Ohio drivers who shop around for car insurance are likely to
save a bigger chunk of their annual bills than motorists anywhere
else in the U.S.
A ZIP-code-by-ZIP-code analysis of Ohio rates from six
national insurance carriers showed an average rate for
full coverage
of $969 a year. But the cheapest rate averaged just $424 a
year -- a savings of 56 percent on identical coverage.
Nationally, the average potential savings was $407, or 32
percent.
Rates from the six companies were the most similar in New
Jersey, where a driver who bought the cheapest policy would save
$112.
Even within the same state, differences in location can bring
huge changes in savings. A Valparaiso, Neb., driver could
save 51 percent off the average price for that ZIP code by shopping
around and choosing the cheapest rate. But just 55 miles away in
Omaha, the potential savings are 23 percent.
"Rural areas are almost always cheaper than cities," says
CarInsurance.com consumer analyst Penny Gusner. "But every
insurance company will put a different number on how risky a ZIP
code is. Sometimes the differences are shocking -- thousands of
dollars."
Here are the top 10 states for potential savings:
| State |
Average rate |
Cheapest rate |
Savings |
Change |
| 1. Ohio |
$969 |
$424 |
$545 |
56% |
| 2. Oklahoma |
$1,971 |
$1,035 |
$936 |
47% |
| 3. Arizona |
$931 |
$510 |
$421 |
45% |
| 4. Wyoming |
$1,419 |
$801 |
$618 |
44% |
| 5. Montana |
$1,773 |
$1,009 |
$764 |
43% |
| 6. Kansas |
$1,217 |
$710 |
$507 |
42% |
| 7. New Hampshire |
$1,172 |
$693 |
$479 |
41% |
| 8. Alabama |
$1,414 |
$850 |
$564 |
40% |
| 9. South Dakota |
$1,062 |
$636 |
$427 |
40% |
| 10. Nebraska |
$1,066 |
$649 |
$416 |
39% |
The study gathered rates by ZIP code from Allstate, Farmers,
GEICO, Nationwide, Progressive and State Farm for a 40-year-old man
with a clean record driving a 2012 Honda Accord. ZIP codes are a
primary
car insurance pricing factor
in most states, along with age, driving record and miles
driven.
You can find the lowest and highest rates for every ZIP code in
the U.S. with CarInsurance.com's
Nosy Neighbor tool
. While the rates you see are from nationally known insurers and
derived from their publicly filed rating formulas, the prices don't
include the car insurance discounts a typical shopper may see once
the policy is written. (See "
Your guide to car insurance discounts
.")
Here are potential car insurance savings by state:
Potential savings from Alabama to Wyoming
| State |
Average rate |
Cheapest rate |
Savings |
Change |
| Alabama |
$1,414 |
$850 |
$564 |
40% |
| Alaska |
$1,253 |
$891 |
$362 |
29% |
| Arizona |
$931 |
$510 |
$421 |
45% |
| Arkansas |
$1,193 |
$944 |
$249 |
21% |
| California |
$1,428 |
$960 |
$469 |
32% |
| Colorado |
$1,121 |
$865 |
$256 |
23% |
| Connecticut |
$1,403 |
$1,059 |
$343 |
24% |
| DC |
$1,574 |
$1,229 |
$345 |
22% |
| Delaware |
$1,885 |
$1,235 |
$650 |
29% |
| Florida |
$1,502 |
$1,094 |
$407 |
26% |
| Georgia |
$1,522 |
$982 |
$540 |
35% |
| Hawaii |
$1,308 |
$936 |
$373 |
28% |
| Idaho |
$895 |
$586 |
$310 |
35% |
| Illinois |
$1,019 |
$728 |
$291 |
28% |
| Indiana |
$1,076 |
$745 |
$331 |
31% |
| Iowa |
$858 |
$624 |
$235 |
27% |
| Kansas |
$1,217 |
$710 |
$507 |
42% |
| Kentucky |
$1,725 |
$1,048 |
$677 |
38% |
| Louisiana |
$2,263 |
$1,453 |
$811 |
36% |
| Maine |
$783 |
$624 |
$159 |
20% |
| Maryland |
$1,266 |
$900 |
$366 |
28% |
| Massachusetts |
$1,071 |
$758 |
$313 |
29% |
| Michigan |
$1,974 |
$1,336 |
$638 |
32% |
| Minnesota |
$1,068 |
$771 |
$297 |
28% |
| Mississippi |
$1,195 |
$1,013 |
$182 |
15% |
| Missouri |
$1,247 |
$819 |
$428 |
34% |
| Montana |
$1,773 |
$1,009 |
$764 |
43% |
| Nebraska |
$1,066 |
$649 |
$416 |
39% |
| Nevada |
$1,296 |
$987 |
$309 |
25% |
| New Hampshire |
$1,172 |
$693 |
$479 |
41% |
| New Jersey |
$1,362 |
$1,194 |
$169 |
12% |
| New Mexico |
$1,118 |
$800 |
$317 |
28% |
| New York |
$1,489 |
$942 |
$547 |
34% |
| North Carolina |
$953 |
$691 |
$262 |
27% |
| North Dakota |
$1,195 |
$897 |
$298 |
25% |
| Ohio |
$969 |
$424 |
$545 |
56% |
| Oklahoma |
$1,971 |
$1,035 |
$936 |
47% |
| Oregon |
$1,021 |
$663 |
$358 |
35% |
| Pennsylvania |
$1,156 |
$831 |
$325 |
28% |
| Rhode Island |
$1,531 |
$1,038 |
$493 |
31% |
| South Carolina |
$987 |
$759 |
$228 |
23% |
| South Dakota |
$1,062 |
$636 |
$427 |
40% |
| Tennessee |
$1,099 |
$786 |
$312 |
28% |
| Texas |
$1,315 |
$1,074 |
$240 |
18% |
| Utah |
$1,130 |
$798 |
$332 |
29% |
| Vermont |
$928 |
$777 |
$151 |
16% |
| Virginia |
$1,140 |
$779 |
$360 |
31% |
| Washington |
$1,057 |
$667 |
$390 |
37% |
| West Virginia |
$1,723 |
$1,112 |
$612 |
36% |
| Wisconsin |
$951 |
$662 |
$289 |
30% |
| Wyoming |
$1,419 |
$801 |
$618 |
44% |
How we got these numbers
CarInsurance.com commissioned Quadrant Information Services to
provide a report of average auto insurance rates for a 2012 Honda
Accord for every ZIP code in the United States. We calculated rates
using data for six large carriers (Allstate, Farmers, GEICO,
Nationwide, Progressive and State Farm).
Averages are based on insurance for a single 40-year-old male
who commutes 12 miles to work each day, with policy limits of
100/300/50 ($100,000 for injury liability for one person, $300,000
for all injuries and $50,000 for property damage in an accident)
and a $500 deductible on collision and comprehensive coverage. This
hypothetical driver has a clean record and good credit. The rate
includes uninsured motorist coverage. Average rates are for
comparative purposes. Your own rate will depend on your personal
factors and vehicle.