Most people have at some point compared auto insurance rates with a friend and been shocked to find out one person is paying a lot less. Although it may seem unfair, the truth is that there are a wide variety of factors that go into how an insurance company determines its rates. There are a number of reasons why you might be paying more than your friend, but there is also a good possibility that you could pay less than you currently do! Understanding how policies are rated will help you to find the best rate on your car insurance.
The Car You Drive.
Yes, the type of vehicle you drive is, not surprisingly, one of the top factors in your rates. Most people know this, but may not understand which cars are more or less expensive and why. Every car is rated for the likelihood of a crash as well as for the likelihood of people being injured in a crash. They are also rated for how likely it is that the car will be stolen. Thus a car that falls on the list of most-stolen will have higher rates. Cars with very powerful engines, which can be dangerous in the hands of less experienced drivers, will also see higher rates. And of course the more valuable you car is, the more it will cost the insurance company to replace or repair it; thus the insurance rates will be higher.
Safety plays a role in this as well. Cars with higher safety ratings are less likely to result in serious injuries in an accident. This means the insurance company has a lower risk of paying out on large injury claims. Choosing a safe, moderately priced car with a low likelihood of theft is a good way to get a better rate.
Your Driving Record.
You probably know that your driving record has a big impact on your rates. Good drivers get the best rates because they represent a lower risk of a claim. If you have a ticket or an accident for which you were at fault on your record, you will pay a higher rate than someone with a clean record. There is a limit to how long the insurance company can rate you at a higher premium for tickets and accidents, so you will not have to pay the increased premium forever.
Some insurance companies offer "accident forgiveness," which generally means they will not increase your rates for the first accident. It is important to read the fine print to understand the limitations of this feature on your car insurance.
The length of your driving record makes a difference as well. Experienced drivers will see better rates than inexperienced ones, because they have so much practice on the road. This decreases their odds of an accident and means they are a lower risk for the insurance company.
Where You Live, Where You Drive.
It often comes as a surprise to people that the place where they park their car at night has an impact on their car insurance rates. Why does it matter where you live? Car insurance companies use statistics on car theft and how common accidents are in each area to determine the risk of insuring a car that is parked or garaged in that area. Thus your postal code has an impact on your rates.
And it is not just where you park, but where you drive every day that makes a difference. A car that you commute in costs more to insure than a car you drive occasionally. And a long commute often translates to a higher rate than a short commute. The more time you spend on the road, the more your odds of an accident increase. The insurance company rates your policy based on this risk level.
The Best Rate For You.
Some of the factors that go into your insurance rates are within your control. You can buy a safer car and make sure you drive safely to avoid costly tickets. But even though many of the factors cannot easily be changed – you probably can’t move just to live in a more affordable location – that does not mean you can’t get a better rate on your car insurance.
Each insurance company determines their own rates (within the confines of legally defined minimums and maximums in certain provinces) and decides how much weight they will put on each of the factors. This means that while one insurance company may charge more in your postal code, another may not. One insurance company may charge more for sports cars while another offers lower rates on them.
The key to finding your best rate is to shop around for car insurance. Compare rates to find the company that is best suited to your needs and offers the best rate for your situation. Fortunately, the internet makes it easier than ever before to shop for – and find – your best auto insurance rate for your driving profile.
