Household spending · Consumer Expenditure Survey · BLS CE 2024

Vehicle insurance Spending

How much American households spend on vehicle insurance - broken down by income, age, region, household size and tenure, from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey.

Annual average (2024)
$1,993
Share of spending
2.5%
Change vs 2023
+12.3%
Change vs 2020
+26.5%
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Spending Insight: Vehicle insurance

American households spent an average of $1,993 on vehicle insurance in 2024, representing 2.5% of total consumer expenditures. This marks a notable 12.3% increase from 2023 ($1,775), outpacing the roughly 3% general inflation in 2024 and suggesting growing consumer prioritization of this category.

Since 2020, vehicle insurance spending has risen by 26.5% (from $1,575 to $1,993), broadly in line with the roughly 21% cumulative inflation over 2020–2024, so the real-terms change was modest.

Income is strongly associated with vehicle insurance spending: the top income quintile spends $2,840/year versus $895 for the lowest quintile, a 3.2x gap. Regionally, the South spends the most ($2,213/year) while the Midwest spends the least ($1,558/year). Use the cross-cuts below, by income, region, age, household size, and housing tenure, to see which demographic factors drive this category hardest for your situation.

Spending Trend (2020–2024)

Vehicle insurance spending per household, 2020–2024

National average annual spending

Source: BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey As of 2024-12-31

$1,400$1,600$1,800$2,000$2,200 20202021202220232024 $1,993
Year Annual Amount
2024 $1,993
2023 $1,775
2022 $1,592
2021 $1,528
2020 $1,575

How we calculate this: % of Total is this category's published spend divided by that year's total household spend. YoY Change is the percentage difference between a year's amount and the prior year's amount. Both are computed from the raw BLS figures, not re-estimated.

By Income Level (2024)

How vehicle insurance spending varies across income quintiles

Income Group Annual Amount
Lowest 20% $895
Second 20% $1,679
Middle 20% $2,028
Fourth 20% $2,518
Highest 20% $2,840

See full income breakdown →

By Region (2024)

Geographic variation in vehicle insurance spending

See full regional breakdown →

By Age Group (2024)

How vehicle insurance spending changes across the lifecycle

Age Group Annual Amount
25–34 $1,888
35–44 $2,155
45–54 $2,609
55–64 $2,252
65–74 $1,723
75 and older $1,323
Under 25 $1,251

See full age breakdown →

By Household Size (2024)

Size Annual
1 Person $1,160
2 People $2,351
3 People $2,031
4 People $2,402
5 or More $2,675

By Housing Tenure (2024)

Tenure Annual
Homeowner (with mortgage) $2,220
Homeowner (no mortgage) $2,480
Renter $1,878

What to do with this data

The average U.S. household spends $1,993 a year on vehicle insurance - here's how to put that in context.

  • Compare your own spending against the national income quintiles. Budget calculator
  • See how vehicle insurance spending shifts across income levels, ages, and regions. By income
  • Track this category in your private watchlist to revisit as the data updates. Save categories

Figures are national averages from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey; your own household may differ from these means.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does the average household spend on vehicle insurance?
The average American household spent $1,993 on vehicle insurance in 2024, according to the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey. This represents 2.5% of total household spending.
Is vehicle insurance spending increasing?
Vehicle insurance spending increased by 12.3% from 2023 to 2024 ($1,775 to $1,993). Over 5 years (2020–2024), it changed by +26.5%.
How does income affect vehicle insurance spending?
The lowest income quintile spends $895/year on vehicle insurance, while the highest quintile spends $2,840/year, a 3.2x difference. Higher-income households spend more in absolute terms but may allocate a smaller share of their budget.
Which region spends the most on vehicle insurance?
The South region spends the most at $2,213/year, while the Midwest region spends the least at $1,558/year on vehicle insurance.
Which age group spends the most on vehicle insurance?
Households headed by someone in the 45–54 age group spend the most on vehicle insurance at $2,609/year.
Does household size affect vehicle insurance spending?
Yes. 1 Person households spend $1,160/year on vehicle insurance, while 5 or More households spend $2,675/year. Larger households generally spend more in absolute terms on most categories.
Spending Guides (show related guides)

Related Spending Categories

Browse other major categories from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey.

Data source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Expenditure Survey (BLS CEX). BLS CEX homepage. Data represents average annual expenditures per consumer unit. 2024 data released 2025. See our methodology for processing details.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.

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Every figure on PlainHousehold is rendered directly from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.