Here is a brief look at how car insurance companies determine your premium so you can find who has the cheapest car insurance rates.
1. Your Address
Where you live may affect your car insurance price. If you live in a neighborhood that the insurance company thinks is safe, you will have cheaper auto insurance.
2. Your Age
Teen drivers are typically more expensive to insure because they are new drivers. As they become more experienced, low cost auto insurance will be easier to find.
3. Your Car
You may also find certain vehicle makes and models to be more expensive to insure for reasons like the cost of repairs or its safety rating. Before you buy a car, you should compare auto insurance rates to see how the car will affect your premium.
4. Your Career
What you do for a living also might affect your car insurance price. If your job causes you to spend a lot of time driving or driving late at night, that might be a factor in your premium.
Find Cheap Car Insurance by Comparing Quotes Online
Avoid paying too much for auto insurance – Some insurance companies use a tactic called price optimization, which means they nudge up current customer’s price a little each year. If you haven’t compared car insurance quotes recently, this might be happening to you and you haven’t even noticed!
Plus, there are hundreds of car insurance companies. What are the chances that the one company you selected is the cheapest car insurance for you? Unless you are comparing prices, you won’t know how much you could be saving.
How To Lower Your Car Insurance Rates
While there are some factors you can’t control when it comes to your insurance premium, there are a few ways you can help yourself find affordable car insurance coverage.
Raise Your Deductible.
Your deductible is how much you pay before your auto insurance company picks up the tab. If you can afford a larger out-of-pocket payment when you file a claim, consider raising your deductible. A higher deductible typically makes your car insurance cheaper.
Look For Discounts.
From good student discounts to association discounts, there are plenty of discounts at your disposal. However, not every insurance company has the same discounts available. The best way to know if you are getting all the discounts you should is to ask!
Improve Your Credit Score.
Insurance companies see your credit score as a measure of your risk. If you have a higher credit score, you are less likely to file a claim. So, if you want cheaper car insurance, work on getting your credit score higher by paying your bills on time.
Improve Your Driving History.
There are plenty of rating variables that you can’t control, like age and gender. However, you can control your driving. If you have tickets and driving infractions, they will affect your auto insurance price. To get cheaper car insurance, practice safe driving habits, like driving the speed limit and avoiding distracted driving.
Sign-up For an Incentive Program.
Many insurance companies offer a discount for enrolling in their telematics program, which means they’ll monitor your driving through either a phone app or small, installable tool.
Some companies will offer a discount just for allowing them to track your driving, while others will monitor while you drive and offer price reductions based on your skills.