(NEXSTAR) – Keeping a car on the road isn’t cheap. There are a variety of expenses involved, including gas, insurance, and car maintenance. But depending on where you are in the U.S., you may be able to save some money on typical vehicle fees.
To determine this, MoneyGeek We did our research and looked at a variety of cost factors, including gas prices, annual toll fees, annual maintenance costs, and the cheapest car insurance rates in each state.
Based on these factors, each state is given a final cost score between 0 and 100, with 0 being the most expensive state and 100 being the least expensive.
Coming in at number one is Maryland, with a score of 0 out of 100, making it by far the most expensive state to drive in, except for second-place Oregon, which received a score of 1.6.
For Maryland drivers, repair costs typically cost about $399 a year, while the average annual cost of the cheapest full-coverage auto insurance is about $1,191.
Another notable state after Maryland is Florida, which comes in at number 4. Florida is the state with the highest car insurance costs in the top 10. Florida drivers pay an average of $1,360 per year.
Additionally, Connecticut ranked 9th, with the highest annual repair costs of any state in the U.S. at approximately $418.
But Delaware, in sixth place, particularly stands out with an average toll cost per vehicle per year of $1,077; the next highest in the top 10 is California, with an average cost of $497.
Of all the states, the 10 states MoneyGeek rated as the most expensive are:
| Cost Category Rank | state | Cost Score | Average maintenance costs (2022) | Average toll per vehicle (2021) | Car Insurance Costs (2024) | Gasoline Price (per gallon) (2024) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maryland | 0.0 | $399 | $263 | $1,191 | $4.14 |
| 2 | Oregon | 1.6 | $394 | $311 | $965 | $4.25 |
| 3 | new york | 5.7 | $387 | $319 | $1,121 | $4.12 |
| Four | Florida | 7.3 | $396 | $296 | $1,360 | $3.92 |
| Five | California | 8.1 | $416 | $497 | $427 | $5.00 |
| 6 | Delaware | 8.9 | $391 | $1,077 | $865 | $3.98 |
| 7 | Washington | 15.5 | $392 | $278 | $793 | $4.55 |
| 8 | West Virginia | 17.1 | $383 | $493 | $1,043 | $3.81 |
| 9 | Connecticut | 18.7 | $418 | $65 | $948 | $4.17 |
| Ten | Colorado | 19.5 | $417 | $422 | $721 | $3.75 |
Meanwhile, several Midwestern states were rated among the cheapest states to drive in. South Dakota came in at the top with a perfect score of 100.
Drivers there pay an average of $614 a year for full coverage for the cheapest full coverage policy. With toll limits, drivers pay about $127 a year.
Nebraska came in a distant second, where drivers pay an average of just $488 a year for car insurance. Wisconsin came in third, where the average is $466, but tolls and gas prices are both high.
The rest of the top 10 cheapest states are as follows:
| Cost Category Rank | state | Cost Score | Average maintenance costs (2022) | Average toll per vehicle (2021) | Car Insurance Costs (2024) | Gasoline Price (per gallon) (2024) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | South Dakota | 100.0 | $378 | $127 | $614 | $3.44 |
| 49 | Nebraska | 89.4 | $375 | $263 | $488 | $3.47 |
| 48 | Wisconsin | 78.0 | $361 | $287 | $466 | $3.82 |
| 47 | New Hampshire | 77.2 | $371 | $253 | $479 | $3.94 |
| 45 | Massachusetts | 75.6 | $365 | $267 | $646 | $3.67 |
| 45 | North Dakota | 75.6 | $386 | $112 | $483 | $4.04 |
| 43 | Montana | 74.8 | $390 | $132 | $561 | $3.79 |
| 43 | Kansas | 74.8 | $374 | $238 | $888 | $3.42 |
| 41 | Arkansas | 71.5 | $383 | $194 | $771 | $3.47 |
| 41 | Ohio | 71.5 | $354 | $292 | $485 | $3.93 |
To find out how much it costs to drive in your state, check out MoneyGeek’s full research. Website.
How to Save Money on Car Insurance
Insurance is probably your biggest cost when it comes to car payments. But insurance isn’t a fixed amount; your premiums depend on you and your driving. So, understanding what affects your insurance might help you save some money.
Nerd Wallet We’ve compiled a list of tips to help you when searching for car insurance: First and most importantly, shop around for insurance companies.
When it comes to premiums, different car insurance companies consider factors like age, driving history, and where you live in different ways.
Other tips include driving safely, improving your credit, increasing your insurance deductibles, and taking advantage of auto insurance discounts when available.
