How Much Does Car Insurance Cost in 2026?

While insurance won’t spike in prices in most states, some will be more expensive. We answer the question, “how much does car insurance cost” in 2026? 

In the past years, we’ve seen how insurance has spiked, especially after the pandemic. This factor, combined with the reality that cars aren’t getting any cheaper, makes car ownership more challenging. As another year starts, many drivers wonder how much does car insurance cost in 2026.

The answer isn’t black and white. Instead, there are some states where insurance is going down. Meanwhile, others have seen an increase.

On average, car insurance is $912 per year for a minimum coverage policy. This translates to $76 per month for the most basic converage. Full coverage policies average $2,500 or $208 per month. 

It’s important to note that these are averages. Factors such as age, gender, state, driving record and vehicle type can alter the cost of insurance. Some companies also take into consideration the car’s maintenance schedule.

How much does car insurance cost per state?

The following table shows how much car insurance costs per state. 

State	Minimum coverage average premium per month	Full coverage average premium per month
Alabama	$66	$181
Alaska	$55	$170
Arizona	$90	$236
Arkansas	$63	$225
California	$75	$221
Colorado	$84	$272
Connecticut	$141	$305
Delaware	$134	$302
Florida	$102	$311
Georgia	$77	$184
Hawaii	$50	$151
Idaho	$48	$148
Illinois	$67	$185
Indiana	$58	$166
Iowa	$41	$170
Kansas	$72	$225
Kentucky	$79	$208
Louisiana	$101	$327
Maine	$47	$129
Maryland	$96	$211
Massachusetts	$73	$181
Michigan	$90	$260
Minnesota	$71	$222
Mississippi	$64	$201
Missouri	$76	$221
Montana	$52	$211
Nebraska	$51	$193
Nevada	$164	$335
New Hampshire	$55	$134
New Jersey	$137	$249
New Mexico	$71	$212
New York	$106	$226
North Carolina	$60	$147
North Dakota	$47	$180
Ohio	$55	$148
Oklahoma	$59	$214
Oregon	$95	$199
Pennsylvania	$62	$198
Rhode Island	$107	$276
South Carolina	$78	$190
South Dakota	$35	$196
Tennessee	$58	$176
Texas	$102	$224
Utah	$70	$210
Vermont	$40	$128
Virginia	$82	$169
Washington	$78	$219
West Virginia	$65	$179
Wisconsin	$45	$168
Wyoming	$30	$131

The most expensive state is Nevada, with a monthly payment of $335 for a full coverage and $164 for the cheapest option available. Meanwhile, the cheapest option is Wyoming with $131 for a full coverage per month and $30 for the cheapest option available. 

One aspect to note is that these costs reflect a decrease in some states. 32 states will have lower rates when compared to 2025. However, the rest will have increases, and some will see massive growth. 

New Jersey, Nevada, New York, California and Washington, D.C. will see considerable increases, with New Jersey having a double-digit increase. New York is epxected to have 9% more expensive insurance. 

How much does car insurance cost by age?

A crucial factor is that the younger the driver, the more expensive the policy. Men will also pay more than women. A 16-year-old male pays, on average, $740 per year, while a 16-year-old female pays $680. 

This value drops to around half by the time the driver reaches 20. 

Does vehicle type affect how much does car insurance cost?

Acccording to Lemonade.com, the type of car has a direct impact in the price of insurance. The following table shows how much insurance changes with different models. It’s important to note that this includes older cars and that they are all on the cheaper side. More expensive cars demand higher insurance costs, because of their potential repair costs. 

Toyota Camry	$50 to $53
Toyota Corolla	$50 to $52
Toyota RAV4	$42 to $46
Nissan Rogue	$48 to $55
Nissan Sentra	$57 to $60
Hyundai Elantra	$53 to $58
Hyundai Sonata	$52 to $56
Hyundai Tucson	$44 to $50
Honda Accord	$55 to $56
Honda Civic	$52 to $54
Ford Fusion	$45 to $47
Ford Escape	$45 to $48

When answering the question “how much does car insurance cost?” it’s crucial to know that some brands are very prone to higher costs, or companies not accepting them at all. We discussed how Tesla is a challenging brand to insure, you can learn more about it here.

One thing to note is that, even though New Hampshire does appear here, the state doesn’t require car insurance. However, it’s always recommended to have a policy in case of an accident. 

Another thing about answering how much does car insurance cost in 2026 is considering the fact that companies differ in pricing. In fact, you can optimize your insurance cost by combining factors such as the state where you live in, and the company you work with.

The cheapest insurance companies are Eerie and USAA, with Geico being cheap in some cases, but not oftenly.

Is Full Coverage Worth It?

One factor that many people will consider is whether to pay for full coverage or, instead, opt for the most basic one, or intermediate options. This affects how much does car insurance cost directly, because the difference, in some cases, can be three times, or more.

While we can’t tell you what to do, we often view insurance in light of the kind of driver that you are. The reality is that life throws unexpected events at us and it’s best to be prepared, especially with newer vehicles that you care about.

If, for instance, you own a beater that you use merely as a work vehicle and you want to be on the safe side when protecting others, then a less expensive option is right for you. At Four Wheel Trends, we actually take into consideration how much does car insurance cost only with vehicles that are ten years old or newer.

Anything older than that has probably seen many miles (in our case), and we usually opt for the cheaper option.

With that being said, basic insurance options are extremely basic in some cases. This means that what they provide is limited, and you might be surprised about how little they cover.

Closing Thoughts To How Much Does Car Insurance Cost In 2026

The reality is that owning a car is becoming much more expensive in 2026. Fortunately, it’s easy to know how much car insurance is going to cost you because there’s plenty of information.

There are many factors that determine how much does car insurance cost, and you have to consider them all. From the vehicle you drive to your age, stay on top of what determines your cost and you won’t run into surprises.