The 2 cheapest states to own a car are nearly 2,000 miles apart
Owning a car can get expensive, but where you live makes a big difference. A recent study looked at the costs of owning a vehicle across all 50 states. Researchers considered insurance rates, gas prices, repair costs, and even speeding fines to determine the most budget-friendly places for car owners. Surprisingly, the two cheapest states to own a car are nearly 2,000 miles apart.
According to the research, Ohio is the cheapest state to own a car. Interestingly, insurance rates and speeding fines are higher here than a few other areas. It seems the state is serious about punishing lead-footed drivers: fines for speeding average $150 a pop. However, average fuel and repair costs seem much more reasonable compared to the rest of the country.
Idaho takes the second spot, offering even lower insurance rates than Ohio. Full coverage in Idaho averages $1,339, while minimal coverage is $345. Additionally, Idaho boasts a much lower average speeding fine of $34, compared to Ohio’s $150 fine. The state’s fuel and repair costs nestle it under Ohio, though. In fact, average annual fuel costs are higher in Idaho than in any other top 10 of the cheapest states to own a car. Still, the composite scoring helps Idaho stand out.
| Cheapest States | Average annual full insurance coverage | Average annual minimum insurance coverage | Average money spent on gas | Average cost of repairs | Average speeding fine | Composite score out of 100 |
| Ohio | $1,485 | $406 | $2,054 | $381 | $150 | 47.95 |
| Idaho | $1,339 | $345 | $2,508 | $420 | $34 | 49.56 |
| Vermont | $1,376 | $298 | $2,485 | $404 | $90 | 49.59 |
| Iowa | $1,767 | $324 | $2,039 | $388 | $80 | 50.05 |
| Wisconsin | $1,735 | $419 | $2,057 | $389 | $50 | 50.56 |
| Indiana | $1,652 | $390 | $2,104 | $393 | $200 | 50.87 |
| North Dakota | $1,712 | $366 | $2,172 | $393 | $43 | 50.88 |
| Maine | $1,481 | $397 | $2,399 | $377 | $129 | 51.05 |
| Wyoming | $1,667 | $263 | $2,207 | $429 | $200 | 51.17 |
| Alabama | $1,989 | $478 | $2,033 | $431 | $20 | 54.26 |
Ohio and Idaho aren’t the only states where you can find savings. Vermont ranks third, coming in just behind Idaho with a nearly identical composite score. While insurance and repair costs in Vermont are similar to those in Idaho, Vermont’s average speeding fine of $90 is what keeps it from taking the second spot. Still, for those who drive carefully, Vermont offers great value.
Iowa lands in fourth place, with some of the lowest gas prices in the country. Drivers in Iowa spend about $2,039 annually on fuel, which is less than in any other state. Combined with reasonable insurance costs, Iowa drivers do well compared to other areas.
Wisconsin rounds out the top five cheapest states to own a car, following closely behind Iowa. Although insurance costs are slightly higher here compared to Iowa, the state still offers competitive prices overall. Wisconsin drivers enjoy a good balance between insurance, gas, and repair costs, making it a cost-effective state for car owners.
