By Roberto Gomes, Prime Capital Report | Updated October 2026
How much does car insurance cost in your state, and how hard does it hit household budgets? This report ranks all 50 states and Washington, D.C. on full-coverage and minimum-coverage premiums, then goes one step further with an original affordability measure: car insurance cost as a share of median household income. The full dataset is free to download and reuse with attribution.
Key findings
- Louisiana is the most expensive state for car insurance in 2026, with a median full-coverage premium of $4,296 a year, 3.7 times Wyoming’s $1,148.
- A full-coverage policy in Louisiana costs 7.0% of the state’s median household income, the highest burden in the nation and more than double the U.S. figure of 2.9%.
- The typical Louisiana household works about 26 days a year just to pay for full-coverage car insurance, versus about 11 days nationally and 6 days in Wyoming.
- In 26 of the 50 states, full-coverage car insurance takes more than 3% of median household income.
- Seven of the 10 states where car insurance is least affordable relative to income are in the South: Louisiana, Kentucky, Texas, Arkansas, Florida, Mississippi and Georgia.
- Kentucky ranks 5th for premiums in dollars but 2nd for affordability burden, at 5.1% of median household income.
- New Jersey has the second-highest full-coverage premium ($3,687) but ranks only 15th by income share, because its median household income ($104,294) is among the highest in the country.
- New Jersey has the most expensive minimum-coverage insurance in the U.S. at $1,597 a year, more than eight times Wyoming’s $192.
- Ten states now have median full-coverage premiums above $3,000 a year: Louisiana, New Jersey, Texas, Nevada, Kentucky, Florida, Colorado, Rhode Island, Georgia and Maryland.
- Drivers actually spent an average of $1,432 per insured vehicle on auto insurance in 2024, up 11.7% in one year, with Florida ($2,018) and New York ($1,981) the highest, according to NAIC data.
Methodology
We combined three public datasets. Each column in the ranking uses a single source, and sources are never blended within a column.
- Full-coverage and minimum-coverage premiums (2026): NerdWallet’s October 2026 rate analysis, which reports median annual rates for all 50 states and D.C. based on public rate filings obtained through Quadrant Information Services. Rates are medians across men and women in every ZIP code; NerdWallet describes its full-coverage profile as a 35-year-old driver with good credit and a clean record, driving a 2023 Toyota Camry LE 12,000 miles a year, with 100/300/50 liability limits, 100/300 uninsured motorist coverage, and collision and comprehensive with $1,000 deductibles. Minimum coverage reflects only each state’s legal minimum. Monthly figures are the annual figure divided by 12.
- Average expenditure (2024): National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), 2024 Auto Insurance Database Average Premium Supplement (September 2026), Table 4. This is total written premium for liability, collision and comprehensive divided by insured vehicle-years. It measures what insured drivers actually spent across all policy types, so it is lower than the full-coverage quote and is shown as a separate reference column.
- Median household income (2024): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-year estimates, published in Household Income in States and Metropolitan Areas: 2024 (ACSBR-025, Appendix Table 1). The 2025 ACS 1-year estimates are scheduled for release on October 29, 2026; we will update this report once they are out.
- Affordability metric (original): annual premium divided by median household income, times 100. States are ranked from highest burden (1) to lowest (51). The U.S. benchmark of 2.89% uses NerdWallet’s national full-coverage average ($2,361) and the national ACS median household income ($81,604). Regions follow U.S. Census Bureau definitions, with D.C. counted in the South.
Limitations: premiums are medians for one standard driver profile, and individual quotes vary widely by ZIP code, age, credit, vehicle and driving record. Income figures are 2024 dollars and premiums are 2026 quotes, so income shares are slightly overstated relative to same-year income. Census income estimates carry margins of error, which are included in the CSV.
Full ranking: all 50 states + D.C.
Ranked by full-coverage premium as a share of median household income (1 = least affordable).
| Burden rank | State | Region | Full coverage (annual, 2026) | Price rank | Minimum coverage (annual, 2026) | NAIC avg. expenditure (2024) | Median household income (2024) | Full coverage % of income | Minimum coverage % of income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Louisiana | South | $4,296 | 1 | $1,256 | $1,880 | $60,986 | 7.04% | 2.06% |
| 2 | Kentucky | South | $3,298 | 5 | $832 | $1,150 | $64,526 | 5.11% | 1.29% |
| 3 | Texas | South | $3,652 | 3 | $1,085 | $1,578 | $79,721 | 4.58% | 1.36% |
| 4 | Nevada | West | $3,497 | 4 | $1,033 | $1,704 | $81,134 | 4.31% | 1.27% |
| 5 | Arkansas | South | $2,644 | 17 | $543 | $1,172 | $62,106 | 4.26% | 0.87% |
| 6 | Florida | South | $3,295 | 6 | $854 | $2,018 | $77,735 | 4.24% | 1.10% |
| 7 | Mississippi | South | $2,502 | 23 | $594 | $1,315 | $59,127 | 4.23% | 1.00% |
| 8 | Michigan | Midwest | $2,950 | 11 | $685 | $1,631 | $72,389 | 4.08% | 0.95% |
| 9 | Georgia | South | $3,160 | 9 | $1,056 | $1,758 | $79,991 | 3.95% | 1.32% |
| 10 | Rhode Island | Northeast | $3,226 | 8 | $873 | $1,671 | $83,504 | 3.86% | 1.05% |
| 11 | Montana | West | $2,879 | 13 | $453 | $1,081 | $75,340 | 3.82% | 0.60% |
| 12 | West Virginia | South | $2,274 | 29 | $680 | $1,179 | $60,798 | 3.74% | 1.12% |
| 13 | Missouri | Midwest | $2,622 | 19 | $696 | $1,274 | $71,589 | 3.66% | 0.97% |
| 14 | Arizona | West | $2,940 | 12 | $935 | $1,471 | $81,486 | 3.61% | 1.15% |
| 15 | New Jersey | Northeast | $3,687 | 2 | $1,597 | $1,748 | $104,294 | 3.54% | 1.53% |
| 16 | South Carolina | South | $2,479 | 24 | $678 | $1,498 | $72,350 | 3.43% | 0.94% |
| 17 | Alabama | South | $2,259 | 30 | $489 | $1,178 | $66,659 | 3.39% | 0.73% |
| 18 | Colorado | West | $3,279 | 7 | $742 | $1,601 | $97,113 | 3.38% | 0.76% |
| 19 | Oklahoma | South | $2,221 | 33 | $495 | $1,183 | $66,148 | 3.36% | 0.75% |
| 20 | Kansas | Midwest | $2,530 | 21 | $625 | $1,064 | $75,514 | 3.35% | 0.83% |
| 21 | New Mexico | West | $2,203 | 36 | $505 | $1,180 | $67,816 | 3.25% | 0.74% |
| 22 | New York | Northeast | $2,673 | 15 | $1,021 | $1,981 | $85,820 | 3.11% | 1.19% |
| 23 | North Dakota | Midwest | $2,423 | 26 | $507 | $907 | $77,871 | 3.11% | 0.65% |
| 24 | Illinois | Midwest | $2,546 | 20 | $754 | $1,264 | $83,211 | 3.06% | 0.91% |
| 25 | Delaware | South | $2,643 | 18 | $1,056 | $1,620 | $87,534 | 3.02% | 1.21% |
| 26 | Wisconsin | Midwest | $2,335 | 27 | $556 | $1,015 | $77,488 | 3.01% | 0.72% |
| 27 | Connecticut | Northeast | $2,871 | 14 | $1,008 | $1,564 | $96,049 | 2.99% | 1.05% |
| 28 | Iowa | Midwest | $2,233 | 32 | $397 | $973 | $75,501 | 2.96% | 0.53% |
| 29 | Tennessee | South | $2,134 | 38 | $522 | $1,165 | $71,997 | 2.96% | 0.73% |
| 30 | Maryland | South | $3,013 | 10 | $1,092 | $1,626 | $102,905 | 2.93% | 1.06% |
| 31 | South Dakota | Midwest | $2,236 | 31 | $377 | $1,037 | $76,881 | 2.91% | 0.49% |
| 32 | Minnesota | Midwest | $2,508 | 22 | $649 | $1,232 | $87,117 | 2.88% | 0.74% |
| 33 | Pennsylvania | Northeast | $2,208 | 35 | $439 | $1,267 | $77,545 | 2.85% | 0.57% |
| 34 | Indiana | Midwest | $1,920 | 42 | $506 | $1,019 | $71,959 | 2.67% | 0.70% |
| 35 | Nebraska | Midwest | $2,001 | 39 | $431 | $1,108 | $76,376 | 2.62% | 0.56% |
| 36 | Oregon | West | $2,214 | 34 | $970 | $1,269 | $85,220 | 2.60% | 1.14% |
| 37 | Utah | West | $2,429 | 25 | $902 | $1,281 | $96,658 | 2.51% | 0.93% |
| 38 | Ohio | Midwest | $1,795 | 46 | $503 | $1,037 | $72,212 | 2.49% | 0.70% |
| 39 | Idaho | West | $1,999 | 40 | $434 | $956 | $81,166 | 2.46% | 0.53% |
| 40 | District of Columbia | South | $2,655 | 16 | $892 | $1,840 | $109,707 | 2.42% | 0.81% |
| 41 | North Carolina | South | $1,789 | 47 | $598 | $1,038 | $73,958 | 2.42% | 0.81% |
| 42 | Virginia | South | $2,165 | 37 | $772 | $1,218 | $92,090 | 2.35% | 0.84% |
| 43 | Washington | West | $2,332 | 28 | $693 | $1,416 | $99,389 | 2.35% | 0.70% |
| 44 | Maine | Northeast | $1,713 | 48 | $531 | $935 | $76,442 | 2.24% | 0.69% |
| 45 | Hawaii | West | $1,975 | 41 | $603 | $935 | $100,745 | 1.96% | 0.60% |
| 46 | Alaska | West | $1,833 | 45 | $383 | $1,231 | $95,665 | 1.92% | 0.40% |
| 47 | California | West | $1,894 | 43 | $618 | $1,454 | $100,149 | 1.89% | 0.62% |
| 48 | Vermont | Northeast | $1,556 | 50 | $429 | $942 | $82,730 | 1.88% | 0.52% |
| 49 | Massachusetts | Northeast | $1,867 | 44 | $632 | $1,504 | $104,828 | 1.78% | 0.60% |
| 50 | New Hampshire | Northeast | $1,578 | 49 | $458 | $1,073 | $99,782 | 1.58% | 0.46% |
| 51 | Wyoming | West | $1,148 | 51 | $192 | $1,012 | $75,532 | 1.52% | 0.25% |
Sources: NerdWallet October 2026 rate analysis (full and minimum coverage); NAIC 2024 Auto Insurance Database Average Premium Supplement (average expenditure); U.S. Census Bureau 2024 ACS 1-year (median household income). Income shares calculated by Prime Capital Report.
Most and least affordable states by share of income
Least affordable (highest share of income)
- Louisiana: 7.04% ($4,296 premium vs. $60,986 median income)
- Kentucky: 5.11% ($3,298 premium vs. $64,526 median income)
- Texas: 4.58% ($3,652 premium vs. $79,721 median income)
- Nevada: 4.31% ($3,497 premium vs. $81,134 median income)
- Arkansas: 4.26% ($2,644 premium vs. $62,106 median income)
- Florida: 4.24% ($3,295 premium vs. $77,735 median income)
- Mississippi: 4.23% ($2,502 premium vs. $59,127 median income)
- Michigan: 4.08% ($2,950 premium vs. $72,389 median income)
- Georgia: 3.95% ($3,160 premium vs. $79,991 median income)
- Rhode Island: 3.86% ($3,226 premium vs. $83,504 median income)
Most affordable (lowest share of income)
- Wyoming: 1.52% ($1,148 premium vs. $75,532 median income)
- New Hampshire: 1.58% ($1,578 premium vs. $99,782 median income)
- Massachusetts: 1.78% ($1,867 premium vs. $104,828 median income)
- Vermont: 1.88% ($1,556 premium vs. $82,730 median income)
- California: 1.89% ($1,894 premium vs. $100,149 median income)
- Alaska: 1.92% ($1,833 premium vs. $95,665 median income)
- Hawaii: 1.96% ($1,975 premium vs. $100,745 median income)
- Maine: 2.24% ($1,713 premium vs. $76,442 median income)
- Washington: 2.35% ($2,332 premium vs. $99,389 median income)
- Virginia: 2.35% ($2,165 premium vs. $92,090 median income)
Regional patterns
- South (16 states + D.C.): the least affordable region. The average full-coverage premium is $2,734 and the average burden is 3.73% of median household income. Lower incomes amplify high premiums in Louisiana, Kentucky, Arkansas, Mississippi and West Virginia. Maryland and D.C. are the exceptions: high premiums, but high incomes keep their burden below 3%.
- Midwest (12 states): average premium $2,342 and average burden 3.07%. Michigan stands out at 4.08%, the only Midwestern state in the top 10, while Ohio and Indiana are among the cheapest states overall.
- West (13 states): average premium $2,356 and average burden 2.74%. Nevada (4.31%) and Montana (3.82%) are the outliers; California, Alaska and Hawaii pair moderate premiums with high incomes, and Wyoming is the most affordable state in the country (1.52%).
- Northeast (9 states): the most affordable region on average, at 2.65% of income on a $2,375 average premium. Rhode Island (3.86%) and New Jersey (3.54%) are the exceptions; New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Vermont rank among the five most affordable states.
Regional averages are simple averages of state figures, not population-weighted.
How to cite this report
Journalists, researchers and bloggers are welcome to use these figures and charts. Please credit Prime Capital Report and link to this page.
Suggested citation: Gomes, Roberto. “U.S. Car Insurance Cost Report 2026: All 50 States + DC Ranked.” Prime Capital Report, October 2026. https://primecapitalreport.com/car-insurance-cost-by-state-2026/
Short form: According to a Prime Capital Report analysis of NerdWallet rate data and U.S. Census Bureau income data, …
Free data download
The complete dataset, with all 51 jurisdictions, monthly and annual premiums, NAIC expenditures, median household income with margins of error, income shares and every ranking, is available as a free CSV: download the CSV. You may reuse it with attribution and a link to this page.
Frequently asked questions
Which state has the most expensive car insurance in 2026?
Louisiana. Its median full-coverage premium is $4,296 a year (about $358 a month), according to NerdWallet’s October 2026 rate analysis, followed by New Jersey ($3,687) and Texas ($3,652).
Which state has the cheapest car insurance?
Wyoming, at $1,148 a year for full coverage and $192 a year for minimum coverage. Vermont ($1,556) and New Hampshire ($1,578) are next cheapest for full coverage.
Where is car insurance least affordable relative to income?
Louisiana, where a full-coverage policy equals 7.04% of the state’s median household income. Kentucky (5.11%), Texas (4.58%), Nevada (4.31%) and Arkansas (4.26%) follow. Nationally the figure is 2.89%.
How much is car insurance per month on average in the U.S.?
About $197 a month ($2,361 a year) for full coverage and about $54 a month ($648 a year) for minimum coverage, per NerdWallet’s October 2026 analysis.
Why is the NAIC average lower than the full-coverage figures?
The NAIC figure is what insured drivers actually spent on average in 2024 across all policies, including liability-only policies and every coverage level, while the full-coverage figures are 2026 quoted rates for one standard driver profile with 100/300/50 liability limits plus collision and comprehensive. The two measure different things and should not be mixed.
Can I use this data in my article?
Yes. You may cite the figures and embed the charts with a link to this page as the source. The full dataset is available as a free CSV download.
Sources
- NerdWallet, “How Much Is Car Insurance? Average Cost of Car Insurance,” state table “Average annual car insurance costs by state,” October 2026 rate analysis (page updated October 1, 2026). https://www.nerdwallet.com/insurance/auto/average-car-insurance-cost
- National Association of Insurance Commissioners, 2024 Auto Insurance Database Average Premium Supplement, September 2026, Table 4 (Average Expenditure). https://content.naic.org/sites/default/files/2024-adb-average-premium-supplement.pdf
- U.S. Census Bureau, Gloria G. Guzman, Household Income in States and Metropolitan Areas: 2024 (ACSBR-025), September 2025, Appendix Table 1. https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/2025/demo/acsbr-025.pdf