The average cost of car insurance in 2026

How much does car insurance cost?

Car insurance in the U.S. averages between $618 to $2,513 a year depending the coverage you choose, with rates much higher in some areas and for higher risk drivers and vehicles.

Here’s a quick reference table with the average car insurance costs for coverage at three different levels:

How much is car insurance by state?

Full coverage car insurance costs range from $1,660 a year in Vermont to $3,999 a year in Louisiana, based on Insurance.com rate data. State minimum policies range from $399 in Wyoming to $1,395 in New Jersey. Select your state selector below to find average rates at each coverage level for your state.

Note that state minimum car insurance rates differ not only because of location but also because the amount of coverage required in each state differs. Some states require a lot more coverage in a minimum policy, which can mean higher rates.

Rates can also change by ZIP code, so the average cost of car insurance in your city may be above or below the state average.

How much is car insurance by age?

The national average cost of car insurance for teens at 16 years old is $3,376 for state minimum liability and $10,510 for full coverage. At 18, the cost goes down to $2,339 for minimum liability and $7,596 for full coverage. By comparison, the average rate is $707 yearly for minimum liability and $2,339 for full coverage at age 65. After 65, car insurance rates for senior drivers rise again.

Rates in your state will vary from the national averages above. Take a look at the average car insurance cost by age in your state below.

How much does auto insurance cost with a bad driving record?

A DUI can more than double your rates in some states. For example, a driver with a DUI in Arizona will pay $3,648 a year with State Farm, while in Georgia, State Farm will charge that same driver $2,507 a year. Insurance with a speeding ticket in Connecticut ranges from $697 a year with USAA to $3,760 a year with Nationwide.

Here’s a look at how much car insurance costs for a clean record compared with one speeding ticket or a DUI in each state.

How does credit score affect the average cost of car insurance?

A driver with poor credit will pay an average of $247 a month more for car insurance than a driver with good credit, $456 a month vs. $209 a month. In California, Hawai'i, Massachusetts, Michigan and New Jersey prohibit the use of credit scores when setting rates; other states limit its use.

In most states, car insurance companies can use your credit score as part of the insurance rate calculation. Below, you'll find the average cost of car insurance by credit tier.

How much does car insurance cost by vehicle type?

The vehicle you drive is one of the most significant factors in what you pay for insurance. For example, a Honda CR-V costs an average of $144 a month to insure, while a BMW 7 Series costs an average of $359, a difference of $215 a month for the same coverage and driver. Select your vehicle make and model below to find average rates.

How to lower car insurance rates in 2026

The best way to save on car insurance is by comparing quotes from multiple carriers; you can also save by raising your deductibleThe deductible is the amount you pay out of pocket for a covered loss when you file a claim., asking about discounts and bundling your home and auto insurance. While choosing lower coverage limits or carrying state minimum liability will get you cheaper car insurance, there are better ways to save without sacrificing coverage:

1. Raise your deductible. A higher deductible means lower rates; just ensure you can afford it if you have to pay it.
2. Ask about discounts. There are a lot of car insurance discounts out there, including for taking a defensive driving course, paperless billing, good student, automatic payments and more.
3. Bundle your auto with home and other policies. One of the biggest discounts you can get is for buying your home and auto insurance with the same company; you'll save on both policies.
4. Shop around and compare companies. Shopping around is the most effective way to save money on car insurance.

Methodology

We partnered with Quadrant Information Services to field average auto insurance rates in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. National and state average rates are based on three coverage levels: state minimum, 50/100/50 liability-only, and full coverage with 100/300/100 liability and $500 deductibles. 

Unless otherwise indicated, averages are based on our full coverage data set. This data set is based on:

• Bodily injury liability of $100,000 per person and $300,000 per incident
• Property damage liability of $100,000 per incident
• Comprehensive and collision deductibles of $500
• 40-year-old driver
• Honda Accord LX
• Good credit
• A clean driving record
• 12-mile commute, 10,000 annual mileage

Additional rate data is drawn based on:

• All available year, make and model data 
• Ages ranging from 16 to 75
• Excellent, fair and poor credit
• All available traffic violations
• One or more at-fault accidents

Learn more about our data and methodology.

Helpful auto insurance tools and calculators

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• Auto insurance coverage calculator
• Speeding ticket calculator
• Traffic ticket calculator
• Used car insurance calculator
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• Pay per mile calculator