Georgia is 10th most expensive state for car insurance

The cost of car insurance is hitting high water marks nationwide, though drivers in Georgia are feeling the pain more than others.

Why it matters: Rising rates are fueling a transportation affordability crisis, especially in Atlanta, where car dependency has dominated for decades.

Driving the news: Georgia ranks 10th as the most expensive state for car insurance, with the average annual cost reaching $2,688 as of June, according to Insurify , which helps users collect quotes from multiple insurers.

• That's 15% higher than the national average.
• Peach State drivers saw a 21% increase in the cost of full-coverage insurance from June 2023 to June of this year.

Zoom out: The nationwide average annual cost of full-coverage car insurance hit $2,329 in June — up from $1,601 in January 2021, per Insurify.

• Some states that rank higher than Georgia include Maryland ($3,400), South Carolina ($3,336), Florida ($3,201) and Louisiana ($3,182).

How it works: Insurify's monthly figures are two-year rolling medians to account for "extreme market volatilities" in recent years, the company says.

• They're based on rates for drivers ages 20-70 with clean driving records and at least average credit scores.

Context: The overall cost of used and new cars has increased, driving up what insurers must pay to cover damages.

• Plus, Insurify notes vehicle thefts could influence high insurance costs in Georgia, which ranked ninth in the number of vehicles reported stolen (28,171) in 2023, the National Insurance Crime Bureau reports .
• A law went into effect last year that allows the state insurance commissioner to review rate filings before they go into effect.

The big picture: Several factors play into the difference in rates between states, including road conditions, accident rates and whether a state requires no-fault coverage (meaning plans must cover medical expenses regardless of who's at fault in an incident).

• Individual drivers' quotes, meanwhile, also take into account factors like their age, gender and driving record.

The intrigue: Insurers are increasingly using data about people's driving behavior to inform their rates — sometimes with drivers' knowledge and sometimes not , per the New York Times.

• In March, General Motors quit sharing details about drivers' behavior with data brokers that worked with insurers to create "risk profiles" following the Times' reporting on the practice.

The bottom line: If you're looking to save on insurance, try shopping around — sometimes you'll get a deal with a new provider.

• Compare auto policies on HelpInsure , a site maintained by the Texas Department of Insurance and the Office of Public Insurance Counsel.