Cost to insure and fuel a car by state
Moving can change your car costs by thousands. We add average insurance spending per car to a year of gas (12,000 miles at 25 mpg).
Every state
| State | Gas | Insure + fuel |
|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | $1,645 | $2,570 |
| North Dakota | $1,958 | $2,766 |
| Indiana | $1,868 | $2,794 |
| Iowa | $1,971 | $2,844 |
| Tennessee | $1,807 | $2,857 |
| Kansas | $1,891 | $2,864 |
| Arkansas | $1,829 | $2,880 |
| Alabama | $1,812 | $2,893 |
| Maine | $2,053 | $2,909 |
| Kentucky | $1,897 | $2,943 |
| Oklahoma | $1,870 | $2,954 |
| South Dakota | $2,018 | $2,955 |
| Vermont | $2,081 | $2,974 |
| Ohio | $2,048 | $2,995 |
| New Hampshire | $2,010 | $2,997 |
| Wisconsin | $2,102 | $3,024 |
| Missouri | $1,869 | $3,024 |
| Mississippi | $1,827 | $3,027 |
| Nebraska | $2,047 | $3,028 |
| Virginia | $1,920 | $3,034 |
| Wyoming | $2,118 | $3,066 |
| Montana | $2,095 | $3,070 |
| West Virginia | $2,012 | $3,075 |
| Idaho | $2,212 | $3,076 |
| New Mexico | $2,005 | $3,087 |
| Minnesota | $1,992 | $3,095 |
| South Carolina | $1,787 | $3,154 |
| Texas | $1,776 | $3,205 |
| Georgia | $1,736 | $3,291 |
| Pennsylvania | $2,137 | $3,292 |
| Massachusetts | $2,016 | $3,342 |
| Delaware | $1,907 | $3,369 |
| Utah | $2,218 | $3,387 |
| Maryland | $1,934 | $3,411 |
| Alaska | $2,304 | $3,417 |
| Connecticut | $2,050 | $3,444 |
| Illinois | $2,302 | $3,455 |
| Arizona | $2,144 | $3,488 |
| Oregon | $2,321 | $3,491 |
| Rhode Island | $1,979 | $3,519 |
| Colorado | $2,089 | $3,542 |
| Louisiana | $1,800 | $3,554 |
| New Jersey | $1,992 | $3,565 |
| Hawaii | $2,716 | $3,604 |
| Washington | $2,519 | $3,672 |
| Michigan | $2,239 | $3,683 |
| Washington, DC | $2,073 | $3,750 |
| Florida | $1,902 | $3,767 |
| New York | $2,095 | $3,848 |
| Nevada | $2,524 | $3,986 |
| California | $2,855 | $4,080 |
Totals add the average yearly spending on insurance per insured car in each state (NAIC Auto Insurance Database Report, 2023 data) to the gas column, a year of AAA regular prices. Your premium depends on your driving record, car and ZIP code.
Frequently asked questions
Which state has the cheapest car insurance?
By average spending per insured car (NAIC 2023), the cheapest states are North Dakota, Maine, Idaho.
What does it cost to own a car in each state?
Insurance plus gas for 12,000 miles a year runs from about $2,570 in North Carolina to $4,080 in California, before car payments, repairs and registration.
Will my car insurance change when I move?
It can. Tell your insurer before the move, update where the car will be kept and confirm coverage for the destination state. Arrange any replacement policy's effective date before canceling existing coverage so there is no gap. State insurance and registration requirements differ; do not assume a general 30-day grace period. Your premium also depends on the car, driving record, coverage and ZIP code.
Arrange car insurance before your move
The NAIC recommends contacting your insurer before relocating. Confirm where your vehicle will be kept, the coverage required by the destination and the effective date of any replacement policy. Keep coverage continuous while you coordinate registration; deadlines vary by state. Start with our state new-resident guides and the destination's official insurance and motor-vehicle agencies.