Average Monthly Auto Insurance Cost in 2017

What Was the Average Monthly Auto Insurance Cost in 2017?

Drivers in 2017 paid roughly $1,400 to $1,600 per year for full coverage, translating to about $120 to $135 per month on average. That figure blended liability, collision, and comprehensive components, and it varied widely depending on location, driving record, and the type of vehicle insured. Minimum-coverage policies were substantially cheaper, often coming in below $50 per month nationally, but the sticker price depended on dozens of rating factors insurers used that year.

These numbers come from annual industry surveys and bureau data that track premiums across zip codes and demographic groups. They reflect premiums paid, not quotes, and they include both active policies and renewals. The 2017 year also captured the tail end of a gradual rate climb that had been accelerating since 2015, driven by rising repair costs and distracted-driving claims.

How 2017 Premiums Compared Year Over Year

Between 2016 and 2017, the average annual premium for full coverage rose by roughly 3% to 6% depending on the data source. That translated into an extra $40 to $80 per year for the typical policyholder, which meant monthly bills crept up by a few dollars. The increase was not uniform: some states saw double-digit jumps while others held relatively flat.

Key Drivers of the 2017 Increase

• Escalating vehicle repair costs, especially for advanced driver-assistance systems and luxury parts.
• A growing frequency of injury claims and distracted-driving incidents.
• Rising medical costs that fed into bodily-injury liability payouts.
• Increasing litigation and settlement amounts in some regions.

Regional Differences in 2017 Monthly Rates

Location remained the single largest variable. Drivers in dense metropolitan areas with higher claim frequency and theft rates routinely paid more than those in rural counties. States with no-fault insurance systems or lower coverage mandates often showed different average structures than tort-liability states.

These ranges reflect broad patterns and should not be treated as precise quotes for any individual driver. A single moving violation or a lapse in coverage could shift a premium well outside these bands.

Factors That Shaped Individual 2017 Premiums

Insurers in 2017 still relied heavily on traditional rating factors. Age and gender produced some of the largest gaps: young male drivers, especially those under 25, paid substantially more than middle-aged females with clean records. Marital status also mattered, with married drivers typically enjoying lower rates.

Other Rating Variables

• Driving record: at-fault accidents and moving violations raised premiums for three to five years.
• Credit-based insurance score: used in most states to gauge risk, though banned or restricted in a handful of states.
• Vehicle make, model, and year: safety ratings, theft frequency, and repair costs all fed into the calculation.
• Annual mileage: lower mileage often qualified for a usage-based discount.
• Coverage limits and deductibles: higher deductibles lowered monthly bills in exchange for more out-of-pocket risk.

Policy Types and What 2017 Drivers Paid

The average monthly figure shifted meaningfully depending on which coverages a driver carried. State-minimum liability policies were the cheapest entry point, but they left a substantial gap in exposure if an accident involved injuries or expensive property damage. Full coverage, which bundles liability with collision and comprehensive, cost more but protected the driver's own vehicle as well.

• State-minimum liability only: often $30–$50 per month nationally, but higher in no-fault or high-risk states.
• Broad coverage (liability + collision + comprehensive): roughly $120–$135 per month as noted above.
• High-coverage or umbrella-paired policies: could push monthly bills above $175 for riskier drivers.

What the 2017 Landscape Tells Us

The 2017 auto insurance market illustrates how premiums respond to the intersection of repair technology, legal environment, and driving behavior. The year sits in a period when telematics and usage-based insurance were gaining traction but had not yet reshaped the majority of personal lines pricing. Understanding those monthly averages helps contextualize the steady upward trend that continued into the following years, and it highlights why shopping across insurers and coverage levels remained the most reliable way for a 2017 driver to manage cost.