Here Are the Most and Least Expensive States for Car Insurance

Owning a car comes with plenty of hidden expenses. But there’s one extra cost you may be paying that’s especially easy to miss: On top of gas, taxes, and maintenance fees, you may be charged higher-than-average car insurance premiums depending on where you live.

As Forbes reports, Insure.com recently published its annual ranking of car insurance rates for all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Prices vary from state to state due to a variety of factors. Areas with severe weather conditions, dense populations, high percentages of uninsured drivers, and strict auto insurance laws are more likely to hike rates for their residents.

In Michigan, for example, motorists pay annual premiums of $2394—$1076 more than the national average of $1318. Insure.com attributes this to the state’s no-fault car insurance law, which requires all car owners to buy personal injury protection insurance for themselves and their family members in case of an accident. Michigan’s steep insurance costs mean many drivers simply refuse to pay them, which results in rates rising even higher in the state.

Other expensive locations on the list include Louisiana, where annual premiums average $1921, and Connecticut, with premiums averaging $1897. If you’re looking to reduce your auto costs to the bare minimum, consider moving to Maine. The state’s dispersed population and lack of destructive weather contribute to average premiums of $864, 34 percent less than the national average. You can view the full ranking below.

1. Michigan: $2394

2. Louisiana: $1921

3. Connecticut: $1897

4. Rhode Island: $1848

5. Florida: $1840

6. Washington D.C.: $1696

7. California : $1673

8. Wyoming: $1538

9. Delaware: $1526

10. Texas: $1506

11. Oklahoma: $1476

12. Georgia: $1440

13. Arkansas: $1409

14. New Jersey: $1375

15. West Virginia: $1369

16. Kentucky: $1365

17. New York: $1352

18. Colorado: $1351

19. Arizona: $1348

20. Nevada: $1342

21. Maryland: $1327

22. Mississippi: $1326

23. Pennsylvania: $1313

24. Oregon: $1308

25. Hawaii: $1294

26. North Dakota: $1291

27. South Carolina: $1286

28. Massachusetts: $1242

29. Minnesota: $1241

30. Alabama: $1226

31. Montana: $1217

32. Washington: $1216

33. New Mexico: $1201

34. Kansas: $1192

35. Tennessee: $1186

36. Illinois: $1159

37. Wisconsin: $1154

38. Alaska: $1132

39. New Hampshire: $1124

40. Nebraska: $1112

41. Missouri: $1107

42. Utah: $1068

43. South Dakota: $1058

44. Virginia: $1040

45. Indiana: $1021

46. Iowa: $1017

47. North Carolina: $1010

48. Vermont $948

49. Idaho: $942

50. Ohio: $919

51. Maine: $864

[h/t Forbes]