Best and Worst States to Own a Car (car insurance, buying)

[ReluctantGardenStater]

(Including the District of Columbia; according to Forbes)

Best:

10. Ohio
9. New Mexico
8. Georgia
7. Massachusetts
6. North Dakota
5. Wisconsin
4. Oregon
3. South Carolina
2. South Dakota
1. New Hampshire

Worst:

10. Arizona
9. New York
8. Washington D.C.
7. Louisiana
6. Connecticut
5. West Virginia
4. Nevada
3. Alaska
2. California
1. Hawaii

Best And Worst States To Own A Car - Forbes.com

Interesting, as I would have thought New Jersey would make the worst list, what with our ridiculous insurance.

[backdrifter]

Originally Posted by ReluctantGardenStater

(Including the District of Columbia; according to Forbes)

Best:

10. Ohio
9. New Mexico
8. Georgia
7. Massachusetts
6. North Dakota
5. Wisconsin
4. Oregon
3. South Carolina
2. South Dakota
1. New Hampshire

Worst:

10. Arizona
9. New York
8. Washington D.C.
7. Louisiana
6. Connecticut
5. West Virginia
4. Nevada
3. Alaska
2. California
1. Hawaii

Best And Worst States To Own A Car - Forbes.com

Interesting, as I would have thought New Jersey would make the worst list, what with our ridiculous insurance.

Why is Wisconsin so highly rated here? My friend from WI tells me that you're not required to have car insurance, but if you do have car insurance you're required to carry uninsured motorist coverage and they recently upped the amount that you're required to carry...

That doesn't seem very car-owning-friendly to me.

[lrfox]

Why is Massachusetts high? As far as driving goes, MA is one of the worst. We also have REALLY limited options for insurance and relatively high excise tax. I love Forbes, but their "lists" make me wonder sometimes.

[Thomas R.]

I misread you at first. Still maybe I could explain the opposite result too

They seem to be going a good deal on depreciation and also factoring in car thefts. I think Massachusetts has a low rate of car theft. Possibly those two explain Massachusetts being low. Massachusetts also has a high cost-of-living, I think, maybe they factored that in the opposite way I originally thought. Perhaps in comparative terms cars are cheaper there because everything is more expensive, but I don't think they implied they used that.

[theSUBlime]

Originally Posted by lrfox

Why is Massachusetts high? As far as driving goes, MA is one of the worst. We also have REALLY limited options for insurance and relatively high excise tax. I love Forbes, but their "lists" make me wonder sometimes.

I think it goes outside of insurance problems, though Boston would probably be one of the worst cities to own a car in, for multiple reasons.

I think it has to do with the fact that interstate mobility is very popular here in New England. New England is a very connected region, but to get to some of the most populous cities and fantastic secluded areas, a car is good thing to have.

[krock1dk]

worst:

New Jersey
Massachusettes
New York
Maryland
California

best:

Iowa
Alabama
Oklahoma
Kansas
Nebraska

[southernnaturelover]

^Yeah, I'm in Alabama and it's fairly cheap to own a car here. Liability insurance is required but it's cheap, I can easily get liability coverage for less than $50 per month. We also don't have to worry about inspections here (so far).

[tahiti]

Originally Posted by southernnaturelover

^Yeah, I'm in Alabama and it's fairly cheap to own a car here. Liability insurance is required but it's cheap, I can easily get liability coverage for less than $50 per month. We also don't have to worry about inspections here (so far).

I'm surprised your coverage is that expensive...that's what I pay in NJ, you know, the most expensive insurance state.

[Jimrob1]

Originally Posted by krock1dk

worst:

New Jersey
Massachusettes
New York
Maryland
California

best:

Iowa
Alabama
Oklahoma
Kansas
Nebraska

I agree although I probably would put Mass as number one in the worst column. Maybe Jersey but its a toss up on that one.

I cannot imagine anyone rating Mass as best when it comes to owning a car. I was raised in that state and lived there for many years. The high cost of insurance for one thing. The Insurance is heavily regulated by the state. Therefore many major companies will not operate in the state. Only recently has Progressive come in. You will not find the others in Mass. The rate of claims and car thefts is very high especially claims. There is no competion when buying insurance. Therefore Insurance premiums are very high and I know I always had to buy a year policy, there were no 6 month premiums in that state. Combine all that with the miserable driving habits in the region, and again I can't imagine the state getting a good rating on car ownership.

[ca2pitt]

california is horrid, crazy insurance ,high gas prices,Almost $400 to register my 3 yr old subaru..... i can't imagine much worse. Oh and i am surprised everytime i come out of a store and my car hasn't been stolen!