Car insurance rates by city in 2024

How does your city influence your car insurance rates?

Although the national average cost of car insurance is $2,388 per year for a full coverage policy, car insurance rates vary greatly by state and 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, such as: 

• Traffic density: Vehicles driven in an area with high traffic volume are exposed to a higher risk of accidents.
• Accident reports: Regardless of traffic patterns, a high number of motor vehicle crashes signals to insurers that an area may carry higher insurance risks.
• Property crime: Comprehensive coverage pays out for losses due to vehicle theft or vandalism (often a result of attempted theft). If your area sees high property crime rates, you may pay more for full coverage.
• Repair and healthcare costs: In high cost of living areas, auto repair bills and medical bills may be higher, leading to more costly insurance claims and higher premiums for local vehicle owners. 
• Weather patterns: If your city is subject to severe winter storms, hurricanes or other types of extreme weather that can lead to accidents and insurance claims, your insurance company may charge a higher rate. 

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.

Most and least expensive cities for car insurance in each state

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 choose the best car insurance in your city

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:

• Research 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.
• Review 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.
• Look up 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.

Frequently asked questions

Methodology

Bankrate utilizes Quadrant Information Services to analyze October 2024 rates for all ZIP codes and carriers in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.  Rates are weighted based on the population density in each geographic region. Quoted rates are based on a 40-year-old male and female driver with a clean driving record, good credit and the following full coverage limits:

• $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.