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Most Expensive States to Drive a Car
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People all drive the same way, but depending on the state you live in, owning and operating a vehicle can be much more expensive depending on gas, insurance and taxes.
Unfortunately, unless you live in a big city, easy and convenient public transportation isn’t always available and owning a car becomes a necessity — and the costs can pile up.
A new Bankrate.com study found which states were the most expensive to operate a car, factoring in costs of gas, insurance, repairs, taxes and fees. The national average was $3,201 a year, but drivers in the most expensive state pay $1,000 more than that annually.
There were such differences state to state because some have no state sales tax and low car insurance while others have long commutes due to sprawling communities. In some states, the cost of gas is the most expensive part of driving a car, but in others it’s the taxes and fees. In New Jersey, car insurance cost far more than gasoline ($1,119 vs. $830).
The least expensive state to drive a car was Oregon, where the total cost came out to $2,204, more than $2,000 cheaper than the most expensive state and a full $1,000 cheaper than the national average.
Here are the 10 most expensive states.
10. Nebraska
Downtown Omaha. Photo by Raymond Bucko
Repairs: $347
Taxes/fees: $1,575
Gasoline: $1,069
Insurance: $580
Total: $3,571
9. Virginia
Old Town Alexandria.
Repairs: $382
Taxes/fees: $1,568
Gasoline: $1,002
Insurance: $670
Total: $3,622
8. Massachusetts
Copley Square, Boston
Repairs: $358
Taxes/fees: $1,475
Gasoline: $856
Insurance: $936
Total: $3,625
7. Kentucky
Bowling Green
Repairs: $367
Taxes/fees: $1,443
Gasoline: $1,100
Insurance: $716
Total: $3,626
6. Arizona
Scottsdale Waterfront. Photo by Joseph Plotz.
Repairs: $362
Taxes/fees: $1,724
Gasoline: $937
Insurance: $862
Total: $3,886
5. Nevada
Las Vegas Strip
Repairs: $364
Taxes/fees: $1,741
Gasoline: $811
Insurance: $970
Total: $3,886
4. Rhode Island
Providence
Repairs: $371
Taxes/fees: $1,717
Gasoline: $826
Insurance: $999
Total: $3,913
3. Wyoming
Laramie
Repairs: $324
Taxes/fees: $1,341
Gasoline: $1,643
Insurance: $630
Total: $3,966
2. California
Ventura county fair. Photo by Dan Huse
Repairs: $390
Taxes/fees: $1,809
Gasoline: $980
Insurance: $786
Total: $3,966
1. Georgia
Little Five Points in Atlanta. Photo by Pawel Loj
Repairs: $385
Taxes/fees: $1,952
Gasoline: $1,129
Insurance: $767
Total: $4,233
