Auto insurance rates, by state

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners puts out an annual report tallying auto insurance premiums and other data, state by state. (Here's the link, but note that the report costs $200. Our agency belongs to the NAIC, so we got a copy for free.)

So how does Washington compare? A little higher than average, but definitely in the middle of the pack. The national average for auto insurance coverage in 2007 was $912. Here in Washington, the average cost was $928.

The lowest average cost, it turns out, was in Iowa, where auto coverage cost an average of $620. The highest-cost state was Louisiana, at $1,262. Washington, D.C. was even higher: $1,289.

The 260-page report breaks down premiums by state in far more detail: different kinds of liability, personal injury protection, uninsured/underinsured motorist, etc. etc. It also has car-wreck fatality data (Washington's one of the lowest), average car-repair cost per claim ($2,366, which is about average), car-theft statistics, road miles, and other information.