Think it’s expensive to own a car? It’s a lot worse if you’re in Wyoming.
Wyoming was recently named the most expensive place to drive a car, according to Bankrate.com. A typical driver in the Cowboy State spends $2,705 a year to operate a vehicle, about $500 more than the national average of $2,223.
Meanwhile, in Iowa, car ownership costs just $1,942 a year—making it the cheapest state on the list. Ohio ($1,973), Illinois ($1,999), Idaho ($2,001) and Wisconsin ($2,018) join Iowa among the five cheapest states.
Bankrate analyzed the annual costs of gasoline, insurance and repairs in all 50 states to determine how much it costs to maintain your car after you purchase it–of course the survey doesn’t touch on parking costs, which can make a big impact in large cities. There are huge variations in insurance costs and repair costs from state to state, according to Bankrate, which account for most of the differences in overall expense.
The most expensive place to obtain auto insurance, Louisiana, has an average cost of $1,277 each year, while in Iowa it’s half that at $630.
If you’re paying more than the average in your state—see the chart at the bottom of the article—it may be time to look for cheaper insurance.
Top 5 most expensive places to have a car
Georgia just barely missed the Top 5 with an average annual cost of $2,408, boosted by higher repair and gas costs.
5. New Jersey
New Jersey’s annual cost of $2,421 per year is 9 percent above average, largely because car repairs there are more expensive. It’s not the labor—which is less expensive than average—but the parts.
4. Mississippi
Mississippi’s annual cost of $2,487 per year is 12 percent above average. While gas prices are quite cheap, drivers put many more miles on their cars than other states, meaning they spend a lot more on gas.
3. Florida[amazon_link asins=’1524763438,B01078GH6A,B075V234VL,B01M7MDK5S’ template=’ProductCarousel’ store=’thinkglink-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’6b957ca5-10f9-11e8-8c71-f97dba9cbd7e’]
Sunshine State’s $2,516 annual cost is 13 percent above the national average. Auto insurance and repairs are the culprits responsible for Florida’s high prices.
2. Louisiana
The $2,555 annual cost of operating a car in Louisiana is 15 percent higher than average. This is due to the cost of insurance, which is highest in the nation.
1. Wyoming
Car repair, gas and insurance prices all rank below average in Wyoming, but—not surprisingly—the long distances drivers must travel to get around the state drive up costs.
The breakdown:
STATE | Repairs (avg annual cost in 2012) |
Insurance (avg annual cost 2011-2007) |
Gasoline (avg annual cost 2013) |
Total |
Iowa | $315 | $630 | $998 | $1,942 |
Ohio | $328 | $698 | $947 | $1,973 |
Illinois | $343 | $805 | $852 | $1,999 |
Idaho | $349 | $664 | $988 | $2,001 |
Wisconsin | $329 | $658 | $1,031 | $2,018 |
South Dakota | $312 | $654 | $1,056 | $2,022 |
Pennsylvania | $364 | $908 | $781 | $2,052 |
New Hampshire | $328 | $767 | $975 | $2,070 |
Nebraska | $347 | $709 | $1,025 | $2,081 |
Oregon | $380 | $807 | $893 | $2,081 |
Utah | $371 | $810 | $918 | $2,098 |
Virginia | $382 | $758 | $964 | $2,104 |
Kansas | $352 | $764 | $991 | $2,108 |
Maine | $328 | $682 | $1,109 | $2,119 |
Colorado | $385 | $848 | $890 | $2,123 |
North Carolina | $390 | $708 | $1,032 | $2,129 |
Tennessee | $353 | $762 | $1,021 | $2,136 |
Hawaii | $370 | $906 | $869 | $2,145 |
Alaska | $341 | $1,077 | $730 | $2,147 |
Washington | $375 | $910 | $866 | $2,151 |
Minnesota | $346 | $782 | $1,033 | $2,162 |
Massachusetts | $358 | $984 | $827 | $2,169 |
Vermont | $270 | $730 | $1,178 | $2,177 |
South Carolina | $368 | $860 | $958 | $2,186 |
Indiana | $329 | $709 | $1,162 | $2,200 |
Arizona | $362 | $963 | $888 | $2,213 |
North Dakota | $344 | $662 | $1,207 | $2,213 |
Nevada | $364 | $1,078 | $771 | $2,214 |
Texas | $364 | $1,001 | $860 | $2,226 |
Arkansas | $361 | $813 | $1,055 | $2,229 |
Missouri | $353 | $780 | $1,099 | $2,232 |
California | $390 | $906 | $940 | $2,237 |
Montana | $360 | $822 | $1,067 | $2,250 |
New York | $365 | $1,196 | $713 | $2,273 |
Washington DC | $392 | $1,273 | $618 | $2,283 |
Kentucky | $367 | $848 | $1,073 | $2,288 |
Rhode Island | $371 | $1,142 | $800 | $2,314 |
West Virginia | $310 | $975 | $1,033 | $2,318 |
Oklahoma | $338 | $839 | $1,175 | $2,352 |
Maryland | $388 | $1,030 | $951 | $2,368 |
New Mexico | $345 | $895 | $1,131 | $2,371 |
Connecticut | $385 | $1,058 | $929 | $2,372 |
Michigan | $317 | $1,064 | $994 | $2,375 |
Alabama | $352 | $793 | $1,237 | $2,381 |
Delaware | $314 | $1,110 | $967 | $2,391 |
Georgia | $385 | $927 | $1,096 | $2,408 |
New Jersey | $393 | $1,244 | $783 | $2,421 |
Mississippi | $356 | $901 | $1,231 | $2,487 |
Florida | $377 | $1,124 | $1,015 | $2,516 |
Louisiana | $354 | $1,277 | $924 | $2,555 |
Wyoming | $324 | $792 | $1,588 | $2,705 |
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