The best way to get cheap car insurance is to compare quotes from different car insurance companies. In order to help drivers nationwide find the cheapest car insurance rates for their needs and circumstances, WalletHub collected 2,800 quotes from 20 auto insurance companies across 47 states.

Read on for the full results of WalletHub’s car insurance comparison, along with a detailed description of our methodology and additional insight from a panel of experts.

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Robert L. Rabin
A. Calder Mackay Professor of Law, Stanford Law School

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Why do car insurance rates (and even providers) vary so much from state to state?

Higher accident rates in some states than in others (this overlaps with the following); differences in demographic profiles of insureds among states; differences in road design and maintenance; urban vs. rural; strictness of enforcement of motor vehicle safety ordinances; extent of bad weather driving due to climate differences.

Is it riskier to drive in some cities and states than others? Are the drivers themselves riskier?

Yes, combination of road design, speed limits, enforcement, driving culture.

Is there anything that state and local governments do to promote cheap car insurance rates for their constituents?

Regulatory provisions re rates vary from state to state.

Is cheap/inexpensive car insurance bad car insurance?

Not necessarily; rates among insureds may vary due to pricing strategies such as experience rating and internal organizational efficiencies.

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