Most Expensive States to Drive a Car

Unfortunately, unless you live in a big city, easy and convenient public transportation isn’t always available and owning a car becomes a necessity — and the costs can pile up.

A new Bankrate.com study found which states were the most expensive to operate a car, factoring in costs of gas, insurance, repairs, taxes and fees. The national average was $3,201 a year, but drivers in the most expensive state pay $1,000 more than that annually.

There were such differences state to state because some have no state sales tax and low car insurance while others have long commutes due to sprawling communities. In some states, the cost of gas is the most expensive part of driving a car, but in others it’s the taxes and fees. In New Jersey, car insurance cost far more than gasoline ($1,119 vs. $830).

The least expensive state to drive a car was Oregon, where the total cost came out to $2,204, more than $2,000 cheaper than the most expensive state and a full $1,000 cheaper than the national average.

Here are the 10 most expensive states.

10. Nebraska

Downtown Omaha. Photo by Raymond Bucko

Repairs: $347

Taxes/fees: $1,575

Gasoline: $1,069

Insurance: $580

Total: $3,571

9. Virginia

Old Town Alexandria.

Repairs: $382

Taxes/fees: $1,568

Gasoline: $1,002

Insurance: $670

Total: $3,622

8. Massachusetts

Copley Square, Boston

Repairs: $358

Taxes/fees: $1,475

Gasoline: $856

Insurance: $936

Total: $3,625

7. Kentucky

Bowling Green

Repairs: $367

Taxes/fees: $1,443

Gasoline: $1,100

Insurance: $716

Total: $3,626

6. Arizona

Scottsdale Waterfront. Photo by Joseph Plotz.

Repairs: $362

Taxes/fees: $1,724

Gasoline: $937

Insurance: $862

Total: $3,886

5. Nevada

Las Vegas Strip

Repairs: $364

Taxes/fees: $1,741

Gasoline: $811

Insurance: $970

Total: $3,886

4. Rhode Island

Providence

Repairs: $371

Taxes/fees: $1,717

Gasoline: $826

Insurance: $999

Total: $3,913

3. Wyoming

Laramie

Repairs: $324

Taxes/fees: $1,341

Gasoline: $1,643

Insurance: $630

Total: $3,966

2. California

Ventura county fair. Photo by Dan Huse

Repairs: $390

Taxes/fees: $1,809

Gasoline: $980

Insurance: $786

Total: $3,966

1. Georgia

Little Five Points in Atlanta. Photo by Pawel Loj

Repairs: $385

Taxes/fees: $1,952

Gasoline: $1,129

Insurance: $767

Total: $4,233