The average cost of car insurance is $671 per year for drivers with minimum coverage and a clean record, according to WalletHub’s research. Individual rates may vary based on factors such as driving record, age, car type, and credit history.
Average Car Insurance Cost by Category
- Minimum Coverage: $56 per month
- Full Coverage: $176 per month
- Drivers with a Violation: $71 per month
- Young Drivers: $145 per month
- Senior Drivers: $55 per month
The cost of the average car insurance policy can be a good indication of how much a driver should expect to pay for coverage. We consider a young driver to be 16-24 years old, and we averaged the rates for 55- and 65-year-olds for the senior driver profile.
Average Car Insurance Cost by Company
Each insurance company has its own algorithm for calculating premiums, so the same driver could be quoted different premiums by different insurers. As a result, drivers should always compare quotes from at least three different insurers before purchasing a policy.
| Company | Minimum Coverage | Full Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Geico | $462 per year | $1,955 per year |
| USAA | $487 per year | $1,829 per year |
| AAA | $529 per year | $2,816 per year |
| Progressive | $549 per year | $2,271 per year |
| Travelers | $639 per year | $2,536 per year |
| State Farm | $718 per year | $2,627 per year |
| Allstate | $781 per year | $2,438 per year |
| Nationwide | $890 per year | $3,046 per year |
| Farmers | $1,044 per year | $3,295 per year |
| Liberty Mutual | $1,090 per year | $3,419 per year |
Average Car Insurance Cost by State
| State | Minimum Coverage | Full Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $577 per year | $2,029 per year |
| Alaska | $470 per year | $1,679 per year |
| Arizona | $720 per year | $2,111 per year |
| Arkansas | $591 per year | $2,450 per year |
| California | $717 per year | $2,567 per year |
| Colorado | $606 per year | $2,445 per year |
| Connecticut | $1,086 per year | $2,453 per year |
| Delaware | $927 per year | $2,396 per year |
| Florida | $1,242 per year | $3,406 per year |
| Georgia | $877 per year | $2,287 per year |
| Hawaii | $432 per year | $1,434 per year |
| Idaho | $374 per year | $1,262 per year |
| Illinois | $592 per year | $1,801 per year |
| Indiana | $422 per year | $1,432 per year |
| Iowa | $294 per year | $1,409 per year |
| Kansas | $565 per year | $2,109 per year |
| Kentucky | $827 per year | $2,492 per year |
| Louisiana | $1,175 per year | $3,824 per year |
| Maine | $427 per year | $1,251 per year |
| Maryland | $1,038 per year | $2,533 per year |
| Massachusetts | $647 per year | $2,114 per year |
| Michigan | $1,300 per year | $3,397 per year |
| Minnesota | $698 per year | $1,928 per year |
| Mississippi | $508 per year | $1,920 per year |
| Missouri | $651 per year | $2,105 per year |
| Montana | $423 per year | $2,079 per year |
| Nebraska | $437 per year | $1,930 per year |
| Nevada | $874 per year | $2,365 per year |
| New Hampshire | $503 per year | $1,510 per year |
| New Jersey | $1,283 per year | $2,936 per year |
| New Mexico | $497 per year | $1,959 per year |
| New York | $1,719 per year | $4,535 per year |
| North Carolina | $511 per year | $1,454 per year |
| North Dakota | $384 per year | $1,623 per year |
| Ohio | $393 per year | $1,308 per year |
| Oklahoma | $511 per year | $2,155 per year |
| Oregon | $807 per year | $1,755 per year |
| Pennsylvania | $611 per year | $2,321 per year |
| Rhode Island | $946 per year | $2,479 per year |
| South Carolina | $802 per year | $2,339 per year |
| South Dakota | $304 per year | $1,822 per year |
| Tennessee | $467 per year | $1,736 per year |
| Texas | $773 per year | $2,577 per year |
| Utah | $765 per year | $2,114 per year |
| Vermont | $318 per year | $1,212 per year |
| Virginia | $603 per year | $1,653 per year |
| Washington | $699 per year | $2,215 per year |
| West Virginia | $523 per year | $1,787 per year |
| Wisconsin | $412 per year | $1,457 per year |
| Wyoming | $291 per year | $1,716 per year |
Note: Premiums are representative only; individual premiums will be different
Cheapest states for full-coverage car insurance
Most expensive states for full-coverage car insurance
Learn more about average car insurance costs by age and state.
Average Car Insurance Cost by Violation
Drivers almost always pay more for auto insurance after a moving violation. The exact amount that your rates will go up depends mostly on your state and the specific infraction, but in some states your premium can rise to more than double the rate that a safe driver would pay.
You can check your driving record to see how many infractions and points you have on your license, and if you practice good habits behind the wheel, your rates will eventually go back down. It usually takes 3-5 years to improve your driving record for insurance purposes after a moving violation.
| Violation | Premium Increase After Infraction | Average Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Red Light Infraction | 23% | $69 per month |
| Speeding Ticket | 27% | $71 per month |
| Open Container Infraction | 48% | $83 per month |
| At-Fault Accident | 50% | $84 per month |
| Reckless Driving Infraction | 98% | $111 per month |
| Suspended Driver’s License Infraction | 104% | $114 per month |
| DUI | 107% | $116 per month |
Note: Premiums are representative only; individual premiums will be different
Average Car Insurance Cost by Age
Your age can affect your car insurance rates because younger drivers with less experience on the road tend to have more accidents than older, mature drivers. As a result, they also pay more for car insurance.
Premiums usually drop by 12% to 20% when a driver turns 25 years old. After that, the average driver’s rate will gradually decrease over time until they reach their seventies. At that point, costs rise once again due to the increased risk posed by senior drivers.
| Age | Average Annual Premium | Average Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|
| 16 years old | $3,192 per year | $266 per month |
| 25 years old | $815 per year | $68 per month |
| 45 years old | $671 per year | $56 per month |
| 65 years old | $680 per year | $57 per month |
Note: Premiums are representative only; individual premiums will be different
Learn more about average car insurance cost by age.
Average Car Insurance Cost by Gender
Female drivers pay an average of 6% more than male drivers, according to WalletHub’s analysis. However, several states, including California and Hawaii, have laws in place that forbid using gender to influence car insurance rates.
| Gender | Average Annual Premium | Average Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Male | $671 per year | $56 per month |
| Female | $703 per year | $59 per month |
Note: Premiums are representative only; individual premiums will be different
Learn more about average car insurance cost by gender.
Average Car Insurance Cost by Car Type
The most expensive type of car to insure is a sports car, followed by a truck. In general, the faster a car can go or the more expensive it is to repair or replace, the more its insurance will cost.
Drivers tend to assume that if a car is more expensive, it automatically costs more to insure than a cheaper car. However, this is not always the case. WalletHub’s analysis found that only 22% of the difference in insurance premiums for cars in the same category can be attributed to the cost of the car. The remaining 78% depends on other factors such as the car’s body type, make, and age, which affect how much damage a car can cause and how much it costs to repair.
| Type of Car | Average Annual Premium | Average Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Crossover/SUV | $655 per year | $55 per month |
| Sedan | $671 per year | $56 per month |
| Truck | $657 per year | $55 per month |
| Coupe | $660 per year | $55 per month |
Note: Premiums are representative only; individual premiums will be different
Average Car Insurance Cost by Specific Vehicle
The vehicles listed below are the cheapest cars to insure overall, according to WalletHub’s analysis. These specific cars represent a mix of SUVs and minivans, which are typically cheaper to insure than other types of cars due to their high safety ratings, low repair costs, and low accident rates.
| Car | Average Annual Premium | Average Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Subaru Forester | $1,773 | $148 |
| Dodge Grand Caravan | $1,786 | $149 |
| Honda Odyssey | $1,800 | $150 |
| Ford Escape | $1,877 | $156 |
| Toyota Sienna | $1,966 | $164 |
Note: Premiums are representative only; individual premiums will be different.
Average Car Insurance Cost by Category
Since car insurance costs are based on a driver’s expected level of risk and likelihood of filing claims, certain drivers pay more than others. Students and teens tend to pay more for insurance because of their lack of experience, while married people are seen as being more stable and less likely to take risks, which leads to lower premium costs. Seniors pay slightly more for car insurance than middle-aged drivers because seniors are statistically more likely to be involved in serious accidents on the road.
| Category | Average Annual Premium | Average Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Teenager | $2,920 per year | $243 per month |
| Student | $1,107 per year | $92 per month |
| Single Person | $671 per year | $56 per month |
| Married Person | $646 per year | $54 per month |
| Seniors | $658 per year | $55 per month |
Note: Premiums are representative only; individual premiums will be different
Average Car Insurance Cost by Credit Score
Drivers with bad credit pay an average of 71% more for car insurance than drivers with good credit, according to WalletHub’s analysis. Insurance companies consider drivers’ credit history because it is generally correlated with their likelihood of filing an insurance claim. They do not directly use credit scores when calculating the cost of premiums, but they use the same underlying information: your credit report.
| Credit Score | Average Annual Premium | Average Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Good Credit | $671 per year | $56 per month |
| Bad Credit | $1,633 per year | $136 per month |
Note: Premiums are representative only; individual premiums will be different
For drivers in California, Michigan, Massachusetts, Washington, and Hawaii, credit data cannot be used to determine car insurance rates because it is prohibited by state law. Instead, insurance companies will simply evaluate factors such as a driver's age, driving record, vehicle, and more.
Average Cost of Car Insurance by Year
Americans spend more than $1,000 on car insurance per year, according to the latest data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. This data also shows that annual car insurance spending increased by roughly 39% from 2012 to 2022.
| Year | Average expenditure |
| 2012 | $812 |
| 2013 | $841 |
| 2014 | $870 |
| 2015 | $897 |
| 2016 | $945 |
| 2017 | $1,009 |
| 2018 | $1,058 |
| 2019 | $1,075 |
| 2020 | $1,048 |
| 2021 | $1,062 |
| 2022 | $1,127 |
Source: National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC)
Other Factors That Can Affect the Cost of Auto Insurance
Auto insurance companies consider a wide variety of variables when determining the premium for a policy. Each insurance company assigns different weights to the various factors they consider, but the general components are largely the same. In addition to things like your age, what state you live in, what type of car you drive, how good your credit score is and which insurance company you choose (which are covered above), all the factors listed below can also affect the cost of car insurance.
- Insurance history: A long gap in your insurance history can result in higher rates, as can a history of claims.
- Deductible: The lower your deductible is, the higher you can expect your premium to be. This affects collision insurance, comprehensive insurance, uninsured motorist coverage, and personal injury protection.
- How many miles you drive: The higher your annual mileage is, the more you can expect to pay for car insurance, since there’s more opportunity for accidents.
- When you drive: Consistently driving late at night can lead to higher car insurance premiums, particularly with usage-based insurance, since the threat of an accident is higher.
- ZIP code: Accidents and vehicle thefts are more common in some areas than others, so insurance companies adjust the price of auto insurance policies accordingly.
- Job/affiliation: People who belong to certain professional groups or alumni associations may be eligible for a discount on their car insurance. Certain professions are also statistically less likely to file claims and may get a lower premium as a result.
- Bundling: If you bundle your car insurance with another type of coverage, such as home insurance, you could get a cheaper price than you would have to pay if you purchased them separately. Similarly, insuring multiple cars with the same company can get you a lower price per car.
- Payment frequency: Paying for a full year or six-month policy period up front is usually cheaper than paying monthly for the same time period.
- Experience: Your experience on the road can affect how risky you seem to insurers. You might get a cheaper premium than someone else your age if you have more experience, for example. That experience just has to reflect responsible driving to benefit you.
- Vehicle modifications: If you improve the performance or appearance of your car and you want the improvement to be covered, you’ll likely have to pay more for car insurance than someone with the standard version of the same vehicle.
To learn more about the most important factors to focus on, check out our guide on the 10 factors that affect car insurance costs the most.
How to Find Cheap Car Insurance
Each state has its own laws and requirements for car insurance, and premiums for any company can vary widely depending on where you live. As a result, the cheapest companies for certain drivers will be different between states. For your convenience, we’ve listed WalletHub’s guides to finding cheap car insurance in the 10 largest states below.
Video: How Much Is Car Insurance?
Methodology
WalletHub’s analysis of the average rates for car insurance is based on data from Quadrant Information Services. Together with that data, WalletHub used the characteristics listed below to create a driver profile designed to identify the average car insurance rates nationally. Given that prices and data availability vary widely across the country, WalletHub compared the cost of major car insurance companies by averaging each insurer's premiums across all 50 states.
In the table below, you can see all of the profile characteristics that were used in WalletHub’s analysis.
| Category | All Profile Characteristics | Good Driver Profile |
| Gender | Male, Female | Male |
| Age | 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 35, 45, 55, 65 | 45 |
| Marital Status | Single, Married | Single |
| Teenage Driver Included on Policy | No, Yes | No |
| Driving Record | Clean, One Speeding Ticket, One At-Fault Accident, One DUI, Suspended License, Open Container, Red Light Infraction, Reckless Driving, One Not At-Fault Accident | Clean |
| Miles Driven Per Year | 7,500 Miles, 15,000 Miles, 20,000 Miles | 15,000 Miles |
| Coverage Level | Minimum, Standard, Full | Minimum |
| Discounts | None, Multi-Policy, Homeowner, Student | None |
| Credit Level | Poor, Good | Good |
| Filings | None, SR22, FR44 | None |
| Car | Sedan, Minivan, SUV, Coupe, Truck | Sedan |
Below are additional details regarding the terminology and specific characteristics of the variables in the above table:
- Minimum Coverage: State minimum coverage requirements.
- Standard Coverage: Coverage levels of 50k/100k/25k of liability coverage and 50k/100k/25k of uninsured motorist coverage.
- Full Coverage: Coverage levels of 100k/300k/50k of liability coverage, 100k/300k/50k of uninsured motorist coverage, and collision and comprehensive coverage with a $500 deductible.
- Sedan: 2018 Toyota Camry.
- Minivan: 2018 Dodge Grand Caravan.
- SUV: 2018 Toyota RAV4.
- Coupe: 2018 Ford Mustang.
- Truck: 2018 Ford F-150.
Where driver profiles are not specified, WalletHub used the good driver profile laid out above.
WalletHub also collected quotes for 26 of the most popular vehicle models on the road in the U.S., from 10 major auto insurance companies. For more details on how these were determined, check out WalletHub’s methodology for the cheapest cars to insure.
Quote information is from Quadrant Information Services and is representative only. Individual rates will be different.
Ask The Experts
To gain more insight about average car insurance cost, WalletHub posed the following questions to a panel of experts. Click on the experts below to view their bios and answers.
1. Why have car insurance premiums been increasing over the past years?
2. How can drivers lower their average car insurance costs?
3. Why do some groups pay so much more for car insurance than others?
4. Can insurers really save drivers as much on their average car insurance costs as they advertise?
Ask the Experts
Ph.D., Associate Professor of Marketing, Hankamer School of Business - Baylor University
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Ph.D., Associate Professor of Marketing - University of St. Thomas
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Ph.D., Associate Professor of Economics, School of Business - Southern Connecticut State University
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Distinguished University Professor and David Bruce Smith Chair in Marketing; Vice President of Publications, American Marketing Association; Executive Director, Center for Excellence in Service, Department of Marketing, Robert H. Smith School of Business - University of Maryland
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Professor of Finance, School of Business - University of Portland
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Associate Professor, Ness School of Management & Economics - South Dakota State University
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WalletHub experts are widely quoted. Contact our media team to schedule an interview.