Auto Insurance Estimator
Estimate your 6-month car insurance premium by state, age, driving record, credit tier, and coverage level. Compare to 2026 state averages.
Your Profile
Estimated Premium
6-Month Premium
$1,050
Annual: $2,100 • +0% vs state avg
Your Annual
$2,100
State Avg
$2,100
Coverage
standard
Record
clean
Key drivers of your quote:
- standard coverage
What drives your auto insurance premium
Your premium is a product of: (1) state — where you garage the vehicle, biggest single factor, (2) age — young drivers pay 2-3× more, (3) driving record — at-fault accidents and DUIs dominate, (4) credit tier in 46 states, (5) vehicle — newer and more valuable = more collision premium, (6) coverage tier. Two identical drivers in Michigan vs Ohio literally pay 2.5× different rates.
2026 state averages (full coverage, annual)
- Michigan — $2,900 (highest, driven by unlimited PIP)
- Louisiana — $2,800
- Florida — $2,500
- New York — $2,300
- California — $2,100
- Texas — $2,000
- Ohio — $1,100 (lowest mainland)
- National average — ~$1,800
What coverage tier should you choose?
State minimums (e.g., 25/50/25) are dangerous — a single ER visit or totaled late-model SUV blows through them. Standard 100/300/100 costs only $15-30/mo more and protects your assets. Full coverage adds collision + comprehensive, required by lenders on financed/leased vehicles and worth it while vehicle value exceeds ~10× your physical-damage premium.
Common questions about Auto Insurance
Why does auto insurance vary so much by state?+
State-level factors dominate: minimum coverage requirements (Michigan's unlimited PIP drives $2,900/yr avg vs Ohio's $1,100), litigation climate (Florida/Louisiana have high-fraud courts), weather risk (Gulf states for hurricanes, Plains for hail), and urban density (NYC, LA, Miami concentrate claims). Moving from Michigan to Ohio literally halves most drivers' premium for the exact same car.
What state minimum auto coverage is dangerous?+
Most state minimums (e.g., 25/50/25 — $25k per person, $50k per accident, $25k property damage) are grossly inadequate in 2026. A single ER visit after a collision easily exceeds $50k, and a totaled late-model SUV is $40k+. If you cause injury or total someone's car, you're personally liable for the overage. Carry 100/300/100 minimum — the premium difference is $15-30/month, and it protects your wages and home from lawsuits.
Does credit score really affect car insurance?+
Yes, massively — in 46 states. California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, and Michigan prohibit credit-based insurance scoring. Elsewhere, poor credit can raise your premium 50-100% versus excellent credit — often more than a DUI would. Improving a FICO from 650 to 750 can save $600-1,200/year on full coverage. Your insurer checks it at renewal, so credit repair shows up in your premium.
Should I drop collision on an older car?+
Rule of thumb: if 10× your annual collision + comp premium exceeds the car's actual cash value, drop it. A 12-year-old Corolla worth $5k paying $650/yr for physical damage coverage is burning money — at most, a total loss pays out $5k minus deductible. Keep liability high, drop collision, and redirect the savings. Compare with Kelley Blue Book ACV, not your emotional attachment.
What discounts am I probably missing?+
Common under-claimed ones: multi-policy (bundling home/auto, typically 10-25%), paid-in-full (5-10%), paperless (2-5%), good student (15-25% for under-25), defensive driving course ($25-100 one-time, 5-10% for 3 years), low-mileage/telematics (up to 30% via Progressive Snapshot, State Farm Drive Safe, Allstate Drivewise), anti-theft, homeownership, occupation (engineers, teachers, nurses often priced preferentially).
What is full coverage vs liability only?+
"Liability only" = state-min or higher bodily injury + property damage liability. Covers damage you cause to others. "Full coverage" adds collision (damage to your car in an at-fault crash) + comprehensive (theft, hail, tree, flood, vandalism). Full coverage is required if you finance or lease. Full coverage runs 1.5-2× liability-only; on a paid-off older car it's often optional.
How often should I shop auto insurance?+
Every 12-24 months, and after life events: marriage, home purchase, adding a teen driver, moving states, major credit change, at-fault claim. Loyalty doesn't pay in auto — carriers use "price optimization" to quietly raise rates on long-tenured customers who don't shop. A 15-minute quote comparison across 3-4 carriers (GEICO, Progressive, State Farm, Allstate) saves the average household $300-600/year.