Top 3 Factors That Affect Car Insurance Premiums
There are several factors that go into why car insurance premiums may be higher than others. However, there are ways to prevent an increase in car insurance.
Firstly, one’s driving record and claims history are two important factors regarding a specific car insurance rate. Prior insurance claims are noted on one’s record and this can increase the cost of car insurance. Do not report every small thing to the insurance company as you become a red flag for costs for their service (meaning a higher rate). Essentially, at fault claims will affect a rate more than non-at-fault claims. However, this depends on the state you live in and whether no-fault is applied to all accidents or not.
If you have traffic violations on your record, you may want to take a defensive driving course that will help keep points off of your record and your car insurance rate down. These courses do cost money, but the savings in the long term outweigh the initial cost of the class. Ultimately, the number of violations on one’s record is directly affecting the car insurance premium rate received by an auto insurer. A safe driver discount is available for those individuals with a clean driving record. One’s driving record for up to five years prior will be reviewed before receiving a car insurance premium rate quote.
Your age is another factor that affects car insurance premiums. Drivers aged 16-24 pay the highest car insurance premium. This is because they are the highest risk for any insurance company because of their lesser driving experience. Ultimately, male drivers in this age group are four times more likely to be in an automobile accident. Sixteen year old drivers, or new drivers, also have the most fatalities in all of the automobile accidents in the United States.
Lastly, your credit score can also be a factor in determining your car insurance premium. While not all auto insurers use a credit score to determine a rate, you do not know which ones do. You can check with an agent from any particular auto insurance company to find out if they use this practice. Also, it’s important to ensure your credit report is 100% accurate and that any discrepancies or errors are corrected immediately. Your credit report is responsible for countless life decisions not just auto insurance, but other loans one may desire to seek out in the future.
While these are just three of the major factors, there are countless others that may affect one’s car insurance premium rate. Do your homework prior to seeking out quotes from auto insurers.
