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Factors That Affect Your Car Insurance Premium

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, DUI, 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 credit rating free 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)

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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