Average Cost of Car Insurance in 2024

 

Average Cost of Car Insurance in 2024

Auto insurance rates in the U.S. are rising. Here’s what you might pay by company, state, car type and more.


How much is car insurance?

The average cost of full coverage car insurance is $1,708 per year, or about $142 per month, while minimum coverage costs an average of $483 per year, or around $40 per month, according to our  May 2024 rate analysis. Your own car insurance price will vary based on several factors, such as your age, driving history, location, coverage you select, and car make and model.

Key insights from Our May 2024 car insurance cost analysis:

  • The national average annual car insurance cost is $1,708 for full coverage and $483 for minimum coverage.

  • Young drivers, drivers with a recent DUI and drivers with poor credit pay some of the highest car insurance rates on average.

  • Wyoming, Vermont and Idaho have some of the cheapest full coverage car insurance rates in the country, while Louisiana, Florida and Texas are the most expensive.

  • While average car insurance rates can be a good indicator of what you may pay for coverage, your own price will likely be different.

Why you can trust on us

Our writers and editors follow strict editorial guidelines to ensure fairness and accuracy in our writing and data analyses. You can trust the prices we show you because our data analysts take rigorous measures to eliminate outliers and inaccuracies in pricing data, which include rates from every locale in the country where coverage is offered and data is available. When comparing rates for different coverage amounts, ages and backgrounds, we change only one variable at a time, so you can easily see how each factor affects pricing. Read our methodology.

Average cost of car insurance for different driver profiles

Here’s a snapshot of national median car insurance rates based on credit history, driving history, and breadth of insurance coverage:

Driving and credit historyFull coverageMinimum coverage
Clean driving record, good credit$1,708$483
One speeding ticket, good credit$2,164$608
One at-fault crash, good credit$2,511$720
One DUI, good credit$3,194$916
Clean driving record, poor credit$2,726$752

As you can see, average car insurance costs for full coverage insurance are generally much higher than minimum coverage. That’s because, while minimum coverage policies only offer liability insurance and other state-mandated coverage, full coverage also includes collision and comprehensive insurance, which cover damage to your own vehicle.

But averages can only say so much about your own car insurance costs. Several personal factors, within and outside your control, ultimately impact how much you pay.

We can’t anticipate which factors apply to you, so we used a specific driver profile throughout this article (unless stated otherwise):

  • 35 years old.

  • Good driver. Defined as a person with a clean driving record, meaning no accidents, DUIs or other traffic violations.

  • Good credit. Drivers with a good credit rating. Insurers use a credit-based insurance score, which is similar to your regular credit score, to calculate rates in most states.

How much is car insurance in my state?

Where you live can have an enormous impact on car insurance costs because each state has different regulations. Use our interactive state map to find average annual rates for your state below.

rage annual car insurance costs by state.
StateFull coverageMinimum coverage
Alabama$1,728$402
Alaska$1,730$331
Arizona$2,046$613
Arkansas$1,794$445
California$1,630$456
Colorado$2,366$546
Connecticut$1,743$761
Delaware$2,079$877
Florida$3,035$805
Georgia$1,945$657
Hawaii$1,610$491
Idaho$1,162$319
Illinois$1,528$453
Indiana$1,423$399
Iowa$1,401$252
Kansas$1,895$470
Kentucky$2,393$664
Louisiana$3,114$890
Maine$1,175$373
Maryland$1,896$823
Massachusetts$1,265$399
Michigan$2,343$602
Minnesota$1,627$469
Mississippi$1,918$518
Missouri$1,981$504
Montana$1,840$425
Nebraska$1,502$329
Nevada$2,199$793
New Hampshire$1,190$367
New Jersey$1,969$802
New Mexico$1,902$421
New York$1,958$765
North Carolina$1,683$606
North Dakota$1,608$408
Ohio$1,189$335
Oklahoma$2,088$490
Oregon$1,352$600
Pennsylvania$1,667$370
Rhode Island$2,413$900
South Carolina$1,870$609
South Dakota$1,637$280
Tennessee$1,684$431
Texas$2,511$816
Utah$1,496$591
Vermont$1,085$310
Virginia$1,605$649
Washington$1,500$509
Washington, D.C.$1,737$859
West Virginia$1,693$476
Wisconsin$1,514$361
Wyoming$972$185

Here are the cheapest states for full coverage auto insurance:

  1. Wyoming: $972 per year, or about $81 per month, on average.

  2. Vermont: $1,085 per year, or about $90 per month, on average.

  3. Idaho: $1,162 per year, or about $97 per month, on average.

  4. Maine: $1,175 per year, or about $98 per month, on average.

  5. Ohio: $1,189 per year, or about $99 per month, on average.

These are the most expensive states for full coverage auto insurance:

  1. Louisiana: $3,114 per year, or about $259 per month, on average.

  2. Florida: $3,035 per year, or about $253 per month, on average.

  3. Texas: $2,511 per year, or about $209 per month, on average.

  4. Rhode Island: $2,413 per year, or about $201 per month, on average.

  5. Kentucky: $2,393 per year, or about $199 per month, on average.

» MORE: Minimum required car insurance in every state

How much is car insurance by company?

Every car insurance company sets rates based on dozens of factors, including your driving history, location, vehicle and demographics. They’re making an educated guess about how likely you are to file a claim and setting your price accordingly.

Each insurer treats each factor differently. If you have poor credit, one insurer might charge you 10% more for the policy, while another would charge 40% more. A discount for being claim-free in recent years might earn you a 20% discount with one company and 5% at another.

All this results in different prices from one person to the next. This is why the company that gives your friend a super-low premium might not be the cheapest for you.

Here are annual average rates for many of the nation’s largest auto insurers, for full and minimum coverage.

Average annual car insurance costs from large companies

CompanyFull coverageMinimum coverage
Allstate$2,242$601
American Family$1,270$477
Farmers$2,608$875
Geico$1,303$355
Nationwide$1,961$755
Progressive$1,725$488
State Farm$1,989$461
Travelers$1,392$436
USAA*$1,260$312

*USAA is only available to military, veterans and their families.

Small insurers may have cheaper rates than nationwide carriers. However, many regional insurers are available in only a few states. We analyzed rates from large insurers to provide the most relevant information for all readers.

How much is auto insurance based on your driving record?

A recent ding on your driving record can make your auto insurance rates go up, as insurers see you as a risky driver compared to one with a clean record. Traffic violations and car accidents can stay on your record for three to five years.

Here are the average car insurance costs for drivers with an at-fault accident, a DUI or a speeding ticket on their records.

How much is auto insurance after an at-fault accident?

After an accident, average car insurance costs for an at-fault driver are:

  • $2,511 per year for full coverage.

  • $720 per year for minimum coverage.

On average, car insurance costs for full coverage are about 47% higher for a driver who has caused a wreck than for one who hasn’t, according to ours analysis.

Average annual cost of car insurance before and after an at-fault accident

Type of policyClean recordAfter one at-fault accident
Full coverage$1,708$2,511
Minimum coverage$483$720

How much your rates will rise also depends on the severity of damage and whether you have accident forgiveness on your policy or any “good driver” discounts you stand to lose. The hypothetical accident in our analysis was relatively minor, resulting in $10,000 worth of property damage and no injuries. Accidents resulting in medical costs can be expensive and result in steeper rate increases.

It’s important to shop for the cheapest insurer after an accident because each company considers factors like a crash differently when setting prices.

Average car insurance costs after a speeding ticket

Speeding not only contributes to more traffic deaths on roadways, but it may also mean higher insurance premiums for those who get ticketed. On average, a driver with a recent speeding ticket pays 27% more for full coverage than a driver with a clean record, according to our's analysis.

And it may take some time before you can put the past behind you — speeding tickets can stay on your record for three to five years, depending on the state you live in.

How much a speeding ticket raises average annual car insurance costs

Type of policyClean recordRecent speeding ticket
Full coverage$1,708$2,164
Minimum coverage$483$608

Average car insurance costs after a DUI

Getting caught drinking and driving will mean significantly higher rates for car insurance. On average, auto insurance costs for full coverage go up about 87% for a driver with a recent DUI, our's analysis found. This translates to an average increase of about $1,486 a year for full coverage car insurance after a DUI nationally.

How much a DUI raises average annual car insurance costs

Type of policyClean recordRecent DUI
Full coverage$1,708$3,194
Minimum coverage$483$916

Shopping around for the cheapest car insurance or switching to your state’s minimum required auto insurance coverage can help keep costs down after a DUI.


How much is auto insurance for good and poor credit?

Having poor credit has a large impact on auto insurance rates in most states. On average, car insurance costs for full coverage are about 60% higher for drivers with poor credit than for people with good credit.

Average car insurance costs for a driver with poor credit are:

  • $2,726 per year for full coverage.

  • $752 per year for minimum coverage.

Average annual car insurance costs for drivers with good vs. poor credit

Type of policyGood creditPoor credit
Full coverage$1,708$2,726
Minimum coverage$483$752

Insurers use a credit-based insurance score, similar to a regular credit score, to help set rates in most states. The insurance score uses all the same factors as a regular credit score — things like on-time payments and delinquencies — but weighs them differently.

California, Hawaii and Massachusetts don't allow insurers to use credit when determining car insurance rates.

Insurance companies point to data linking poor credit to more frequent insurance claims to justify higher prices. The score’s impact on your premium depends on where you live and which car insurance company you choose.

How much is auto insurance based on age?

Drivers of different ages have different average annual car insurance rates. Here’s how they compare:

AgeFull coverageMinimum coverage
20$3,568$1,015
30$1,759$498
35$1,708$483
40$1,667$473
50$1,562$450
60$1,500$442
70$1,597$489

How much is auto insurance for young drivers?

Insurers see less experienced drivers as a bigger risk and typically charge them heftier prices. Insurers may categorize young drivers as anyone 16 to 25 years old and sometimes anyone under 30 years old. For our analysis, we analyzed rates for 20-year-old drivers. As you age past your 20s, rates tend to go down until you reach your 70s.

Average annual car insurance costs for a 20-year-old driver

For a 20-year-old driver with good credit and a clean driving record, average car insurance costs are:

  • $3,568 for full coverage.

  • $1,015 for minimum required coverage.

But young drivers with poor credit or a less-than-perfect driving history are likely to shell out more for car insurance.

Driver profileFull coverageMinimum coverage
Clean driving record, good credit$3,568$1,015
One speeding ticket, good credit$4,303$1,235
One at-fault crash, good credit$4,740$1,397
One DUI, good credit$5,933$1,724
Clean driving record, poor credit$5,661$1,566

Nearly 40% of Americans between ages 20 and 24 have no credit history or too little to generate a score, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

. Like your regular credit score, a limited credit history can negatively affect your credit-based insurance score and result in higher car insurance rates.

Average annual car insurance costs for young drivers by company

Knowing average costs gives you an idea of what to expect, but it’s only a starting point for a young driver looking for affordable car insurance. Rates can vary by hundreds of dollars a year, depending on where you live and which insurer you choose. Here are average rates for the largest auto insurance companies for 20-year-old drivers.

CompanyFull coverageMinimum coverage
Allstate$5,448$1,120
American Family$2,598$984
Farmers$6,067$2,008
Geico$2,447$683
Nationwide$4,352$1,790
Progressive$3,419$950
State Farm$4,474$1,172
Travelers$3,287$861
USAA*$2,563$635

*USAA is only available to military, veterans and their families.

Check with several companies to find the best possible rate and be sure to ask about car insurance discounts for young drivers.

How much is auto insurance based on gender?

On average, car insurance costs differ little by gender compared with differences seen by company, state, credit score and driving history. That doesn’t mean that a cost difference based on your gender would be insignificant, however. Gender-based pricing of car insurance is banned by law in seven states: California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, North Carolina and Pennsylvania.

In general, young adults have a much wider price discrepancy based on gender than older drivers. Men pay more than women across all age groups we analyzed for full coverage insurance.

For example, in states where gender-based pricing is allowed, we averaged full coverage insurance rates for men and women separately and found that:

  • At age 20, men pay about $591 more than than women per year.

  • At age 30, men pay around $25 more than than women per year.

  • At age 35, men pay about $14 more than than women per year.

In this article, NerdWallet uses the term “gender.” We recognize that this is different from sex. Gender is how you identify within society, while sex refers to certain biological attributes.

Some insurers don’t recognize this distinction and use the terms interchangeably. This means that when you apply for car insurance, they may ask for your gender when they really mean sex.

They may also ask for identification that doesn’t reflect your gender accurately. For instance, a company may want the gender you list on your insurance application to match the sex listed on your driver’s license.

How much is auto insurance based on vehicle type?

In our analyses, we used a 3-year-old Toyota Camry (the most popular sedan in America by sales in recent years) to show how rates vary by personal history and demographics. But the make and model of your vehicle will certainly affect rates.

Insurers charge more to cover certain cars, including:

  • Sports cars, which have higher top speeds. People tend to drive them faster, increasing the likelihood of a wreck or traffic violation. If you get a speeding ticket, insurers think you’ll be more likely to cause an accident, which increases rates further.

  • Luxury cars, which tend to have expensive parts and details that are costlier to replace if damaged in a crash.

  • EVs, which also have more expensive engine parts to replace. The batteries for electric vehicles alone can cost thousands each.

  • Cars that are stolen often, which tend to be the nation’s more popular makes and models. These vehicles generally have higher rates for comprehensive insurance, the part of an auto policy that pays out when your car is stolen or damaged by something not traffic-related, such as floods, fire and vandalism. It is typically optional unless you have a loan or lease.

To see how costs differ depending on your vehicle, we looked at average car insurance costs for the most popular vehicles based on sales in a separate analysis from 2022. As shown below, the Camry is far from the cheapest model. That honor goes to the Subaru Outback, with an average car insurance cost of $1,512 per year.

RankMedian annual insurance premiumMSRPInsurance as % of MSRP

1. Subaru Outback

$1,512

$28,395

5.3%

2. Subaru Crosstrek

$1,516

$23,645

6.4%

3. Honda CR-V

$1,517

$28,410

5.3%

4. Mazda CX-5

$1,547

$26,700

5.8%

5. Hyundai Tucson

$1,597

$26,900

5.9%

6. Ford Escape

$1,609

$28,000

5.7%

7. Jeep Wrangler

$1,617

$31,195

5.2%

8. Toyota Tacoma

$1,647

$28,250

5.8%

9. Ford F-150

$1,651

$33,695

4.9%

10. Toyota RAV4

$1,652

$28,275

5.8%

11. Chevrolet Equinox

$1,695

$26,600

6.4%

12. Toyota Highlander

$1,716

$39,020

4.4%

13. GMC Sierra 1500

$1,751

$37,200

4.7%

14. Nissan Rogue

$1,751

$27,760

6.3%

15. Chevrolet Silverado 1500

$1,762

$36,300

4.9%

16. Ford Explorer

$1,780

$38,570

4.6%

17. Toyota Corolla

$1,800

$21,700

8.3%

18. Toyota Camry

$1,822

$26,320

6.9%

19. Honda Civic

$1,832

$23,750

7.7%

20. Honda Accord

$1,844

$27,295

6.8%

21. Jeep Grand Cherokee

$1,883

$40,030

4.7%

22. Ram 1500

$1,897

$37,410

5.1%

23. Nissan Altima

$1,641

$25,490

7.9%

24. Tesla Model 3

$2,296

$40,240

5.7%

25. Tesla Model Y

$2,530

$52,630

4.8%

What else affects my car insurance cost?

There are additional factors that can affect car insurance costs you may need to consider, such as:

  • More specific location data such as your ZIP code or city.

  • Your occupation, in many states.

  • Your previous insurance company. If it was a nonstandard insurer specializing in high-risk drivers, you might see higher insurance rates with some companies.

  • Continuous insurance coverage. Companies charge more for drivers with lapses in coverage.

  • Annual mileage driven per car.

  • Your marital status. Some insurers believe married people drive more responsibly, which means single people — even widows, widowers and divorced folks — tend to have higher insurance rates.

  • Whether you own your home (and whether you bundle home insurance with auto).

  • How much education you’ve completed.

  • Additional coverage options you choose, such as new-car replacement coverage and gap coverage.

  • Discounts you’re eligible for, which vary widely by company.

  • Whom you live with. Some companies won’t allow you to exclude people such as roommates or nondriving adults from your policy.

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