Highest Auto Insurance Rates by State

Car insurance rates are higher than they've ever been. According to the 2019 State of Auto Insurance Report conducted by The Zebra, the national average annual premium Americans pay for car insurance is $1,470, which is 23% higher than in 2011.

Car insurance rates are rising for 184 million U.S. drivers. That means 83% or about four in every five, drivers will see a spike in their insurance rates.

So why are rates changing? In short, when risks change, rates change. The insurance industry is all about risk. The prices you pay for your car insurance takes into account risks that have to do not only with the driver and the vehicle but also the national and local environmental risks and regulations.

Here we will break down car insurance by states and see which states currently charge the highest premiums to insure your vehicle, as well as the state that offers the lowest insurance rates for its residents.
 

Auto Insurance Rates by State

In the past year, car insurance rates have risen across 41 states (including Washington, DC) and fallen in just ten states. Colorado has seen the highest year-over-year rate increase at 19% and Montana saw the greatest decrease of 21%. However, for the fifth year in a row, Michigan has ranked as the most expensive state for car insurance.

According to a study conducted by Insure.com, the average car insurance premium in the state of Michigan hit $2,239 in 2018, which is $769 or 52% higher than the national average premium of $1,470.

Louisiana followed closely behind Michigan with an average car insurance premium that is 56% higher than the national average premium. Rhode Island, Florida, and Nevada ranked as the third, fourth, and fifth states with highest car insurance.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, Maine came in as the least expensive state for car insurance, with an average insurance premium that is $574 less than the national average premium. In Maine, the average policy costs just $896.
 

Most Expensive States for Car Insurance

The state with the highest rates is Michigan, the nation’s auto capital. The state with the lowest average rates? Maine. 

Here is the full breakdown of the eight highest auto insurance rates by state:

The states with the most affordable car insurance rates are Maine, Virginia, and North Carolina. Each of these East Coast states boast average annual auto insurance rates of less than $1,000.
Least Expensive States for Car Insurance.