{"id":320707,"date":"2025-11-10T18:13:12","date_gmt":"2025-11-10T23:13:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/?p=111280"},"modified":"2025-11-10T18:13:13","modified_gmt":"2025-11-10T23:13:13","slug":"understanding-insurance-rates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/insurance\/car\/understanding-insurance-rates\/","title":{"rendered":"Understanding Car Insurance Rates"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/insurance\/car\/average-cost-of-car-insurance\/\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" class=\"achor-toggles\">average car insurance costs<\/a> in the U.S. are now in the mid\u2013$2,000s per year for full coverage and roughly $600\u2013$800 per year for minimum coverage, based on Bankrate\u2019s 2025 benchmark. As this is a national average, you may be wondering <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/insurance\/car\/buyers-guide\/\">how much is car insurance for me?<\/a> Many factors affect the price you end up paying, including where you live and which <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/insurance\/car\/best\/\">car insurance companies<\/a> operate in your area. Prices have risen notably since 2021; the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bls.gov\/news.release\/cpi.nr0.htm\">BLS Consumer Price Index<\/a> shows motor vehicle insurance inflation running at a high double\u2011digit pace through 2024 and into 2025. On top of that, the car you drive, the number of years you have been driving, whether you\u2019re married and how old you are all affect the price.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then there\u2019s the level of coverage to take into account. Some policies will cover the minimum, while others will provide full coverage and liability. Methodologies differ by source (driver profile, vehicle, limits and deductibles), so reported \u201caverages\u201d vary. All of these things affect the cost and should be factored into your research as you shop for auto insurance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Much is Car Insurance in your State?\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Different states can have wildly different average car insurance prices, so that\u2019s the first thing to look at. Some of the cheapest states for car insurance include Maine, Vermont, Idaho, New Hampshire and Ohio, where typical full\u2011coverage benchmarks often land around $1,000\u2013$1,400 for standard driver profiles. Compare that to the most expensive states \u2014\u00a0 Florida, Louisiana, Nevada, Michigan and New York \u2014 which frequently see full\u2011coverage averages above $3,000 and even higher in certain metros. For current figures and methodology, see <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/insurance\/car\/average-cost-of-car-insurance\/\">Bankrate<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\">NerdWallet<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thezebra.com\/research\/state-of-auto-insurance\/\">The Zebra<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is a huge difference in average price, and it\u2019s similar with state minimum insurance as well. In high\u2011cost states, the average annual minimum\u2011coverage price can rival or exceed what full coverage costs in the cheapest states, while low\u2011cost states tend to post minimum\u2011coverage averages well below the national $600\u2013$800 benchmark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Top 3 Cheapest States for Auto Insurance<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table table table-striped table-bordered table--bordered-top\"><table class=\"\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>State<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Average Annual Full Coverage Premium*<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Average Annual Minimum Coverage Premium*<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Maine<\/td><td>\u2248$1,100\u2013$1,400<\/td><td>Typically below national average<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Ohio<\/td><td>\u2248$1,100\u2013$1,400<\/td><td>Typically below national average<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Idaho<\/td><td>\u2248$1,100\u2013$1,400<\/td><td>Typically below national average<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><em>*Data reflects 2025 benchmarks<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Top 3 Most Expensive States for Auto Insurance<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table table table-striped table-bordered table--bordered-top\"><table class=\"\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>State<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Average Annual Full Coverage Premium*<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Average Annual Minimum Coverage Premium*<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Louisiana<\/td><td>Often $3,000\u2013$4,000+<\/td><td>Often above national average<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Florida<\/td><td>Often $3,000\u2013$4,000+<\/td><td>Often above national average<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>New York<\/td><td>Often $3,000\u2013$4,000+<\/td><td>Often above national average<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><em>*Data reflects 2025 benchmarks<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Average Car Insurance Rate by Provider&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The next thing to look at when asking yourself how much is car insurance per year is to look at the individual providers themselves. While the average cost per state may be high, that doesn\u2019t mean you can\u2019t get it cheaper and make some savings by shopping around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Each company will have its own prices and criteria for its rates. 2025 comparisons from major compilers show wide spreads between carriers for the same profile; there is no single \u201ccheapest\u201d company nationwide. The top five private\u2011passenger auto writers by market share remain State Farm, Progressive, GEICO, Allstate and USAA, per the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.iii.org\/fact-statistic\/facts-statistics-auto-insurance\">Insurance Information Institute<\/a>. Some of the <a class=\"achor-toggles\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/insurance\/car\/best-cheap\/\">cheapest companies<\/a> for you will depend on your state, driver profile and whether you enroll in usage\u2011based (telematics) programs that can lower rates for safe driving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Are Average Car Insurance Rates Different for Men and Women?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Overall, the difference in rates between men and women isn\u2019t huge, but it exists. However, it is important to note that several states do not allow gender to be used as a rating factor when pricing car insurance. As of 2025, the four states with explicit prohibitions are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>&nbsp;California<\/li><li>Hawaii<\/li><li>Massachusetts<\/li><li>Michigan<\/li><li>Note: Most other states still permit gender-based auto rating.<\/li><li>Health insurance is different; gender rating is prohibited nationwide.<\/li><li>Check your state regulator for current rules.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>In these states, gender should not affect car insurance premiums.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table table table-striped table-bordered table--bordered-top\"><table class=\"\"><tbody><tr><td><br><\/td><td><strong>Average Annual Full Coverage Premium*<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Average Annual Minimum Coverage Premium*<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>40-year-old male<\/td><td>Mid\u2013$2,000s (typical)<\/td><td>$600\u2013$800 (typical)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>40-year-old female<\/td><td>Mid\u2013$2,000s (typical)<\/td><td>$600\u2013$800 (typical)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>National average<\/td><td>Mid\u2013$2,000s<\/td><td>$600\u2013$800<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><em>*Benchmarks reflect 2025 methodologies; actual rates vary by state, insurer and driver profile<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Average Car Insurance Costs After a Speeding Ticket<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Another thing that can have a big effect on your car insurance price is your driving history. If you have speeding tickets, insurance providers will treat you as higher risk and apply higher insurance premiums to you.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In general, a single recent speeding ticket increases auto insurance costs by about 20%\u201325% on average for full coverage. For a driver with a clean record, national full\u2011coverage benchmarks are in the mid\u2013$2,000s per year. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" class=\"achor-toggles\">With a speeding ticket<\/a>, many drivers will see premiums roughly a quarter higher, though actual impacts vary by state, insurer and violation severity.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, if you can maintain a clean driving record for an extended period of time after getting a speeding ticket, you may be able to get those lower premiums again. This is entirely down to the insurance provider\u2019s decision though.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table table table-striped table-bordered table--bordered-top\"><table class=\"\"><tbody><tr><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/td><td><strong>Average Annual Full Coverage Premium*<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Percentage Difference<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Clean record<\/td><td>Mid\u2013$2,000s<\/td><td>N\/A<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Speeding ticket<\/td><td>Mid\u2013$2,000s + \u224820%\u201325%<\/td><td>\u224820%\u201325%<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><em>*Benchmarks reflect 2025 methodologies<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cheapest states for car insurance after a speeding ticket<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table table table-striped table-bordered table--bordered-top\"><table class=\"\"><tbody><tr><td><br><strong>State<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Average annual full coverage premium with clean record<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Average annual full coverage premium with speeding ticket<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Difference<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Maine<\/td><td>Low relative to national average<\/td><td>Still low; typically +20%\u201325% vs. clean<\/td><td>\u224820%\u201325%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Hawaii<\/td><td>Low relative to national average<\/td><td>Still low; typically +20%\u201325% vs. clean<\/td><td>\u224820%\u201325%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Idaho<\/td><td>Low relative to national average<\/td><td>Still low; typically +20%\u201325% vs. clean<\/td><td>\u224820%\u201325%<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><em>*Benchmarks reflect 2025 methodologies<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Much Will Your Car Insurance Cost After an Accident?\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Having an accident at some point during your driving history can also affect the cost of car insurance. This is particularly the case if the accident is your fault, as it makes you a higher-risk driver. Insurance providers may be more lenient if a long time has passed since the accident, but it\u2019s up to their decision.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For full coverage insurance, the difference between having a clean driving history and having at least <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/insurance\/car\/rates-after-an-accident\/\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" class=\"achor-toggles\">one at-fault accident<\/a> commonly falls around +40% to +50% on average nationwide; impacts vary by state, company and claim severity (see also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\">NerdWallet\u2019s analysis<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table table table-striped table-bordered table--bordered-top\"><table class=\"\"><tbody><tr><td>&nbsp;<\/td><td><strong>Average Annual Full Coverage Premium*<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Percentage Difference<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Clean record<\/strong><\/td><td>Mid\u2013$2,000s<\/td><td>N\/A<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>At-fault accident<\/strong><\/td><td>Mid\u2013$2,000s + \u224840%\u201350%<\/td><td>\u224840%\u201350%<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><em>*Benchmarks reflect 2025 methodologies<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cheapest states for car insurance after an at-fault accident\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table table table-striped table-bordered table--bordered-top\"><table class=\"\"><tbody><tr><td><br><strong>State<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Average annual full coverage premium with clean record<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Average annual full coverage premium with at\u2011fault accident<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Difference<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Maine<\/td><td>Low relative to national average<\/td><td>Still low; typically +40%\u201350% vs. clean<\/td><td>\u224840%\u201350%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Idaho<\/td><td>Low relative to national average<\/td><td>Still low; typically +40%\u201350% vs. clean<\/td><td>\u224840%\u201350%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Hawaii<\/td><td>Low relative to national average<\/td><td>Still low; typically +40%\u201350% vs. clean<\/td><td>\u224840%\u201350%<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><em>*Benchmarks reflect 2025 methodologies<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Understanding Car Insurance Premiums<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Car insurance premiums will be calculated by taking a number of different factors into account. The factors that affect your premium include things like state of residence, the provider you use and your driving history.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some of these things you will be able to change, and some you will have little control over. For example, shopping around for the cheapest insurance provider is a way to reduce your costs, but there\u2019s little you can do about your state of residence or age.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Car Insurance Premiums Factors<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><strong>Driving history<\/strong>: When insurance providers calculate premiums, they look at driving history to deem whether you are a risky driver for them to insure or not.<\/li><li><strong>Coverage Level: <\/strong>The amount of coverage you choose will also have an effect, as there will be big price differences between minimum and full coverage.<\/li><li><strong>Location:<\/strong> The state and city you reside in will affect premiums, as the average rate per state can differ greatly.&nbsp;<\/li><li><strong>Credit Score<\/strong>: Where allowed, insurers may use a credit-based insurance score to help predict the likelihood and cost of future claims.<\/li><li><strong>Age &amp; Gender:<\/strong> Premiums can also differ depending on your age and gender. In many states, men \u2014 especially younger male drivers \u2014 often pay more; four states prohibit gender-based auto rating.<\/li><li><strong>Marital Status<\/strong>: Married couples often pay lower premiums than unmarried people, as providers see married couples as less of a risk of accidents.<\/li><li><strong>Vehicle:<\/strong> Some cars may be deemed safer or more resilient than others, while more expensive cars are likely to have higher premiums to cover repairs or replacement.<\/li><li><strong>Mileage:<\/strong> Generally, the more often you drive, the more likely you may have to make a claim one day.<\/li><li><strong>Safety features:<\/strong> Those who have safety features on their car may be able to qualify for lower rates of insurance because the provider won\u2019t have to pay out as much after an accident.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Car Insurance Shopping Tips<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><strong>Use the same coverage levels for every quote<\/strong>: When comparing insurance premiums across different companies, the best way to get an accurate comparison is to compare the same product with the same details entered.&nbsp;<\/li><li><strong>Look out for discounts<\/strong>: Aside from the premiums, some insurance companies will offer special discounts for certain scenarios, like being a good driver. Telematics\/usage-based programs, bundling and pay-in-full discounts can make a noticeable difference.<\/li><li><strong>Be Honest: <\/strong>While it\u2019s tempting to leave out certain pieces of information, this&nbsp; can affect your premiums and can even make them more expensive than they should be.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tips for lowering Car Insurance rates<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><strong>Discount options: <\/strong>Some insurance companies will offer discounts, for example, for new customers, students or those in the military. Another way to get a cheaper premium is to contact the company by phone to see if there\u2019s any possibility to reduce the premium. Enrolling in a telematics\/usage-based program can also unlock behavior-based savings.<\/li><li><strong>Deductibles: <\/strong>The deductibles you are willing to put on your insurance will also have a big effect on the insurance premiums you\u2019re offered. If you can afford to have a high deductible amount, this can reduce your monthly or annual costs.<\/li><li><strong>Bundling: <\/strong>For homeowners, a great way to reduce your car insurance and home insurance costs is to bundle the two policies at one company. Many companies will offer 10-20% discounts for bundled policies.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to Lower Your Car Insurance Costs After an Accident<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><strong>Always be honest about accidents<\/strong>: If you get into a small accident, you may be tempted to not contact your insurer. However, if the other person ends up suing you and you didn\u2019t tell your provider, they may refuse to honor the policy at all.<\/li><li><strong>Increase your deductibles<\/strong>: One way to keep the costs down is to increase your deductible after you\u2019ve been in an accident. This can help you mitigate any price hike in your insurance.<\/li><li><strong>Take a driving class<\/strong>: If the accident was your fault, it may be time to swallow your pride and take a driving class. Having a recent driving class under your belt may help insurers see that you have rectified the mistakes that led to the accident.<\/li><li><strong>Look for providers with an accident forgiveness clause:<\/strong> Some insurance providers will have a clause that forgives any accidents if a certain amount of time has passed. This requires you to be accident-free for a few years though. <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Car Insurance Costs FAQs<\/h2>\n\n\n<div id=\"block_5fb2cc9ab30d8\" class=\"block b-accordion\" data-js=\"b-accordion\">\n    <div class=\"b-accordion__container\">\n        <div class=\"b-accordion__header\">\n            <a href=\"#\" class=\"b-accordion__title\" data-tag='cta' data-tag-element-type='LINK' data-tag-location='ACCORDION' data-tag-outcome='INTERNALLINK' ><h3 class=\"b-accordion__title--h3\">What is the average cost of car insurance monthly?<\/h3><\/a>\n            <span class=\"b-accordion__toggle chevron-arrow-down\"><\/span>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"b-accordion__content\" style=\"display: none;\">\n            <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to Bankrate\u2019s 2021 data, the average cost of full coverage car insurance per year is $1,674, but how much is car insurance per month? This breaks down to about $140 per month, but your rate will vary based on your rating factors.<\/span><\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"block_5fb2ccd1b30d9\" class=\"block b-accordion\" data-js=\"b-accordion\">\n    <div class=\"b-accordion__container\">\n        <div class=\"b-accordion__header\">\n            <a href=\"#\" class=\"b-accordion__title\" data-tag='cta' data-tag-element-type='LINK' data-tag-location='ACCORDION' data-tag-outcome='INTERNALLINK' ><h3 class=\"b-accordion__title--h3\">What is a good price for auto insurance?<\/h3><\/a>\n            <span class=\"b-accordion__toggle chevron-arrow-down\"><\/span>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"b-accordion__content\" style=\"display: none;\">\n            <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This will depend largely on what state you live in. Getting quotes from several carriers can help you identify the average cost for you, so you can spot the companies that offer you lower rates.<\/span><\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"block_5fb2ccebb30da\" class=\"block b-accordion\" data-js=\"b-accordion\">\n    <div class=\"b-accordion__container\">\n        <div class=\"b-accordion__header\">\n            <a href=\"#\" class=\"b-accordion__title\" data-tag='cta' data-tag-element-type='LINK' data-tag-location='ACCORDION' data-tag-outcome='INTERNALLINK' ><h3 class=\"b-accordion__title--h3\">Who has the cheapest full coverage auto insurance?<\/h3><\/a>\n            <span class=\"b-accordion__toggle chevron-arrow-down\"><\/span>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"b-accordion__content\" style=\"display: none;\">\n            <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When looking at some of the biggest names in insurance, the cheapest providers include Pekin, Safety, and Secura. These companies have annual full coverage premiums of $774 per year, $827 per year, and $897 per year respectively. These rates come from Bankrate.com.<\/span><\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"block_5fb2cd0eb30dc\" class=\"block b-accordion\" data-js=\"b-accordion\">\n    <div class=\"b-accordion__container\">\n        <div class=\"b-accordion__header\">\n            <a href=\"#\" class=\"b-accordion__title\" data-tag='cta' data-tag-element-type='LINK' data-tag-location='ACCORDION' data-tag-outcome='INTERNALLINK' ><h3 class=\"b-accordion__title--h3\">How does my driving record affect my car insurance?<\/h3><\/a>\n            <span class=\"b-accordion__toggle chevron-arrow-down\"><\/span>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"b-accordion__content\" style=\"display: none;\">\n            <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Insurance providers will look closely at your driving history to determine what level of risk you have. If you have a driving history full of speeding tickets and accidents, the provider will expect you to make claims often and will therefore raise your premium. <\/span><\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"block_5fb2cd28b30dd\" class=\"block b-accordion\" data-js=\"b-accordion\">\n    <div class=\"b-accordion__container\">\n        <div class=\"b-accordion__header\">\n            <a href=\"#\" class=\"b-accordion__title\" data-tag='cta' data-tag-element-type='LINK' data-tag-location='ACCORDION' data-tag-outcome='INTERNALLINK' ><h3 class=\"b-accordion__title--h3\">Why does gender affect car insurance?<\/h3><\/a>\n            <span class=\"b-accordion__toggle chevron-arrow-down\"><\/span>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"b-accordion__content\" style=\"display: none;\">\n            <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Insurance companies use gender as a rating factor in most states. Statistically, at most ages, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.iihs.org\/topics\/fatality-statistics\/detail\/males-and-females\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">men are more likely be riskier drivers than women<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and so they usually pay more. But insurance is highly personalized, so your rate will vary based on your unique situation. <\/span><\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"block_5fb2cd3cb30de\" class=\"block b-accordion\" data-js=\"b-accordion\">\n    <div class=\"b-accordion__container\">\n        <div class=\"b-accordion__header\">\n            <a href=\"#\" class=\"b-accordion__title\" data-tag='cta' data-tag-element-type='LINK' data-tag-location='ACCORDION' data-tag-outcome='INTERNALLINK' ><h3 class=\"b-accordion__title--h3\">What&#8217;s the cheapest state for car insurance?<\/h3><\/a>\n            <span class=\"b-accordion__toggle chevron-arrow-down\"><\/span>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"b-accordion__content\" style=\"display: none;\">\n            <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The cheapest state for auto insurance is Maine which has an average full coverage premium of $965 per year and an average minimum coverage premium of $294 per year.<\/span><\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"block_5fb2cd55b30df\" class=\"block b-accordion\" data-js=\"b-accordion\">\n    <div class=\"b-accordion__container\">\n        <div class=\"b-accordion__header\">\n            <a href=\"#\" class=\"b-accordion__title\" data-tag='cta' data-tag-element-type='LINK' data-tag-location='ACCORDION' data-tag-outcome='INTERNALLINK' ><h3 class=\"b-accordion__title--h3\">How long will a speeding ticket or accident impact my car insurance cost?<\/h3><\/a>\n            <span class=\"b-accordion__toggle chevron-arrow-down\"><\/span>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"b-accordion__content\" style=\"display: none;\">\n            <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This will depend on the insurance provider. Most insurance companies will surcharge your policy for three to five years, although it could be shorter or longer.<\/span><\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"block_5fb2cd82b30e1\" class=\"block b-accordion\" data-js=\"b-accordion\">\n    <div class=\"b-accordion__container\">\n        <div class=\"b-accordion__header\">\n            <a href=\"#\" class=\"b-accordion__title\" data-tag='cta' data-tag-element-type='LINK' data-tag-location='ACCORDION' data-tag-outcome='INTERNALLINK' ><h3 class=\"b-accordion__title--h3\">Will my car insurance premium increase even if the accident wasn&#8217;t my fault?<\/h3><\/a>\n            <span class=\"b-accordion__toggle chevron-arrow-down\"><\/span>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"b-accordion__content\" style=\"display: none;\">\n            <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Maybe. Even if you were not at fault, you might lose a claim-free discount if you file a claim, and you might find that your policy is underwritten a bit differently. Talking to your agent to discuss the specifics of your company\u2019s rating method is the most effective way to understand how your policy would change after a not-at-fault accident.<\/span><\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Methodology<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Reviews.com reviews products, services and companies based on five criteria to help readers understand how companies compare based on similar metrics. As for average pricing, we reference 2025 analyses from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/insurance\/car\/average-cost-of-car-insurance\/\">Bankrate<\/a> using Quadrant Information Services rate data for a standard 40\u2011year\u2011old driver with good credit. For full coverage, the details used were the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>$100,000 bodily injury liability per person<\/li><li>$300,000 bodily injury liability per accident<\/li><li>$50,000 property damage liability per accident<\/li><li>$100,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person<\/li><li>$300,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident<\/li><li>$500 collision deductible<\/li><li>$500 comprehensive deductible<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>To determine minimum coverage limits, Bankrate uses minimum coverage that meets each state\u2019s requirements. Our base profile drivers own a late\u2011model Toyota Camry, commute five days a week and drive 12,000 miles annually.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These are sample rates and should only be used for comparative purposes.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Age<\/strong>: Rates were calculated by evaluating our base profile with the ages 18-60 (base: 40 years) applied. Depending on age, drivers may be a renter or homeowner. Hawaii rates indicate age is not a contributing factor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Gender<\/strong>: The following states do not use gender as a determining factor in calculating premiums: California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Michigan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Incidents: <\/strong>Rates were calculated by evaluating our base profile with the following incidents applied: clean record (base), at-fault accident, single speeding ticket.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The average car insurance costs in the U.S. are now in the mid\u2013$2,000s per year for full coverage and roughly $600\u2013$800 per year for minimum coverage, based on Bankrate\u2019s 2025 benchmark. As this is a national average, you may be wondering how much is car insurance for me? Many factors affect the price you end [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":345,"featured_media":356972,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1266],"tags":[],"post_author":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v20.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Understanding Car Insurance Rates - Reviews.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"In this guide, you&#039;ll learn how car insurance premiums are calculated and actions you can take that will lower the amount you pay for your car insurance.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/insurance\/car\/understanding-insurance-rates\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Understanding Car Insurance Rates - 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