Auto Insurance Costs Price History
1970–2025 · National Association of Insurance Commissioners / CPI
The average annual auto insurance premium per insured vehicle in the United States, tracked from 1970 to 2025. Auto insurance was one of those costs that crept up so slowly most people barely noticed — until recently. After years of modest increases, premiums have surged since 2020, driven by skyrocketing repair bills, more expensive replacement parts, and a troubling rise in accident severity. What used to be a $600-a-year afterthought is now pushing past $1,500 and climbing fast.
Source: National Association of Insurance Commissioners / CPI1970–2025
Price in 1970
$148.00
Price in 2025
$1,580.00
Total Change
+967.6%
Years Tracked
55
Auto Insurance Costs Over Time
1970Year Range2025
Compare to inflation: The chart above shows nominal (not inflation-adjusted) prices. Use the toggle to switch to inflation-adjusted values when available, or try the inflation calculator to convert any amount between years.
Key Insights
- The average annual premium was just $148 in 1970. It took 30 years to reach $649 in 2000 — steady, unspectacular growth that roughly tracked general inflation.
- Premiums actually flattened and even dipped slightly between 2007 and 2010, falling from $812 to $790, as the recession reduced driving and accident frequency temporarily dropped.
- The post-2020 surge has been staggering: premiums jumped from $982 in 2020 to $1,580 in 2025, a 61% increase in five years driven by higher vehicle repair costs, more expensive parts due to advanced safety tech, and a spike in accident severity.
- At $1,580 per year in 2025, auto insurance now costs more than many Americans spend on their monthly car payment, making it one of the fastest-growing household expenses of the decade.
Year-by-Year Data
| Year | Price (USD per year) | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | $148.00 | — |
| 1971 | $155.00 | +4.7% |
| 1972 | $162.00 | +4.5% |
| 1973 | $167.00 | +3.1% |
| 1974 | $175.00 | +4.8% |
| 1975 | $184.00 | +5.1% |
| 1976 | $194.00 | +5.4% |
| 1977 | $205.00 | +5.7% |
| 1978 | $218.00 | +6.3% |
| 1979 | $234.00 | +7.3% |
| 1980 | $255.00 | +9.0% |
| 1981 | $276.00 | +8.2% |
| 1982 | $298.00 | +8.0% |
| 1983 | $318.00 | +6.7% |
| 1984 | $338.00 | +6.3% |
| 1985 | $362.00 | +7.1% |
| 1986 | $389.00 | +7.5% |
| 1987 | $410.00 | +5.4% |
| 1988 | $434.00 | +5.9% |
| 1989 | $458.00 | +5.5% |
| 1990 | $486.00 | +6.1% |
| 1991 | $512.00 | +5.3% |
| 1992 | $535.00 | +4.5% |
| 1993 | $549.00 | +2.6% |
| 1994 | $560.00 | +2.0% |
| 1995 | $572.00 | +2.1% |
| 1996 | $582.00 | +1.7% |
| 1997 | $597.00 | +2.6% |
| 1998 | $610.00 | +2.2% |
| 1999 | $628.00 | +3.0% |
| 2000 | $649.00 | +3.3% |
| 2001 | $674.00 | +3.9% |
| 2002 | $719.00 | +6.7% |
| 2003 | $765.00 | +6.4% |
| 2004 | $792.00 | +3.5% |
| 2005 | $808.00 | +2.0% |
| 2006 | $817.00 | +1.1% |
| 2007 | $812.00 | -0.6% |
| 2008 | $810.00 | -0.2% |
| 2009 | $795.00 | -1.9% |
| 2010 | $790.00 | -0.6% |
| 2011 | $797.00 | +0.9% |
| 2012 | $813.00 | +2.0% |
| 2013 | $827.00 | +1.7% |
| 2014 | $841.00 | +1.7% |
| 2015 | $868.00 | +3.2% |
| 2016 | $910.00 | +4.8% |
| 2017 | $952.00 | +4.6% |
| 2018 | $987.00 | +3.7% |
| 2019 | $1,010.00 | +2.3% |
| 2020 | $982.00 | -2.8% |
| 2021 | $1,020.00 | +3.9% |
| 2022 | $1,150.00 | +12.7% |
| 2023 | $1,340.00 | +16.5% |
| 2024 | $1,510.00 | +12.7% |
| 2025 | $1,580.00 | +4.6% |
Year1970
Price (USD per year)$148.00
YoY Change—
Year1971
Price (USD per year)$155.00
YoY Change+4.7%
Year1972
Price (USD per year)$162.00
YoY Change+4.5%
Year1973
Price (USD per year)$167.00
YoY Change+3.1%
Year1974
Price (USD per year)$175.00
YoY Change+4.8%
Year1975
Price (USD per year)$184.00
YoY Change+5.1%
Year1976
Price (USD per year)$194.00
YoY Change+5.4%
Year1977
Price (USD per year)$205.00
YoY Change+5.7%
Year1978
Price (USD per year)$218.00
YoY Change+6.3%
Year1979
Price (USD per year)$234.00
YoY Change+7.3%
Year1980
Price (USD per year)$255.00
YoY Change+9.0%
Year1981
Price (USD per year)$276.00
YoY Change+8.2%
Year1982
Price (USD per year)$298.00
YoY Change+8.0%
Year1983
Price (USD per year)$318.00
YoY Change+6.7%
Year1984
Price (USD per year)$338.00
YoY Change+6.3%
Year1985
Price (USD per year)$362.00
YoY Change+7.1%
Year1986
Price (USD per year)$389.00
YoY Change+7.5%
Year1987
Price (USD per year)$410.00
YoY Change+5.4%
Year1988
Price (USD per year)$434.00
YoY Change+5.9%
Year1989
Price (USD per year)$458.00
YoY Change+5.5%
Year1990
Price (USD per year)$486.00
YoY Change+6.1%
Year1991
Price (USD per year)$512.00
YoY Change+5.3%
Year1992
Price (USD per year)$535.00
YoY Change+4.5%
Year1993
Price (USD per year)$549.00
YoY Change+2.6%
Year1994
Price (USD per year)$560.00
YoY Change+2.0%
Year1995
Price (USD per year)$572.00
YoY Change+2.1%
Year1996
Price (USD per year)$582.00
YoY Change+1.7%
Year1997
Price (USD per year)$597.00
YoY Change+2.6%
Year1998
Price (USD per year)$610.00
YoY Change+2.2%
Year1999
Price (USD per year)$628.00
YoY Change+3.0%
Year2000
Price (USD per year)$649.00
YoY Change+3.3%
Year2001
Price (USD per year)$674.00
YoY Change+3.9%
Year2002
Price (USD per year)$719.00
YoY Change+6.7%
Year2003
Price (USD per year)$765.00
YoY Change+6.4%
Year2004
Price (USD per year)$792.00
YoY Change+3.5%
Year2005
Price (USD per year)$808.00
YoY Change+2.0%
Year2006
Price (USD per year)$817.00
YoY Change+1.1%
Year2007
Price (USD per year)$812.00
YoY Change-0.6%
Year2008
Price (USD per year)$810.00
YoY Change-0.2%
Year2009
Price (USD per year)$795.00
YoY Change-1.9%
Year2010
Price (USD per year)$790.00
YoY Change-0.6%
Year2011
Price (USD per year)$797.00
YoY Change+0.9%
Year2012
Price (USD per year)$813.00
YoY Change+2.0%
Year2013
Price (USD per year)$827.00
YoY Change+1.7%
Year2014
Price (USD per year)$841.00
YoY Change+1.7%
Year2015
Price (USD per year)$868.00
YoY Change+3.2%
Year2016
Price (USD per year)$910.00
YoY Change+4.8%
Year2017
Price (USD per year)$952.00
YoY Change+4.6%
Year2018
Price (USD per year)$987.00
YoY Change+3.7%
Year2019
Price (USD per year)$1,010.00
YoY Change+2.3%
Year2020
Price (USD per year)$982.00
YoY Change-2.8%
Year2021
Price (USD per year)$1,020.00
YoY Change+3.9%
Year2022
Price (USD per year)$1,150.00
YoY Change+12.7%
Year2023
Price (USD per year)$1,340.00
YoY Change+16.5%
Year2024
Price (USD per year)$1,510.00
YoY Change+12.7%
Year2025
Price (USD per year)$1,580.00
YoY Change+4.6%
Sources & Methodology
NAIC auto insurance database combined with BLS CPI for motor vehicle insurance. Average annual expenditure per insured vehicle.
Primary source: National Association of Insurance Commissioners / CPI
For a full explanation of how we collect and adjust data, see our methodology page.