12 States Where Gas and Insurance Costs Hit Drivers Hardest
Even if you don't have a car payment, owning a vehicle can still take a major bite out of your budget. Between gas and auto insurance, drivers in some states are spending a surprisingly large share of their household income just to stay on the road.
A recent MoneyGeek analysis compared average annual fuel costs and full-coverage auto insurance premiums in each state with local median household income.
Surprisingly, it found that the states where driving is most financially burdensome are not always the places with the highest gas prices. Instead, the biggest pressure comes from a mix of high insurance premiums, long driving distances, proportionally larger gas price increases and lower median incomes.
Here are the 12 states where combined fuel and insurance costs consume the largest share of household income in 2026.
1. Louisiana
Annual fuel cost: $2,409
Annual insurance cost: $2,827
Median income: $60,986
Combined burden: 8.59%
2. Mississippi
Annual fuel cost: $2,837
Annual insurance cost: $1,472
Median income: $59,127
Combined burden: 7.29%
3. Florida
Annual fuel cost: $2,169
Annual insurance cost: $2,912
Median income: $77,735
Combined burden: 6.54%
4. Kentucky
Annual fuel cost: $2,457
Annual insurance cost: $1,580
Median income: $64,526
Combined burden: 6.26%
5. Arkansas
Annual fuel cost: $2,360
Annual insurance cost: $1,373
Median income: $62,106
Combined burden: 6.01%
6. New Mexico
Annual fuel cost: $2,682
Annual insurance cost: $1,388
Median income: $67,816
Combined burden: 6%
7. Oklahoma
Annual fuel cost: $2,317
Annual insurance cost: $1,599
Median income: $66,148
Combined burden: 5.92%
8. Missouri
Annual fuel cost: $2,639
Annual insurance cost: $1,486
Median income: $71,589
Combined burden: 5.76%
8. Alabama
Annual fuel cost: $2,593
Annual insurance cost: $1,245
Median income: $66,659
Combined burden: 5.76%
10. Indiana
Annual fuel cost: $3,047
Annual insurance cost: $1,009
Median income: $71,959
Combined burden: 5.64%
11. Wyoming
Annual fuel cost: $3,266
Annual insurance cost: $984
Median income: $75,532
Combined burden: 5.63%
12. West Virginia
Annual fuel cost: $2,044
Annual insurance cost: $1,326
Median income: $60,798
Combined burden: 5.54%
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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