$3,057Projected avg. homeowners premium for 2026 (Insurify)
$187/moAvg. full-coverage car insurance, Sept 2026 (Insurify)
$12,863AAA's 2026 yearly cost to own and run a new vehicle
50%–75%Share of trip costs Cancel For Any Reason usually refunds
Key takeaway: The Verge Report is MoneyVerge's weekly series that takes one real money question from a reader, journalist or industry source and answers it with current data. Each report focuses on what is changing now, explains why, and ends with steps you can act on.
How we put this series together: Each report starts with a question someone actually asked us. We answer it with published data from regulators, government agencies and established research and pricing sources, and every figure is dated so you know when it was true. Reports are checked before publishing, and figures in this overview were checked in October 2026. Prices and rules change, so use the numbers as a snapshot and confirm current terms before you buy. See our advertiser disclosure.

What the series covers

Most personal finance articles answer the same evergreen questions. The Verge Report is built for questions that come up because something changed: a jump in premiums, a new rule, a season of extreme weather. Each week we pick one, and stick to it.

The first three reports, published in September 2026, all dealt with insurance costs that surprise people:

  • Week 1: Homeowners insurance before you buy. Why buyers should price insurance while house-hunting, not after an offer is accepted. Insurify put the 2025 national average at $2,948 and projected $3,057 for 2026, with Florida averaging $8,292. Insurers price each property on factors such as its recent claims, roof age and type, and distance to a fire department.
  • Week 2: Travel insurance, heat waves and wildfire smoke. A journalist asked whether a heat alert or smoke warning lets you cancel a trip. Usually it does not, because standard cancellation coverage pays only for listed reasons. Cancel For Any Reason upgrades typically return 50%–75% of prepaid costs.
  • Week 3: Why car ownership costs more in some states. A journalist ranking states by the total cost of owning a car asked what drives the gap. Full-coverage car insurance averaged $187 a month nationally in September 2026, but $303 in Maryland and $84 in New Hampshire. The BLS consumer price index for motor vehicle insurance fell 5.1% in the year to August 2026. AAA estimates a new vehicle costs $12,863 a year to own and operate.

How each report is researched

  1. Start with the exact question. We restate what was asked and answer that, not a broader topic.
  2. Use primary and established sources. We look first at government agencies and regulators, then at established research and rate-tracking sources. Every source is listed at the end of the report.
  3. Date every number. Insurance premiums, rates and fees move constantly. Each figure says when it was published or collected.
  4. Explain the cause, not just the number. A state average means little unless you know why it is high and which parts you can change.
  5. End with what you can do. Each report closes with practical steps, such as questions to ask an insurer or the policy terms to check.

We do not rank products with invented scores, and reports do not include quote forms. When a report names a company, it is to illustrate published terms or data, not to endorse it.

Send us a question

If you are a reader, journalist or industry professional with a question about insurance, credit, banking, loans or investing, especially one tied to something changing right now, we would like to hear it. The best questions are specific: "Does my policy cover X?" or "Why did Y go up this year?" Find our contact details on the About MoneyVerge page.

For the background behind each report, our main guides go deeper: see the insurance guide for how coverage types compare.

Guides in this section

Homeowners Insurance Before You Buy: What Every Buyer Should Check FirstWeek 1: What home buyers should check about insurance before closingDoes Travel Insurance Cover Heat Waves or Wildfire Smoke?Week 2: Whether travel insurance covers extreme heat or wildfire smokeWhy Car Ownership Costs More in Some States, and How to Cut YoursWeek 3: Why car ownership and insurance cost more in some states

Frequently asked questions

What is The Verge Report?

It is a weekly MoneyVerge series that answers one real question from a reader, journalist or industry source about a money topic that is changing right now, using dated, sourced data and practical steps.

How are Verge Report topics chosen?

Each report starts from a question someone asked us. We favor questions tied to something new, such as rising premiums, rule changes or seasonal risks, where current data makes a real difference to the answer.

Where do the numbers come from?

From government agencies, regulators and established research and pricing sources, listed at the end of each report. Each figure is dated, because rates and premiums change often.

Can I suggest a question?

Yes. Readers, journalists and industry professionals can send questions. See the About page for contact details. Specific questions about a cost, rule or policy term work best.

Does The Verge Report recommend specific companies?

No. Reports may name companies to illustrate published prices or terms, but they do not rank products with invented scores or include quote forms. Always confirm current terms with the provider.

Sources

Rates, fees and terms change often. Figures were checked in October 2026; confirm current details with the provider before you apply.