Elizabeth Renter

NerdWallet

Regardless of your personal driving history, you could be paying hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars more for auto insurance because of the risks for drivers where you live.

According to a new analysis by NerdWallet, some cities are dramatically more dangerous for drivers than others, and the people in those high-risk places are paying an average of 47% more for annual auto insurance premiums.

The analysis examined data for nearly 200 of the most populous U.S. cities and created a score based on five data points: auto accident risk, average years between accidents, rate of fatal crashes per 100,000 residents, auto theft risk and the risk of having your car broken into. Then the cities were ranked and average auto insurance quotes were compared across the list.

Bigger cities mean bigger troubles and costs

The most dangerous city for drivers is Detroit, aka Motor City, which had just over 16 fatal crashes per 100,000 residents, according to 2014 data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Drivers here also face some of the highest risks for having their vehicle stolen and broken into, according to the analysis. Detroit residents pay the highest auto insurance rates of all cities examined — an average of $5,409 a year.

Compared with the safest cities, the most dangerous places stand out for their bigger populations. Among the 20 cities where drivers face higher risks, the average population was 488,710, more than double the population average for the safest cities. Drivers in the most dangerous cities also pay significantly more for auto insurance — $1,721 annually, compared with $1,169 among the 20 safest, a difference of over $500 each year.

10 most dangerous cities

Detroit Baton Rouge Baltimore Springfield, Mass. San Bernardino, Calif. New Orleans Atlanta New Haven, Conn. Dallas Worcester, Mass.

Smaller and safer cities

The 20 safest cities for drivers tend to have fewer residents than the most dangerous places, with an average population of 208,944. They’re also more likely to be in the Midwest and West. Three of the 20 safest cities are in Arizona.

Cary, N.C., topped the rankings with the second-lowest rate of auto accident deaths and low rates of auto-related crime. Residents in Cary, which is part of the Research Triangle, pay an average of $729 a year in auto insurance — the lowest premium of all cities — according to the analysis.

10 safest cities

Cary, N.C. Boise Fort Collins, Colo. Naperville, Ill. Santa Clarita, Calif. Overland Park, Kan. Gilbert, Ariz. Aurora, Ill. Madison, Wis. Olathe, Kan.

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Elizabeth Renter is a staff writer at NerdWallet, a personal finance website. Email: elizabeth@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @ElizabethRenter.

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