Second Quarter 2008 Car Insurance Rate Report

Insurance.com's quarterly Car Insurance Rate Report found that the lowest car insurance quotes, on average, increased 3.4% over the previous quarter, rising from $1,831 per year to $1,893 per year. The rate report is based on real-time auto insurance quotes given to consumers from more than a dozen insurance companies during the second quarter. It marks the second consecutive quarter of rate increases, following last quarter's 1% increase, reversing the trend of steady or falling auto rates for the past several years.

• Among the top 10 states seeing the sharpest increase in auto rates in the 2nd Quarter were Indiana (up 6.7%), Texas (up 4.3%), Nevada (up 4.1%), Illinois (up 3.8%) and Pennsylvania (up 3.6%).

10 States with Largest % Increase in Premium

State	1st Quarter 2008 Premium	2nd Quarter 2008 Premium	$$ Increases	% Increases
IN	$1,407	$1,501	+$94	6.7%
AR	$1,729	$1,834	+$105	6.1%
RI	$2,178	$2,286	+$108	5.0%
TX	$1,777	$1,853	+$76	4.3%
NV	$2,103	$2,189	+$86	4.1%
IA	$1,276	$1,326	+$50	3.9%
IL	$1,512	$1,570	+$58	3.8%
MO	$1,569	$1,629	+$60	3.8%
WV	$2,083	$2,161	+$78	3.7%
PA	$2,049	$2,122	+$73	3.6%

• The most expensive states quoted this quarter are Louisiana ($2,577), New Jersey ($2,544), and Delaware ($2,300), and the District of Columbia ($2,466).

10 Most Expensive States

State	1st Quarter 2008 Premium	2nd Quarter 2008 Premium	$$ Changes	% Changes
LA	$2,674	$2,577	-$97	-3.6%
NJ	$2,499	$2,544	+$45	1.8%
DC	$2,515	$2,466	-$49	-1.9%
DE	$2,378	$2,300	-$78	-3.3%
RI	$2,178	$2,286	+$108	5.0%
MD	$2,165	$2,196	+$31	1.4%
NV	$2,103	$2,189	+$86	4.1%
WV	$2,083	$2,161	+$78	3.7%
PA	$2,049	$2,122	+$73	3.6%
CT	$2,024	$2,080	+$56	2.8%

• States seeing declines in auto premium prices include North Carolina (down 8.7%), New Hampshire (down 4.1%), Tennessee (down 3.7%), Louisiana (down 3.6%) and Delaware (down 3.3%).

10 States with Largest % Decrease in Premium

State	1st Quarter 2008 Premium	2nd Quarter 2008 Premium	$$ Decreases	% Decreases
NC	$1,638	$1,495	-$143	-8.7%
NH	$1,488	$1,427	-$61	-4.1%
TN	$1,589	$1,530	-$59	-3.7%
LA	$2,674	$2,577	-$97	-3.6%
DE	$2,378	$2,300	-$78	-3.3%
SD	$1,460	$1,426	-$34	-2.3%
DC	$2,515	$2,466	-$49	-1.9%
VT	$1,439	$1,414	-$25	-1.7%
KS	$1,539	$1,512	-$27	-1.8%
SC	$1,597	$1,575	-$22	-1.4%

• Half of the least expensive States saw decreases in their premium, including Ohio, which saw an increase in premiums last quarter. Premiums in North Carolina also dropped again after a very small increase last quarter.
  

10 Least Expensive States

State	1st Quarter 2008 Premium	2nd Quarter 2008 Premium	$$ Changes	% Changes
OH	$1,278	$1,268	-$10	-0.8%
WI	$1,237	$1,276	+$39	3.2%
ME	$1,281	$1,285	+$3	0.3%
IA	$1,276	$1,326	+$50	3.9%
ID	$1,379	$1,381	+$2	0.1%
VT	$1,439	$1,414	-$25	-1.7%
SD	$1,460	$1,426	-$34	-2.3%
NH	$1,488	$1,427	-$61	-4.1%
CO	$1,478	$1,489	+$11	0.7%
NC	$1,638	$1,495	-$143	-8.7%

Wondering where your state ranked in the Insurance.com 2008 Second Quarter Car Insurance Rate Report? Below is a list of the 48 states Insurance.com surveyed. States are ranked in alphabetical order with the price increase or decrease displayed as a percentage for each state.

State	1st Quarter 2008 Premium	2nd Quarter 2008 Premium	$$ Changes	% Changes
AL	$1,761	$1,784	+$23	1.3%
AR	$1,729	$1,834	+$105	6.1%
AZ	$1,868	$1,926	+$58	3.1%
CA	$1,825	$1,860	+$35	1.9%
CO	$1,478	$1,489	+$11	0.7%
CT	$2,024	$2,080	+$56	2.8%
DC	$2,515	$2,466	-$49	-1.9%
DE	$2,378	$2,300	-$78	-3.3%
FL	$2,031	$2,004	-$27	-1.3%
GA	$1,621	$1,638	+$17	1.0%
IA	$1,276	$1,326	+$50	3.9%
ID	$1,379	$1,381	+$2	0.1%
IL	$1,512	$1,570	+$58	3.8%
IN	$1,407	$1,501	+$94	6.7%
KS	$1,539	$1,512	-$27	-1.8%
KY	$1,937	$1,935	-$2	-0.1%
LA	$2,674	$2,577	-$97	-3.6%
MD	$2,165	$2,196	+$31	1.4%
ME	$1,281	$1,285	+$4	0.3%
MI	$1,960	$1,987	+$27	1.4%
MN	$1,539	$1,583	+$44	2.9%
MO	$1,569	$1,629	+$60	3.8%
MS	$1,964	$2,021	+$57	2.9%
MT	$1,588	$1,622	+$34	2.1%
NC	$1,638	$1,495	-143	-8.7%
ND	$1,609	$1,650	+$41	2.5%
NE	$1,503	$1,506	+$3	0.2%
NH	$1,488	$1,427	-$61	-4.1%
NJ	$2,499	$2,544	+$45	1.8%
NM	$1,808	$1,870	+$62	3.4%
NV	$2,103	$2,189	+$86	4.1%
NY	$2,281	NA	NA	NA
OH	$1,278	$1,268	-$10	-0.8%
OK	$1,652	$1,689	+$37	2.2%
OR	$1,510	$1,547	+$37	2.5%
PA	$2,049	$2,122	+$73	3.6%
RI	$2,178	$2,286	+$108	5.0%
SC	$1,597	$1,575	-$22	-1.4%
SD	$1,460	$1,426	-$34	-2.3%
TN	$1,589	$1,530	-$59	-3.7%
TX	$1,777	$1,853	+$76	4.3%
UT	$1,623	$1,629	+$6	0.4%
VA	$1,565	$1,599	+$34	2.2%
VT	$1,439	$1,414	-$25	-1.7%
WA	$1,835	$1,846	+$11	0.6%
WI	$1,237	$1,276	+$39	3.2%
WV	$2,083	$2,161	+$78	3.7%
WY	$1894	$1885	-$9	-0.5%

ABOUT THE CAR INSURANCE RATE REPORT
Insurance.com's latest Car Insurance Rate Report highlights the lowest average car insurance rates quoted to consumers visiting Insurance.com in the second quarter of 2008. The rates consumers viewed, but didn't necessarily purchase, come from auto insurance quotes consumers received as they shopped and compared rates from over a dozen of the nation's leading auto insurance companies. Over the course of a year, Insurance.com provides online car insurance quotes to more than 1 million people visiting the website. While the Car Insurance Rate Report is a broad indicator of pricing activity in the personal auto insurance marketplace, it is not a comprehensive index as it reflects only the quotes of carriers that have participated in the Insurance.com platform in the states where it quotes (all states except Alaska, Hawaii, and Massachusetts). Due to market changes, New York rates are not available this quarter.

Second Quarter 2008 Car Insurance Rate Report

Insurance.com's quarterly Car Insurance Rate Report found that the lowest car insurance quotes, on average, increased 3.4% over the previous quarter, rising from $1,831 per year to $1,893 per year. The rate report is based on real-time auto insurance quotes given to consumers from more than a dozen insurance companies during the second quarter. It marks the second consecutive quarter of rate increases, following last quarter's 1% increase, reversing the trend of steady or falling auto rates for the past several years.

• Among the top 10 states seeing the sharpest increase in auto rates in the 2nd Quarter were Indiana (up 6.7%), Texas (up 4.3%), Nevada (up 4.1%), Illinois (up 3.8%) and Pennsylvania (up 3.6%).

10 States with Largest % Increase in Premium

State	1st Quarter 2008 Premium	2nd Quarter 2008 Premium	$$ Increases	% Increases
IN	$1,407	$1,501	+$94	6.7%
AR	$1,729	$1,834	+$105	6.1%
RI	$2,178	$2,286	+$108	5.0%
TX	$1,777	$1,853	+$76	4.3%
NV	$2,103	$2,189	+$86	4.1%
IA	$1,276	$1,326	+$50	3.9%
IL	$1,512	$1,570	+$58	3.8%
MO	$1,569	$1,629	+$60	3.8%
WV	$2,083	$2,161	+$78	3.7%
PA	$2,049	$2,122	+$73	3.6%

• The most expensive states quoted this quarter are Louisiana ($2,577), New Jersey ($2,544), and Delaware ($2,300), and the District of Columbia ($2,466).

10 Most Expensive States

State	1st Quarter 2008 Premium	2nd Quarter 2008 Premium	$$ Changes	% Changes
LA	$2,674	$2,577	-$97	-3.6%
NJ	$2,499	$2,544	+$45	1.8%
DC	$2,515	$2,466	-$49	-1.9%
DE	$2,378	$2,300	-$78	-3.3%
RI	$2,178	$2,286	+$108	5.0%
MD	$2,165	$2,196	+$31	1.4%
NV	$2,103	$2,189	+$86	4.1%
WV	$2,083	$2,161	+$78	3.7%
PA	$2,049	$2,122	+$73	3.6%
CT	$2,024	$2,080	+$56	2.8%

• States seeing declines in auto premium prices include North Carolina (down 8.7%), New Hampshire (down 4.1%), Tennessee (down 3.7%), Louisiana (down 3.6%) and Delaware (down 3.3%).

10 States with Largest % Decrease in Premium

State	1st Quarter 2008 Premium	2nd Quarter 2008 Premium	$$ Decreases	% Decreases
NC	$1,638	$1,495	-$143	-8.7%
NH	$1,488	$1,427	-$61	-4.1%
TN	$1,589	$1,530	-$59	-3.7%
LA	$2,674	$2,577	-$97	-3.6%
DE	$2,378	$2,300	-$78	-3.3%
SD	$1,460	$1,426	-$34	-2.3%
DC	$2,515	$2,466	-$49	-1.9%
VT	$1,439	$1,414	-$25	-1.7%
KS	$1,539	$1,512	-$27	-1.8%
SC	$1,597	$1,575	-$22	-1.4%

• Half of the least expensive States saw decreases in their premium, including Ohio, which saw an increase in premiums last quarter. Premiums in North Carolina also dropped again after a very small increase last quarter.
  

10 Least Expensive States

State	1st Quarter 2008 Premium	2nd Quarter 2008 Premium	$$ Changes	% Changes
OH	$1,278	$1,268	-$10	-0.8%
WI	$1,237	$1,276	+$39	3.2%
ME	$1,281	$1,285	+$3	0.3%
IA	$1,276	$1,326	+$50	3.9%
ID	$1,379	$1,381	+$2	0.1%
VT	$1,439	$1,414	-$25	-1.7%
SD	$1,460	$1,426	-$34	-2.3%
NH	$1,488	$1,427	-$61	-4.1%
CO	$1,478	$1,489	+$11	0.7%
NC	$1,638	$1,495	-$143	-8.7%

Wondering where your state ranked in the Insurance.com 2008 Second Quarter Car Insurance Rate Report? Below is a list of the 48 states Insurance.com surveyed. States are ranked in alphabetical order with the price increase or decrease displayed as a percentage for each state.

State	1st Quarter 2008 Premium	2nd Quarter 2008 Premium	$$ Changes	% Changes
AL	$1,761	$1,784	+$23	1.3%
AR	$1,729	$1,834	+$105	6.1%
AZ	$1,868	$1,926	+$58	3.1%
CA	$1,825	$1,860	+$35	1.9%
CO	$1,478	$1,489	+$11	0.7%
CT	$2,024	$2,080	+$56	2.8%
DC	$2,515	$2,466	-$49	-1.9%
DE	$2,378	$2,300	-$78	-3.3%
FL	$2,031	$2,004	-$27	-1.3%
GA	$1,621	$1,638	+$17	1.0%
IA	$1,276	$1,326	+$50	3.9%
ID	$1,379	$1,381	+$2	0.1%
IL	$1,512	$1,570	+$58	3.8%
IN	$1,407	$1,501	+$94	6.7%
KS	$1,539	$1,512	-$27	-1.8%
KY	$1,937	$1,935	-$2	-0.1%
LA	$2,674	$2,577	-$97	-3.6%
MD	$2,165	$2,196	+$31	1.4%
ME	$1,281	$1,285	+$4	0.3%
MI	$1,960	$1,987	+$27	1.4%
MN	$1,539	$1,583	+$44	2.9%
MO	$1,569	$1,629	+$60	3.8%
MS	$1,964	$2,021	+$57	2.9%
MT	$1,588	$1,622	+$34	2.1%
NC	$1,638	$1,495	-143	-8.7%
ND	$1,609	$1,650	+$41	2.5%
NE	$1,503	$1,506	+$3	0.2%
NH	$1,488	$1,427	-$61	-4.1%
NJ	$2,499	$2,544	+$45	1.8%
NM	$1,808	$1,870	+$62	3.4%
NV	$2,103	$2,189	+$86	4.1%
NY	$2,281	NA	NA	NA
OH	$1,278	$1,268	-$10	-0.8%
OK	$1,652	$1,689	+$37	2.2%
OR	$1,510	$1,547	+$37	2.5%
PA	$2,049	$2,122	+$73	3.6%
RI	$2,178	$2,286	+$108	5.0%
SC	$1,597	$1,575	-$22	-1.4%
SD	$1,460	$1,426	-$34	-2.3%
TN	$1,589	$1,530	-$59	-3.7%
TX	$1,777	$1,853	+$76	4.3%
UT	$1,623	$1,629	+$6	0.4%
VA	$1,565	$1,599	+$34	2.2%
VT	$1,439	$1,414	-$25	-1.7%
WA	$1,835	$1,846	+$11	0.6%
WI	$1,237	$1,276	+$39	3.2%
WV	$2,083	$2,161	+$78	3.7%
WY	$1894	$1885	-$9	-0.5%

ABOUT THE CAR INSURANCE RATE REPORT
Insurance.com's latest Car Insurance Rate Report highlights the lowest average car insurance rates quoted to consumers visiting Insurance.com in the second quarter of 2008. The rates consumers viewed, but didn't necessarily purchase, come from auto insurance quotes consumers received as they shopped and compared rates from over a dozen of the nation's leading auto insurance companies. Over the course of a year, Insurance.com provides online car insurance quotes to more than 1 million people visiting the website. While the Car Insurance Rate Report is a broad indicator of pricing activity in the personal auto insurance marketplace, it is not a comprehensive index as it reflects only the quotes of carriers that have participated in the Insurance.com platform in the states where it quotes (all states except Alaska, Hawaii, and Massachusetts). Due to market changes, New York rates are not available this quarter.

Does Your Occupation Affect Your Auto Insurance Rate?

Think your occupation does not affect your auto insurance rate - think again! In Insurance.com's 2006 Occupation Report, results show that your occupation can greatly impact your car insurance premium.

Compiled from data from their partnering auto insurance companies, Insurance.com's report shows that scientists, pilots/navigators and actors/performers/artists pay the lowest insurance rates at an average of $935.76 per year. Attorneys/lawyers/judges, executives and business owners pay the highest insurance rates at an average of $1,383.63 per year.

Why such a big difference between occupations? According to David Roush, CEO of Insurance.com, attorneys/lawyers/judges, executives and business owners have highly stressful jobs, which require them to spend more time in their cars and talk more frequently on their cell phones than the average driver. "Taking all of these factors into account, you can see why some occupations are coined as "high-risk" and typically pay more for auto insurance then others," stated Roush.

As for scientists, pilots/navigators and actors/performers/artists, Roush says that there are a number of reasons why these occupations pay less for auto insurance. For one, scientists are viewed as being very meticulous and detailed-oriented people, which translates to good driving habits on the road. This outstanding attention to detail typically means scientists are safer drivers, resulting in lower auto insurance premiums.

The same goes for pilots and navigators whose jobs require them to be focused on the safety and wellbeing of others - skills that are often transferred over to their driving habits as well. "Pilots and navigators are often very safe drivers because their driving record not only impacts their personal life, but also their professional life," noted Roush. "If a pilot or navigator was to get into an accident or receive a DUI, their career opportunities would be restricted or even worse, eliminated."

Actors, performers and artists are also at the lower end of insurance premiums because their jobs require them to work in the city, where they are more apt to commute via train or bus to work, versus driving - limiting their time in the car and reducing their chance of getting into a car accident.

However, receiving discounts on auto insurance is not a new concept. For years, insurance companies have been giving discounts to members of "affinity groups," such as AARP, AAA, alumni groups and other associations. These discounts are just now being extended to certain occupations as well, noted Roush.