Lowest Average US Auto Insurance Quotes in Over 2 Years

Jun 3, 2010
Daniel Workman

Iowa Average Auto Insurance Quote Online Deals - The Sierra Club (Flickr)

Iowa drivers enjoy auto insurance quotes down an average 18.7% in May 2010, while 9 other American states post double-digit savings from one year earlier.

According to Insurance.com RateWatch’s latest report, the average annual auto insurance quote for the U.S. fell to $1,791 during May 2010.

The latest national average was down 0.8% from one month earlier, and was 4.3% less than the average for May of 2009.

Each month, RateWatch presents a free online chart. That graphic compares the lowest average quoted rate in 46 participating states plus the District of Columbia.

Business intelligence data provided from Insurance.com’s instant online quote system represents the lowest average premium rates from over a dozen leading car insurance companies.

States with Cheaper Auto Insurance Rates

Of 47 jurisdictions, the average quoted rate posted in May 2010 was lower in 37 states plus the District of Columbia over May 2009.

The greatest year-over-year decline was 18.7% in Iowa; that state also has the lowest average quote.

From April to May 2010, North Dakota had the largest percentage decrease of 22.1%. In second-place for month-over-month car rate savings was Nebraska with a 13.1% decline.

States with Greatest Auto Insurance Savings

Below are auto insurance rates in May 2010 for the 15 states with the greatest percentage savings from one year earlier.

Iowa … US$1,158 average quote (down 18.7% from May 2009)
Indiana … $1,255 (down 17.7%)
Arizona … $1,448 (down 16.6%)
Wyoming … $1,465 (down 15.3%)
New Mexico … $1,591 (down 12.1%)
Maine … $1,185 (down 12%)
Louisiana … $2,238 (down 11.1%)
Ohio … $1,162 (down 10.9%)
California … $1,651 (down 10.7%)
Alabama … $1,470 (down 10.4%)
West Virginia … $1,793 (down 9.2%)
Virginia … $1,474 (down 9.2%)
Texas … $1,754 (down 8.4%)
North Carolina … $1,493 (down 7.7%)
Idaho … $1,214 (down 7.7%).

Lowest Average Auto Insurance Rates – Top 10 States

South Dakota and Arizona are the only 2 southern states among the top 10 states with the lowest average auto insurance quotes in May 2010.

The Iowa average auto insurance quote is the lowest. Also shown below is the percentage change in each state’s average quote from April 2010.

Iowa … US$1,158 average quote , down 5.6% from prior month
Ohio … $1,162 (up 3.4%)
Maine … $1,185 (down 5.8%)
Idaho … $1,214 (down 5.3%)
Indiana … $1,255 (down 12.7%)
Wisconsin … $1,272 (down 3.9%)
South Dakota … $1,377 (down 5.3%)
New Hampshire … $1,389 (down 4.7%)
Illinois … $1,446 (up 1.1%)
Arizona … $1,448 (2.6%).

For 31 states, May 2010 brought good news with auto insurance rate decreases.

Year over year, the picture is even brighter with 37 states and the District of Columbia showing an average annual savings of $127.

The U.S. auto insurance industry continues to offer American consumers stellar opportunities to shop around, find the lowest competitive price quotes, and save.