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The True Cost of Auto Insurance in 2021
The national average for full coverage auto insurance is $1,674 per year, but Americans can pay significantly different rates depending on their location.
Insurance is a more palatable expense when you realize you're getting more financial coverage than you'd ever spend in premiums.
— Mariah Posey
Mariah Posey is an insurance editor and writer for Bankrate.com, specializing in auto and home insurance. She develops and edits insurance content that covers a breadth of relevant industry knowledge, prioritizing accuracy and Bankrate's mission to guide shoppers in their insurance search and demystify the industry. By keeping everyday consumers at the forefront of her mind throughout all stages of content development, she streamlines the insurance journey and equips consumers with the insights they need to make confident coverage decisions.
Mariah joined the Bankrate insurance editorial team in January 2021, bringing along her background in communications and journalism. With experience in reporting and copyediting, she marries her skills of conducting industry research, analyzing data and developing content that matches reader intent into her role as an insurance editor for Bankrate. In her time, she has used her expertise of the evolving auto and home insurance markets and state insurance regulations to inform timely explainers and in-depth guides to coverage and carriers. Mariah is dedicated to clarifying common misconceptions about insurance found online to better inform readers.
Mariah is originally from New Jersey and earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism from Elon University. When not optimizing pages, she can be found grabbing a slice (or whole pie) from the best local pizzeria, diving into new music and finding a new series to shamelessly binge.
Mariah’s written work for Bankrate has been featured in Bloomberg, The Boston Globe and Car and Driver.
The most “convenient" option won’t always be the best for your situation. When it was time for Mariah to renew her renters insurance policy, she considered switching her coverage to the same company as her auto insurance for a bundle discount and ease of management. However, even with a discount added and the same levels of coverage, bundling would have caused her gross premium to be significantly higher than maintaining the existing separate policies. It pays to shop around, but be mindful of what’s most important to you. You may weigh price, convenience and coverage differently with each company.
Insurance is a more palatable expense when you realize you're getting more financial coverage than you'd ever spend in premiums.
— Mariah Posey
The national average for full coverage auto insurance is $1,674 per year, but Americans can pay significantly different rates depending on their location.
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