How much do you pay for car insurance?

[LivingAlmostLarge]

Liability only, MA only went to FINALLY comparison shopping car insurance. Before it was set by the state until July 2008.

1999 Toyota Corolla
2000 Ford Focus

Liability only is $1300/year.

Before July 2008 it was $2400/year for liability only.

In CA before we left, we were paying for our newer cars and younger driving age full coverage around $5k/year. Hey we were under 25 and with newer cars! Yikes!

[GREENBACK]

we have a 99 sebring and a 2008 sierra truck. I now only have liability on both and it's under 400 a year. I have a boat and that is about 150 a year.

I hate the idea of this going way up when it's time to replace these vehicles.

[kork13]

2007 Honda Civic Si. Currently, 6mo costs me $411, which is almost 50% more than it was back in Colorado. Now that I'm in Florida, it jumped up ALOT.

I have pretty full coverage right now... comprehensive/collision/uninsured, plus towing and rental car coverage.

[Multima$tery]

I pay about $82 a month on a '08 Toyota Corolla LE. Don't know if that's good or bad but it's the best rate I found at the time.

[globetraveler]

2007 GMC Sierra = 70 per month
2005 Pontiac Grand Prix = 90 per month (wife has a accident on her record)

So 160 a month for the two of us.

[scfr]

Someone posted on my blog that NJ now allows folks to take an on-line defensive driver course in exchange for a 5% discount on their insurance that is good for 3 years. Might be worth looking in to.

Defensive Driving Course =10% Discount on Car Insurance: scfr's Personal Finance Blog

And BTW we pay $408 per year ($34 per month) for a 99 Camry. Discounts are for clean driving record, air bag, and defensive driver course. No coverage for the car itself, but we have extra liability coverage.

[atomicrc11]

I have a 2004 VW Jetta with 100/300k liability/uninsured/under insured coverage with roadside assistance. No rental coverage. Costs $646/year or $54/month.

DS, do keep in mind New Jersey is probably THE most expensive state for car insurance. I would shop around, but you will still pay more than most people.

[coreys]

2006 honda pilot $466 per 6 months
2001 mitsubishi galant $262 per 6 months (liability only)

Dallas/Fort Worth TX

[Bimmer]

2000 BMW 328i
2007 VW Passat

Discounts for good driver, multi-vehicle, having home insurance with same carrier. Includes tow and some rental coverage.

$128 month

Salt Lake City, UT

Will soon be replacing VW with 2002-04 Honda Odessy or Toyota Sienna minivan. Hope insurance goes down! Anyone know how minivans compare to mid-size sedans?

[jIM_Ohio]

rates without deductables or coverage are meaningless in many regards.

If the people paying $1800/yr or $600/6 months have a low deductable, then my $900/yr or $490/6 months with a higher deductable is in line.

Rental coverage is only needed if accident was your fault. I was rear ended in 2008 and his insurance picked up my rental until my ridgeline was repaired.

Even when someone pays $120/mo in another area, I bet that coverage can be modified to lower payment SOME, even if not to the levels I pay.

[disneysteve]

Jim, certainly it is true that we aren't all comparing the same coverage. That said, it is also true that there are big variations from state to state and city to city even when talking about identical coverage.

Here is an article from bankrate.com listing the average auto insurance premiums by state. It is from 2001 but you get the idea:
Best and worst states for auto insurance premiums

[disneysteve]

III - Auto Insurance

Here is another site with more current data from 2007. If you scroll down a bit, take a look at the chart of the top 5 most expensive cities. Philadelphia, which I mentioned earlier, is #2 on the list with an average annual premium of $3,779. Can you see why I was happy to move to NJ?

[jIM_Ohio]

Steve-

I have lived in MI-Md-OH-NY... I have seen how rates vary.
My point was $120/mo can still be reduced, regardless of area.

[disneysteve]

Steve-

I have lived in MI-Md-OH-NY... I have seen how rates vary.
My point was $120/mo can still be reduced, regardless of area.

I agree that we should never just assume that we have the best rate. It pays to spend a little time every year or two and get fresh quotes. I'm actually about to do just that. I know I can do better than what I'm paying now. I'll report back with the results.

[jIM_Ohio]

My agent does all that work for me.
He is who gets us our home, life and auto.

Because insurance companies change rates (for example house insurance is priced one way for new policies, but another way for annual adjustments... so when your current house policy goes up in value, it probably pays to move it every 3 years (that is the expectation my agent set the last time we met). He shops the car with it because most will give a discount if both policies are with same company.