Cheapest car insurance in America

Whether you’re from Washington D.C. or Washington state, cars cost pretty much the same, but depending on where you live, insuring the vehicle can be either a minor bill or a backbreaking expense.

In Detroit, where premiums regularly reach over $10, 000 a year, the situation is so dire that the city’s mayor partially campaigned on platform of creating a municipal car insurance policy. Fortunately, most Americans don’t have to shell out nearly $1, 000 a month to keep their vehicles on the road, but the costs do vary widely between states.

Most and least expensive places for car insurance

The list of insurance winners and, well, not-winners:

The reason for large price disparities are complex, but it boils down mostly to crime rates, traffic patterns, average commutes, the number of uninsured drivers, and insurance regulations. One of the contributing factors in Detroit’s insurance woes is Michigan’s no-fault auto insurance law, which doesn’t cap damages. That puts insurers on the hook for huge medical bills, which are passed on to drivers.

For states, New Jersey ranks supreme with an average cost of $1, 184 a year. Why? The Garden State has an expensive combination of high population density, long commutes, and a $250, 000 cap on no-fault insurance awards, which is second only to Michigan. Idaho drivers are the big winners, paying only $535 a year on average to insure their vehicles, and it’s easy to see why. With less than 20 people per square mile, it’s hard to find another vehicle to collide with. Compare that with Jersey, which has 1, 210 people per mile, and the higher premiums are understandable.

Curious how your state stacks up? Hover over the map below to see the average cost. (Darker colors are more expensive.) If you’re paying way more than most people in your area, it may be time to think about doing some comparison shopping for auto insurance.