Nearly half of insured drivers are stressed about what they pay for car insurance, according to a NerdWallet survey conducted by The Harris Poll and published May 19, 2026. Among the 2,070 U.S. adults polled, 49% with auto coverage said premium costs weigh on them financially, and 27% watched their rate climb over the past 12 months.
- 49% of insured drivers feel stressed about premium costs, compared with 46% of homeowners (NerdWallet/Harris Poll, May 2026).
- More than a quarter of drivers, 27%, saw their rate rise in the past 12 months, versus 34% of homeowners.
- Roughly 18% have cut back to state-minimum coverage, a risky trade that can cost far more after a serious crash.
- Drivers who switch carriers save a median of $461 a year, and 92% who switched paid less, LendingTree found.
What the Survey Found
The Harris Poll surveyed 2,070 adults for NerdWallet between April 7 and April 9, 2026, including 1,554 with auto insurance and 1,218 with homeowners coverage. Stress showed up across both groups, with 49% of drivers and 46% of homeowners saying the cost worries them, against a margin of error of plus or minus 2.7 percentage points.
Frustration runs deeper than the monthly bill. About a third of respondents, 33%, said auto insurance should not be required by law, and 37% said mortgage lenders should not be able to mandate homeowners coverage. Severe weather is starting to register too, cited by 10% of drivers and 21% of homeowners as a force pushing their rates higher.
Why Drivers Feel Squeezed Even as Rates Cool
Car insurance prices actually fell 6% in 2025, according to Insurify, the first broad relief drivers had seen in years. The firm projects the national average for full coverage will rise about 1% in 2026 to roughly $2,158 a year, though tariff-driven repair costs could push that increase closer to 4%.
Drivers absorbed double-digit rate hikes across 2023 and 2024, so even a roughly flat 2026 still leaves premiums well above pre-pandemic levels. Repair and replacement costs are the main culprit, a trend we break down in our look at why car insurance keeps going up, and NerdWallet insurance expert Kaz Weida ties the squeeze directly to inflation.
"Inflation doesn't just affect gas and food prices. It also means it costs more to repair cars and homes," said Kaz Weida, a NerdWallet insurance expert.
The worry is not new, but it is spreading. A 2023 Policygenius survey found 40% of insured drivers stressed about affording coverage; NerdWallet's 49% suggests that share has grown as rates compounded over three years.
Seven Ways to Cut Your Premium Without Going Bare
Stressed drivers have real levers, and most take less than an hour. The biggest one is competition: drivers who shop their policy and switch save a median of $461 a year, and 92% who switched paid less, according to LendingTree. Savings climb in expensive markets, reaching $700 to $900 in Florida, New York, and Michigan.
| Money-Saving Move | Typical Annual Savings | The Catch |
|---|---|---|
| Switch carriers and compare quotes | $461 median ($700–$900 in FL, NY, MI) | Reshop every 6 to 12 months |
| Raise deductible from $500 to $1,000 | ~$188 (about 10%) | You cover more out of pocket per claim |
| Bundle auto and home | 10% to 25% off | Both policies stay with one insurer |
| Telematics safe-driving app | Median $324; up to 40% | About 1 in 4 users see a rate rise |
| Low-mileage or pay-per-mile plan | Varies with miles driven | Best under ~7,500 miles a year |
| Improve your credit-based insurance score | Hundreds per year | Banned for auto in CA, HI, MA, MI |
Sources: LendingTree (switching), CarInsurance.com (deductibles), Consumer Reports and the Consumer Federation of America (telematics), NerdWallet (bundling). Figures are national averages and vary by driver age, location, vehicle, credit, and claims history.
The telematics route deserves a close look, since the right safe-driving app can shave 10% to 40% off your bill but quietly penalizes hard braking, speeding, and phone use. The Consumer Federation of America pegs the average telematics discount near 10%, while Consumer Reports found a median saving of $324 a year.
The survey's most worrying figure is the 18% of drivers who have cut back to their state's minimum coverage. A typical 25/50/25 minimum sounds adequate until the bills arrive: the average injury claim runs $28,278, according to Insurance Information Institute data cited by CarInsurance.com, already $3,278 past a $25,000 limit, and a single serious hospitalization averages $81,324. Cause a $100,000 crash while carrying $25,000 and you personally owe the other $75,000, with wage garnishment on the table. One in eight drivers carries no coverage at all, so trimming your uninsured-motorist protection to save a few dollars leaves you exposed when one of them hits you.
What You Should Do Now
Compare Three Quotes Before You Renew
Pull quotes from at least three carriers about three to four weeks ahead of your renewal date, when switchers save the most. Our guide to the best time to shop for car insurance walks through the timing that wins the deepest discounts.
Right-Size Your Deductible, Not Your Liability
Moving from a $500 to a $1,000 deductible trims roughly 10%, but keep liability and comprehensive high enough to absorb a real crash. See how to set the number in our car insurance deductible guide before you make the cut.
Stack Every Discount You Qualify For
Bundle home and auto, enroll in a telematics app if you drive carefully, and confirm low-mileage, defensive-driving, and paperless credits. Our list of 15 ways to lower your premium covers the discounts most drivers leave on the table.
Looking Ahead
Relief in 2026 hinges on tariffs. Insurify warns that if import duties raise parts costs, its 1% national forecast could climb to 4% by year-end, squeezing the 49% of drivers already feeling stretched. Rates are still falling in 15 states and rising in 35, so your renewal letter matters more than any national average.
Regulators are nudging coverage floors upward too, with California raising its minimum on January 1 from 15/30/5 to 30/60/15, its first increase since 1967. Drivers in pricey markets can check local pricing on our Florida car insurance page or browse the full car insurance by state hub before deciding whether to switch.
Frequently Asked Questions
NerdWallet's May 2026 survey, conducted by The Harris Poll, found 49% of Americans with auto insurance feel stressed about their premiums, along with 46% of homeowners. The poll surveyed 2,070 U.S. adults from April 7 to 9, 2026.
It rarely pays off. The survey found 18% of drivers carry only state minimums, but a typical 25/50/25 limit falls short of the average $28,278 injury claim. A single at-fault crash can leave you owing tens of thousands of dollars out of pocket.
Shopping around. Drivers who compare quotes and switch carriers save a median of $461 a year, and 92% who switched paid less, according to LendingTree. The process usually takes under an hour.
Insurify projects a roughly 1% national increase for full coverage in 2026, reaching about $2,158 a year, after a 6% drop in 2025. Tariff-driven repair costs could push that increase to 4%, and 35 states are expected to see higher rates.
Usually. Most major carriers offer 10% to 25% off when you combine policies, which is why NerdWallet lists bundling among its top affordability tips. Compare the bundled price against two standalone quotes to confirm the discount.
- NerdWallet - Survey: About Half of Insured Americans Financially Stressed by Premiums (May 2026)
- Insurify - Car Insurance Report: 2026 Rate Projections
- LendingTree - 92% of Insured Americans Who Switched Auto Insurance Saved Money
- Consumer Reports - Usage-Based Car Insurance Savings and Privacy
- Consumer Federation of America - The Truth About Telematics Savings
- CarInsurance.com - How Raising Your Deductible Lowers Your Rate
- CarInsurance.com - Minimum Liability Requirements and the Coverage Gap
- Policygenius - 2023 Auto Insurance Affordability Survey