The rates used to rank the states are based on the average premiums for the more than 900 models in Insure.com’s 2012 survey. The rates are based on insurance for a single, 40-year-old male who commutes 12 miles to work each day, with policy limits of 100/300/50 ($100,000 for injury liability for one person, $300,000 for all injuries and $50,000 for property damage in an accident) and a $500 deductible on collision and comprehensive coverage. The hypothetical driver has a clean record and good credit. The rate includes uninsured motorist coverage. Average rates are for comparative purposes. Actual rates will depend on individual driver factors.
Louisiana checked in at almost $500 more than the next most expensive states, which were Oklahoma ($2,047) and Michigan ($2,013).
While large numbers of uninsured drivers, state insurance laws, highly competitive markets and severe weather can cause fluctuations, however, Insure.com cites judicial preference for constituents over insurance companies as the main reason for soaring rates. Oklahoma suffered from uninsureds and severe weather, and Michigan’s no-fault insurance system, which guarantees unlimited lifetime benefits to car accident victims, boosted the state’s rates.
“Many of these problems are outside the control of drivers,” said Amy Danise, editorial director of Insure.com. “But even if you live in an expensive state, you can hold down your insurance costs by keeping your driving record as clean as possible and selecting a car that is cheap to insure.”
Full list of state rankings:
1. Louisiana: $2,536
2. Oklahoma: $2,047
3. Michigan: $2,013
4. West Virginia: $2,002
5. Washington, D.C.: $1,866
6. Montana: $1,856
7. Rhode Island: $1,830
8. Wyoming: $1,732
9. California: $1,709
10. Georgia: $1,694
11. Connecticut: $1,665
12. Texas: $1,661
13. Florida: $1,654
14. Delaware: $1,652
15. New Jersey: $1,608
16. Pennsylvania: $1,598
17. Hawaii: $1,594
18. Kentucky: $1,572
19. Mississippi: $1,502
20. Missouri: $1,455
21. Alaska: $1,431
22. North Dakota: $1,426
23. New York: $1,431
24. Kansas: $1,410
25. Massachusetts: $1,378
26. Maryland: $1,372
27. Alabama: $1,345
28. Arkansas: $1,334
29. Colorado: $1,322
30. Utah: $1,315
31. Washington: $1,305
32. South Dakota: $1,303
33. Indiana: $1,301
34. Virginia: $1,297
35. New Mexico: $1,274
36. Minnesota: $1,264
37. Nebraska: $1,244
38. Oregon: $1,241
39. Tennessee: $1,228
40. Nevada: $1,223
41. Illinois: $1,192
42. Arizona: $1,176
43. New Hampshire: $1,133
44. South Carolina: $1,108
45. Ohio: $1,099
46. Vermont: $1,063
47. North Carolina: $1,022
48. Idaho: $1,011
49. Wisconsin: $987
50. Iowa: $985
51. Maine: $889