Owning a car in Georgia can come with a hefty annual price tag, from insurance and repairs to the cost of fillingup the tank.
Georgia ranks No. 7 among the most expensive states for car ownership, according to a 2026 analysis from ConsumerAffairs.
The report calculates annual ownership costs using three major expenses: car insurance, vehicle repairs and fuel.
For Georgia drivers, those costs add up to an average of $4,160 per year, according to the report.
Why is it so expensive to own a car in Georgia?
According to ConsumerAffairs, Georgia's estimated annual car ownership costs break down to:
- Insurance: $1,746
- Repairs: $553
- Gas: $1,861
- Total: $4,160
Georgia's insurance premium ranks fourth highest in the country, while its repair costs also rank fourth highest, according to the report.
Those two expenses are major factors behind Georgia's place in the
top 10.
Where does Georgia rank for car ownership costs?
Georgia lands seventh on ConsumerAffairs' list of the most expensive states to own a car.
The 10 states with the highest estimated annual ownership costs are:
- Delaware
- New York
- Florida
- Mississippi
- New Jersey
- California
- Georgia
- Louisiana
- Nevada
- New Mexico
Delaware ranks No. 1, with an estimated annual car ownership cost of $5,492.
What does the report include?
ConsumerAffairs calculated car ownership costs using average annual insurance premiums, repair costs and fuel expenses.
The insurance figures include liability, collision and comprehensive coverage. Repair costs are based on parts and labor associated with repairs that trigger a check-engine light.
For fuel expenses, researchers estimated the average number of miles driven per vehicle in each state, then used average fuel economy and state gas prices to estimate annual fuel costs.
The analysis does not include expenses such as monthly car payments, vehicle registration, taxes or depreciation in its basic annual ownership calculation.
Which states are cheapest for car owners?
Montana ranks as the least expensive state for car ownership in the ConsumerAffairs analysis, with an estimated annual cost of $2,595.
The other states in the 10 least expensive include Iowa, South Dakota, North Dakota, Ohio, New Hampshire, Maine, Wisconsin, Idaho and Vermont.
For Georgia drivers, the report highlights how insurance, repairs and fuel can add thousands of dollars to the yearly cost of keeping a vehicle on the road.
For the full report, consumeraffairs.com/automotive/most-expensive-states-to-own-a-car.html.
Vanessa Johns is the Trending Topics Reporter for the Deep South Connect Team Georgia, covering food and entertainment. Email her at Vcountryman@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Why ConsumerAffairs says Georgia has highest price tag for owning a car
