The Most Expensive U.S. States to Own a Car

America’s infrastructure depends on vehicle use, making driving a necessary reality for many people. According to research, 78% of workers aged 16 and over use a car to get to work. Few Americans never or rarely drive. Car costs can be prohibitive, and more people struggle to afford vehicle ownership each year as car prices rise. Add other state-level fees to the mix, and vehicles can be a struggle to afford. The team at Grease Monkey helped determine the most affordable and expensive states to own a car in.

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They found that California is the most expensive state for car ownership. The high costs in California are largely due to maintenance talks. There are higher car repair premiums, higher gas prices, higher registration fees, higher car insurance premiums, and above-average monthly car payments in California. All of these combine to make California a highly expensive state in which to own a car.

If you’re looking to save on vehicle expenses, look no further than Vermont. It scored nearly 50 points lower than California according to the team’s system. Vermont has the third-lowest car insurance rates, third-lowest repair premiums, and low registration fees and sales taxes. There are no vehicle property taxes in Vermont, another major source of savings.

To create such a comprehensive study, the team looked at 15 different data sets and awarded points based on these sets:

• Average monthly car payment
• Average monthly cost of minimum insurance coverage
• Auto insurance expenditures as a percentage of median household income
• Regular gas price averages
• New car loan rates
• Used car loan rates
• Average used car price
• Average Mechanic labor rate
• Care repair premiums
• Road condition-related costs by state
• Average miles driven per year per capita
• Sales tax on a $25,000 car

After California, the most expensive states to own a vehicle in were Florida, Nevada, Louisiana, New York, Arizona, New Jersey, Mississippi, Georgia, and Texas. If you’re looking for more affordable states other than Vermont, turn to New Hampshire, Montana, Maine, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Idaho, Oregon, Iowa, Alaska, and North Dakota. The team’s study is an exhaustive examination of all the costs that stack up to make driving prohibitive. Many of the more expensive states have a generally high cost of living, so this information could be useful to anyone looking to relocate to a more affordable state.

Although it might seem counterintuitive, thorough annual maintenance on your car can keep your costs down in the long term. Regular oil changes, brake service, and tire rotations can extend the life of your car, which has a big impact on your savings. For car insurance, investigate special programs you may qualify for, like being a safe driver or completing a defensive driving course. This map can help us reflect on the many expenses that come with car ownership and prompt us to think of ways we can save money and keep driving costs reasonable.