What's New in 2026?
Auto insurance can feel like it’s already changing. Sometimes you’re aware of the reason (such as a recent accident), but other times the price you’re offered at renewal can feel like it’s coming out of a black box.
At The Zebra, we're trying to give consumers a peak into that black box to help you understand the myriad of factors behind why prices changes. We recently released our 2026 State of Insurance™ | Auto report. In it we discuss how rates have changed over the years, what we project for 2026 insurance prices nationally and by state and all the complex reasons why.
Overall, we found that from 2025 to 2026 insurance prices are rising…but not by nearly as much as in recent years. Nationally, the average increased around 3%, which is a smaller increase than the year before when insurance prices jumped a whopping 18%!
However, when we look at things at the state level, we see some significant differences. In this article we’re diving into the states with the biggest changes (both increases and decreases) from 2025 to 2026 and the reasons why.
Increases and Decreases by State
If you look at all 50 states and the District of Columbia there is some significant variation in change from 2025 to 2026.
- 21 states and the Washington DC actually saw a decrease last year ranging from as little as .6% to as much as 36% less.
- 29 states saw an increase ranging from as little as .2% to as great as 124% more.
This map shows all states by how much of an increase or decrease they saw between 2025 and 2026.
States with the Biggest Increases
The states with the biggest jumps in insurance prices in 2026 were:
States with the Biggest Decreases
Now let’s look at the states that saw the biggest drops in insurance costs over the last year. Most of these already had and continue to have some of the lowest insurance costs in the country.
How Is Insurance Changing Where You Live?
This chart shows how insurance has changed in the last few years in each state. As you can see insurance, as a state-regulated industry, is very much impacted by where you live.
Is insurance changing drastically in your state? If so, you might get a surprise at your renewal period despite not filing any claims.
One way to stay on top of insurance costs is to compare rates with multiple carriers as there can be big changes in pricing from one to the other. You can even sign up for price tracking and get notified if prices drop.
While change is inevitable in car insurance (and in life), looking ahead can help you adapt and keep insurance an affordable part of your budget.
Methodology
The Zebra’s Dynamic Insurance Rating Tool for home and auto insurance rates utilizes the latest ZIP code-level rate filings from across the U.S., sourced from Quadrant Information Services and S&P Global. These filings, typically updated annually or biennially by insurers, are verified through Quadrant’s QA process and then integrated into The Zebra’s estimator.
The displayed rates are based on a dynamic home and auto profile designed to reflect the content of the page. This profile is tailored to match specific factors such as age, location, and coverage level, which are adjusted based on the page content to show how these variables can impact premiums.
For a comprehensive understanding, see our detailed methodology.
Affordability data was calculated using The Zebra Premium Pressure Index (ZPPI). More information about ZPPI here.