Car insurance rates by city in 2023

Why your city matters for car insurance

Although the average cost of car insurance is $2,014 per year for a full coverage policy, car insurance rates vary by city. Each state’s rates are based on state-specific laws, but areas within each state also have location-specific factors that influence car insurance rates. Major cities, for example, tend to have more traffic, which can lead to more accidents. Additionally, because the cost of living in cities tends to be higher than in rural areas, the costs associated with repairing damaged vehicles may be higher, driving up auto insurance rates. In most states, even your ZIP code can affect how much you pay for auto insurance `

While your location impacts average annual premiums, it is not the only rating factor. Your driving history, the type of car you drive, the number of drivers and vehicles on your policy and what coverage types you choose will all impact your premium. Additionally, your age and gender may play a role in determining your premium, although not all areas of the country allow these rating factors.

Car insurance rates by city

When you get car insurance quotes, knowing the average prices in your state’s most and least expensive cities might help you understand if the quotes you receive are competitive. Using proprietary rate data provided by Quadrant Information Services, the table below shows the average annual cost for full coverage car insurance, including collision and comprehensive coverage. Keep in mind, though, that your rates will vary based on your individual rating factors.

How to compare providers

When you are shopping for insurance, comparing car insurance rates is often one of the best ways to find the best car insurance company. Here are some things to keep in mind when you compare providers:

• Compare discounts: Not every provider offers the same car insurance discounts, nor does every provider offer the same savings with each discount. For example, you may save a lot more by signing up for paperless statements with one provider than you will with another.
• Compare coverage options: Everyone has different coverage needs, and not every insurance company will offer the options you may need. If you have custom sound equipment in your car, for example, some carriers have an endorsement to provide coverage for it. Or perhaps you often drive with a dog in the car. Some companies offer medical coverage for your pets if you get into an accident while they are in the car.
• Compare third-party ratings: Organizations like J.D. Power and AM Best can help you understand important features of auto insurance carriers. J.D. Power publishes various reports regarding customer satisfaction. AM Best assesses the financial strength of property/casualty insurers. Car insurance providers with high financial strength ratings have historically been able to pay out claims during catastrophic events when many losses are filed.
• Compare quotes: Auto insurance companies each use a proprietary rating algorithm to determine how much your car insurance will be. Some companies may charge you more for a speeding ticket than others, for example. Getting quotes from several companies allows you to compare rates while also reviewing a company’s coverage options, discount opportunities and policy features.

Lowering your car insurance premium

Finding a cheap car insurance company is one of the best ways to secure a lower premium, but there are other ways you might be able to save on car insurance:

• Bundle your policies: Bundling discounts, also called multi-policy discounts, are often the biggest savings opportunities that insurance companies offer. You might qualify if you insure both your home and car with the same company. If you don’t own a home, you can typically bundle car insurance with renters or condo insurance.
• Increase your deductible: If you have full coverage, you have comprehensive and collision deductibles on your policy. If you file a claim for damage to your vehicle, you will pay the appropriate deductible depending on what caused the damage. Increasing your deductibles often lowers your premium, but make sure you look at your entire financial picture before making this change to ensure that you can afford to pay a higher amount out of pocket should you need to file a claim.
• Consider the car you drive: Some cars are cheaper to insure than others. If you are in the market for a car or if you need to lower your premium significantly, choosing a car that has low average insurance costs can be a good first step toward keeping your insurance costs low.
• Improve your credit: Many states use your credit history as a rating factor. Generally, the lower your insurance-based credit score, the higher your auto insurance costs will be. If you can improve your score, you may see long-term savings regarding your car insurance.
• Move to a new city or ZIP code: This certainly is not the easiest way to lower your insurance costs, but if you are considering moving anyway, choosing your new location with your auto insurance premium in mind could help you avoid surprise costs.

Frequently asked questions

Methodology

• $100,000 bodily injury liability per person
• $300,000 bodily injury liability per accident
• $50,000 property damage liability per accident
• $100,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person
• $300,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident
• $500 collision deductible
• $500 comprehensive deductible

Bankrate Scores

Our 2024 Bankrate Score considers variables our insurance editorial team determined impacts policyholders’ experiences with an insurance company. These rating factors include a robust assessment of each company’s product availability, financial strength ratings, online capabilities and customer and claims support accessibility. Each factor was added to a category, and these categories were weighted in a tiered approach to analyze how companies perform in key customer-impacting categories.

Each category was assigned a metric to determine performance, and the weighted sum adds up to a company’s total Bankrate Score — out of 5 points. Our scoring model provides a comprehensive view, indicating when companies excel across several key areas and highlight where they fall short.