The short answer
Full coverage car insurance costs $186 per month ($2,236 per year) on average in 2026, according to Insurify. Liability-only coverage averages $98 per month. Your actual rate varies significantly by age, state, credit score, and driving history — the same driver can pay double or half the average.
What is the national average car insurance cost per month in 2026?
Full coverage averages $186 per month ($2,236 per year) in 2026, while liability-only runs about $98 per month ($1,177 per year), according to Insurify's 2026 data. Full coverage costs more because it adds collision and comprehensive on top of the liability that nearly every state requires by law.
| Coverage level | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Full coverage | $186 | $2,236 |
| Liability-only | $98 | $1,177 |
These are national averages from Insurify's 2026 cost analysis. To see how insurance fits the rest of your car budget, compare it against the full annual cost of car ownership.
How much does car insurance cost by age group?
Teen drivers pay the most at about $273 per month, while drivers in their 60s pay the least at roughly $115 per month. Rates peak in the teens and early 20s, fall steadily through middle age as driving records mature, then rise slightly again after age 70 as reaction-time risk climbs.
| Age group | Approx. monthly (full coverage) | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| Teens (16–19) | ~$273 | Highest — peak crash risk |
| 20s | ~$200 | Drops steadily after 25 |
| 30s–50s | ~$150–$170 | Lowest sustained rates |
| 60s | ~$115 | Cheapest age band |
| 70+ | rises slightly | Reaction-time risk climbs |
Age is one of the strongest pricing factors insurers use. The crash-risk gap behind teen rates is documented by the IIHS teen-driver research, which finds drivers 16–19 are far likelier per mile to be in a fatal crash.
Which states have the highest and lowest car insurance rates?
Maryland is the most expensive state at about $303 per month for full coverage, while New Hampshire is the cheapest at roughly $82 per month. State variation is driven by minimum-coverage laws, the local litigation climate, severe-weather risk, and traffic density — not by the driver alone.
- Most expensive: Maryland (~$303/mo), with other high-cost states clustered in dense, high-litigation regions.
- Least expensive: New Hampshire (~$82/mo), which doesn't even mandate insurance for all drivers.
- What moves it: state-mandated minimum limits, lawsuit frequency, hail and flood exposure, and how crowded the roads are.
Because location is set by your ZIP code, it's one factor you can't quickly change — but it explains why a quote that's fair in one state looks expensive in another. See the full list of inputs in what makes car insurance rates go up or down.
What is the difference in cost between full coverage and liability-only?
Full coverage costs about $88 more per month than liability-only — $186 versus $98 on average — because it adds collision and comprehensive to the liability portion. Liability pays only for the other party's injuries and property; full coverage also repairs or replaces your own car after a crash, theft, or weather damage.
- Liability-only (~$98/mo): the legal minimum in most states; covers others, not your car.
- Full coverage (~$186/mo): adds collision and comprehensive for your own vehicle.
- The ~$88/mo gap is worth it while your car holds value or you still owe on a loan.
Whether that gap pays off depends on what your car is currently worth. Learn the cutoff in when to drop full coverage on an older car, and see how each coverage works in the types of car insurance explained.
What makes car insurance more or less expensive?
Age, credit score, vehicle type, driving record, location, deductible, and coverage level all feed into your rate. A clean record and good credit can cut a premium by half, while a single at-fault crash, a DUI, or a poor credit-based insurance score can raise it sharply — often by 50% to 150% or more.
- Age and experience: the single biggest swing, peaking for teens.
- Credit-based insurance score: a major factor in most states (banned in CA, HI, MA).
- Driving record: tickets, at-fault crashes, and DUIs raise rates for years.
- Vehicle, location, and deductible: pricier or theft-prone cars, dense ZIP codes, and low deductibles all cost more.
For the full breakdown of how each input is weighted, see what determines your car insurance rate, then explore how to lower your car insurance premium.
Frequently asked questions
Is $186/mo normal for car insurance?
Yes — $186 a month is the 2026 national average for full coverage car insurance per Insurify, but individual rates vary widely by age and state. A teen driver can pay well over $270 a month, while a clean-record driver in their 60s may pay closer to $115.
What is the cheapest type of car insurance?
Liability-only is the cheapest legal option at roughly $98 a month on average, versus $186 for full coverage. It pays for the other party's injuries and property when you are at fault, but it does not cover damage to your own vehicle in an at-fault crash.
Why do teenagers pay so much for car insurance?
Teen drivers age 16 to 19 are statistically the highest-risk group on the road — nearly three times more likely per mile driven to be in a fatal crash than drivers 20 and older, according to the IIHS. Insurers price that crash risk into premiums, so teens average about $273 a month.
Does my credit score affect my car insurance?
In most states, yes. A poor credit-based insurance score can raise your premium by 150% or more compared with good credit, because insurers link low scores to higher claim frequency. California, Hawaii, and Massachusetts prohibit using credit to set car insurance rates.
Sources
CarsLens is editorial guidance, not individualized advice. This page draws on Insurify and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.