30 Auto Insurance Cost Statistics Every U.S. Driver Should Know
What U.S. drivers actually pay for car insurance: 30 cited statistics on average costs, the most and least expensive states, premium inflation, uninsured drivers, and why a record share of drivers are shopping their rate.
Car insurance is one of the least predictable lines in a household budget. What you pay turns on your state, your credit, the insurer you pick, and claim trends you never see directly. This report collects 30 cited statistics on what drivers actually pay for auto insurance, drawn only from the regulators and industry bodies that track the market. Use them to judge whether your current rate is competitive, and to see where the real room to cut it sits.
Key Takeaways
- The national average is lower than headline quotes suggest - the countrywide average auto expenditure was $1,127 per vehicle in 2022, and rose 6.09% in that single year.
- Prices then surged, then cooled - motor vehicle insurance inflation hit 11.3% in 2024 before slowing to 2.8% in 2025.
- Where you live dominates the bill - drivers in Florida averaged $1,624.77 against just $729.22 in North Dakota.
- Credit carries a steep penalty - in New York, weak credit adds $1,367 a year for an otherwise identical driver.
- Uninsured risk is climbing - 15.4% of drivers were uninsured in 2023, and one in three were uninsured or underinsured.
- Shopping around pays right now - more than 45% of policies were shopped in 2024, and new-policy growth jumped 17.7% as drivers switched insurers.
What the average driver actually pays
1. The national average auto expenditure was $1,127 per vehicle
The most recent full-year regulator figure puts the countrywide average auto expenditure at $1,127 per insured vehicle in 2022, up from $1,062.27 a year earlier. This expenditure number runs below the quotes shoppers often see, because it blends minimum-only policies with full coverage across every driver in the country.
2. Average expenditure jumped 6.09% in a single year
The 2022 average rose 6.09% over 2021, the steepest one-year move in the regulator’s 2018 to 2022 window. That acceleration was the leading edge of the much larger increases that followed.
3. Full coverage averages about $1,588 a year
Across all vehicle types, the average full-coverage cost was $1,588 a year, with medium sedans at $1,694 and medium SUVs at $1,529. Full coverage adds collision and comprehensive on top of the liability that states require.
4. The median state sits near $991
Half of states posted an average expenditure above $991 and half below it in 2022. The gap between the median and the national average shows how a handful of high-cost states pull the countrywide figure upward.
Why premiums rose so fast
5. Insurance prices rose 11.3% in 2024
Motor vehicle insurance prices climbed 11.3% over 2024, several times the pace of overall consumer inflation that year. For many households this was the single fastest-rising item in the budget.
6. The insurance price index ran from 780 to 868
The federal price index for motor vehicle insurance moved from 780.28 to 868.42 between December 2023 and December 2024, the index reading behind that 11.3% gain.
7. Increases slowed sharply to 2.8% in 2025
The surge did not last. Motor vehicle insurance prices rose just 2.8% in 2025, the smallest year-end increase in five years, a sign the market is stabilizing after two hard years.
8. Claim costs climbed 25 points over five years
Underlying claim costs explain the rate pressure: personal auto pure premium rose a cumulative 25.0 points from 2019 to 2024 as repair, medical, and litigation costs grew.
The most and least expensive states
Location is the strongest single driver of price. The 2022 regulator data shows a more than two-to-one gap between the costliest and cheapest states:
- Highest: Florida at $1,624.77, Louisiana at $1,557.61, and New York at $1,548.58
- Lowest: North Dakota at $729.22, Maine at $757.65, and Idaho at $772.31
9. Florida is the most expensive state
Florida drivers averaged $1,624.77 per vehicle, the highest in the country. Dense traffic, frequent severe weather, and high litigation rates all feed Florida pricing. See typical costs and rules on our Florida auto insurance page.
10. Louisiana ranks second
Louisiana averaged $1,557.61, reflecting one of the most claim-heavy and litigation-heavy auto markets in the nation.
11. New York rounds out the top three
New York averaged $1,548.58. Costs there vary sharply between New York City and upstate, so a statewide average hides a wide local spread. Our New York auto insurance page breaks down the local picture.
12. North Dakota is the cheapest state
At $729.22 per vehicle, North Dakota drivers paid less than half what Florida drivers did. Lower population density and fewer claims keep rural-state pricing down, as our North Dakota auto insurance page shows.
13. Maine and Idaho stay well below average
Maine ($757.65) and Idaho ($772.31) round out the three least expensive states, both far under the national average.
What pushes an individual premium higher
14. Poor credit can add $1,367 a year
Credit-based insurance scoring carries real weight. In New York, a driver with a clean record but poor credit is quoted $1,367 more per year on average than an identical driver with excellent credit.
15. The average collision claim is $5,992
Insurers price for what they pay out. The average collision claim reached $5,992 in 2022, and rising repair costs continue to push that figure up.
16. The average bodily injury claim is $24,211
Injury claims dwarf property claims. The average bodily injury liability claim was $24,211 in 2022, which is why liability limits matter so much to your premium.
17. The average comprehensive claim is $2,738
The average comprehensive claim was $2,738, covering theft, weather, and other non-collision damage. States with frequent hail or flooding see more of these.
18. The average property damage claim is $5,313
The average property damage liability claim was $5,313 in 2022, the cost of repairing the other party’s vehicle or property after an at-fault crash.
Coverage choices that shape your bill
19. About 80% of drivers buy comprehensive coverage
Most insured drivers carry more than the legal minimum. Roughly 80% buy comprehensive coverage on top of liability, trading a higher premium for protection against theft and weather.
20. About 77% of drivers buy collision coverage
A similar 77% add collision coverage. Drivers with financed or leased vehicles are usually required to carry both, while owners of older paid-off cars sometimes drop them to save.
Uninsured drivers raise costs for everyone
21. 15.4% of drivers were uninsured in 2023
More than one in seven motorists, 15.4% nationally, carried no insurance in 2023. Insured drivers help absorb that gap through uninsured-motorist premiums.
22. One in three drivers is uninsured or underinsured
Counting drivers who carry too little coverage, 33.4% of drivers were uninsured or underinsured in 2023, a roughly 10-point rise in the combined rate since 2017.
23. Mississippi has the highest uninsured rate
Mississippi led the nation at 28.2% uninsured in 2023, more than one in four drivers on the road without coverage.
24. Maine has the lowest uninsured rate
At the other end, Maine posted just 5.7% uninsured, one reason its average premiums stay low.
The market is moving in shoppers’ favor
25. More than 45% of policies were shopped in 2024
By the end of 2024, more than 45% of auto policies in force had been shopped at least once, and customer retention slipped to 78%, down five points since 2021. Drivers are no longer accepting renewal increases by default.
26. New-policy growth jumped 17.7%
Switching hit record levels: new auto policy growth rose 17.7% year over year in 2024. When prices move this much, the driver who compares wins.
27. Industry premiums grew 12.8% in 2024
Personal auto net written premium grew 12.8% in 2024, following 14.4% growth in 2023, as carriers caught pricing up to claim costs.
28. Insurers returned to an underwriting profit
The personal auto net combined ratio improved to 95.3 in 2024, back under 100 and into profit. A profitable market gives insurers room to compete on price again.
29. The 2025 outlook stays profitable
Industry analysts forecast the personal auto combined ratio at 96.0 for 2025, signaling continued stability as the steep rate hikes of recent years ease.
30. There are 284.6 million vehicles competing for rates
With 284.6 million registered vehicles on U.S. roads in 2023, even small per-policy differences add up to an enormous market, and a crowded field of insurers fighting for each renewal.
How to lower what you pay
The data points to a clear playbook. Prices vary far more by insurer, state, and profile than most drivers assume, and the market is rewarding people who compare:
- Compare carriers side by side. Rates for the same driver differ widely between insurers, which is why a record share of drivers now switch. Start with our carrier comparison.
- Check your local market. Costs and rules change at the state line. Pick your state for a localized breakdown across the full coverage directory.
- Re-shop after any change. A move, a new car, a credit improvement, or a dropped ticket can all reset your price.
- Get a current quote. The only way to know your real number is to compare quotes for your exact profile.
- Confirm the data behind any figure. Every number here is sourced, and we explain how on our methodology page.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does car insurance cost on average in the United States?
The most recent regulator figure puts the countrywide average auto expenditure at $1,127 per vehicle in 2022, while average full coverage runs about $1,588 a year. Both have risen since, after motor vehicle insurance prices climbed 11.3% in 2024.
Why did car insurance get so expensive?
Claim costs drove it. Personal auto pure premium rose a cumulative 25 points from 2019 to 2024 as repair, medical, and litigation costs grew, and insurers raised rates to catch up. The good news for drivers is that increases slowed to 2.8% in 2025.
Which states have the most and least expensive car insurance?
In 2022, Florida was highest at $1,624.77 per vehicle, followed by Louisiana and New York. North Dakota was lowest at $729.22, with Maine and Idaho close behind. You can see your own state on our auto insurance directory.
Does shopping around actually lower my rate?
The behavior of other drivers suggests it does. More than 45% of policies were shopped in 2024 and new-policy growth jumped 17.7% as people switched insurers. Because the same driver is priced differently by each carrier, comparing quotes is the most reliable way to find a lower rate.
How much does bad credit raise my car insurance?
A lot, in states that allow credit-based pricing. In New York, a driver with poor credit but a clean record is quoted $1,367 more per year on average than the same driver with excellent credit. Improving your credit and then re-shopping can produce one of the largest single savings available.