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Full coverage car insurance is the only type of policy that protects your own vehicle — not just other drivers. If your car is totaled, stolen, or damaged in a storm, a liability-only policy pays nothing toward your own loss. Full coverage fills that gap.

What it costs depends on where you live, what you drive, and your driving history. The national average is $2,578 per year — or $215 per month — for a 40-year-old driver with a clean record. 

Whether full coverage is worth it — and what it will cost you — depends on your state, vehicle, age, and driving record. Rates range from $1,660 per year in Vermont to nearly $4,000 in Louisiana and Michigan. Drivers with recent accidents or violations can pay significantly more than the average; those with clean records and older vehicles may pay considerably less.

Use the full coverage calculator below to estimate your car insurance rate by state, vehicle, and coverage type, and see how your price may change before you shop for quotes.

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The calculator gives you an estimate, not an official quote. Final rates vary by insurer, underwriting model, and available discounts.

What does full coverage car insurance include?

“Full coverage” isn’t a single policy — it’s a combination of three types of protection that work together to cover you and your vehicle, not just the other driver.

  • Liability pays for injuries and property damage you cause to others. It’s required in almost every state and is the foundation of any auto policy — but on its own, it leaves your own vehicle unprotected.
  • Collision covers damage to your car after an accident, regardless of fault. If you hit another car, a guardrail, or a tree, collision pays to repair or replace your vehicle.
  • Comprehensive covers damage that happens outside of a collision — theft, weather, fire, flooding, animals, and vandalism. Think of it as protection against everything that isn’t a crash.

Together, these three coverages mean that if your car is totaled, stolen, or damaged in almost any scenario, you’re covered.

How deductibles work with full coverage

Liability has no deductible — it pays out immediately when a covered claim is filed. Collision and comprehensive both carry a deductible, which is the amount you pay out of pocket before your insurer covers the rest. Most standard policies set this at $500, though you can raise it to lower your premium or lower it if you’d prefer less out-of-pocket exposure after a claim.

A typical full coverage policy is written as 100/300/100 with a $500 deductible. This policy provides: 

  • $100,000 in bodily injury liability per person
  • $300,000 in bodily injury liability per accident
  • $100,000 in property damage liability per accident
  • $500 deductible for collision and comprehensive damages

When does full coverage make financial sense?

Full coverage isn’t always necessary — but for many drivers, going without it is a genuine financial risk. Here’s when it earns its cost:

SituationWhy full coverage makes sense
You have an auto loan or leaseLenders typically require it — not optional
Your car is 2020 or newerHigher replacement value means more exposure
You couldn’t easily pay for major repairsFull coverage is your financial backstop
Your car has a high theft rate or repair costComprehensive covers theft; collision covers crashes
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A simple rule of thumb: if it would be financially difficult to replace your vehicle out of pocket, full coverage is worth having.

Why does full coverage cost more than liability-only?

Full coverage costs more because it protects your vehicle — not just other people. Collision and comprehensive claims are common, and the insurer’s exposure is significantly higher than with a liability-only policy.

If you have a loan or lease on your vehicle, your lender almost certainly requires full coverage. They have a financial stake in the car until it’s paid off, and they’re protecting that stake.

Our agents make it hassle-free to get the right quote.

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How insurers calculate your full coverage premium

Six main factors drive your full coverage rate:

  • Age — younger drivers pay significantly more; rates typically peak in the early 20s and fall steadily after 25
  • Driving record — accidents and violations can raise your rate substantially, sometimes for three to five years
  • Location — dense urban areas, high-crime ZIP codes, and states with frequent severe weather all push rates higher
  • Vehicle — repair costs, theft rates, safety ratings, and engine power all affect your premium
  • Credit score — in most states, a good credit-based insurance score reduces your rate meaningfully
  • Annual mileage — the more you drive, the more exposure you have, and the higher your rate

Expert Tip

“The car you drive has a considerable impact on full coverage premiums, with new cars and luxury models having expensive parts, leading to high premiums, regardless of your driving history.” — Brad Spurgeon, owner and CEO of the Brad Spurgeon Insurance Agency

How to lower your full coverage premium

You have more control over your premium than most drivers realize. These four moves consistently produce meaningful savings:

1. Raise your deductible

Your deductible is the amount you pay out of pocket when you file a claim. Choosing a higher deductible lowers your premium because you’re taking on more of the financial risk. Only raise it to an amount you could realistically pay tomorrow.

DeductiblePremium decreaseWhat you’re taking on
$1,00011%Manageable for most emergency funds
$1,50017%Comfortable with 1–2 months of savings
$2,00022%Only if you can cover it without financial stress
$2,50024%Meaningful savings, but high out-of-pocket risk
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2. Bundle your policies

Buying your auto and home or renters insurance from the same insurer saves an average of 15% — or more than $700 — across both policies. Some insurers also charge only a single deductible if your home and car are damaged in the same event.

3. Enroll in a telematics program

Telematics programs track your actual driving behavior — speed, braking, time of day — and reward safe drivers with lower rates. On average, telematics saves around 10%. For younger drivers priced on group statistics rather than individual behavior, the savings can be even larger.

4. Compare quotes at renewal

Rates vary dramatically between insurers for identical coverage and driver profiles. Shopping around at every renewal — or any time your rate increases sharply — is one of the most reliable ways to reduce what you pay. Drivers who switch save 10% to 15% on average.

When should you drop full coverage?

​​Drop full coverage when your car’s value has fallen to the point where the insurance costs more than it would ever pay out.

The 10% rule — how to check:

  • Look up your car’s current market value on Kelley Blue Book or Edmunds
  • Add your annual collision and comprehensive premium to your deductible
  • If that combined total exceeds 10% of the car’s value, full coverage is likely costing you more than it would ever pay out

A car worth $8,000 with a $600 annual premium and $500 deductible comes to $1,100 combined — about 14% of the car’s value. At that point, dropping coverage makes sense.

Before making any changes, talk with your agent — especially if you’d struggle to replace the vehicle out of pocket after a total loss.

One exception to know

If you still have an auto loan or lease, your lender requires full coverage regardless of the car’s value. This decision only applies to vehicles you own outright.

Average full coverage car insurance cost by state

Full coverage costs $2,578 per year on average nationwide — but where you live can move that number by thousands of dollars.

The most affordable states for full coverage:

  • Vermont: $1,660/year
  • New Hampshire: $1,689/year
  • Hawaii: $1,757/year

The most expensive states for full coverage:

  • Louisiana: $3,999/year
  • Michigan: $3,964/year
  • Nevada: $3,963/year

Rates vary this much because insurers price risk by location. The factors that push rates higher in some states include higher population density, more frequent severe weather, higher vehicle theft rates, more expensive auto repairs, and state laws that affect how claims are paid out.

StateAverage annual premium
Alaska$2,167
Alabama$2,116
Arkansas$2,942
Arizona$2,420
California$3,444
Colorado$3,181
Connecticut$2,742
Washington, D.C.$3,465
Delaware$3,157
Florida$3,916
Georgia$2,503
Hawaii$1,757
Iowa$2,460
Idaho$1,901
Illinois$1,938
Indiana$1,894
Kansas$2,496
Kentucky$2,624
Louisiana$3,999
Massachusetts$2,429
Maryland$1,999
Maine$1,808
Michigan$3,964
Minnesota$2,591
Missouri$2,151
Mississippi$2,397
Montana$2,476
North Carolina$2,638
North Dakota$2,439
Nebraska$2,095
New Hampshire$1,689
New Jersey$3,122
New Mexico$2,577
Nevada$3,963
New York$2,596
Ohio$1,783
Oklahoma$2,993
Oregon$2,048
Pennsylvania$2,327
Rhode Island$2,878
South Carolina$2,417
South Dakota$2,575
Tennessee$2,235
Texas$3,106
Utah$2,356
Virginia$1,835
Vermont$1,660
Washington$2,389
Wisconsin$2,343
West Virginia$2,415
Wyoming$2,061
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Frequently asked questions

How much does full coverage insurance cost per month?

The national average is $215 per month for full coverage. Your actual rate will vary based on your state, vehicle, driving record, and coverage limits. Drivers in low-cost states like Vermont or New Hampshire may pay well under $150 per month; drivers in Louisiana, Michigan, or Nevada may pay over $300.

Is full coverage required by law?

No — full coverage is not legally required. However, if you have an auto loan or lease, your lender will almost certainly require it to protect their financial interest in the vehicle. Once the loan is paid off, the requirement goes away and the decision is entirely yours.

Does full coverage cover mechanical breakdown?

No. Full coverage only applies to damage from covered events — accidents, theft, weather, animals, vandalism. Mechanical failures and breakdowns are not covered. If you want protection for mechanical issues, you would need a separate mechanical breakdown insurance policy or a vehicle service contract.

When should I drop full coverage?

Consider dropping collision and comprehensive when the math no longer works in your favor: specifically, when your annual premium plus your deductible exceeds roughly 10% of your car’s current market value. Check your car’s value on Kelley Blue Book or Edmunds and compare it against your current premiums. If you’d struggle to absorb the loss of the vehicle out of pocket, keep the coverage.

Is $2,500 a year expensive for full coverage?

At $2,500 per year, you’re just below the national average of $2,578 — so it’s a typical rate. Whether it’s high or reasonable depends on your state, vehicle, and driver profile. Drivers in lower-cost states with clean records and older vehicles often pay significantly less; drivers in high-rate states or with recent violations may pay considerably more.

Can I get full coverage on an older car?

Yes — there’s no age cutoff for full coverage. But whether it’s worth having depends on your car’s current value. If the vehicle is worth $5,000 and you’re paying $1,200 per year for collision and comprehensive with a $1,000 deductible, you’d net only $4,000 in the event of a total loss. That math may no longer justify the premium.

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Kat Tretina

 
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Kat Tretina is an insurance expert and freelance writer specializing in personal finance and insurance. Her work has appeared in top publications like U.S. News, Money.com and The Wall Street Journal’s Buy Side. She helps readers make informed decisions about money, budgeting and car insurance.

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