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Average Car Insurance Rates

If you own a car, the chances are extremely high that you need car insurance not only to provide you with financial protection, but also to comply with your state’s laws.

With so many options to choose from for your car insurance, it can help you choose your provider and policy to know what other drivers are paying for their policies. We’ll review some typical auto insurance rates for several different areas across the country.

National Average Car Insurance Rates

Based on reported rates from several state-governing insurance departments, and information from organizations such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, the national car insurance average rate is just above $900 per year of coverage.

Continue reading for some important considerations to keep in mind when comparing your car insurance rates or quotes to the average rate.

State Requirements

The first thing you have to consider about car insurance averages is that each state has its own requirementsfor how much coverage a driver must hold.

For example, your state might require only a low limit of liability insurance, or it might require several coverages such as liability, no-fault (personal injury protection), and uninsured motorist.

The differences in state requirements for car insurance policies means that average rates will vary from state to state. The average rate in your state could be significantly higher than the national average if your state has stringent car insurance requirements.

Optional Coverages

Most numbers used to help find the car insurance average rates only include policies that meet a state’s basic requirements.

If you add optional coverage such as comprehensive and collision, you may find that your rate differs from the national average.

You and Your Car

Lastly, you must consider that car insurance companies use information about you and your car to help determine your insurance rates. These are called rating factors and include:

  • Your driving record.
  • Your auto insurance history.
  • Your marital status.
  • Your credit history.
  • Your car’s:
    • Make.
    • Model.
    • Year.
  • The miles you drive your car per year.
  • Where you regularly park your car.

When you consider how unique you are, it is fair to expect that your car insurance premium may also be unique and differ from the national average.

State Average Car Insurance Samples

Below are some samples of average car insurance rates in the following states:

  • California
  • Florida
  • Texas
  • Massachusetts

Disclaimer: State insurance departments do not typically give average rates in their comparison reports and tools. The numbers below are our own calculations based on the premium rates reported by various car insurance companies to the various state insurance departments. These are NOT official car insurance average rates.

California

Our calculations for the following annual CA average car insurance premiums are based on the most recent reported rates from 51 car insurance companies to the California Department of Insurance for basic liability.

Single Female

A single female with 9-15 years of driving experience and 1 traffic violation driving 12,000 – 15,000 miles per year will pay, on average, $927.29.

Single Male

The average car insurance rate for a single male with 9-15 years of driving experience and 1 traffic violation driving 12,000 – 15,000 miles per year is $929.74

Married Couple

A married couple with 1 traffic violation who each drives approximately 12,000 – 15,000 miles per year pays about $1,423.69 for car insurance.

Florida

The following annual car insurance average premium calculations are for polices that cover Florida’s minimum requirements, and are based on the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation’s CHOICES: Auto Rate Comparison Tool.

Single Female

A single 25-year old female with one traffic violation and one no-fault accident driving 12,000 miles per year will typically pay $1,364.72.

Married Couple

A married couple (both age 50) with a 20-year-old son and 18-year-old daughter will pay an average of $3,027.23 annually for car insurance.

Texas

Our calculations are based on reported car insurance rates from 56 auto insurance companies for polices that cover Texas’ minimum requirements include the following, according to Texas Department of Insurance’s online premium comparison tool.

Single Male

The typical single male driver age 25-64 with one traffic violation, driving to and from work, with an average credit rating will pay $888.50.

Single Female

A single female in Texas age 25-64 with one traffic violation driving primarily to and from work who has an average credit rating will pay $838.75.

Massachusetts

The following annual car insurance average premiums are based on reported rates from car insurance companies in Massachusetts according the Massachusetts Department of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation’s Auto Insurance Premium Comparisons.

Single Driver

An unmarried driver licensed for 14 years with a 2008 sedan for a policy meeting Massachusetts’ minimum requirements will face an average annual premium of $600.58.

Married Drivers

Two married drivers (one licensed for 14 years, and the other licensed for 12) who each have a car, commute to work, and have only one traffic violation and one accident between them both will pay an average of $1,667.31 for a policy that includes higher-than-required liability limits and comprehensive coverage.

Conclusion

As stated earlier, when you use average car insurance rates to help with your car insurance shopping, you should keep in mind that several factors go into your specific rate. Your car insurance policy may not reflect the national or your state’s average car insurance rates.

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