requirement, plus collision and comprehensive coverage.
In addition to your ZIP code, 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.
Car insurance rates by city
Car insurance rates also vary within states. Typically, cities with more people have higher insurance rates. Busier roads mean you're more likely to get into an accident, which means higher prices for car insurance.
For example, in Texas, full coverage car insurance costs about $42 more per month in a massive city like Houston compared to a smaller and less traffic-heavy city such as Corpus Christi.
Compare car insurance rates for cities in your state
When estimating car insurance rates, don't rely only on state averages. Find out how much car insurance costs in the city where you live.
Car insurance rates by ZIP code
Car insurance rates also vary between neighborhoods. The ZIP code where you live within a city can affect rates considerably.
For example, in New York City, full coverage car insurance costs an average of $279 per month in the ZIP code 10021, in Manhattan's Upper East Side. But it costs twice as much — $562 per month — in ZIP code 11212, the Brooklyn neighborhood of Brownsville.
Don't be worried if your auto insurance rates change when you move across town. Compare quotes for the cheapest car insurance companies to find the best deal in your new ZIP code.
States with the cheapest car insurance
Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont have the cheapest car insurance rates in the country.
These states don't have big populations or large cities, which typically have more traffic and higher accident and auto theft rates. In addition, all three states have lower uninsured motorist rates than the U.S. average. Those are some of the reasons why full coverage car insurance in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont costs less than $110 per month, on average.
Top 10 states with lowest car insurance
- Maine: $103/mo
- New Hampshire: $107/mo
- Vermont: $107/mo
- Idaho: $111/mo
- Ohio: $115/mo
- Hawaii: $124/mo
- Wyoming: $124/mo
- Indiana: $130/mo
- Wisconsin: $135/mo
- North Carolina: $139/mo
States with the most expensive car insurance
Nevada, Florida and Michigan are the most expensive car insurance states.
Nevada has the highest rates in the country because of 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. Floridians also have to worry about flood or hurricane damage and a high rate of uninsured drivers.
Michigan has the highest car insurance requirements in the country, which has a big effect on its car insurance rates. It also has the second-highest rate of uninsured drivers in the country, after Mississippi.
Top 10 states with the highest car insurance rates
- Rhode Island: $237/mo
- Delaware: $230/mo
- Arizona: $218/mo
- Oklahoma: $200/mo
- New Jersey: $199/mo
How do state coverage requirements affect car insurance costs?
Higher coverage requirements usually lead to higher car insurance rates.
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. PIP coverage is required primarily in no-fault states.
- Bodily injury liability (BI)
- Property damage liability (PD)
- Uninsured or underinsured bodily injury (UIM)
- Uninsured or underinsured property damage (UIM)
- Personal injury protection (PIP)
Most states require drivers to have auto insurance. All states except Florida require drivers to have bodily injury liability, and all 50 states and Washington, D.C. require property damage liability. About half of all states require uninsured or underinsured coverage, and 16 states require PIP.
Is full coverage required in my state?
Full coverage car insurance is not required by any 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.
Full coverage car insurance costs about $106 more per month than a minimum coverage policy. The smallest price difference is in Maine, where full coverage costs only $58 more per month than minimum coverage.
ValuePenguin editors recommend dropping full coverage if your car is worth less than $5,000 or if it's more than 8 years old.
Of the major national companies, State Farm is the cheapest company for full coverage. But you may find a better deal with a local or regional company, so get car insurance quotes from multiple companies before buying a policy.
No-fault states vs. fault states
Car insurance can be expensive in states that require 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.
The 12 no-fault states
- Florida
- Hawaii
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- New Jersey
- New York
- North Dakota
- Pennsylvania
- Utah
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.
A few states, including New Jersey and Pennsylvania, let drivers pay more to opt out of the no-fault system. This option allows drivers to sue for pain and suffering.
Some states, such as Delaware and Oregon, require PIP even though they are fault states.
What other factors besides location affect auto insurance rates?
Your age, driving record and credit score typically have a big impact on your car insurance rate. That's in addition to where you live, as your ZIP code matters when it comes to factors such as crime rates, especially for theft.
- Driving record. If you have speeding tickets or accidents on your record, companies assume you are a high-risk driver and typically raise your rates.
- Age. Young drivers pay much more for car insurance. Rates drop quickly between ages 16 and 25. After leveling off in middle age, rates slowly start to rise again after age 60.
- Credit score. Insurance companies use your credit report to help calculate your credit-based insurance score. Usually, a good or excellent credit score gets you a lower rate on car insurance. A poor or bad credit score means you'll probably pay more. However, several states, including Michigan, Hawaii and California, don't allow insurance companies to use credit scores to set rates.
- Car. The more expensive your car is to repair, the more you'll usually pay for insurance. Expect to pay more if you have a luxury car, sports car or electric car.
- Gender. Men typically spend more time on the road and get into more accidents than women, especially when they're young. With the exception of a few states, insurance companies generally charge men higher rates than women to reflect this increased risk.
- Lapse in coverage. Any gap in insurance coverage means your insurance rates will likely be higher. A gap of more than a month could increase your rates by 8%.
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 moving states can impact your car insurance rates
Moving across state lines will likely impact your auto insurance rates.
As a general rule, average auto insurance rates are usually higher in states with higher requirements for minimum coverage. States with lower requirements tend to have lower average insurance rates.
Comparing the requirements can help you start estimating your car insurance to see how your bills might change after a move.
For example, drivers who move from Ohio to Florida will likely pay more for car insurance after the move.
Florida drivers pay $157 per month more for full coverage than Ohio drivers, on average. This is partly because Florida requires personal injury protection (PIP) insurance, which can be expensive.
The driving conditions of your new state may also affect your rates. Full coverage car insurance in Pennsylvania costs an average of $27 per month less than coverage in New Jersey. Both states have identical minimum coverage requirements and are no-fault states. But New Jersey is more densely populated and has more traffic.
You may also need to factor in the cost to change your registration and license with your new state DMV.
Frequently asked questions
Is Progressive more expensive in California or Colorado?
Progressive is more expensive in Colorado than California. Full coverage from Progressive costs an average of $145 per month in California, while it's $214 per month in Colorado. This is likely in part because Colorado has much higher car theft rates than other states, according to the FBI.
How much are car insurance rates in California vs. Massachusetts?
Massachusetts has cheaper average car insurance rates than California, at $145 per month for full coverage. In comparison, full coverage in California costs around $168 per month. However, both states are cheaper than the average rate across the U.S., which is $175 per month.
Is auto insurance cheaper in Texas or Louisiana?
What state has the cheapest car insurance?
Maine has the cheapest full coverage car insurance rates in the country, at $103 per month, on average. That's $72 per month less than the national average.
Methodology
To find average car insurance prices by state, ValuePenguin collected quotes from 39 top insurance companies across all available ZIP codes in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Quotes are for a 30-year-old man with a 2015 Honda Civic EX and good credit.
Full coverage policies include coverage limits above minimum requirements.
- Bodily injury liability: $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident
- Property damage liability: $25,000 per accident
- Uninsured or underinsured motorist BI: $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident
- Comprehensive and collision: $500 deductible
- Personal injury protection: Minimum, when required by state
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
Editorial Note: The content of this article is based on the author's opinions and recommendations alone. It has not been previewed, commissioned or otherwise endorsed by any of our network partners.
