It stands to reason that, despite the widespread range of the modern white-tailed deer, some states would have more than others. You wouldn’t expect to hit a deer with your car in Arizona as often as you would in Tennessee. So what are the statistics for deer-vehicle collisions in the United States, and what can you expect to pay out in insurance rate increases after the accident?
Credio, a personal-finance website that compares financial products and services, compiled* a list of the 20 states drivers are most likely to hit deer in. Some states tied, but the winner won by an impressive margin over second place. More surprising than the chances of hitting a deer are the widely varying increases in insurance rates among the states.
The Top 20 States for Deer-Vehicle Collisions
20. Nebraska. Drivers have a 0.68 percent chance of hitting a deer, and can anticipate an average insurance-rate increase of three percent.
19. Kansas. Drivers have a 0.73 percent chance of hitting a deer, and can anticipate an average insurance-rate increase of three percent.
18. Georgia. Drivers have a 0.75 percent chance of hitting a deer, and can anticipate an average insurance-rate increase of 22 percent.
17. Tie (Alabama and Ohio). Drivers have a 0.79 percent chance of hitting a deer, and can anticipate an average insurance-rate increase of 18 percent in Ohio and 16 percent in Alabama.
16. Missouri. Drivers have a 0.81 percent chance of hitting a deer, and can anticipate an average insurance-rate increase of 21 percent.
15. Maryland. Drivers have a 0.83 percent chance of hitting a deer, and can anticipate an average insurance-rate increase of 14 percent.
14. North Dakota. Drivers have a 0.83 percent chance of hitting a deer, and can anticipate an average insurance-rate increase of seven percent.
13. Wyoming. Drivers have a 0.91 percent chance of hitting a deer, and can anticipate an average insurance-rate increase of zero percent.
12. Tie (Arkansas and Kentucky). Drivers have a 0.93 percent chance of hitting a deer, and can anticipate an average insurance-rate increase of 23 percent in Kentucky and three percent in Arkansas.
11. North Carolina. Drivers have a 0.97 percent chance of hitting a deer, and can anticipate an average insurance-rate increase of 39 percent.
10. Michigan. Drivers have a 1.06 percent chance of hitting a deer, and can anticipate an average insurance-rate increase of 16 percent.
9. South Carolina. Drivers have a 1.08 percent chance of hitting a deer, and can anticipate an average insurance-rate increase of 24 percent.
8. Tie (Virginia and Minnesota). Drivers have a 1.14 percent chance of hitting a deer, and can anticipate an average insurance-rate increase of 22 percent in Virginia and 30 percent in Minnesota.
7. Wisconsin. Drivers have a 1.18 percent chance of hitting a deer, and can anticipate an average insurance-rate increase of 22 percent.
6. Mississippi. Drivers have a 1.19 percent chance of hitting a deer, and can anticipate an average insurance-rate increase of 11 percent.
5. South Dakota. Drivers have a 1.22 percent chance of hitting a deer, and can anticipate an average insurance-rate increase of four percent.
4. Iowa. Drivers have a 1.30 percent chance of hitting a deer, and can anticipate an average insurance-rate increase of 31 percent.
3. Montana. Drivers have a 1.33 percent chance of hitting a deer, and can anticipate an average insurance-rate increase of four percent.
2. Pennsylvania. Drivers have a 1.41 percent chance of hitting a deer, and can anticipate an average insurance-rate increase of 15 percent.
1. West Virginia. Drivers have a 2.56 percent chance of hitting a deer, and can anticipate an average insurance-rate increase of zero percent.
*To see how Credio evaluated the chances and costs, visit their website.