States With the Highest (and Lowest) Car Insurance Rates

car insurance ratesIf you’re in the market for new car insurance, depending on where you live, you may also want to be in the market for a new residence. Here is a look at some of the most and least expensive car insurance rates by state, according to a recent survey by insure.com.

Most Expensive

1. Louisiana (Average Premium: $2,699)

It may be known for the free-spirited Mardi Gras, spicy food and hot jazz, but the party gets rained on by the fact that residents of the Bayou State also pay the highest insurance premiums in the Union.

While Louisiana has had the misfortune of catastrophic natural disasters, rate are affected by a high rate of comprehensive claims, their drivers file more bodily injury claims than those in other states.

2. Michigan (Average Premium: $2,520)

Why such high premiums in the Wolverine State? Maybe it has little something to do with the fact that Michigan guarantees unlimited, lifetime personal injury protection (PIP) in car accidents. No other state does this.

A Michigan car insurance company pays up to $500,000 for car accident- related medical treatment for the policyholder, their household family members, and passengers if they don’t have PIP coverage. In comparison, Florida caps its PIP coverage at $10,000.

3. Georgia (Average Premium: $2,155)

According to Georgia’s Department of Insurance Consumer Services Division, “The minimum limits of liability required under Georgia law are Bodily Injury Liability of $25,000 per person, $50,000 per occurrence and Property Damage Liability of $25,000 per occurrence.”

Some in the insurance industry think premiums are high because carriers underpriced the market and are playing catch-up. Six-lane bumper-to-bumper traffic in Atlanta may not help either.

Least Expensive

1. Maine: (Average Premium: $934)

The top two in affordable premiums are terribly shocking, given their predominantly rural spaces. Main is not only rural, but drivers need to be diligent about driving defensively in harsh winter weather.

The state is also strict with young drivers. Before teens can get their learner’s permit, they must complete a state-approved driver education course. There’s also a three-step licensing system that gives amateur drivers some experience on the road in lower-risk scenarios. For instance, the “intermediate license” restricts drivers under the age of 18 from having passengers other than immediate family members. Driving between midnight and 5 a.m. is off limits as well.

By the way, Maine is #51 in insurance rates, since Washington DC is included in the mix.

2. Iowa (Average Premium: $1,028)

Again, a rural state with fewer chances of being in an accident. Its largest city is Des Moines, with a little more than 200,000 residents.

3. North Carolina (Average Premium: $1,085)

North Carolina enjoys one of the lowest insurance rates in the country. It’s an interesting time, though, since there’s a much debated state senate bill (SB 154) to be voted on. Proponents say it will ease bureaucracy and lower rates for safe drivers while opponents think it gives too much power to the insurance industry.