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.

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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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