Bankrate: Americans pay nearly $7,000 a year for “hidden” costs of car ownership
(TND) — According to a new study by Bankrate, Americans pay nearly $7,000 annually in “hidden” costs of owning a car.
The personal finance website evaluated four key areas of car ownership: insurance, gas, maintenance and taxes.
And Bankrate has done an analysis of these costs for each individual state.
Drivers in Georgia pay the highest costs for such auto-related expenses, averaging $8,249 per year.
At $4,299 per year, the cost for drivers in New Hampshire is the lowest.
The national average for comprehensive insurance, vehicle taxes, gas, and maintenance and repairs totaled $6,684 per year.
According to Bankrate, insurance is the most expensive piece of the car ownership pie.
And average premiums for fully comprehensive insurance have increased 20% since June 2022, Bankrate said, citing Quadrant Information Services.
The average cost of comprehensive car insurance nationwide is $2,329 per year.
New York, Louisiana, Florida, Colorado and Nevada have the highest average cost for comprehensive car insurance.
The average vehicle tax across the country is $1,182 per year.
California has the highest average annual vehicle tax at $1,841, followed by Georgia, Indiana, Rhode Island and Tennessee.
According to Bankrate, Hawaii and California have the highest gasoline prices in the country, at $4.69 and $4.66 per gallon, respectively, as of the end of July.
In Indiana, however, drivers spend the most money on gasoline each year, an average of $2,913, because they drive more.