Factors That Affect Your Car Insurance Premium and How to Lower It

There are many factors that affect your car insurance premium. 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.

Factors you cannot easily change that affect your car insurance rates:

• Your 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.
• Your Gender
  Women are statistically safer drivers (sorry guys).
• Your Marital Status
  A married person will pay less than a single person with an identical driving record.

Factors you CAN change that affect your car insurance rates

• Your Location
  Where you live and work makes a difference. Folks living in certain 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.

• Your Driving Violations
  Having an accident or moving violations on your record (speeding tickets, DWI, 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.
• Your Vehicle Type
  A cheap car will cost less to insure than that status symbol SUV sitting on 24" rims.
• Your Accident Claims
  A driving record that is clean and free of accidents will hold fare better for you than lots of tickets and/or accidents.
• Your Credit History
  Many insurance companies view having a poor, or even no credit history as suggestive of higher risk and thus, charge you a higher premium.
• Your Occupation
  Insurers have statistically found a correlation between your occupation and risk of filing claims. For instance, a newspaper delivery person is most likely a higher risk than the personal banker sitting at their desk all day.

Other factors that help determine car insurance premiums:

• Driving distance to work
• Miles driven annually
• Years of driving experience
• Rather or not you have taken safe driving courses
• Business use of the vehicle
• Whether or not you currently have car insurance
• Theft protection devices (often results in discounts)
• Multiple cars and drivers (another opportunity for discounts)

How Much Car Insurance Should You Buy?

Car insurance is one of the most dreaded chunks in your budget. And depending on which state you live in, it could be a smaller or larger chunk of your budget than your neighbors across state lines.

How much insurance should you buy? Any insurance agent worthy of their salt will tell you that you should buy as much as you can afford. While this is a good rule of thumb, it's about as useful as a stock broker's tip to buy low and sell high. It might be sound logic but it doesn't get you any closer to an educated decision. There are a few filters that need consideration in order to make that educated decision. First, what is the state required minimum coverage where you live? Second, what does the minimum cover? Third, what other coverage is available and can you afford it? And fourthly, what are you protecting?

What is the minimum for your state?

State-By-State Requirements (validated 06/04):

State	Type(s) of Coverage Required	Minimum Liability Limits*
AL	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability (effective 6/2000)	20/40/10
AK	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability	50/100/25
AZ	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability	15/30/10
AR	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability	25/50/25
CA	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability	15/30/5
CO	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability, Personal Injury Protection	25/50/15
CT	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability, Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist	20/40/10
DE	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability, Personal Injury Protection	15/30/5
DC	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability, Uninsured Motorist	25/50/10
FL	Property Damage Liability, Personal Injury Protection	0/0/10*
GA	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability	25/50/25
HI	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability, Personal Injury Protection	20/40/10
ID	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability	25/50/15
IL	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability, Uninsured Motorist	20/40/15
IN	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability	25/50/10
IA	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability	20/40/15
KS	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability, Personal Injury Protection, Uninsured Motorist	25/50/10
KY	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability, Personal Injury Protection	25/50/10
LA	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability	10/20/10
ME	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability, Uninsured Motorist, Underinsured Motorist	50/100/25
MD	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability, Personal Injury Protection (may be waived for policyholder but compulsory for passengers), Uninsured Motorist	20/40/10
MA	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability, Personal Injury Protection, Uninsured Motorist	20/40/5
MI	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability, Personal Injury Protection	20/40/10
MN	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability, Personal Injury Protection, Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist	30/60/10
MS	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability	10/20/5
MO	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability, Uninsured Motorist	25/50/10
MT	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability	25/50/10
NE	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability	25/50/25
NV	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability	15/30/10
NH	Financial Responsibility Only, Underinsured Motorist	0/0/25*
NJ	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability, Personal Injury Protection, Uninsured Motorist	15/30/5
NM	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability	25/50/10
NY	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability, Personal Injury Protection, Uninsured Motorist	25/50/10
NC	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability	30/60/25
ND	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability, Personal Injury Protection, Uninsured Motorist	25/50/25
OH	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability	12.5/25/7.5
OK	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability	10/20/10
OR	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability, Personal Injury Protection, Uninsured Motorist	25/50/10
PA	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability, Medical Payments	15/30/5
RI	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability, Uninsured Motorist	25/50/25
SC	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability, Uninsured Motorist	15/30/10
SD	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability, Uninsured Motorist	25/50/25
TN	Financial Responsibility Only	0/0/10*
TX	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability	20/40/15
UT	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability, Personal Injury Protection	25/50/15
VT	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability, Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist	25/50/10
VA	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability, Uninsured Motorist	25/50/20
WA	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability	25/50/10
WV	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability, Uninsured Motorist	20/40/10
WI	Financial Responsibility Only, Uninsured Motorist	0/0/10*
WY	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability	25/50/20

*The first two figures refer to bodily injury liability limits (which are not required in all states) and the third figure refers to the property damage liability limit. For example, 20/40/10 means coverage up to $20,000 for each person injured in an accident, up to a maximum of $40,000 for the entire accident, and $10,000 worth of coverage for property damage. These state minimums are based on the most current information available. In addition, some states are "no-fault" states which additionally require Personal Injury Protection, a.k.a. PIP. You should check your specific state's requirements to verify these figures.

What do the minimums cover?

Now that you know what your state requires, what are you actually covered for once you purchase the minimum? Using the coverage definitions that follow, find the types of coverage required and see what your state says is the accepted minimum.

Coverage Definitions

Bodily Injury Liability
Covers other people's bodily injuries or death for which you are responsible. It also provides for a legal defense if another party in the accident files a lawsuit against you. Claims for bodily injury may be for such things as medical bills, loss of income or pain and suffering. In the event of a serious accident, you want enough insurance to cover a judgment against you in a lawsuit, without jeopardizing your personal assets. Bodily injury liability covers injury to people, not your vehicle. Therefore, it's a good idea to have the same level of coverage for all of your cars. Bodily Injury Liability does NOT cover you or other people on your policy. Coverage is limited to the terms and conditions contained in the policy.

Comprehensive Physical Damage Coverage
Covers your vehicle, and sometimes other vehicles you may be driving for losses resulting from incidents other than collision. For example, comprehensive insurance covers damage to your car if it is stolen; or damaged by flood, fire, or animals. Pays to fix your vehicle less the deductible you choose. To keep your premiums low, select as high a deductible as you feel comfortable paying out of pocket. Coverage is limited to the terms and conditions contained in the policy.

Collision Coverage
Covers damage to your car when your car hits, or is hit by, another vehicle, or other object. Pays to fix your vehicle less the deductible you choose. To keep your premiums low, select as large a deductible as you feel comfortable paying out of pocket. For older cars, consider dropping this coverage, since coverage is normally limited to the cash value of your car. Coverage is limited to the terms and conditions contained in the policy.

Medical Payments
Covers medical expenses to you and your passengers injured in an accident. There may also be coverage if as a pedestrian a vehicle injures you. Does NOT matter who is at fault. Coverage is limited to the terms and conditions contained in the policy.

Uninsured Motorist Coverage
Covers bodily injuries to you and your passengers when the other person has no insurance or not enough insurance in a crash that is not your fault. In some states, there is also uninsured motorist coverage for damage to your vehicle. Given the large number of uninsured motorists, this is very important coverage to have, even in states with no-fault insurance. Coverage is limited to the terms and conditions contained in the policy

Personal Injury Protection Coverage
Covers within the specified limits, the medical, hospital and funeral expenses of the insured, others in his vehicles and pedestrians struck by him. The basic coverage for the insured's own injuries on a first-party basis, without regard to fault. It is only available in certain states.

Property Damage Liability
Covers you if your car damages someone else's property. Usually it is their car, but it could be a fence, a house or any other property damaged in an accident. It also provides you with legal defense if another party files a lawsuit against you. It is a good idea to purchase enough of this insurance to cover the amount of damage your car might do to another vehicle or object. Coverage is limited to the terms and conditions contained in the policy.

Rental Car Reimbursement
Covers renting a car if your car isn't drivable or while your car is being repaired because of a covered accident.

What else is available and can you afford it?

Did you come across a coverage and think, "I need that but it isn't required by state law" when you were reviewing the coverage definitions? Chances are you did. Can your budget afford the additional expense of these protections? Or maybe more to the point; can you afford NOT to have these additional protections? At HometownQuotes.Com it's easy to get multiple quotes all with a click of your mouse. And during the quoting process, it's simple to add or remove coverage to see how additional coverage will affect your budget.

What are you protecting?

What assets need to be protected from being plucked away if you cause injury or damage?
A) Your car itself. If this is a significant asset, or at least the bank you owe money to thinks so, then you will need comprehensive and collision.
B) Your net worth. Do you have an enormous net worth to protect. If so, either get it out of your name and into a trust or buy all the insurance you can. If you have little or nothing to protect, then you can get by with less and still be financially responsible.

However, after you determine how much protection to get, always ask how much more it is for the next level higher. Very often, you can get significantly more coverage for very little cost.

Car insurance isn't flashy. There is no "wow" factor and the opposite gender isn't going to be impressed by the size of your policy. But not having enough can be the difference between financial stability and financial ruin. For what its worth, HometownQuotes.Com finds financial stability incredibly appealing.

How to Find Car Insurance Discounts

Saving money wherever you can is important to us all. Car Insurance should be no different. Do not assume that your insurance agent knows everything about you and your car. At HometownQuotes we go out of our way to find all the possible car insurance discounts that are available to each customer.

Drivers should take advantage of all discounts that many providers offer, that can significantly reduce the cost of car insurance. Understanding discounts and how they can affect car insurance premiums can help smart shoppers make better decisions about their coverage and possibly save themselves some money in the process.

Read below to identify possible discounts that could help you save money on car insurance this year. Other than discounts, there may be some other ways for you to save on your insurance premiums. We will go over several discounts that can help with your current situation.

First, there are discounts for Car Safety features. Certain states will give you discounts for anti-lock breaks. Make sure you know if it is two or four wheel anti-lock break vehicle. Automatic seatbelts and airbags are frequently discounted on your insurance premiums. In most states, a defensive driver class discount may apply. If the principal driver usually 55 years old or older has completed an approved defensive driving class a discount could apply. Keep in mind that most states will only approve this class if it is voluntary meaning that it was not the result of a violation or infraction.

Some insurers will give you a discount for having multiple cars. In some cases, this will only apply if you have two or more drivers. If you have a clean driving record, meaning you do not have any tickets, accidents or suspensions in the last three years (some companies require five years) then you could be eligible for a safe driver's discount.

Many insurance companies will reward you with staying with the same insurance company for many years without any accidents reported. They will offer you a renewal discount. It makes sense, you have carried insurance with a company for several years, and have not had an accident, your insurance company likes you and wants to reward and keep your business. Some companies honor you with a discount if you had prior limits on your previous policy. They discount you because they understand you are a better risk.

Conversely, if you do decided to change insurers a proof of prior insurance discount may apply. Most insurers request at least 6 months of consecutive insurance from the previous insurer. If you are a full-time student who meets certain grade requirements and are unmarried and usually under 25 years of age (some states the age is 21) you could be eligible for a good student discount. If you own a home, including condominium, town home, or mobile home, which is used as a principal residence, a discount could apply. Military personnel either currently active or retired from any branch of the US military a discount could apply. If your vehicle is equipped with an anti-theft device, a discount could apply.

You could lower the cost of your car insurance in other ways as well.

For people who own older cars, it may not be necessary or cost-effective to protect them with collision and comprehensive coverage. By comparing the book value of your vehicle and the premium that the insurer has offered, you may find that it cost as much for the insurance as it does for the vehicle. If the car is worth less than $2,000, you will probably spend more insuring it than it is worth. The whole idea of driving an older car is to save money, so why not get what is coming to you.

In addition, keep in mind that the type of vehicle you buy could greatly affect your premium. A flashy red sports car is usually going to cost more to insure than a mid sized sedan. This is also true of vehicles that are on the list of most stolen. There are many ways that policyholders can save on their insurance. Knowing more about auto policies and premiums can help consumers take advantage of less obvious discounts while ensuring that they have the appropriate protection for their vehicles. The last way to save is to assume more risk. If you chose higher deductible on your Personal Injury Protection or Comprehensive and collision coverage will lower your premium as well. The deductible is the amount of money you have to pay before your insurance company begins paying the rest.

Understanding how discounts affect your car insurance rates is important to save you money.

Auto Insurance Buying Tips

Consolidate Insurance Policies

Insuring two or more vehicles with the same insurance company can save you between 10 - 15% on your premiums.   Covering your home through the same company that you have auto insurance with can reduce your premiums by another 10-15%.  

Increase Your Deductible

One rule of thumb is to carry the highest deductible you can afford. By increasing your deductible from $100 to $1,000, you could save up to 25%. Keep in mind, though, that your lender might not agree to a higher deductible.

Install Anti-Theft  And Safety Devices

Installing a vehicle recovery system such as Lo-Jack or Teletracer could save you up to 7-10% per year.  There are other relatively  inexpensive anti-theft devices such as "The Club", which locks the steering wheel in place, as well as having your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) etched on each window.

Safety features such as air bags, traction control and anti-lock braking systems (ABS) are viewed positively by insurance companies which, in turn, is reflected in your premiums. Although these systems may not reduce injury during an accident, they will reduce your premiums.

Clean Driving Record And Safety Courses

While traffic tickets and auto accidents will increase your premiums, most insurance companies offer discounts to drivers with clean records. Also, some insurance companies will offer a discount if you attend a Driver Training School Program, and your employer might even pay the cost if you use a company vehicle for your job. Training school discounts may vary between 7-10%.

Reduce Coverage On Older Vehicles

If you have an older car worth between $1,000 - $2,000, you might be better off dropping the collision coverage. Check to see if your collision premium is more than the value of the car.

Non-Smoker Or Early Retiree Discounts

Yes, some companies provide discounts for Non-smokers and Early Retirees.   Insurers consider smoking a dangerous driving activity.

Park In A Garage

Sometimes the difference between getting auto insurance and going uninsured is where you keep your vehicle at night. Most thefts do not involve a garaged car and this is reflected in premium discounts. If you have a winter home with no garage, try putting the vehicle in storage. Let your insurance company know that your car is in storage, and you could receive a partial premium reduction.

Carpool With A Co-Worker

Most insurers surcharge premiums if the commute to work exceeds 3 miles. Carpooling with a co-worker may result in a discount for low-mileage use.

Drive A Conservative Car

Before buying a car you might want to find out how much your insurance will cost annually.  Insurance companies consider certain cars easily damaged and expensive to repair, and other cars the target of thieves.    You could end up paying a premium surcharge between 10 - 20%. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has established the Auto Safety Hotline at 1-800-424-9393 to report safety defects or to obtain information on cars, trucks, child seats, highway or traffic safety.  The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety provides information on death rates by car make and model as well as the standard safety equipment available.  The Institute can be reached at 703-247-1500.

Teenage And College Bound Drivers

You may want to consider letting your teenager drive the family car instead of buying his/her own vehicle. This will very likely lower your cost to cover them. Students in school and living away from home can reduce their premiums by 30 - 50%, depending on the insurer.

Conclusion

After reviewing all of the savings tips, you may have determined that if you added up all your credits you could receive a 70 - 90% reduction in your premium. Well, unfortunately it doesn't work like that. Certain measures that you take may qualify you for being placed with the "preferred" company of a particular insurance group. This "preferred" company will be able to give you additional premium credits.