Your city’s weather, traffic, cost of living and accident rates all affect the condition of the roads you drive, which sways your premium higher or lower. If you’re wondering about the cheapest statewide insurance, you’ll find it in open-aired Ohio. But towering rates more consistently land in nearby Michigan, where state requirements mean drivers pay through the roof.
The best states for cheap car insurance ring in around $80 per month, while the worst states skyrocket as high as $150 per month. Where each state falls on the map:
| State | Average monthly car insurance rate |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $117 |
| Alaska | $130 |
| Arizona | $108 |
| Arkansas | $117 |
| California | $142 |
| Colorado | $121 |
| Connecticut | $92 |
| Delaware | $92 |
| Florida | $150 |
| Georgia | $121 |
| Hawaii | $113 |
| Idaho | $118 |
| Illinois | $104 |
| Indiana | $93 |
| Iowa | $92 |
| Kansas | $104 |
| Kentucky | $117 |
| Louisiana | $108 |
| Maine | $108 |
| Maryland | $125 |
| Massachusetts | $108 |
| Michigan | $183 |
| Minnesota | $108 |
| Mississippi | $100 |
| Missouri | $108 |
| Montana | $100 |
| Nebraska | $92 |
| Nevada | $117 |
| New Hampshire | $100 |
| New Jersey | $117 |
| New Mexico | $100 |
| New York | $108 |
| North Carolina | $108 |
| North Dakota | $113 |
| Ohio | $83 |
| Oklahoma | $125 |
| Oregon | $108 |
| Pennsylvania | $108 |
| Rhode Island | $150 |
| South Carolina | $108 |
| South Dakota | $88 |
| Tennessee | $108 |
| Texas | $125 |
| Utah | $108 |
| Vermont | $108 |
| Virginia | $104 |
| Washington | $100 |
| Washington, DC | $100 |
| West Virginia | $113 |
| Wisconsin | $108 |
| Wyoming | $125 |
Death is an inescapable part of life. In the US, the average person can expect to reach their 78th birthday, according to 2017 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The most common causes of death are heart disease and cancer — with accidents rounding out the top three.
We’ve gathered the odds of dying in accidents and other circumstances. Some of these statistics may surprise you.
These states with cheaper insurance have a running theme of rural areas, low coverage requirements and low underinsured driver rates.
Ohio’s average monthly premium is $83, making it the cheapest in the nation. Low costs may be due to the state’s at-fault laws, which don’t require coverage outside of liability. The lower liability limits required also help drivers stay legal with less coverage.
In the Mount Rushmore State, expect to pay around $88 a month for car insurance. That low cost may be attributed to its less populated cities and low underinsured driver rate, decreasing the risk of an accident considerably.
Connecticut drivers pay an average monthly premium of $92, despite the state requiring extra coverage. It likely keeps premiums low because of strict penalties for driving without insurance, which lead to fewer underinsured drivers. The state also sets its liability limits at 20/40/10, which is lower than many states.
The average monthly car insurance premium in the Diamond State is $92, possibly due to the state’s low population and unusually low liability maximums of 15/30/10. Delaware requires PIP coverage, however.
Iowa also keeps its average premium at $92 a month. This at-fault state doesn’t require insurance at all if drivers prove financial responsibility, but it also has a low underinsured driver rate.
The Cornhusker State’s average premium too is some $92 per month — which makes sense, given its low underinsured driver rate. Plus, with a population of just under 2 million compared to Georgia’s 10 million and Florida’s 20, you’re less likely to run into anyone on the road. Or experience traffic congestion at all.
This state always ranks first for the highest average monthly premium, which is $183. That’s because the state requires drivers to have both personal injury protection and personal property protection with high maximums. Michigan also has an influx of underinsured drivers with 21% not meeting legal requirements.
The state’s average premium stands at $150 a month, even though Florida has some of the lowest liability maximums in the nation. On the other hand, the state has a high underinsured driver rate and also requires personal injury protection coverage.
Rhode Island’s average monthly premium is $150. That cost may be because it requires liability as well as uninsured/underinsured coverage for bodily injuries and property damage.
The Golden State’s above-average premium is about $142 a month. Reasons for that high cost might include its large population, huge cities, high rates of underinsured drivers as well as the state’s high cost of living.
Alaska’s average monthly insurance premium is $130. The state’s no-fault laws and high liability requirements may explain the above-average rate. However, remote areas that don’t require car registration may not need insurance at all.
The homes of the lowest premiums nestle mostly in tea-sippin’ Southern towns, but even Idaho’s B-Town could conjure up lazy images of porch swings in Mayberry. The small-town ties to a low premium are probably due to fewer cars on the road, meaning fewer accidents.
This city’s low average premium of $49.16 a month are supported by its more desolate roads, compared with other cities. Plus, it’s in a state where even first offenses of drunk driving come with heavy consequences.
Combine rural roads and low underinsured driver rates, and you get Greensboro’s average premium of $62.50 a month.
This large Alabaman city attracts leisurely tourists along with residents who enjoy the city’s low cost of Southern living. That atmosphere could mean fewer zippy drivers and lower repair costs, providing the city with a low average premium of $67.16.
It’s the state’s most populated city, and yet Charlotte’s average car insurance premium stops at $67.83. That rate could reflect fewer accidents in the area along with a low cost of living, which may keep car accident costs down around town.
This rural city comes with open roads free from city traffic and driving dangers. That translates into fewer car accidents and the city’s low $71.33 average premium.
When steering clear of an expensive premium, you’ll want to avoid major cities with high congestion that leads to more accidents more often.
This heavily populated city offers the worst average premium: $392.83 a month. The reason? Steep insurance requirements and its location in a state with the highest premiums.
Drivers on this New York City borough’s roads number into the millions. Combine that with high costs for car repairs, and you’ve got a whopping average premium of $353.25 monthly.
The City of Brotherly Love can’t love its high car insurance premiums — around $316.08 a month. It’s got a million drivers on the road and requires higher coverage if drivers choose no-fault insurance.
You’re at a high risk for natural disasters in the Big Easy, the city sitting under sea level and within hurricane territory. Drivers can expect to budget some $252.08 a month for car insurance.
Residents of this desert city pay a high average car insurance premium of $245.58 a month, possibly due to having more accidents and tourist traffic compared with other cities.
The average premium nationwide stands at $108.33 a month, but yours may vary widely depending on where you live. Location is one of the biggest factors that determine why your car insurance might be expensive.
Here’s why premiums differ between states, cities and even ZIP code:
Fewer drivers on the road can mean a lower chance of accidents. But many factors drive a high or low premium, such as weather, insurance laws and underinsured drivers on the road.
No matter where you live, the best car insurance policy combines the coverage, benefits and value that fits your lifestyle and budget.
The Finder team compared rates from all 50 states and the top cities across the US with quotes from hundreds of insurers using our quoting tool.
Richard Laycock, Insights editor and senior content marketing manager
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