Average Cost of Car Insurance (2022)
Average Cost of Car Insurance (2022)
The average cost of car insurance is $785 per year, or $65 per month, for a minimum coverage policy.
Find Cheap Auto Insurance Quotes in Your Area
Because quotes vary for every individual, comparing rates is often the best way to find savings on car insurance. Our analysis, based on hundreds of thousands of quotes collected nationwide, backs that up. We always recommend getting quotes from multiple auto insurers to find the best rate for you.
Compare average auto insurance costs by company, location, age and gender, vehicle make and model, accident history, DUI record, credit score and marital status.
How much does car insurance cost by company?
Farm Bureau is the cheapest widely available car insurance company for both minimum and full coverage.
Travelers is the most expensive on average for both policy types.
A minimum-coverage policy is the cheapest policy you can buy. As the name suggests, it only meets the minimum requirements for an auto insurance policy in any given state.
Find Cheap Auto Insurance Quotes in Your Area
A full-coverage auto insurance policy usually adds comprehensive and collision coverage to a minimum-coverage policy. It's not as cheap as minimum coverage, but provides you with more protection for your car. These rates include full-coverage policies with extra liability coverage over state minimums.
Compare average annual rates for the biggest auto insurers in the country based on online quotes for a 30-year-old driver.
Average costs increase by more than 159%, if you're looking for a full-coverage auto insurance policy.
Insurer | Monthly full coverage rate | Min. coverage rate |
|---|---|---|
| USAA | $98 | $36 |
| Farm Bureau Insurance | $131 | $39 |
| Auto-Owners | $132 | $40 |
| Erie | $115 | $42 |
| State Farm | $109 | $44 |
Average car insurance rates by state
Location is an important factor for auto insurance rates. Insurance is regulated at the state level, and even within a state, drivers in different ZIP codes can get different quotes.
The average annual cost of insurance varies by state for both full-coverage policies vs minimum coverage policies.
How much auto insurance costs in each state
State | Min. coverage | Full coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Iowa | $382 | $1,564 |
| South Dakota | $387 | $1,999 |
| Wisconsin | $396 | $1,175 |
| North Dakota | $422 | $1,715 |
| Wyoming | $422 | $1,753 |
Cheapest states for minimum-coverage car insurance
State | Cost per year | Cost per month |
|---|---|---|
| Iowa | $382 | $32 |
| South Dakota | $387 | $32 |
| Wisconsin | $396 | $33 |
Most expensive states for minimum-coverage car insurance
State | Cost per year | Cost per month |
|---|---|---|
| Michigan | $4,386 | $366 |
| Florida | $2,072 | $173 |
| Rhode Island | $1,197 | $100 |
Shoppers who want greater protection against property damage to their vehicle may consider purchasing full-coverage auto insurance.
Cheapest states for full-coverage car insurance
State | Cost per year | Cost per month |
|---|---|---|
| Maine | $1,051 | $88 |
| Wisconsin | $1,175 | $98 |
| North Carolina | $1,291 | $108 |
Most expensive states for full-coverage car insurance
State | Cost per year | Cost per month |
|---|---|---|
| Michigan | $7,161 | $597 |
| Louisiana | $3,720 | $310 |
| Florida | $2,962 | $247 |
How much car insurance rates cost by age and gender
Auto insurance quotes also vary depending on the driver's age and years of experience. Young and inexperienced drivers tend to get in more accidents behind the wheel, which is why young drivers have higher auto insurance rates.
For example, an 18-year-old driver pays more than three times as much as a 25-year-old driver for auto insurance, with all other factors equal.
Average rates gradually decrease each year until a driver reaches age 25.
Annual Full Coverage Car Insurance Quotes by Age
Average annual car insurance costs can decrease significantly between the ages of 18 and 25, as insurers tend to evaluate older drivers as both less risky and likely to file a claim.
Among drivers who are 30 or older, auto insurance rates vary little by gender. But among younger drivers, men can be charged 7% or more than female drivers.
Driver profile | Annual auto insurance premium |
|---|---|
| 17-year-old female | $4,618 |
| 17-year-old male | $4,946 |
Why is this the case? Insurance companies look at data trends showing that in comparison to young women, young men tend to:
- Drive more often
- Receive more speeding tickets
- Be involved in more accidents
- Receive more DUI convictions
Because of the increased likelihood that the car insurance company will have to pay out for a claim by insuring these drivers, they often charge young men more for coverage.
These differences in rates do not hold true in all states, however. The following states preclude insurers from using gender when setting auto insurance rates. This means that male and female drivers in the state will pay the same amount for car insurance in those locations if all other factors affecting rates are equal.
- California
- Hawaii
- Massachusetts
- Parts of Michigan
- Montana
- North Carolina
- Pennsylvania
How much is the average cost of car insurance by vehicle make and model?
Car insurance costs can differ based on vehicle make and model.
We found that the Nissan Rogue was the cheapest car model to insure when compared to the most recent base models of the country's top-selling vehicles.
Model | Average annual rate | MSRP |
|---|---|---|
| Nissan Rogue | $2,534 | $26,050 |
| Toyota RAV4 | $2,591 | $26,525 |
| Honda Civic | $2,732 | $21,900 |
| Toyota Camry | $2,982 | $25,395 |
| Ford F-150 | $3,394 | $29,640 |
Rates are the average annual premium for a full coverage policy.
Cars and trucks with higher manufacturer suggested retail prices (MSRPs) can have higher costs to insure than cheaper cars, but this is not universally the case. As our data shows, the Ford F-150 has the cheapest annual insurance premium, despite having a higher MSRP than many other vehicle models. Superior safety features and a lower chance of a total loss may be contributing factors in making bigger, more expensive cars cheaper to insure.
Average cost of car insurance before and after an accident
Insurance companies price their policies based on risk, and a driver with a history of accidents may be charged higher rates.
Among our sample insurers, insurance rates rose by 44% on average after an accident.
Geico saw the largest increase in insurance rates, with premiums going up by almost 65% for a driver with one at-fault accident on his record. Conversely, State Farm penalized drivers the least after one crash. Its rates increased by only 24% for our sample driver.
Drivers who have a history of accidents or traffic violations should take special care to shop around for auto insurance policies. Your combination of accident history, vehicle, location and other factors may be priced differently with another insurance company, and switching to an equivalent policy with a rival insurer has the potential to save you hundreds of dollars per year.
Insurer | Clean record | One accident | % increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| USAA | $1,170 | $1,613 | 38% |
| State Farm | $1,310 | $1,628 | 24% |
| Erie | $1,379 | $1,721 | 25% |
| Farm Bureau Insurance | $1,576 | $2,110 | 34% |
| Auto-Owners | $1,579 | $1,983 | 26% |
Rates are an annual average for our sample driver with a full-coverage policy.
Average cost of auto insurance for drivers with a DUI on their record
Insurers generally charge drivers with a DUI history higher rates due to the increased risk of accidents associated with such behavior.
Drivers with a DUI history pay 88% more on average for car insurance compared to drivers with a clean record. Applied to our national average, this means drivers with a DUI pay $1,723 more per year for car insurance.
In our analysis, North Carolina saw the largest relative increase in insurance rates, with premiums going up by almost 300% for a driver with a DUI on his record. Conversely, Nebraska penalized drivers the least after a DUI. Its rates increased by only 45% for our sample driver.
Drivers with a history of driving under the influence or while intoxicated should consider getting free car insurance quotes from multiple carriers. Your record may be assessed differently across insurers, so getting several rates can help you find savings.
State | Clean record | DUI on record | % increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | $7,161 | $16,911 | 136% |
| Louisiana | $3,720 | $6,557 | 76% |
| Hawaii | $1,750 | $6,541 | 274% |
| Rhode Island | $2,743 | $6,215 | 127% |
| California | $2,019 | $5,292 | 162% |
Rates are an annual average for our sample driver with a full-coverage policy.
How much does car insurance cost for drivers with good credit?
We found that drivers with an excellent credit history received an average discount of 20% on annual car insurance rates compared to drivers with average credit history.
Drivers with good credit are considered lower risk by insurance companies and, as a result, can receive substantial savings on their auto insurance costs.
State Farm offered the best overall rate and largest discount for drivers with very good credit. Famers had the highest rates, while Farm Bureau had the smallest percentage discount for those with very good credit.
Company | Poor credit | Very good credit | Discount |
|---|---|---|---|
| State Farm | $1,310 | $874 | 33% |
| USAA | $1,170 | $1,011 | 14% |
| Auto-Owners Insurance | $1,579 | $1,029 | 35% |
| Erie | $1,379 | $1,051 | 24% |
| Farm Bureau Mutual | $1,576 | $1,397 | 11% |
Rates are an annual average for our sample driver with a full-coverage policy.
Having poor credit causes your rates to increase by an average of 59%, as compared to having average credit. Nationwide had the smallest increase in rates (27%), while Farm Bureau had the lowest rates ($2,555 per year) for those with poor credit.
How much does marital status affect average auto insurance costs?
Single drivers tend to pay $116 more for full-coverage auto insurance per year compared to married drivers.
Insurers usually charge single drivers more for car insurance than married drivers. Married drivers are often seen as more financially stable and risk averse and therefore are charged lower rates than single drivers.
Annual cost of full coverage by marital status
State | Single | Married |
|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | $3,720 | $3,447 |
| Florida | $2,962 | $2,788 |
| Rhode Island | $2,743 | $2,702 |
| Nevada | $2,636 | $2,477 |
| Washington DC | $2,351 | $2,321 |
Rates are the average annual premium for a full-coverage policy.
Four states, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Montana and Maine, do not allow marital status to factor into insurance rates.
What else can affect average car insurance rates?
We've discussed how the following factors have the biggest impact on your car insurance premiums:
- Company
- State
- Policy coverage
- Age
- Vehicle type
- Accident and credit history
But there are even more factors that can affect how much your car insurance costs:
- Driving experience
- Address and ZIP code
- Insurance and claims history
- Annual mileage
- Discounts
If you're a 30-year-old who's had an insurance policy and been licensed since you were 16, you're likely to get a cheaper rate than another 30-year-old who just took up driving.
Driving experience: Age affects car insurance rates, but so does the number of years you've been insured and driving.
Location within a state: Auto insurance is regulated differently in each state, leading to average prices for a full-coverage policy ranging from just under $1,200 (Maine) to over $7,000 (Michigan). But even within a state, insurers considered certain locations — or territories, in insurance terms — to be higher risk.
If you live in an area an insurer considers higher risk due to its rate of crashes, weather or crime, you may be subject to a higher rate than an equivalent driver living elsewhere.
Insurance and claims history: If you've maintained continuous auto insurance coverage, your insurer will be more confident that you've protected yourself and will usually charge a lower rate. Similarly, if you have a history of having auto insurance policies without filing claims, you'll get cheaper rates than someone who has filed claims in the past.
Mileage: Cars that are driven less frequently are less likely to be involved in a crash or other damaging event. Vehicles with lower annual mileage may qualify for slightly lower rates.
Discounts: Auto insurance companies offer a variety of discounts for those who take steps to become safer drivers or demonstrate responsible behavior. For example, adults can take defensive driving lessons, while young adults can qualify for good student discounts.
Forget the averages, how much does auto insurance cost for me?
Our car insurance calculator is a good starting point, but the only way to find the cheapest and best car insurance for you is to get quotes and shop around for options, either with your own research or by talking to an agent or broker. The cost of your policy will depend on how your profile fits the factors we've discussed.
To find the best car insurance for you, you should comparison shop online or talk to an insurance agent or broker.
You can shop for car insurance yourself online, but be sure to keep track of the coverages selected by you and offered by insurers to make a fair comparison.
Alternatively, you can talk to an insurance agent or insurance broker who can help you find the best combination of price and fit. You should be aware, however, that agents and brokers operate on commission paid by the insurers themselves. Independent agents work for multiple insurance companies and can compare among them, while captive agents work for only one insurance company.
Given the different rating methodologies and factors used by insurers, no single insurance company will be best for everyone. To better understand your typical car insurance cost, spend some time comparing quotes across companies with your chosen method.
Frequently asked questions
What's the average cost of car insurance per month?
The national average cost of insurance is $65 per month for minimum coverage, or $785 per year. Your rate will vary based on where you live, what kind of coverage you have and your driving history.
What is the cheapest car insurer?
The cheapest major insurers are State Farm, Farm Bureau and USAA. USAA tends to have the best prices, but it's only available to people who have served in the military and their families. State Farm and Farm Bureau are more widely available and also have affordable rates.
How much more expensive is full coverage car insurance?
Depending on your car and driving history, full coverage insurance is typically about twice as expensive as liability-only coverage. This includes collision coverage, which pays for damage to your car in a crash, and comprehensive coverage, which covers other forms of damage like hail.
Methodology
We collected quotes across all 50 states and the District of Columbia for 37 insurance companies. Although 37 insurance companies were included in the analysis, insurance company rates were only included in our company lists if the company was one of the larger insurers nationally.
Our base driver was a 30-year-old man who drives a 2015 Honda Civic EX, and quotes were drawn from all available ZIP codes in each state. The driver was profiled as having average credit, according to our data source, Quadrant Information Services.
When our driver had a full-coverage policy, we gave him coverage limits slightly above any one state's minimum requirements.
Full-coverage policy
Coverage type | Study limits |
|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability | $50,000 per person/$100,000 per accident |
| Property damage liability | $25,000 per accident |
| Uninsured/underinsured motorist BI | $50,000 per person/$100,000 per accident |
| Comprehensive and collision | $500 deductible |
| Personal injury protection | Minimum, when required by state |
Our rates for minimum-coverage policies represent the average cost of a policy that meets any state's minimum required auto insurance coverage.
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 — your own quotes may be different.
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.