If you have been shopping for auto insurance recently, you have undoubtedly noticed that rates seem to keep going up. However, it is also possible that you happen to live in a state with a high rate on car insurance.

The cost of auto insurance rates is based largely on the number of claims filed and how expensive those claims are. Based on the large number of urban areas and its population density, it's no surprise that the Northeast ranks as the most expensive region in the country for car insurance.

In contrast, rural areas tend to have much lower car insurance rates - sometimes half of the rate for urban areas. Folks in the country tend to get into fewer accidents, perhaps because there are fewer cars on the road to crash into.

Based on data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, the state that has the lowest rate on auto insurance is Iowa. Average combined premiums for Iowans were just $664.20 in 2005, the most recent year for which data is available. The nationwide average (again for 2005) was $949.00.

Other states that have the lowest rates include other rural areas such as Wisconsin, Idaho, North Dakota, South Dakota, Kansas and Maine. If you want low rates it pays to get into the countryside. The only populous state ranked in the top ten least expensive states is Ohio.

Iowa's average auto insurance rate was less than half that of the District of Columbia. D.C. tops the list of most expensive states for car insurance with an average annual combined premium of $1342.80 as of 2005.

So if you find that your car insurance rates are sky high, it might not be due to your driving. It could just be the state where you live.