[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"section-listing-insights":3},[4,533,879,1163,1390],{"id":5,"title":6,"author":7,"body":8,"dataPoint":514,"dateModified":515,"datePublished":515,"description":516,"draft":517,"extension":518,"featured":517,"meta":519,"navigation":521,"path":522,"readingTime":523,"seo":524,"sourceCitation":525,"sourceUrl":31,"stem":526,"tags":527,"__hash__":532},"insights/insights/average-rates-september-2026.md","Average Car Insurance Rates: September 2026","Premier Auto Savings",{"type":9,"value":10,"toc":503},"minimark",[11,16,56,60,64,67,71,74,418,421,429,433,439,443,454,463,467,470,474,486,494,497],[12,13,15],"h2",{"id":14},"summary","Summary",[17,18,19,36,39,45,48],"ul",{},[20,21,22,23,27,28,35],"li",{},"The national average for full-coverage car insurance was ",[24,25,26],"strong",{},"$2,241 per year"," (about $187 per month) in August 2026 — up 0.9% since December and just 0.1% since July, according to ",[29,30,34],"a",{"href":31,"rel":32},"https://insurify.com/car-insurance/report/data/",[33],"nofollow","Insurify's Data Center",", which posted August figures this month.",[20,37,38],{},"Insurify's mid-year projection for December was $2,242. Rates got there in August. Unless the second half breaks trend, 2026 finishes roughly where the forecast said, four months early.",[20,40,41,44],{},[24,42,43],{},"26 of the 40 states"," in the monthly series cost more than they did in December. Connecticut still leads at +13.0% ($311), followed by Kentucky (+8.0%), West Virginia (+6.3%), Nevada (+6.0%), Illinois (+5.2%), and Florida (+5.1%).",[20,46,47],{},"The steepest declines are in New Mexico (-6.8%), Arkansas (-4.7%), South Dakota (-3.6%), and Texas (-2.8%). New York's series shows a much larger drop than the mid-year report did — see the note below.",[20,49,50,51,55],{},"Year over year, the national average is still 1.9% lower than August 2025. That cushion is shrinking every month, so ",[29,52,54],{"href":53},"/","compare quotes for your state"," before your renewal reprices you.",[12,57,59],{"id":58},"the-national-picture","The national picture",[61,62,63],"p",{},"The 2025 price break is over, but the rebound is a crawl, not a spike. The national full-coverage average moved from $2,221 in December to $2,241 in August — twenty dollars in eight months. July to August added two dollars.",[61,65,66],{},"The state-level picture is far noisier than that headline. In the July-to-August move alone, 20 states rose and 15 fell. The pattern from the mid-year report holds: insurers are pushing rates up in historically cheap markets while several of the most expensive states keep drifting down. Kentucky has now added $172 a year since December; Texas has shed $71.",[12,68,70],{"id":69},"where-the-states-we-cover-stand","Where the states we cover stand",[61,72,73],{},"Here's the August 2026 picture for the eighteen states in our guide library, plus the national benchmark. Three states — Michigan, Massachusetts, and New Jersey — are not published in Insurify's monthly series, so their rows carry the June 2026 figure from the Mid-Year Report and its first-half change.",[75,76,77,96],"table",{},[78,79,80],"thead",{},[81,82,83,87,90,93],"tr",{},[84,85,86],"th",{},"State",[84,88,89],{},"Avg. annual cost (Aug 2026)",[84,91,92],{},"Change since Dec 2025",[84,94,95],{},"Change from July",[97,98,99,117,134,151,167,184,201,217,234,250,268,284,300,316,332,348,364,381,397],"tbody",{},[81,100,101,108,111,114],{},[102,103,104],"td",{},[29,105,107],{"href":106},"/cheap-car-insurance-california-2026","California",[102,109,110],{},"$2,429",[102,112,113],{},"+1.5%",[102,115,116],{},"+0.5%",[81,118,119,125,128,131],{},[102,120,121],{},[29,122,124],{"href":123},"/cheap-car-insurance-texas-2026","Texas",[102,126,127],{},"$2,449",[102,129,130],{},"-2.8%",[102,132,133],{},"-0.3%",[81,135,136,142,145,148],{},[102,137,138],{},[29,139,141],{"href":140},"/cheap-car-insurance-florida-2026","Florida",[102,143,144],{},"$2,839",[102,146,147],{},"+5.1%",[102,149,150],{},"0.0%",[81,152,153,159,162,165],{},[102,154,155],{},[29,156,158],{"href":157},"/cheap-car-insurance-georgia-2026","Georgia",[102,160,161],{},"$3,105",[102,163,164],{},"-0.5%",[102,166,150],{},[81,168,169,176,179,181],{},[102,170,171,175],{},[29,172,174],{"href":173},"/cheap-car-insurance-michigan-2026","Michigan","†",[102,177,178],{},"$3,229",[102,180,113],{},[102,182,183],{},"—",[81,185,186,192,195,198],{},[102,187,188],{},[29,189,191],{"href":190},"/cheap-car-insurance-ohio-2026","Ohio",[102,193,194],{},"$1,405",[102,196,197],{},"-0.4%",[102,199,200],{},"+0.3%",[81,202,203,209,212,215],{},[102,204,205],{},[29,206,208],{"href":207},"/cheap-car-insurance-virginia-2026","Virginia",[102,210,211],{},"$2,478",[102,213,214],{},"+4.2%",[102,216,116],{},[81,218,219,225,228,231],{},[102,220,221],{},[29,222,224],{"href":223},"/cheap-car-insurance-pennsylvania-2026","Pennsylvania",[102,226,227],{},"$1,935",[102,229,230],{},"+2.8%",[102,232,233],{},"+0.1%",[81,235,236,242,245,247],{},[102,237,238],{},[29,239,241],{"href":240},"/cheap-car-insurance-maryland-2026","Maryland",[102,243,244],{},"$3,638",[102,246,113],{},[102,248,249],{},"+0.4%",[81,251,252,259,262,265],{},[102,253,254,258],{},[29,255,257],{"href":256},"/cheap-car-insurance-new-york-2026","New York","*",[102,260,261],{},"$2,651",[102,263,264],{},"-29.6%",[102,266,267],{},"-2.4%",[81,269,270,276,279,282],{},[102,271,272],{},[29,273,275],{"href":274},"/cheap-car-insurance-illinois-2026","Illinois",[102,277,278],{},"$1,947",[102,280,281],{},"+5.2%",[102,283,249],{},[81,285,286,292,295,297],{},[102,287,288],{},[29,289,291],{"href":290},"/cheap-car-insurance-north-carolina-2026","North Carolina",[102,293,294],{},"$1,359",[102,296,116],{},[102,298,299],{},"-0.2%",[81,301,302,308,311,314],{},[102,303,304,175],{},[29,305,307],{"href":306},"/cheap-car-insurance-new-jersey-2026","New Jersey",[102,309,310],{},"$2,923",[102,312,313],{},"-5.3%",[102,315,183],{},[81,317,318,324,327,330],{},[102,319,320],{},[29,321,323],{"href":322},"/cheap-car-insurance-arizona-2026","Arizona",[102,325,326],{},"$1,951",[102,328,329],{},"+2.9%",[102,331,150],{},[81,333,334,340,343,346],{},[102,335,336],{},[29,337,339],{"href":338},"/cheap-car-insurance-washington-2026","Washington",[102,341,342],{},"$2,199",[102,344,345],{},"+3.1%",[102,347,150],{},[81,349,350,356,359,362],{},[102,351,352],{},[29,353,355],{"href":354},"/cheap-car-insurance-colorado-2026","Colorado",[102,357,358],{},"$2,610",[102,360,361],{},"-1.1%",[102,363,150],{},[81,365,366,372,375,378],{},[102,367,368],{},[29,369,371],{"href":370},"/cheap-car-insurance-connecticut-2026","Connecticut",[102,373,374],{},"$2,699",[102,376,377],{},"+13.0%",[102,379,380],{},"+1.0%",[81,382,383,389,392,395],{},[102,384,385,175],{},[29,386,388],{"href":387},"/cheap-car-insurance-massachusetts-2026","Massachusetts",[102,390,391],{},"$1,690",[102,393,394],{},"-4.8%",[102,396,183],{},[81,398,399,404,409,414],{},[102,400,401],{},[24,402,403],{},"National average",[102,405,406],{},[24,407,408],{},"$2,241",[102,410,411],{},[24,412,413],{},"+0.9%",[102,415,416],{},[24,417,233],{},[61,419,420],{},"Source: Insurify Data Center, monthly state series through August 2026 (posted September 2026). Figures are two-year rolling medians for drivers ages 20–70 with clean records and average or better credit. † Not in the monthly series; June 2026 figure and first-half change from Insurify's 2026 Mid-Year Auto Report (updated August 11). * See the New York note below.",[61,422,423,424,428],{},"Two things stand out. Maryland is now the most expensive state in the monthly series at $3,638, ahead of Rhode Island ($3,583) — the story behind that is in our ",[29,425,427],{"href":426},"/insights/maryland-rate-shock-5-year","Maryland rate-shock analysis",". And Florida, which the mid-year report had falling 4%, is rising in the monthly data: $2,702 in December, $2,839 in August, flat for the last month. That's a revision worth watching if you're a Florida driver shopping this fall.",[12,430,432],{"id":431},"where-rates-are-rising-fastest","Where rates are rising fastest",[61,434,435,436,438],{},"Connecticut has added $311 a year since December, a 13.0% climb that hasn't slowed — August was up another 1.0% on July. Kentucky (+$172, 8.0%), West Virginia (+$111, 6.3%), and Nevada (+$175, 6.0%) follow, with ",[29,437,275],{"href":274}," (+$97, 5.2%) and Florida (+$137, 5.1%) close behind. Five of those six started the year below the national average. Insurers are still correcting upward in markets that had been cheap.",[12,440,442],{"id":441},"where-rates-are-falling","Where rates are falling",[61,444,445,446,448,449,453],{},"New Mexico continues its slide, down $117 (6.8%) since December to $1,614. Arkansas (-$89), South Dakota (-$69), and ",[29,447,124],{"href":123}," (-$71) round out the declines. Our ",[29,450,452],{"href":451},"/insights/where-rates-are-falling-2026","falling-rates breakdown"," covers the states that have been trending down all year.",[61,455,456,459,460,462],{},[24,457,458],{},"A note on New York."," Insurify's monthly series now shows ",[29,461,257],{"href":256}," at $2,651 in August, down from $3,766 in December — a far steeper decline than the 5% first-half drop reported in the mid-year analysis, which put June at $2,840 (the monthly series agrees on June). The two sources diverge on where New York started the year, not where it is now. We're showing the monthly figures because they're the fresher publication, and we'll update this note if Insurify revises the series.",[12,464,466],{"id":465},"whats-driving-it","What's driving it",[61,468,469],{},"The cost pressure underneath the flat national number hasn't eased. Auto maintenance and repair costs have risen 45% over the past five years, roughly double the rate of inflation, and gas has climbed from about $3 to $4 a gallon. Bodily-injury claims cost 36% more than they did in 2020, and collision claims 42% more. When claims get more expensive, premiums follow — just not evenly across states.",[12,471,473],{"id":472},"what-drivers-can-do-this-month","What drivers can do this month",[61,475,476,477,481,482,485],{},"A national average that moved two dollars in a month tells you almost nothing about your renewal. Connecticut, Kentucky, Illinois, Virginia, and Florida drivers are in markets that are actively repricing; Texas, Colorado, and New Mexico drivers may be leaving money on the table by not re-shopping into a falling market. Either way, the move is the same: our ",[29,478,480],{"href":479},"/cheapest-car-insurance-companies-2026","cheapest car insurance companies guide"," shows which carriers post the lowest medians nationally and by state, and it takes a few minutes to ",[29,483,484],{"href":53},"check current rates for your profile"," before your renewal date does it for you.",[61,487,488,489,493],{},"We'll update these figures next month as fresh data lands. Last month's edition is ",[29,490,492],{"href":491},"/insights/average-rates-august-2026","here",".",[495,496],"hr",{},[61,498,499],{},[500,501,502],"em",{},"Rate data in this article comes from Insurify's Data Center monthly state series (August 2026 figures, posted September 2026), supplemented by Insurify's 2026 Mid-Year Auto Report (updated August 11, 2026) for the three states not published in the monthly series. Premiums reflect two-year rolling medians for drivers ages 20–70 with clean driving records and average or better credit; full-coverage figures reflect comprehensive and collision with $1,000 deductibles. Where the two Insurify publications disagree (Florida's first-half direction, New York's December starting point), this article uses the monthly series as the fresher source and says so in the text. Actual quotes vary by driver profile.",{"title":504,"searchDepth":505,"depth":505,"links":506},"",2,[507,508,509,510,511,512,513],{"id":14,"depth":505,"text":15},{"id":58,"depth":505,"text":59},{"id":69,"depth":505,"text":70},{"id":431,"depth":505,"text":432},{"id":441,"depth":505,"text":442},{"id":465,"depth":505,"text":466},{"id":472,"depth":505,"text":473},null,"2026-09-07","Full-coverage car insurance averaged $2,241 a year in August 2026, up 1% since December. See which states are rising, which are falling, and what is next.",false,"md",{"category":520},"analysis",true,"/insights/average-rates-september-2026","5",{"title":6,"description":516},"Insurify Insights","insights/average-rates-september-2026",[528,529,530,531],"car insurance rates","average cost","monthly update","2026 rates","7TDjKE1ejaFrR9bB_u0X0fz1dDNnr4ODm0f7H5Io6lI",{"id":534,"title":535,"author":7,"body":536,"dataPoint":514,"dateModified":872,"datePublished":872,"description":873,"draft":517,"extension":518,"featured":517,"meta":874,"navigation":521,"path":491,"readingTime":523,"seo":875,"sourceCitation":525,"sourceUrl":31,"stem":876,"tags":877,"__hash__":878},"insights/insights/average-rates-august-2026.md","Average Car Insurance Rates: August 2026",{"type":9,"value":537,"toc":863},[538,540,585,587,590,593,595,598,809,812,818,820,826,828,837,841,844,846,853,856,858],[12,539,15],{"id":14},[17,541,542,555,565,572,579],{},[20,543,544,545,548,549,554],{},"The national average for full-coverage car insurance sits at ",[24,546,547],{},"$2,237 per year"," (about $186 per month) as of mid-2026 — up 1% since the end of 2025, according to ",[29,550,553],{"href":551,"rel":552},"https://insurify.com/car-insurance/report/",[33],"Insurify's 2026 Mid-Year Auto Report",", updated August 11.",[20,556,557,558,561,562,493],{},"The 2025 price break is over: ",[24,559,560],{},"27 states saw rates rise in the first half of 2026",", compared with just nine states in the second half of 2025. Insurify projects ",[24,563,564],{},"32 states will finish the year higher",[20,566,567,568,571],{},"Connecticut leads the increases at ",[24,569,570],{},"+10% ($251) in six months",", with Kentucky, West Virginia, Illinois, and Nevada behind it. Some of the priciest markets moved the other way — Washington, D.C. (-7%), New Jersey (-5%), and New York (-5%).",[20,573,574,575,578],{},"Insurify projects a year-end national average of ",[24,576,577],{},"$2,242 — a 1% annual increase",", a seven-point swing from 2025's 6% decline.",[20,580,581,582,584],{},"Rates are moving state by state, not in lockstep — ",[29,583,54],{"href":53}," before your next renewal locks in a higher number.",[12,586,59],{"id":58},[61,588,589],{},"Drivers got a rare gift in 2025: falling premiums. The average driver paid about $140 less for full coverage by year's end than 12 months earlier. That relief has stalled. Insurify's mid-year data puts the national full-coverage average at $2,237 annually, a 1% increase over the first six months of 2026, and projects it will end the year at $2,242.",[61,591,592],{},"A 1% national move sounds quiet. The state-level story isn't. Insurers are raising rates in historically cheap states while trimming them in several of the most expensive ones — Kentucky drivers went from paying $58 below the national average to $65 above it in a single year.",[12,594,70],{"id":69},[61,596,597],{},"Here's the mid-2026 picture for the twelve states in our guide library, plus the national benchmark.",[75,599,600,615],{},[78,601,602],{},[81,603,604,606,609,612],{},[84,605,86],{},[84,607,608],{},"Avg. annual cost (June 2026)",[84,610,611],{},"Change, first half of 2026",[84,613,614],{},"Projected year-end cost",[97,616,617,631,646,661,675,688,701,715,730,745,760,774,789],{},[81,618,619,623,626,628],{},[102,620,621],{},[29,622,107],{"href":106},[102,624,625],{},"$2,395",[102,627,116],{},[102,629,630],{},"$2,424",[81,632,633,637,640,643],{},[102,634,635],{},[29,636,124],{"href":123},[102,638,639],{},"$2,461",[102,641,642],{},"-2.2%",[102,644,645],{},"$2,437",[81,647,648,652,655,658],{},[102,649,650],{},[29,651,141],{"href":140},[102,653,654],{},"$2,554",[102,656,657],{},"-4.0%",[102,659,660],{},"$2,581",[81,662,663,667,670,672],{},[102,664,665],{},[29,666,158],{"href":157},[102,668,669],{},"$3,109",[102,671,164],{},[102,673,674],{},"$3,101",[81,676,677,681,683,685],{},[102,678,679],{},[29,680,174],{"href":173},[102,682,178],{},[102,684,113],{},[102,686,687],{},"$3,217",[81,689,690,694,697,699],{},[102,691,692],{},[29,693,191],{"href":190},[102,695,696],{},"$1,404",[102,698,164],{},[102,700,194],{},[81,702,703,707,710,712],{},[102,704,705],{},[29,706,208],{"href":207},[102,708,709],{},"$2,453",[102,711,345],{},[102,713,714],{},"$2,498",[81,716,717,721,724,727],{},[102,718,719],{},[29,720,224],{"href":223},[102,722,723],{},"$1,930",[102,725,726],{},"+2.3%",[102,728,729],{},"$1,952",[81,731,732,736,739,742],{},[102,733,734],{},[29,735,241],{"href":240},[102,737,738],{},"$3,646",[102,740,741],{},"+1.3%",[102,743,744],{},"$3,664",[81,746,747,751,754,757],{},[102,748,749],{},[29,750,257],{"href":256},[102,752,753],{},"$2,840",[102,755,756],{},"-5.1%",[102,758,759],{},"$2,880",[81,761,762,766,768,771],{},[102,763,764],{},[29,765,275],{"href":274},[102,767,723],{},[102,769,770],{},"+4.1%",[102,772,773],{},"$1,958",[81,775,776,780,783,786],{},[102,777,778],{},[29,779,291],{"href":290},[102,781,782],{},"$1,373",[102,784,785],{},"+1.2%",[102,787,788],{},"$1,392",[81,790,791,795,800,804],{},[102,792,793],{},[24,794,403],{},[102,796,797],{},[24,798,799],{},"$2,237",[102,801,802],{},[24,803,380],{},[102,805,806],{},[24,807,808],{},"$2,242",[61,810,811],{},"Source: Insurify 2026 Mid-Year Auto Report, updated August 11, 2026. Figures are two-year rolling medians for drivers ages 20–70 with clean records and average or better credit.",[61,813,814,815,817],{},"Two standouts: Maryland remains the second-most-expensive state in the country at $3,646 — a story we've tracked in our ",[29,816,427],{"href":426}," — and Illinois is among the five fastest-rising states nationally, up 4.1% in six months with a projected 6% annual increase.",[12,819,432],{"id":431},[61,821,822,823,825],{},"Connecticut tops the nation: up 10% ($251) in six months, with Insurify projecting a 15% annual increase by December. Kentucky (+6%), West Virginia (+5%), ",[29,824,275],{"href":274}," (+4%), and Nevada (+4%) round out the top five. A pattern worth noticing: seven of the ten fastest-rising states started the year with below-average premiums. Insurers appear to be correcting upward in markets that had been cheap.",[12,827,442],{"id":441},[61,829,830,831,833,834,836],{},"The steepest declines came in some of the most expensive places to insure a car. Washington, D.C. dropped 7% ($278), New Mexico 6%, and New Jersey, ",[29,832,257],{"href":256},", and Massachusetts each about 5%. New York's slide is part of a longer trend — rates there have fallen 13% over the past 12 months, moving it from the fifth-most-expensive state to the tenth. Our ",[29,835,452],{"href":451}," covers which states have been trending down all year.",[12,838,840],{"id":839},"whats-driving-the-reversal","What's driving the reversal",[61,842,843],{},"Insurify's analysts point to cost pressure rebuilding under the surface. Auto maintenance and repair costs have risen 45% over the past five years — roughly double the rate of inflation — while gas prices climbed from about $3 to $4 per gallon. Claim severity keeps rising too: the cost of bodily injury claims rose 36% nationally from 2020 to 2024, and collision claims rose 42%. When claims get more expensive, premiums follow.",[12,845,473],{"id":472},[61,847,848,849,481,851,485],{},"A flat national average hides big local moves — your state, and even your ZIP code, may be repricing right now. The single most effective response hasn't changed: comparison shop before renewal, especially if you're in a rising state like Illinois, Virginia, or Pennsylvania. Our ",[29,850,480],{"href":479},[29,852,484],{"href":53},[61,854,855],{},"We'll update these figures next month as fresh data lands.",[495,857],{},[61,859,860],{},[500,861,862],{},"Rate data in this article comes from Insurify's 2026 Mid-Year Auto Report (updated August 11, 2026), based on more than 250 million quoted rates. Premiums reflect two-year rolling medians for drivers ages 20–70 with clean driving records and average or better credit; full-coverage figures reflect comprehensive and collision with $1,000 deductibles. Actual quotes vary by driver profile.",{"title":504,"searchDepth":505,"depth":505,"links":864},[865,866,867,868,869,870,871],{"id":14,"depth":505,"text":15},{"id":58,"depth":505,"text":59},{"id":69,"depth":505,"text":70},{"id":431,"depth":505,"text":432},{"id":441,"depth":505,"text":442},{"id":839,"depth":505,"text":840},{"id":472,"depth":505,"text":473},"2026-08-17","National full-coverage car insurance averages $2,237 a year as of mid-2026, up 1%. See where rates are rising, falling, and headed by December.",{"category":520},{"title":535,"description":873},"insights/average-rates-august-2026",[528,529,530,531],"88WEv-I-iGLzH6w8CMecNGaSFSPB2Z09MYkQximY2z8",{"id":880,"title":881,"author":882,"body":883,"dataPoint":1149,"dateModified":1150,"datePublished":1151,"description":1152,"draft":517,"extension":518,"featured":517,"meta":1153,"navigation":521,"path":426,"readingTime":1154,"seo":1155,"sourceCitation":1156,"sourceUrl":31,"stem":1157,"tags":1158,"__hash__":1162},"insights/insights/maryland-rate-shock-5-year.md","Maryland Now Tops U.S. Car Insurance Costs","Premier Auto Savings Research",{"type":9,"value":884,"toc":1142},[885,904,919,923,926,932,942,952,956,959,991,995,998,1001,1018,1021,1025,1109,1112,1116,1124,1135,1137],[61,886,887,888,892,893,895,896,899,900,903],{},"In January 2021, the average Maryland driver paid $2,193 per year for full-coverage auto insurance, according to ",[29,889,891],{"href":31,"rel":890},[33],"Insurify","'s open dataset. As of June 2026, that number is ",[24,894,738],{}," — a ",[24,897,898],{},"66% increase"," over five years, and enough to make Maryland the ",[24,901,902],{},"most expensive state for auto insurance in the country",", edging past Rhode Island in the latest readings.",[61,905,906,907,910,911,915,916,493],{},"That climb is about ",[24,908,909],{},"24 percentage points steeper"," than the national average increase over the same window (the U.S. average rose from $1,577 to $2,237, or about 42%). A few states have grown faster in percentage terms — Minnesota leads the ",[29,912,914],{"href":913},"/car-insurance/report/data","data we track"," at +86%, with Connecticut and Virginia also slightly ahead — but each of those started from a far lower base. Maryland's increase is the one that landed a state at the very top of the price rankings: the average Maryland driver now pays about ",[24,917,918],{},"$1,400/year more than the average American",[12,920,922],{"id":921},"the-shape-of-the-spike","The shape of the spike",[61,924,925],{},"Maryland's increases didn't come gradually. The data shows three distinct phases:",[61,927,928,931],{},[24,929,930],{},"Phase 1: stable, 2021–2022."," Premiums hovered between $2,081 and $2,193 throughout 2021 and most of 2022 — expensive relative to the national average, but flat.",[61,933,934,937,938,941],{},[24,935,936],{},"Phase 2: acceleration, 2023–early 2025."," Premiums climbed from roughly $2,163 in January 2023 to a peak of ",[24,939,940],{},"$3,962"," in May 2025. That's an 83% increase in just over two years.",[61,943,944,947,948,951],{},[24,945,946],{},"Phase 3: partial retreat, mid-2025 to today."," Rates have eased back to $3,646 — about ",[24,949,950],{},"8% off the May 2025 peak"," but still nearly $1,500/year more than where they started in 2021.",[12,953,955],{"id":954},"why-maryland","Why Maryland?",[61,957,958],{},"A few state-specific factors compound:",[17,960,961,967,973,979,985],{},[20,962,963,966],{},[24,964,965],{},"High population density"," in the I-95 corridor between Baltimore and DC drives accident frequency and theft claims well above the national average.",[20,968,969,972],{},[24,970,971],{},"PIP coverage on most policies."," Maryland is an at-fault (tort) state, but insurers must offer personal injury protection and many drivers keep it rather than waive it — adding a layer of first-party medical payout cost not present in most states.",[20,974,975,978],{},[24,976,977],{},"Rising medical-cost inflation"," disproportionately impacts PIP-heavy markets like Maryland because PIP claims pay actual medical costs rather than capped settlements.",[20,980,981,984],{},[24,982,983],{},"Recent uninsured-motorist litigation"," in Maryland courts has expanded the scope of UM coverage payouts, prompting rate filings to reflect the added risk.",[20,986,987,990],{},[24,988,989],{},"Hail and severe-weather claims"," along the eastern shore add catastrophe exposure beyond what traditionally-southern markets face.",[12,992,994],{"id":993},"the-opportunity-for-maryland-drivers","The opportunity for Maryland drivers",[61,996,997],{},"A 66% rate increase across the state average doesn't mean every driver is paying 66% more. The averages mask substantial spread — drivers who renewed without shopping since 2022 are likely paying near or above the state mean, while drivers who have shopped recently and have good profiles can find rates 20–35% below it.",[61,999,1000],{},"Specifically, Maryland drivers with the following should be aggressive about shopping:",[17,1002,1003,1006,1009,1012,1015],{},[20,1004,1005],{},"Clean driving record (no at-fault claims in 5 years)",[20,1007,1008],{},"Continuous prior coverage (no lapse over 30 days)",[20,1010,1011],{},"Credit-based insurance score in the \"good\" range or better",[20,1013,1014],{},"Vehicles with strong safety ratings and low theft rates",[20,1016,1017],{},"No teen drivers on the policy",[61,1019,1020],{},"The carriers most likely to be competitive in Maryland in 2026 — based on share-gain trends, not endorsements — include Geico, Progressive, USAA (for military households), and Erie Insurance.",[12,1022,1024],{"id":1023},"how-maryland-compares-to-neighbors","How Maryland compares to neighbors",[75,1026,1027,1042],{},[78,1028,1029],{},[81,1030,1031,1033,1036,1039],{},[84,1032,86],{},[84,1034,1035],{},"2021-01",[84,1037,1038],{},"2026-06",[84,1040,1041],{},"5-yr change",[97,1043,1044,1058,1072,1084,1096],{},[81,1045,1046,1048,1051,1053],{},[102,1047,241],{},[102,1049,1050],{},"$2,193",[102,1052,738],{},[102,1054,1055],{},[24,1056,1057],{},"+66%",[81,1059,1060,1063,1066,1069],{},[102,1061,1062],{},"Delaware",[102,1064,1065],{},"$2,465",[102,1067,1068],{},"$3,100",[102,1070,1071],{},"+26%",[81,1073,1074,1076,1079,1081],{},[102,1075,224],{},[102,1077,1078],{},"$1,320",[102,1080,723],{},[102,1082,1083],{},"+46%",[81,1085,1086,1088,1091,1093],{},[102,1087,208],{},[102,1089,1090],{},"$1,460",[102,1092,709],{},[102,1094,1095],{},"+68%",[81,1097,1098,1101,1104,1106],{},[102,1099,1100],{},"Washington DC",[102,1102,1103],{},"n/a",[102,1105,1103],{},[102,1107,1108],{},"not in dataset",[61,1110,1111],{},"Virginia, somewhat surprisingly, has slightly outpaced Maryland's rate-of-increase from a much lower starting point. Delaware — historically a high-cost state — has actually grown the slowest of the four, suggesting the cost spike is less about regional drivers and more about state-specific underwriting decisions.",[12,1113,1115],{"id":1114},"what-to-do-next","What to do next",[61,1117,1118,1119,1123],{},"If you're a Maryland driver who hasn't quoted your policy in the past 12 months, you almost certainly can save. Start with our ",[29,1120,1122],{"href":1121},"/tools/rate-impact","Rate Impact Calculator"," for a directional estimate based on your profile, then get fresh quotes from at least three carriers before your next renewal.",[61,1125,1126,1127,1131,1132,493],{},"For a deeper look at the national picture, see ",[29,1128,1130],{"href":1129},"/car-insurance/report","the full 2026 Auto Insurance Report"," or browse ",[29,1133,1134],{"href":913},"the underlying state-by-state data",[495,1136],{},[61,1138,1139],{},[500,1140,1141],{},"Premier Auto Savings is not affiliated with Insurify. Data reproduced under their public attribution policy.",{"title":504,"searchDepth":505,"depth":505,"links":1143},[1144,1145,1146,1147,1148],{"id":921,"depth":505,"text":922},{"id":954,"depth":505,"text":955},{"id":993,"depth":505,"text":994},{"id":1023,"depth":505,"text":1024},{"id":1114,"depth":505,"text":1115},"MD: +66%, now #1 most expensive","2026-07-22","2026-05-06","Maryland's average annual premium climbed 66% in five years to $3,646 — far outpacing the 42% national increase and topping every state in our dataset.",{},"4 min read",{"title":881,"description":1152},"Insurify Insights — Auto Insurance Rates by State","insights/maryland-rate-shock-5-year",[1159,1160,1161],"maryland","state-deep-dive","5-year-trend","rcP7aJcaRrGs8ULGSKWoh5aE6TWt6sNcH4OKZZ3cye8",{"id":1164,"title":1165,"author":882,"body":1166,"dataPoint":1379,"dateModified":1150,"datePublished":1151,"description":1380,"draft":517,"extension":518,"featured":517,"meta":1381,"navigation":521,"path":1382,"readingTime":1154,"seo":1383,"sourceCitation":1156,"sourceUrl":31,"stem":1384,"tags":1385,"__hash__":1389},"insights/insights/most-expensive-states-2026.md","The 5 Most Expensive States for Auto Insurance",{"type":9,"value":1167,"toc":1369},[1168,1182,1185,1189,1208,1211,1215,1222,1225,1229,1232,1236,1243,1246,1250,1253,1256,1260,1284,1288,1291,1297,1303,1309,1319,1323,1330,1333,1354,1363,1365],[61,1169,1170,1171,1174,1175,1178,1179,493],{},"The national average annual full-coverage auto insurance premium sits at $2,237 as of June 2026, according to ",[29,1172,891],{"href":31,"rel":1173},[33],"'s open dataset. Drivers in the five most expensive states pay an average of ",[24,1176,1177],{},"$3,308"," — about ",[24,1180,1181],{},"48% more than the U.S. average",[61,1183,1184],{},"Here's where premiums are highest in mid-2026, ranked from worst to … slightly less worst.",[12,1186,1188],{"id":1187},"_1-maryland-3646yr","1. Maryland — $3,646/yr",[61,1190,1191,1192,1195,1196,1199,1200,1203,1204,1207],{},"Maryland narrowly takes the top spot for most expensive state in our ",[29,1193,1194],{"href":913},"open dataset",", edging past Rhode Island in the latest readings. The average premium is ",[24,1197,1198],{},"63% higher than the national average",", and as we covered in ",[29,1201,1202],{"href":426},"a separate analysis",", Maryland has seen one of the ",[24,1205,1206],{},"largest 5-year increases of any state"," in the dataset — up 66% from $2,193 in 2021.",[61,1209,1210],{},"What's driving it: widespread PIP coverage that pays actual medical costs (Maryland is an at-fault state, but insurers must offer PIP and many drivers keep it), dense I-95 corridor traffic, and recent litigation expanding uninsured-motorist coverage.",[12,1212,1214],{"id":1213},"_2-rhode-island-3611yr","2. Rhode Island — $3,611/yr",[61,1216,1217,1218,1221],{},"Rhode Island is essentially tied with Maryland at the top. The average premium is ",[24,1219,1220],{},"61% higher than the national average"," and represents a 37% increase from where Rhode Island was at the start of 2021 ($2,644).",[61,1223,1224],{},"What's driving it: high vehicle theft and break-in claims in dense urban areas of Providence, an aging vehicle fleet that pushes up comprehensive claims, and a small market that limits carrier competition.",[12,1226,1228],{"id":1227},"_3-georgia-3109yr","3. Georgia — $3,109/yr",[61,1230,1231],{},"Georgia is up 45% from January 2021 ($2,141) and 39% above the current national average. Atlanta's traffic congestion and accident frequency are well-known cost drivers, but the state's tort system — which permits direct-action lawsuits against insurers — also adds claim-cost pressure that ripples into premiums statewide.",[12,1233,1235],{"id":1234},"_4-delaware-3100yr","4. Delaware — $3,100/yr",[61,1237,1238,1239,1242],{},"Delaware has historically been an expensive state and remains one in 2026 ($3,100 vs. $2,465 in January 2021, a 26% increase). Notably, Delaware has grown ",[500,1240,1241],{},"slower"," than its top-5 peers — partly because it started from a higher base.",[61,1244,1245],{},"What's driving it: the state's two largest population centers (Wilmington and Dover) skew the average; rural Delaware drivers see premiums substantially below the state mean.",[12,1247,1249],{"id":1248},"_5-south-carolina-3075yr","5. South Carolina — $3,075/yr",[61,1251,1252],{},"South Carolina rounds out the top 5 at $3,075 — about 37% above the national average and 52% above its own 2021 starting point ($2,025).",[61,1254,1255],{},"What's driving it: catastrophe exposure (hurricanes, hail), a recent surge in uninsured drivers that pushes uninsured-motorist coverage costs up across the entire pool, and high comprehensive claim severity.",[12,1257,1259],{"id":1258},"honorable-mentions-close-to-the-top-5","Honorable mentions (close to the top 5)",[17,1261,1262,1268,1273,1278],{},[20,1263,1264,1267],{},[24,1265,1266],{},"Nevada"," — $3,039. Heavy fluctuation around the Las Vegas market; rural NV is much cheaper.",[20,1269,1270,1272],{},[24,1271,257],{}," — $2,840. Still working its way down from an anomalous stretch of elevated readings in the source data during 2025, so treat this one with some caution.",[20,1274,1275,1277],{},[24,1276,141],{}," — $2,835. Catastrophe exposure, fraud claim costs, and a litigious environment.",[20,1279,1280,1283],{},[24,1281,1282],{},"Louisiana"," — $2,504. Historically the most expensive state in the country; has eased considerably from its 2024 peak above $3,300.",[12,1285,1287],{"id":1286},"whats-notable-about-the-top-of-the-list","What's notable about the top of the list",[61,1289,1290],{},"A few patterns are worth flagging:",[61,1292,1293,1296],{},[24,1294,1295],{},"Geographic clustering on the East Coast."," Four of the top five states are on the Atlantic seaboard. Maryland, Delaware, Rhode Island, and South Carolina share elevated catastrophe exposure and dense urban populations.",[61,1298,1299,1302],{},[24,1300,1301],{},"PIP-heavy markets are overrepresented."," Florida (a true no-fault state) and Maryland (an at-fault state where insurers must offer PIP and many drivers carry it) appearing at or near the top reflects the cost dynamics of first-party medical-claim payouts, which are unusually exposed to medical-cost inflation.",[61,1304,1305,1308],{},[24,1306,1307],{},"Louisiana's improvement is meaningful."," Long the most expensive state in the country, Louisiana has fallen out of the top 5 in 2026 after sustained legislative tort reform. It is the clearest data-point for the argument that state policy can move premiums materially in a 2–3 year window.",[61,1310,1311,1314,1315,1318],{},[24,1312,1313],{},"The gap between expensive and cheap is enormous."," Wyoming's average ($1,118) is ",[24,1316,1317],{},"less than 1/3 of Maryland's",". Even within the same general region, neighboring states can differ by 50%+.",[12,1320,1322],{"id":1321},"what-to-do-if-you-live-in-one-of-these-states","What to do if you live in one of these states",[61,1324,1325,1326,1329],{},"The bigger your state's average, the bigger the dispersion ",[500,1327,1328],{},"within"," the state — meaning the spread between the cheapest and most expensive carrier for an identical driver profile is wider in expensive states than cheap ones. That makes shopping more valuable, not less.",[61,1331,1332],{},"Three concrete steps:",[1334,1335,1336,1342,1348],"ol",{},[20,1337,1338,1341],{},[24,1339,1340],{},"Get quotes from at least 4 carriers",", including at least one regional (Erie in the mid-Atlantic, Auto-Owners in the South, etc.). Regional carriers often beat national carriers by 15–25% in their core states.",[20,1343,1344,1347],{},[24,1345,1346],{},"Check whether your credit improved"," in the past 12–24 months. Most states allow credit-based insurance scores, and a tier upgrade can move your premium 10–20%.",[20,1349,1350,1353],{},[24,1351,1352],{},"Reassess coverage limits",". Drivers in high-cost states are often overpaying for coverage they don't need (e.g., comprehensive on an older vehicle worth less than the deductible plus coverage cost).",[61,1355,1356,1357,1359,1360,493],{},"For a directional estimate on how your situation compares to your state's average, try our ",[29,1358,1122],{"href":1121},". To see the underlying data behind this ranking, see the ",[29,1361,1362],{"href":913},"full open dataset",[495,1364],{},[61,1366,1367],{},[500,1368,1141],{},{"title":504,"searchDepth":505,"depth":505,"links":1370},[1371,1372,1373,1374,1375,1376,1377,1378],{"id":1187,"depth":505,"text":1188},{"id":1213,"depth":505,"text":1214},{"id":1227,"depth":505,"text":1228},{"id":1234,"depth":505,"text":1235},{"id":1248,"depth":505,"text":1249},{"id":1258,"depth":505,"text":1259},{"id":1286,"depth":505,"text":1287},{"id":1321,"depth":505,"text":1322},"Top 5 states: avg $3,308/yr","Drivers in these five states pay 37–63% more than the national average for auto insurance — where premiums are highest in 2026 and what's driving them.",{},"/insights/most-expensive-states-2026",{"title":1165,"description":1380},"insights/most-expensive-states-2026",[1386,1387,1388],"most-expensive-states",2026,"ranking","NNl3G2C69hypUvBMQMr2NvlVOVwyHV0iki8SxfVu6Ig",{"id":1391,"title":1392,"author":882,"body":1393,"dataPoint":1651,"dateModified":1150,"datePublished":1151,"description":1652,"draft":517,"extension":518,"featured":517,"meta":1653,"navigation":521,"path":451,"readingTime":1654,"seo":1655,"sourceCitation":1156,"sourceUrl":31,"stem":1656,"tags":1657,"__hash__":1660},"insights/insights/where-rates-are-falling-2026.md","Where Auto Insurance Rates Are Falling in 2026",{"type":9,"value":1394,"toc":1645},[1395,1406,1412,1416,1422,1488,1505,1511,1515,1518,1524,1530,1536,1542,1546,1549,1600,1603,1607,1610,1613,1633,1639,1641],[61,1396,1397,1398,1401,1402,1405],{},"For most of 2023 and 2024, the auto insurance story was a depressingly consistent one: rates went up, and they went up ",[500,1399,1400],{},"fast",". According to ",[29,1403,891],{"href":31,"rel":1404},[33],"'s open dataset, the national average annual premium for full-coverage insurance climbed from roughly $1,580 in early 2021 to a peak of $2,391 in mid-2024 — a 51% increase in just over three years.",[61,1407,1408,1409,1411],{},"Something has changed. As of June 2026, the national average sits at ",[24,1410,799],{}," — about 6% below its 2024 peak. And in some states, the drops have been much larger than that.",[12,1413,1415],{"id":1414},"the-biggest-12-month-declines","The biggest 12-month declines",[61,1417,1418,1419,1421],{},"We pulled the ",[29,1420,1194],{"href":913}," and ranked all 40 states for which Insurify publishes monthly average premiums. Fully 30 of the 40 are cheaper than they were a year ago, and several have seen double-digit year-over-year decreases:",[17,1423,1424,1437,1451,1464,1476],{},[20,1425,1426,1429,1430,1433,1434,493],{},[24,1427,1428],{},"Iowa"," — premiums fell from $1,631 in June 2025 to ",[24,1431,1432],{},"$1,331"," in June 2026, a drop of ",[24,1435,1436],{},"about 18%",[20,1438,1439,1442,1443,1446,1447,1450],{},[24,1440,1441],{},"Arkansas"," — down from $2,190 to ",[24,1444,1445],{},"$1,829"," over the same window, a ",[24,1448,1449],{},"17% decline",". Arkansas is now roughly 27% below its late-2024 peak above $2,500.",[20,1452,1453,1456,1457,1460,1461,493],{},[24,1454,1455],{},"New Mexico"," — down from $1,899 to ",[24,1458,1459],{},"$1,632",", a ",[24,1462,1463],{},"14% decline",[20,1465,1466,1469,1470,1460,1473,1475],{},[24,1467,1468],{},"Idaho"," — down from $1,514 to ",[24,1471,1472],{},"$1,305",[24,1474,1463],{},", and roughly 20% below its late-2024 peak near $1,630.",[20,1477,1478,1481,1482,1460,1485,493],{},[24,1479,1480],{},"Wisconsin"," — down from $1,693 to ",[24,1483,1484],{},"$1,516",[24,1486,1487],{},"10% decline",[61,1489,1490,1491,1493,1494,1496,1497,1500,1501,1504],{},"Two more worth noting: ",[24,1492,107],{},", one of the headline decliners of 2025, is down a further 7% year over year and now sits at ",[24,1495,625],{}," — about 15% below its late-2024 peak of $2,816. And ",[24,1498,1499],{},"Wyoming",", down another 8% to ",[24,1502,1503],{},"$1,118",", remains the cheapest state in the dataset.",[61,1506,1507,1508,1510],{},"One state we deliberately left off the list: ",[24,1509,257],{}," technically shows the largest year-over-year decline of all — but the June 2025 baseline falls inside a stretch of anomalously elevated readings in our source data during 2025, which wildly exaggerates the drop. Measured against readings from just before that stretch, New York's decline looks closer to 10% than to the headline figure, so we'd treat its exact magnitude with caution.",[12,1512,1514],{"id":1513},"whats-behind-the-drops","What's behind the drops",[61,1516,1517],{},"A handful of forces are pulling premiums down at the same time:",[61,1519,1520,1523],{},[24,1521,1522],{},"Reduced loss-cost inflation."," The medical costs and vehicle parts prices that drove much of the 2022–2024 spike have moderated. With insurer costs growing more slowly, the regulatory case for further rate hikes has weakened.",[61,1525,1526,1529],{},[24,1527,1528],{},"Catch-up rate filings."," During 2022–2024, regulators in many states approved rate increases that effectively front-loaded several years of inflation into 12 months. Insurers that over-priced are now refiling lower base rates to win back share.",[61,1531,1532,1535],{},[24,1533,1534],{},"Customer churn."," Two consecutive years of large premium increases pushed an unusual number of drivers to shop their coverage. Carriers losing market share to nimble competitors have responded with promotional pricing.",[61,1537,1538,1541],{},[24,1539,1540],{},"Catastrophe-tied volatility."," States like California and Idaho, which saw premium spikes correlated with wildfire-driven loss assumptions, are seeing insurers revise those catastrophe-driven assumptions as newer rate filings work through the regulatory pipeline and reprice the risk.",[12,1543,1545],{"id":1544},"states-where-rates-are-still-climbing","States where rates are still climbing",[61,1547,1548],{},"Not every state is enjoying the reversal. Ten of the 40 states still post year-over-year increases, led by:",[17,1550,1551,1564,1576,1588],{},[20,1552,1553,1555,1556,1559,1560,1563],{},[24,1554,371],{}," — climbed from $2,438 in June 2025 to ",[24,1557,1558],{},"$2,652"," in June 2026, ",[24,1561,1562],{},"+9%",", and is now at the highest level in its recorded history.",[20,1565,1566,1568,1569,1571,1572,1575],{},[24,1567,291],{}," — up from $1,266 to ",[24,1570,782],{},", ",[24,1573,1574],{},"+8%",", though it remains one of the cheapest states in the country.",[20,1577,1578,1581,1582,1571,1585,493],{},[24,1579,1580],{},"Kentucky"," — up from $2,164 to ",[24,1583,1584],{},"$2,302",[24,1586,1587],{},"+6%",[20,1589,1590,1592,1593,1571,1596,1599],{},[24,1591,141],{}," — up from $2,694 to ",[24,1594,1595],{},"$2,835",[24,1597,1598],{},"+5%",", reversing some of the relief Florida drivers saw in late 2024 and early 2025.",[61,1601,1602],{},"New York, which sat in this section in earlier versions of this analysis, has dropped out: its readings have been declining steadily since the anomalous stretch in our source data during 2025, though — as noted above — we'd hedge on exactly how large its true decline is.",[12,1604,1606],{"id":1605},"what-this-means-for-drivers","What this means for drivers",[61,1608,1609],{},"If you renewed in 2024 or early 2025 and haven't shopped your policy since, you are very likely overpaying. Rate movement of this size at the state-average level means individual drivers — especially those with clean records, prior coverage, and average-or-better credit — should be able to find materially lower premiums by switching carriers.",[61,1611,1612],{},"The mechanics are simple:",[1334,1614,1615,1621,1627],{},[20,1616,1617,1620],{},[24,1618,1619],{},"Get fresh quotes from at least 3 carriers",", including at least one direct writer (Geico, Progressive) and at least one captive agent (State Farm, Allstate). Their rate-filing schedules differ, so the spread between them is often where the savings hide.",[20,1622,1623,1626],{},[24,1624,1625],{},"Time it with your renewal",". Most states require carriers to notify you 30–45 days before renewal — that's your shopping window.",[20,1628,1629,1632],{},[24,1630,1631],{},"Don't just price-match",". Carriers will almost always discount to keep a profitable customer; even if you stay, the call costs you nothing.",[61,1634,1635,1636,1638],{},"Try our ",[29,1637,1122],{"href":1121}," to estimate how factors specific to your situation — credit, location, vehicle, prior coverage — push your number above or below the state average.",[495,1640],{},[61,1642,1643],{},[500,1644,1141],{},{"title":504,"searchDepth":505,"depth":505,"links":1646},[1647,1648,1649,1650],{"id":1414,"depth":505,"text":1415},{"id":1513,"depth":505,"text":1514},{"id":1544,"depth":505,"text":1545},{"id":1605,"depth":505,"text":1606},"30 of 40 states down YoY","Average auto insurance premiums are dropping again in 2026. We dug into state-by-state data to find where drivers are seeing the largest savings.",{},"5 min read",{"title":1392,"description":1652},"insights/where-rates-are-falling-2026",[1658,1387,1659],"trends","falling-rates","52x2boEgngPeRZF91_rQDSlXXfUsVRuXHZQX9ar3q6s"]