Report: Okaloosa has some of Florida's most affordable auto insurance plans

AUSTIN, Texas — In the Sunshine State, not all auto insurance policies are created equal, according to a recent study from insuranceQuotes.com. The study assessed the average cost of premiums in 409 Florida cities and 67 counties statewide, finding significant variation between regions.

insuranceQuotes commissioned Quadrant Information Services to examine the average cost of auto insurance premiums using a hypothetical 40-year-old female driver with a clean driving record and no prior claims.

In Florida, which ranks as the sixth most expensive state for car insurance, the average annual cost of an auto policy is $1,546. But, depending on where you live, the cost can end up being much higher or lower.

"Geography and population density play an important role in determining what Floridians pay for auto insurance," said Laura Adams, senior insurance analyst at insuranceQuotes. "Living in more densely populated areas comes with a higher likelihood of accidents because there are more drivers on the road—which in turn drives up insurance rates."

The following cities, on average, have the most expensive annual auto insurance rates in the state:

•Hialeah — $2,719, 76 percent above the state average

•Opa Locka — $2,597, 68 percent above the state average

•Miami — $2,497, 62 percent above the state average

•Miami Gardens — $2,480, 60 percent above the state average

•Homestead — $2,314, 50 percent above the state average

Meanwhile, the following five cities have the least expensive:

•Waldo — $1,169, 24 percent below the state average

•Alachua — $1,171, 24 percent below the state average

•Gainesville — $1,174, 24 percent below the state average

•Earlton — $1,175, 24 percent below the state average

•Newberry — $1,177, 24 percent below the state average

The study also ranked policy costs by county, finding that Miami-Dade was the most expensive, with an average annual cost of $2,457, i.e. 58.9 percent above the state average — and that Alachua was the least expensive county, with an average annual cost of $1,177, 23.9 percent below the state average.

The five least expensive counties (two from Northwest Florida) are:

•Alachua, $1,177 average annual premium, 23.9 percent below state average of $1,546

•Okaloosa, $1,207, 21.9 percent below the state average

•Saint Johns, $1,217, 21.3 percent below the state average

•Levy, $1,219, 21.1 percent below the state average

•Walton, $1,226, 20.7 percent below the state average

Go to http://www.insurancequotes.com/auto/florida-auto-insurance-rates-savings-7052017 for the full report, which includes comprehensive city-by-city and county-by-county rankings.