My Car Insurance Costs Doubled -- and I Wasn't in an Accident. Here's Why

I have always maintained a good amount of auto insurance because I believe it's important to have the right coverage in place to protect my assets. I don't just buy the required minimum amount of insurance coverage -- I also include optional add-ons such as collision coverage to pay for my damages after an accident and comprehensive coverages to pay for losses not caused by a crash.

Since I buy full coverage, I don't mind that I have to pay a good amount out of my checking account for it. I was, however, quite upset a few years ago when my auto insurance costs doubled -- especially because I had not been in an auto accident or made any claims.

Here's what happened -- and how it could happen to others, as well.

This was the simple reason my auto insurance costs went through the roof

My car insurance costs skyrocketed not because I'd made any driving mistakes, but instead because I had made a life change. I moved. I relocated from the state of Pennsylvania, which has pretty affordable auto insurance coverage, to the state of Florida which...doesn't.

In 2023, average annual car insurance premiums in Pennsylvania came in at $2,532, while the average premium in Florida was $3,766. Of course, these are just averages, and my move happened years ago. So at the time, I saw my rates go up even more. They doubled, which was a huge expense to have to absorb after incurring the costs of a move.

Unfortunately, since I've remained a Florida resident since then, my rates have continued to be higher than they would be if I lived in many other places, as Florida's average rate is well above the national average of $3,017.

Why does moving cause such a big change to insurance costs?

I'm not the only person who has experienced, or who will experience, a big change in auto insurance premiums that's prompted by a move.

The reality is, costs do vary widely by state, as this research into state-by-state car insurance premiums shows. There are huge differences in costs from one place to another as a result of many factors, including:

• How risky the state's roadways are: In places where accident claims are more likely to be made, insurers charge more. Florida has a high number of accidents due to factors like poor road designs and an older population and, in my unscientific opinion, due to a large number of tourists who don't know where they're going.
• How many insurers operate in the market: If there are fewer insurers and less competition, this can result in higher premiums.
• The number of uninsured drivers: More people without coverage means it is more likely an accident will happen that the at-fault motorist won't have the money to pay for.
• The kinds of insurance required: In states where more coverage is mandatory, getting the essential coverage can be more expensive.

Unfortunately, there's little that can be done about this, as very few people are choosing where they live based on how much car insurance costs there. The best and only option for those, like me, who see premiums jump dramatically due to a move is to shop around and try to find the best local deals possible.

Getting quotes from several insurers after a move can help reduce additional unnecessary spending, and it's well worth getting prices from at least three or four different insurers to avoid overpaying for a policy in your new state of residence.