Many factors affect the premium you will pay for auto insurance. Each is a statistically based risk for a specific population. The higher the risk associated with a person, the more he or she is likely to pay for coverage. We have elaborated on some of the risk factors below, but there are numerous others, including driver's gender, miles driven per year, purpose for using the vehicle (commuting to work, using for work, leisure only), etc.
Age
Statistically, drivers under the age of 25 are at greater risk of being in an accident than those over age 25. Drivers between the ages of 50 and 65 generally have the safest records.
Gender
Women are statistically safer drivers, but that trend is changing as more female drivers get on the road.
Marital Status
A married person will pay less than a single person with an identical driving record.
You can think about these factors and determine what you can do to change them in your situation. You may be able to save on insurance based upon these decisions:
Geography
Where you live makes a difference. Folks living in areas with little or no traffic are likely to spend less on insurance than those living in congested cities or suburbs because areas with a lot of traffic tend to see more accidents. Some neighborhoods also have a higher rate of vehicle thefts, which can result in a higher premium.
Driving Violations
Having an accident or moving violations on your record (speeding tickets, DWI, reckless driving, etc.) put you at a higher risk for accidents and will likely mean a higher premium. Some insurance companies will penalize you for your record for as many as five years from when the incident occurred. However, keep in mind, as your record improves, your premium will get lower.
Vehicle Type
A cheap car will cost less to insure than that status symbol SUV sitting on 24" rims.
Accident Claims
A driving record that is clean and free of accidents will hold far better for you than lots of tickets and/or accidents.
Credit Rating
Many insurance companies view having a poor, or even no credit history as suggestive of higher risk and thus, charge you a higher premium. Monitor your to see if you can get a better score. A better credit score will save on insurance premiums.
Occupation
Insurers have statistically found a correlation between your occupation and risk. For instance, a newspaper delivery person is most likely a higher risk than the personal banker sitting at their desk all day.
Education
A higher education can save on your premiums.
Driving distance to work
Miles driven each year
Years of driving experience
Business use of the vehicle
Whether or not you currently have auto insurance and how high are your limits
Theft protection devices (often results in discounts)
Multiple cars and drivers (another opportunity for discounts)
What can I do right now to make sure I have the lowest premium?
Shop around and compare quotes from different insurers. CarInsurance.com puts many insurance companies on one site so you can compare them in one place. Carriers base their premiums on their claims experiences, which naturally differ. One company may see your area as a higher risk than others may. Another may charge more because of your occupation. Shopping at makes it easier because you can quickly see multiple companies and their rates for your particular situation. Where do I go for quotes?
One stop can take care of it all. Go to where you can receive multiple quotes, pick the best price, and then purchase. Get covered immediately on-line or over the phone. It REALLY is the easiest way to purchase car insurance. Enter your zip code above.
Customer Said:
Easier than going to an agency....faster too!
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Holiday, FL
Thank you for reading about factors that affect your car insurance premium... Please see if we can save you money with a car insurance quote!
Disclaimer: This article is for information purposes. It should not be interpreted as a recommendation to buy or sell any insurance product, or to provide financial or legal advice. This information is provided for information purposes only.
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Tuesday, September 25, 2007
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