The Annual Cost Of Owning A Car In Every State (It's More Than You Think)

The Annual Cost Of Owning A Car In Every State (It's More Than You Think)


July 2, 2025 | Jesse Singer

The Annual Cost Of Owning A Car In Every State (It's More Than You Think)


Car Costs

Besides buying a house, a car is probably the most expensive purchase any of us will ever make in our lives. But buying the car (or leasing it) is just the first step. Just like a house, cars require a constant influx of money in the form of insurance, maintenance, gas, etc...

But exactly how much cash your car will cost you every year doesn't just depend on what kind of car you buy—but also on where you buy it. Depending on what state you live in, your annual car costs can vary pretty significantly. 

That's what GoBankingRates found out when they put together this state-by-state list of the total costs for one year of car ownership, taking into account: annual gas spend, average insurance, and average cost of repairs.

They then took all those numbers and added them to the cost of financing a new vehicle to get the "total one year cost".

Note: the new vehicle cost is based on $48,427 MSRP, 20% down payment of $9,649, an average credit score of 716, an interest rate of 6.88%, and a loan length of 60 months. All of which equals $762 per month or $9,144 per year.

Car Ownership Cost States L

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Alabama

Total Costs For One Year of Ownership: $24,190

Annual Gas: $1,983

Average Insurance: $1,860

Note: Car repairs average about $399 per year.

File:Huntsville, Alabama Airport Road.jpgNhlarry, Wikimedia Commons

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Alaska

Total: $23,518

Gas: $2,482

Insurance: $1,676

Note: No sales tax on new car purchases in Alaska.

File:Downtown Whitehorse, Yukon, -a.jpgUS Mission Canada, Wikimedia Commons

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Arizona

Total: $26,201

Gas: $2,298

Insurance: $1,812

Note: The sales tax on the new car is more than what you will pay in gas for the year.

File:I-10 East - Exit 150 - Interstate 17 North (49160936807).jpgformulanone from Huntsville, United States, Wikimedia Commons

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Arkansas

Total: $26,379

Gas: $1,899

Insurance: $1,957

Note: Annual repair fees average $383.

File:Arkansas State Highway 154.jpgTBKS1, Wikimedia Commons

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California

Total: $28,504

Gas: $3,167

Insurance: $2,416

Note: Out of all the states, California has the highest total cost of ownership.

File:Traffic in Southern California.jpgDaniel R. Blume, Wikimedia Commons

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Colorado

Total: $25,239

Gas: $2,099

Insurance: $2,337

Note: Annual repair fees average $417 in Colorado.

File:Frisco Colorado roads.jpgSunDawn, Wikimedia Commons

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Connecticut

Total: $26,428

Gas: $2,218

Insurance: $1,725

Note: The higher sales tax in this state doesn't help.

File:CT Route 195, Storrs CT.jpgJohn Phelan, Wikimedia Commons

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Delaware

Total: $23,504 

Gas: $2,077

Insurance: $2,063

Note: One of the no sales tax states.

File:2022-07-20 13 56 33 View south along Interstate 95 (Delaware Turnpike) from the overpass for the ramp to southbound Delaware State Route 1 and Delaware State Route 7 (Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway) in Christiana, New Castle County, Delaware.jpgFamartin, Wikimedia Commons

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Florida

Total: $27,235 

Gas: $2,248

Insurance: $2,694

Note: Florida has some of the highest insurance premiums.

vehicles near coconut treesAndre Tan, Unsplash

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Georgia

Total: $26,691 

Gas: $2,124

Insurance: $1,970

Note: Repairs average about $408 annually.

File:Atlanta 75.85.jpgAtlantacitizen at English Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons

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Hawaii

Total: $26,139

Gas: $3,319

Insurance: $1,517

Note: Hawaii has some of the highest gas prices in the country.

File:Hawaii Belt Road.JPGArjunkrsen, Wikimedia Commons

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Idaho

Total: $25,910

Gas: $2,196

Insurance: $1,428

Note: 6% sales tax.

File:2015-03-06 18 09 23 Traffic light at the intersection of Pole Line Road (U.S. Route 93) and North 2900 East in Twin Falls, Idaho.JPGFamartin, Wikimedia Commons

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Illinois

Total: $26,755

Gas: $2,338

Insurance: $1,532

Note: Annual car repair costs run in the $379 range.

File:Illinois Route 72 (Higgins Road) Through the Forest Preserve District, Near Schaumburg, Illinois (9181752876).jpgKen Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA, Wikimedia Commons

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Indiana

Total: $26,430

Gas: $2,167

Insurance: $1,515

Note: Higher-end sales tax, but lower-end gas prices.

File:Indiana State Capitol Market St.jpgDaniel Schwen, Wikimedia Commons

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Iowa

Total: $25,366

Gas: $1,967

Insurance: $1,630

Note: At least gas prices are lower than many states.

File:Iowa City Downtown June 2021.jpgStevat20, Wikimedia Commons

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Kansas

Total: $26,840

Gas: $1,939

Insurance: $1,900

Note: High sales tax in Kansas.

File:KC Streetcar (26813012241).jpgJason Doss from Kansas City, MO, Wikimedia Commons

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Kentucky

Total: $26,500

Gas: $1,991

Insurance: $2,228

Note: Repairs average about $385 annually.

File:US-KY - Arlington - North America - Road Trip - Arrow - The South - Rain (4892064702).jpgCGP Grey, Wikimedia Commons

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Louisiana

Total: $26,375

Gas: $1,962

Insurance: $2,883

Note: Second highest insurance premiums after Florida.

File:Downtown Many, LA IMG 7513.JPGBilly Hathorn, Wikimedia Commons

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Maine

Total: $25,401

Gas: $2,224

Insurance: $1,175

Note: Car repairs average about $349.

File:Maine Street 2023-07-07 16.21.11.jpgChris j wood, Wikimedia Commons

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Maryland

Total: $26,203

Gas: $2,161

Insurance: $1,746

Note: Car repairs will run around $400.

File:I-95 congestion, Baltimore, Maryland.jpgBen Schumin, Wikimedia Commons

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Massachusetts

Total: $26,340

Gas: $2,209

Insurance: $1,726

Note: Car repairs are at $390.

File:MA Route 99 northbound, Everett MA.jpgJohn Phelan, Wikimedia Commons

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Michigan

Total: $26,786

Gas: $2,182

Insurance: $2,352

Note: Lower on the gas prices but higher on the insurance.

File:Autonomous car testing in traffic, Dearborn, Michigan.jpgRmhermen, Wikimedia Commons

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Minnesota

Total: $26,484

Gas: $2,056

Insurance: $1,911

Note: Sales tax on the high end in Minnesota.

File:Minnesota State Highway 55 - 15631136528.jpgDougtone, Wikimedia Commons

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Mississippi

Total: $25,702

Gas: $1,891

Insurance: $2,008

Note: Car repairs average $400.

File:Pearl, Mississippi on Riverwind Drive 2014-05-25.jpgKevin magee, Wikimedia Commons

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Missouri

Total: $25,340

Gas: $1,945

Insurance: $1,982

Note: Lower than average gas prices.

Joshua KöllerJoshua Köller, Pexels

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Montana

Total: $23,624

Gas: $2,068

Insurance: $2,193

Note: No sales tax but high insurance premiums.

File:Red Lodge, Montana (2).jpgChris06, Wikimedia Commons

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Nebraska

Total: $25,927

Gas: $1,998

Insurance: $1,902

Note: Insurance and sales taxes are both higher than average.

File:Murray, Nebraska Hwy 1 (2).JPGAmmodramus, Wikimedia Commons

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Nevada

Total: $27,357

Gas: $1,906

Insurance: $2,060

Note: The highest sales tax on the list.

File:Las Vegas Strip Traffic (22574558220).jpgTony Webster from San Francisco, California, Wikimedia Commons

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New Hampshire

Total: $22,760 

Gas: $2,151

Insurance: $1,265

Note: The cheapest total cost of all 50 states.

File:Errol NH.JPGP199, Wikimedia Commons

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New Jersey

Total: $26,642

Gas: $2,137

Insurance: $1,902

Note: One of the higher ones on the list.

File:2018-07-24 15 46 16 View south along New Jersey Route 21 (McCarter Highway) from the overpass for U.S. Route 46 in Clifton, Passaic County, New Jersey.jpgFamartin, Wikimedia Commons

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New Mexico

Total: $25,374 

Gas: $2,011

Insurance: $2,049

Note: Car repairs about $400.

File:Route 66, Santa Fe, New Mexico.jpgKen Lund, Wikimedia Commons

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New York

Total: $25,471

Gas: $2,292

Insurance: $1,870

Note: Thankfully, the state has some of the best public transportation.

File:Traffic in Manhattan.jpgILMRT, Wikimedia Commons

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North Carolina

Total: $24,651 

Gas: $2,073

Insurance: $1,741

Note: Car repairs: $400.

File:Scenes from Lenoir, North Carolina 08.jpgIndy beetle, Wikimedia Commons

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North Dakota

Total: $25,504

Gas: $2,065

Insurance: $1,665

Note: Car repair costs: $365.

File:North Dakota Highway 20 in Devils Lake from train track.jpgI, the copyright holder of this work, hereby publish it under the following license:, Wikimedia Commons

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Ohio

Total: $25,665

Gas: $2,120

Insurance: $1,417

Note: Car repairs are at about $350 per year.

File:Mowrystown, Ohio looking west on Main Street.jpgAesopposea, Wikimedia Commons

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Oklahoma

Total: $24,914

Gas: $1,840

Insurance: $2,138

Note: Annual car repairs are nearly $380.

File:I-35 Oklahoma City2.jpgKool Cats Photography over 2 Million Views (flickr.com), Wikimedia Commons

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Oregon

Total: $23,583

Gas: $2,539

Insurance: $1,678

Note: No sales tax and lower insurance premiums.

Eric SanmanEric Sanman, Pexels

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Pennsylvania

Total: $26,527

Gas: $2,374

Insurance: $1,872

Note: Higher sales tax and gas prices.

File:I-676-US 30 EB from 22nd Street overpass.jpegDough4872, Wikimedia Commons

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Rhode Island

Total: $26,982

Gas: $2,151

Insurance: $2,061

Note: 7% sales tax.

File:Newport (Rhode Island, USA), Thames Street -- 2006 -- 3117.jpgDietmar Rabich, Wikimedia Commons

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South Carolina

Total: $25,802

Gas: $1,988

Insurance: $2,009

Note: High insurance but lower gas prices.

a road with cars on it and trees on the sideKoushalya Karthikeyan, Unsplash

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South Dakota

Total: $25,631

Gas: $2,052

Insurance: $2,280

Note: Higher insurance, lower sales tax.

Dudubangbang TravelDudubangbang Travel, Pexels

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Tennessee

Total: $26,392

Gas: $1,933

Insurance: $1,677

Note: High-end insurance costs and sales tax.

File:Traffic congestion - US 11E - Morristown, TN.jpgAppalachianCentrist, Wikimedia Commons

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Texas

Total: $26,343

Gas: $1,885

Insurance: $2,043

Note: Lower gas prices but those insurance prices will get you.

File:Texas State Highway Loop 1604, San Antonio, Texas.jpgKen Lund, Wikimedia Commons

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Utah

Total: $26,717

Gas: $2,180

Insurance: $1,825

Note: Car repairs: $400.

File:Utah State Capitol seen from State Street.jpgYou may select the license of your choice., Wikimedia Commons

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Vermont

Total: $25,859

Gas: $2,269

Insurance: $1,319

Note: Insurance is the third lowest in the country.

File:VT 128 at VT 15.jpgDoug Kerr, Wikimedia Commons

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Virginia

Total: $24,970 

Gas: $2,105

Insurance: $1,469

Note: Annual repairs: $400.

File:SHIRLEY HIGHWAY IN VIRGINIA. HEAVY TRAFFIC AND CLEAR BUS LANES - NARA - 546629.jpgYoichi Okamoto, Wikimedia Commons

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Washington

Total: $27,016

Gas: $2,876

Insurance: $1,608

Note: Higher-end sales tax in Washington state.

File:North end of the 12th Street Tunnel (Washington, DC).jpgAgnosticPreachersKid, Wikimedia Commons

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West Virginia

Total: $26,412

Gas: $2,127

Insurance: $2,005

Note: High insurance premiums in West Virginia.

KellyKelly, Pexels

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Wisconsin

Total: $25,426

Gas: $1,992

Insurance: $1,664

Note: Annual car repair costs come in at around $361.

File:Phillips Wisconsin Downtown WIS13.jpgI, the copyright holder of this work, hereby publish it under the following license:, Wikimedia Commons

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Wyoming

Total: $26,197

Gas: $2,145

Insurance: $1,758

Note: A 6% state sales tax accounts for about $2,900 of the total.

File:Cheyenne, Wyoming-2012-07-15 1428.jpgPostdlf, Wikimedia Commons

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