How Are Car Insurance Rates Determined?

A wide spectrum of criteria helps determine your car insurance rate. Car insurance premiums are based on controllable and non-controllable conditions. According to statistics, a college student with a flashy car is far more likely to run into an accident than a middle-aged lawyer cruising his station wagon in a deserted area. Factors that affect your car insurance rates that cannot be change include your age, marital status, and your sex:

∙ Age - Individuals on the opposite ends of the aging spectrum are more likely to be involved in accidents, and they include young teenagers and elderly persons.

∙ Marital Status - Although it may seem questionable, statistics have proven single drivers are involved in more auto accidents than married drivers.

∙ Sex - According to statistics, women are safer drivers than men. Their lack of devotion towards sporty 240 mph topping cars may be one reason.

Criteria that affect insurance rates include your geographical location, past driving history, type of vehicle, accident claims, credit score, and occupation. Geographical location is important when it comes to calculating your auto insurance rates. Car drivers in Indiana and Wisconsin stand a lesser chance of colliding with another car than city slickers. Even a move to another town nearby can affect your auto insurance rate. In addition, driving violations will throw a dagger in your rates. Avoid speeding tickets, traffic violations, and drunk driving offenses - which are all factors in deciding how much of a risk you pose to the insurance carrier.

Auto insurance premiums will always be higher for extravagant sports and luxury cars like Ferraris and Rolls Royce's. Auto insurance companies take everything from the value, size, weight, and age of your vehicle into consideration. Even the cost of replacement parts is carefully scrutinized! As a general rule, lighter cars pose less of a risk than larger, heavier vehicles. Plus, accident claims like fender benders you've placed previously will come to haunt you. Sharpen your credit rating with money management and a budget because auto insurance companies look at those with a poor credit rating as a higher risk. Occupation and risk also go hand in hand: a contractor in Los Angeles and a 21-year-old messenger in New York City are a higher risk than a middle-aged teacher in West Lafayette, Indiana.

Other factors that impact your auto insurance premiums include: driving experience, use of the vehicle (business, personal), theft protection device availability, miles driven yearly, distance to work, current auto insurance, and multiple drivers using the same car (can be eligible for discounts)