Average Car Insurance Cost by State (2026 Data Compared)

We put two 2026 state-by-state datasets side by side, Insurify and ValuePenguin, and checked where they agree and where they do not | Last updated: September 2026

Where you live is one of the biggest factors affecting what you pay for car insurance.

In ValuePenguin’s 2026 data, average full-coverage rates vary by as much as $207 a month depending on the state. In Insurify’s data through August 2026, the difference is even larger: $219 a month, from $84 in New Hampshire to $303 in Maryland.

The catch is that the two datasets do not rank states the same way.

Maryland is the most expensive state in one dataset but only 23rd in the other. Louisiana ranks second in one and 14th in the other.

This guide puts both datasets side by side, explains where they agree, where they differ, and how you can use them to better understand your own car insurance quote.

The Short Answer

There is no single official ranking of car insurance costs by state because every source uses different drivers, insurers, coverage levels and methodologies.

In Insurify’s data, the most expensive states for full coverage are:

• Maryland: $303/month
• Rhode Island: $299/month
• Delaware: $262/month
• Georgia: $259/month
• Nevada: $259/month

In ValuePenguin’s data, the most expensive are:

• Nevada: $335/month
• Louisiana: $327/month
• Florida: $311/month
• Connecticut: $305/month
• Delaware: $302/month

Six states appear in the top 10 of both datasets:

Delaware, Florida, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey and Rhode Island.

At the cheaper end, New Hampshire has the lowest full-coverage average in Insurify’s data at $84 a month, while Vermont has the lowest in ValuePenguin’s data at $128 a month.

Seven states appear in the bottom 10 of both datasets:

Hawaii, Idaho, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

Key Takeaways

• The difference between the cheapest and most expensive state is about $207 to $219 per month, depending on the source.
• ValuePenguin’s full-coverage figure is higher than Insurify’s in 42 of the 51 locations analyzed.
• The two datasets are within $10 a month of each other in only four places: Maine, New Jersey, New York and Washington, D.C.
• Price and affordability are not the same thing. ValuePenguin estimates that Louisiana households spend around 6.1% of monthly household income on full coverage, compared with approximately 1.5% in New Hampshire.
• Prices can vary significantly between insurers within the same state, so a state average should be treated as a benchmark rather than the amount you should expect to pay.

Average Full-Coverage Car Insurance Cost by State, 2026

Monthly averages in U.S. dollars.

The Difference column shows ValuePenguin minus Insurify.

National averages:

• Insurify full coverage: $187/month
• Insurify liability-only: $98/month
• ValuePenguin full coverage: $208/month

Top and Bottom Five, Side by Side

The two sources agree on several high-cost and low-cost states, but the exact rankings can differ substantially.

Georgia and Nevada are tied at $259 in Insurify’s data.

How the Two Datasets Were Built

Insurify calculates its state averages using quotes from more than 50 partner insurers across all 50 states and Washington, D.C.

Its analysis includes more than 250 million rates and focuses on drivers between ages 20 and 70 with clean driving records and average or better credit.

Its full-coverage figures use:

• bodily injury limits between each state’s minimum and $50,000 per person / $100,000 per accident;
• property damage limits between $10,000 and $50,000;
• collision and comprehensive coverage;
• $1,000 deductibles.

For most states, Insurify uses a two-year rolling median.

For Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey and Vermont, it uses a one-year rolling median.

ValuePenguin uses a different approach.

Its national methodology gathers rates from 56 insurers across every ZIP code in the 50 states and Washington, D.C.

Unless otherwise stated, its example driver is a 30-year-old man with good credit and a clean driving record.

The state table we reviewed does not list the deductibles used.

Two differences are especially important.

First, the driver profile is different: Insurify uses a broader mix of ages, while ValuePenguin uses one standardized 30-year-old driver.

Second, Insurify assumes $1,000 deductibles. Higher deductibles generally reduce premiums, which may help explain why Insurify’s figure is lower than ValuePenguin’s in 42 of the 51 locations.

For a more detailed explanation of why different websites publish different national averages, see our guide to Average Cost of Car Insurance in 2026.

Where the Two Sources Agree

The two datasets still follow a similar overall pattern.

States that are expensive in one source are often expensive in the other, even when the exact rankings differ.

By our calculation, the correlation between the two sets of state figures is approximately 0.71.

Consistently Expensive

These six states are in the top 10 of both datasets:

• Delaware
• Florida
• Michigan
• Nevada
• New Jersey
• Rhode Island

Consistently Affordable

These seven states appear in the bottom 10 of both:

• Hawaii
• Idaho
• New Hampshire
• North Carolina
• Ohio
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming

Very Similar Estimates

The two sources are within $10 a month of each other in:

• Maine: $139 vs. $129
• New Jersey: $256 vs. $249
• New York: $221 vs. $226
• Washington, D.C.: $247 vs. $244

Where They Disagree Most

Some states show much larger differences.

Public information does not tell us exactly why any single state differs, so we will not guess.

The most likely factors are the differences already described:

• driver profiles;
• insurers included;
• coverage assumptions;
• deductibles;
• time periods.

State averages are best treated as benchmarks, not as the price you should expect to pay.

If Maryland appears as the most expensive state in one dataset but much lower in another, your own personalized quote is ultimately more important.

What Makes One State More Expensive Than Another?

Both sources point to similar underlying factors.

Insurify says rates can vary because of:

• extreme weather;
• repair costs;
• traffic congestion;
• vehicle theft and crime.

ValuePenguin also points to:

• population density;
• crime rates;
• severe weather;
• state insurance rules.

State regulations matter too.

For example, California, Hawaii, Massachusetts and Michigan restrict the use of credit information in auto insurance pricing.

A few patterns appear in the data.

The Most Expensive States Are Not All in One Region

Insurify’s most expensive states include several in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, including Maryland, Rhode Island, Delaware, New Jersey and Washington, D.C.

Georgia, Nevada and South Carolina also rank high.

ValuePenguin’s list includes Nevada, Louisiana and Florida alongside Connecticut and Delaware.

Lower-Density States Often Cost Less

Wyoming, Alaska, Idaho, Iowa and North Dakota are among the least expensive states in Insurify’s dataset.

Repairer Driven News, summarizing ValuePenguin’s 2026 analysis, also describes Vermont, Maine and Wyoming as largely rural states with rates at least 37% below the national average.

New Hampshire Is Different

New Hampshire has a different financial-responsibility system from most other states.

Many drivers are not required to carry auto insurance in the same way drivers are elsewhere, although financial responsibility requirements can still apply in certain situations.

New Hampshire is also the cheapest state in Insurify’s dataset and has the lowest insurance burden relative to household income in ValuePenguin’s analysis.

Price vs. Affordability

A high insurance price can be more difficult to afford in states where household incomes are lower.

ValuePenguin compares its average full-coverage premium with median household income in every state.

Nationally, full coverage represents about 2.9% of median monthly household income in its analysis.

Arkansas and Mississippi are not among the 10 most expensive states in dollar terms, but they rank much higher when insurance costs are compared with household income.

In Louisiana, $327 a month represents about 6.1% of the state’s $5,350 median monthly household income.

Full Coverage vs. Liability-Only

Insurify’s data also shows how much more full coverage costs compared with liability-only coverage.

The largest monthly differences include:

• Rhode Island: $122
• Colorado: $121
• Maryland: $111
• California: $105
• Washington, D.C.: $104

The smallest include:

• New Hampshire: $32
• Massachusetts: $35
• Alaska: $38
• Idaho: $43
• North Carolina: $44

ValuePenguin reports a similar pattern.

In its data, full coverage in New Hampshire costs about $79 more per month than liability-only coverage, while the difference in Louisiana is approximately $226 a month.

For liability-only coverage alone, Insurify’s most expensive locations include:

• Maryland: $192/month
• New Jersey: $182
• Rhode Island: $177
• Delaware: $166
• Nevada: $163

The cheapest include:

• Wyoming: $50
• New Hampshire: $52
• Iowa: $56
• Wisconsin: $57
• Vermont: $58

Are Prices Moving in Your State?

Insurify’s September 2026 report projects rate increases in 32 states during the final months of 2026.

Connecticut leads with a projected 4% increase after rates had already risen around 10% earlier in the year.

Other projected increases include:

• West Virginia: 3%
• Delaware: 2%
• Virginia: 2%
• Washington, D.C.: 2%
• Kentucky: 2%
• Nevada: 2%
• Wyoming: 2%
• Illinois: 2%

Insurify projects decreases in:

• New Mexico: 3%
• Arkansas: 2%
• Minnesota: 2%
• Colorado: 2%

If your own renewal increased even though you did not file a claim, see our guide to Why Did My Car Insurance Go Up? (Even Without a Claim).

How Much Can Car Insurance Prices Vary Within Your State?

State averages can hide large differences between insurance companies.

ValuePenguin lists the cheapest companies for its sample driver in each state.

These figures do not mean every driver will receive the same price, but they show how much rates can vary within one market.

The main lesson is that comparing insurers can sometimes matter more than the difference between one state and another.

How to Use These Numbers

1. Look Up Your State in Both Datasets

Treat the two figures as benchmarks rather than one exact answer.

2. Compare Similar Coverage

Your policy’s limits and deductibles should be reasonably similar to the ones used in the study.

Remember that Insurify’s full-coverage figures assume $1,000 deductibles.

3. Consider Your Own Driver Profile

You may pay more than the state average if you:

• are a young driver;
• have a recent accident;
• have traffic violations;
• live in a higher-cost ZIP code;
• drive an expensive vehicle.

You may also pay less.

4. Compare Several Quotes

Insurify recommends comparing car insurance prices once or twice a year.

When comparing insurers, use the same:

• liability limits;
• deductibles;
• collision coverage;
• comprehensive coverage.

Otherwise, you may be comparing different policies rather than different prices.

5. Track Changes Using the Same Source

If you want to see whether rates in your state are rising or falling over time, use the same source each time.

That avoids comparing different methodologies.

A Worked Example

Suppose you live in Texas and receive a quote of:

$260 per month for full coverage.

Insurify’s Texas average is $204.

ValuePenguin’s average is $247.

Your quote is therefore approximately:

• 27% above Insurify’s average;
• 5% above ValuePenguin’s average.

That does not prove you are overpaying.

However, it gives you a reason to compare other insurers and check whether your coverage matches the assumptions used in the averages.

ValuePenguin, for example, lists State Farm at approximately $140 per month for its sample driver in Texas.

Your own price may be very different.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the Most Expensive State for Car Insurance in 2026?

It depends on the source.

In Insurify’s data through August 2026, Maryland has the highest full-coverage average at approximately $303 per month.

In ValuePenguin’s 2026 data, Nevada is the most expensive at approximately $335 per month.

What Is the Cheapest State for Car Insurance in 2026?

In Insurify’s data, New Hampshire is the cheapest at approximately $84 per month for full coverage.

In ValuePenguin’s data, Vermont is the cheapest at approximately $128 per month.

New Hampshire also appears among the five cheapest states in ValuePenguin’s dataset.

Does Every State Require Car Insurance?

Most states require drivers to carry minimum auto liability coverage.

New Hampshire has a different financial-responsibility system, so insurance requirements can depend on the driver’s circumstances.

Minimum coverage rules vary by state.

If you lease or finance a vehicle, your lender will also usually require collision and comprehensive coverage.

Why Does the Same State Look So Different in Two Tables?

Because the sources use different:

• driver profiles;
• insurers;
• coverage assumptions;
• deductibles;
• time periods.

A state average is only a benchmark.

Your own quote reflects your specific profile.

Will Car Insurance Rates Go Up in My State?

Insurify projects increases in 32 states during the final months of 2026 and decreases in a few others, including New Mexico, Arkansas, Minnesota and Colorado.

However, your personal renewal can move differently from the statewide average.

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Important: This article is for general informational purposes only and is not insurance, legal or financial advice.

Insurance rates, requirements and policy terms vary by state, insurer and individual circumstances and may change over time.

For advice about your own coverage, consider speaking with a licensed insurance professional.

Related Guides

• Average Cost of Car Insurance in 2026: Why Every Site Shows a Different Number
• Why Did My Car Insurance Go Up? (Even Without a Claim)
• Cheapest States for Car Insurance in 2026 (and Why)
• Most Expensive States for Car Insurance in 2026
• Minimum Car Insurance Requirements by State

Sources

• Insurify — Average Car Insurance Rates as of September 2026, including methodology and rate projections
• ValuePenguin / LendingTree — Compare 2026 Car Insurance Rates, including state averages, affordability analysis and methodology
• U.S. Census Bureau
• Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED)
• Quadrant Information Services
• Repairer Driven News — ValuePenguin, The Zebra Make 2026 Auto Insurance Predictions