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The average car insurance policy for full coverage in the U.S. is $158 a month. For a state minimum policy that offers bare-bones coverage, the rate is $42 per month. Shop around for the cheapest coverage to save money on the monthly cost of car insurance.

Learn how much car insurance costs in each state, which vehicles are the cheapest to insure, how much insurance costs by age and more.

Key Takeaways

  • Monthly car insurance costs are more affordable when you are a good driver and have previous driving experience.
  • Discounts can decrease how much you pay for car insurance, particularly if you bundle your coverages or qualify for multiple deductions.
  • Being a preferred or low-risk driver can lead to the best rates for car insurance per month.

How much is car insurance per month?

If you are a preferred driver, you will likely pay the lowest rates, but the average monthly rate for car insurance in the U.S. is $158 a month.

Insure.com commissioned Quadrant Information Services to calculate average auto insurance rates for vehicles from 2006 to 2023.

Our hypothetical driver is a 40-year-old male who commutes 12 miles to work each day, with policy limits of 100/300/50 ($100,000 for injury liability for one person, $300,000 for all injuries and $50,000 for property damage in an accident) and a $500 deductible on collision and comprehensive coverage.

Rates for vehicles up until 2021 includes uninsured motorist coverage (since some states require it, we do it for all) and PIP or Medical Payments, if it is required by state law. This hypothetical driver has a clean record and good credit.

For liability 100/300 is rates the same hypothetical driver but with liability limits of 100/300/50, uninsured/underinsured motorist in matching amounts and PIP or MedPay, if required by state. We recommend limits this high, even if you have only liability coverage. A state-minimum policy includes only the basic state liability limits and any other state-required coverages, such as uninsured motorist or PIP.

Averages were calculated using data from six large carriers, such as Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, Nationwide, Progressive and State Farm. Rates were averaged across multiple ZIP codes and insurance companies. Average rates are for comparative purposes; your rate will depend on your personal factors.

A standard driver is considered average risk and should have higher rates than a preferred or low-risk driver. A non-standard driver is high-risk and will pay more for car insurance. Of course, other components, like your age, driving history and ZIP code affect your monthly car insurance costs, too. See state minimum and liability-only rates in the table below.

Nationwide averages for annual and monthly rates

CoverageAverage annual premiumAverage monthly premium
Full coverage$1,895$158
State minimum liability only$502$42

Average car insurance rates by state

Car insurance rates vary widely from driver to driver, but where you live also makes a difference. Some states are no-fault states and some states are tort states, which affects the cost. Furthermore, state minimum insurance requirements vary by state. See the average annual and monthly rates in the table below.

StateAverage annual premiumAverage monthly premium
Alaska$1,676$140
Alabama$1,860$155
Arkansas$1,957$163
Arizona$1,812$151
California$2,416$201
Colorado$2,337$195
Connecticut$1,725$144
Washington, D.C.$2,157$180
Delaware$2,063$172
Florida$2,694$224
Georgia$1,970$164
Hawaii$1,517$126
Iowa$1,630$136
Idaho$1,428$119
Illinois$1,532$128
Indiana$1,515$126
Kansas$1,900$158
Kentucky$2,228$186
Louisiana$2,883$240
Massachusetts$1,726$144
Maryland$1,746$145
Maine$1,175$98
Michigan$2,266$189
Minnesota$1,911$159
Missouri$1,982$165
Mississippi$2,008$167
Montana$2,193$183
North Carolina$1,741$145
North Dakota$1,665$139
Nebraska$1,902$159
New Hampshire$1,265$105
New Jersey$1,902$159
New Mexico$2,049$171
Nevada$2,060$172
New York$1,870$156
Ohio$1,417$118
Oklahoma$2,138$178
Oregon$1,678$140
Pennsylvania$1,872$156
Rhode Island$2,061$172
South Carolina$2,009$167
South Dakota$2,280$190
Tennessee$1,677$140
Texas$2,043$170
Utah$1,825$152
Virginia$1,469$122
Vermont$1,319$110
Washington$1,608$134
Wisconsin$1,664$139
West Virginia$2,005$167
Wyoming$1,758$146

Top 10 states with the highest car insurance rates

Louisiana, Florida and Michigan tend to be a few of the most expensive states nationwide for car insurance – the data bear that out. Natural disasters like hurricanes along the Gulf Coast and tornadoes in the Midwest affect property and casualty rates for home and auto insurance.

Louisiana is the most expensive state with an average monthly premium of $240 per month. Florida is second-most expensive at $224, with California at $201 per month.

See the 10 states with the most expensive full coverage car insurance rates in the table below.

StateAverage annual premiumAverage monthly premium
Louisiana$2,883$240
Florida$2,694$224
California$2,416$201
Colorado$2,337$195
South Dakota$2,280$190
Kentucky$2,228$186
Montana$2,193$183
Washington, D.C.$2,157$180
Oklahoma$2,138$178

Average cost of car insurance by vehicle type

Vans are the cheapest cars to insure, followed by SUVs, minivans, hatchbacks, sedans and trucks. The average monthly premium for a van is $150 and the rate goes up to $269 monthly for a sports car. 

Luxury cars/SUVs, performance SUVs, electric vehicles and sports cars are the most expensive cars to insure. See the annual average and monthly rates by car type in the table below.

Vehicle TypeAnnual PremiumMonthly Premium
Convertible$2,768$231
Electric$2,799$233
Hatchback$1,976$165
Hybrid$2,307$192
Luxury Car$3,078$256
Luxury SUV$2,615$218
Minivan$1,956$163
Performance SUV$3,129$261
Sedan$2,120$177
Sports Car$3,229$269
Station Wagon$2,471$206
SUV$1,935$161
Truck$2,152$179
Van$1,795$150

Average cost of car insurance by age and gender

In their teens, males will pay $40-$50 per month more for car insurance. However, rates start to level out once drivers turn 25 and there’s no difference in rates by gender at age 40. 

Compounding the higher cost is that younger people generally do not have experience shopping for financial products such as insurance.

“In my studies of financial literacy among college students, we have found many of them lacking,” says James Brau, the Joel C. Peterson professor of finance and editor-in-chief of the Journal of Entrepreneurial Finance at Brigham Young University’s Marriott School of Business. “This general finding most likely can be extended to understanding car insurance among college students as well. Anecdotal evidence from when I teach this topic in class suggests over half of my students do not fully understand auto insurance.” 

Even so, Dr. Brau points out that greater familiarity with computers and the internet can be a way younger people can make up for being new to shopping for financial products. 

“Computer literacy seems to compensate to some degree for lack of financial literacy,” he says. “Motivated students can scour the internet to compare insurance products. They can also Google around to learn terms and concepts they have never been taught.”

See how age and gender affect the cost of monthly car insurance in the table below.

FemaleFemaleMaleMale
AgeAverage Annual PremiumAverage Monthly PremiumAverage Annual PremiumAverage Monthly Premium
18$4,943$412$5,533$461
19$3,871$323$4,360$363
20$3,527$294$3,935$328
25$2,219$185$2,291$191
40$1,894$158$1,895$158
65$1,728$144$1,752$146

How much is car insurance for an 18-year-old male per month?

Car insurance for an 18-year-old male costs $461 per month or $5,533 per year. 

How much is car insurance for an 18-year-old female per month?

Car insurance for an 18-year-old female costs $412 per month or $4,943 per year. 

How much is car insurance for a 19-year-old per month?

Car insurance for a 19-year-old male costs $363 per month or $4,360 per year. Car insurance for a 19-year-old female costs $323 per month or $3,871 per year. 

How much is car insurance for a 20-year-old female per month?

Car insurance for a 20-year-old male costs $328 per month or $3,935 per year. Car insurance for a 20-year-old female costs $294 per month or $3,527 per year. 

How much does car insurance cost with a speeding ticket?

If you get a speeding ticket, the average increase in car insurance rate is 39% – an average difference of $751 per year. However, this number varies widely from insurer to insurer and from state to state.

How to get affordable car insurance

One way to keep your monthly car insurance costs in check is to comparison shop. Call providers directly or obtain a quote online from several insurance companies to develop a price range. 

Have vehicle and driver information available so you can provide it to the insurance agency – the make and model of your vehicle, how often and how far you typically drive it and the coverage levels you’re seeking.

Dr. Brau says consumers tend to make many mistakes when shopping for car insurance. He says the most common error is that they don’t fully understand minimum state requirements and the options for collision and comprehensive insurance

“I encourage everyone to use online insurance calculators and tools to determine the optimal types and limits of their insurance packages,” he says. 

Get quotes for various liability coverages to see what is most affordable. Ask about discounts to decrease your car insurance per month rates, such as: 

  • Homeowner
  • Military member
  • Loyalty discounts
  • Vehicle discounts, such as anti-theft devices, anti-lock brakes, alarm systems, etc.
  • Automatic payment/paperless discounts
  • Good/safe driver
  • Good student/student away at school

Talk to your insurance agent to find out what discounts can work in your favor.

What are the cheapest car insurance companies?

You’ll benefit from shopping around for the cheapest monthly car insurance cost. Some insurance companies will provide better rates for you than others, depending on your personal situation. 

USAA, Nationwide and Travelers have the cheapest monthly premiums. Please note: USAA is only available for military members and their families. See the table below for the cheapest national insurance rates. 

CompanyAverage annual premium: State minimum Average monthly premium: State minimumAverage annual premium: Full coverage Average monthly premium: Full coverage
USAA$335$28$1,381$115
Nationwide$532$44$1,548$129
Travelers$506$42$1,587$132
Geico$405$34$1,763$147
State Farm$497$41$1,975$165
Progressive$549$46$1,998$166
Farmers$701$58$2,387$199
Allstate$700$58$2,509$209

Our take on the cost of car insurance

Affordable car insurance per month is within your reach. What’s reasonable for you will depend on your driving history, state of residence, required liability limits, number of previous driving accidents and more. 

You can find car insurance that costs $150 or less a month when you have a good driving record and a typical vehicle – stay away from luxury vehicles and sports cars.

“I don’t believe there is a set average for what a driver should expect to pay per month for car insurance,” says Lauren McKenzie, insurance broker/agent with A Plus Insurance in Sierra Vista, AZ. “There are several factors such as age, location, gender, vehicle information, and coverage options that go into determining insurance premiums.

Shop your policy every six months or annually, ask about discounts, and maintain a safe driving record and good credit to pay the least for car insurance.

Frequently asked questions about the cost of car insurance

Is $100 a month for car insurance good?

If you obtain a policy with 100/300 in personal liability coverage, then $100 a month in car insurance is a fantastic rate. Of course, your driving record and the age of your vehicle come into play for your monthly car insurance cost, so if you have recent claims or your vehicle is fairly new, then finding a policy with a rate of around $100 a month could be impossible.

“A good, experienced driver, in a smaller town with fewer accidents, with liability on a 10+ year old vehicle could expect to pay $60-$100 monthly on average,” McKenzie says. “Younger, less experienced drivers should expect to pay higher insurance premiums compared to older drivers, because of the risk they carry with having less years of driving experience.” 

Is $150 a month too much for car insurance?

It arguably isn’t too much, but you may be able to do better. The average cost of a monthly car insurance premium, based on a Insure.com report, is $140 a month. If you’re paying $150, you’re about average. You may be able to find cheaper insurance, but just remember that cheaper isn’t always better. The last thing you probably want is to pay for insurance that is extremely cheap – and then get into an accident with your brand-new car and discover that you were only protecting the damage on the other driver’s vehicle.

How much is car insurance for a 20-year-old?

Car insurance for a 20-year-old male costs $328 per month or $3,935 per year. Car insurance for a 20-year-old female costs $294 per month or $3,527 per year.

How much does liability car insurance cost?

The national average cost for state minimum liability insurance is $42 per month or $502 per year. Increase those limits to 50/100/50 and the rate increases to $54 per month or $647 per year. 

How much is car insurance for college students?

The cost of car insurance for college students varies depending on a student’s age, driving record, state and insurance company. Ask about discounts for good grades or attending school 100+ miles away from home.

Resources & Methodology

Sources:

Alabama Department of Insurance.“Smart Shopping” Accessed January 2024.

Bureau of Transportation Statistics.“Average Cost of Owning and Operating a Vehicle” Accessed January 2024.

Insurance Information Institute.“Facts+Statistics: Insurance” Accessed January 2024.

Insurance Information Institute.“Students.” Accessed January 2024.

National Association of Insurance Commissioners.“A Consumer’s Guide to Auto Insurance.” Accessed January 2024.

Methodology

Insure.com editors in 2024 collected rates from Quadrant Information Services for a 40-year-old male driving a Honda Accord LX with a good insurance score and no violation on record for a full coverage insurance policy with limits 100/300/100 and $500 comprehensive and collision deductible. We analyzed 51,088,003 records, 34,588 ZIP codes and 167 insurance companies nationwide.

author image
Maggie O’Neill
Contributing Researcher

 
  

Maggie has twenty years of experience working in media. She is a writer and editor on car insurance and related issues. Before joining Insure.com, she reported on health, education and lifestyle for magazines, websites and newspapers in Nevada.