The following current articles, made available by the Insurance Information Institute, discuss factors that enter into the pricing of auto Insurance premiums. An understanding of these factors can assist you in understanding insurance premiums and how they may be applied to you. A discussion with your insurance agent about these factors and your particular circumstances may provide insight into your premiums and how you might be able to adjust them in a way favorable to you.
The average yearly auto insurance premium is almost $800, but there is wide variation around this average. Many factors can affect your premium, and they all help determine how likely you are to have an accident. Perhaps, surprisingly, many of them do a better job in determining your risk than just your driving record. Not all companies use all of these factors, and some might use factors not listed here. Your premium may depend on these factors:
The better your record, the lower your premium. If you have had accidents or serious traffic violations, it is likely you will pay more than if you have a clean driving record. You may also pay more if you are a new driver and have not been insured for a number of years. You have no driving history.
The more miles you drive the more chance for accidents. If you drive your car for work, or drive it a long distance to work, you will pay more. If you drive only occasionally, what some companies call “pleasure use”, you will pay less.
Where you live and where the car is parked can affect the cost of your insurance. Generally, due to higher rates of vandalism, theft and accidents, urban drivers pay a higher auto insurance price than those in small towns or rural areas.
Other factors that vary from one area or state to another are: cost and frequency of litigation; medical care and car repair costs; prevalence of auto insurance fraud; and weather trends.
In general, mature drivers have fewer accidents than less experienced drivers, particularly teenagers. So, insurers generally charge more if teenagers or young people below age 25 drive your car.
As a group, women tend to get into fewer accidents, have fewer driver under-the-influence accidents (DUIs) and, most importantly, less serious accidents than men. So, all other things being equal, women generally pay less for auto insurance than men. Of course, over time individual driving history for both men and women will have a greater impact on what they pay individually for auto insurance.
Some cars cost more to insure than others. Variables include the likelihood of theft, the cost of the car itself. These are major rate factors. The cost of repairs, and the overall safety record of the car are important considerations. Engine sizes, even among the same makes and models, can also impact insurance premiums. Cars with high quality safety equipment might qualify for premium discounts
Insurers not only look at how safe the car is to drive and how well it protects occupants, they also look at the potential damage a car can inflict on another car. If a specific car has a higher chance of inflicting damage on another car and its occupants, some insurers may charge more for liability insurance.
For many insurers, credit based insurance scoring is one of the most important and statistically valid tools to predict the likelihood of a person filing a claim and the likely cost of that claim. Credit based insurance scores are based on information like payment history, bankruptcies, collections, outstanding debt and length of credit history. For example, regular, on time credit card and mortgage payments affect a score positively, while late payments affect a score negatively.
In virtually every state, by law you must buy a minimum amount of liability insurance. The state required limits are generally very low and most people should consider purchasing much more than the state requirement. The recommended amount of liability protection is about ten times the average state minimum.
If you have a new or recent model of car, you likely will also buy comprehensive and collision coverage which pays for damage to your car due to weather, theft or physical damage to the car such as being hit by a tree. Comprehensive and collision coverages are subject to deductibles; the higher the deductible, the lower your auto insurance premium. While there is no legal requirement to purchase these coverages, if you finance the purchase of the car or you lease it you may be required by contract.
Call your insurance agent for an Insurance review, and make sure you are covered.
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