What affects a car insurance quote?
Many factors affect a car insurance quote, including your credit score, zip code, and discount eligibility. Your driving record has a major effect on car insurance quotes.
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Kristen Gryglik
Licensed Insurance Agent
Kristen is a licensed insurance agent working in the greater Boston area. She has over 20 years of experience counseling individuals and businesses on which insurance policies best fit their needs and budgets. She knows everyone has their own unique needs and circumstances, and she is passionate about counseling others on which policy is right for them. Licensed in Massachusetts, New Hampshire,...
Licensed Insurance Agent
UPDATED: Feb 8, 2024
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident car insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one car insurance company and cannot guarantee quotes from any single company.
Our partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from top car companies please enter your ZIP code above to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.
UPDATED: Feb 8, 2024
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident car insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one car insurance company and cannot guarantee quotes from any single company.
Our partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from top car companies please enter your ZIP code above to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
On This Page
- Many factors go into the determination of your insurance premium
- Some factors you can control, while others you cannot
- While you’ll pay less for the state-required minimum insurance, you will not be adequately protected
- Shop around and compare quotes to get the lowest price possible
A wide variety of things can affect a car insurance quote. That’s why car insurance is not a one sizes fits all kind of product. You must get a personalized car insurance quote that takes your individual information into account.
Enter your zip code to get free and personalized car insurance quotes now!
Some of the things that affect your car insurance quote are controllable, including:
- your driving record
- the type of car you drive
- the number of miles you put on your car
- your credit history
- the coverage you choose
Some of the uncontrollable things that impact your car insurance premium include the following:
- your age
- gender
- where you live
Understanding how they work together to impact the price you pay may help you in the choices you make.
Things You Can Control Affect a Car Insurance Quote
Your driving record, and the driving records of those in your household, is perhaps the most significant factor affecting your car insurance quote.
If you have infractions, accidents, and convictions that are less than three years old on your driving record, your insurance rates will be higher than those of a driver with a clean driving record.
The higher the number of issues with your record and the more serious those issues, the higher your rates will be.
The type of car you drive affects your car insurance quote:
- If your car is new, has a high value, is costly to repair or is a sports car, you will pay higher car insurance premiums.
- Older vehicles, those with low values, ones that are inexpensive to repair and traditional vehicle models are less costly to insure.
Read more: Does the age of a car affect car insurance rates?
Getting a quote for your vehicle will tell you more. In fact, prior to purchasing a car, it is wise to get a quote for insuring it. Such information may make you think twice about purchasing certain vehicles.
Your credit history can impact your car insurance quotes. It has been proven that those who have poor credit histories are more likely to make insurance claims than those who have a good credit history.
The number of miles you put on your car annually affects your car insurance quote. This is a simple matter of risk. The more miles your vehicle gets each year, the higher the chance that you will be involved in an accident.
Therefore you must be charged accordingly for the risk presented by higher amounts of driving.
The coverage you choose will affect your car insurance quote. If you carry the state minimum mandated coverage your quote will be much lower than someone who carries full coverage.
However, state minimums are always lower than the industry recommended standards. To adequately protect yourself, be sure you opt to carry liability limits of at least:
- $100,000 per person for bodily injury
- $300,000 per accident in total for bodily injury
- $100,000 per accident for property damage
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Things You Can’t Control Affect a Car Insurance Quote
Your age and your gender affect your car insurance quotes, sometimes to a great degree. If you are under the age of 25, you will find that car insurance is very high. If you are a male under that age, the prices are often astronomical.
Conversely, with age, premiums decrease. In fact, many insurers offer discounts for everyone in a household being over a certain age and for senior citizens. Where you live impacts your car insurance quotes because it contributes to whether or not you are at high risk of theft, vandalism and even car accidents.
If you live in a densely populated city, you are more at risk for all of these things than if you live in a rural area. This means you are therefore more likely to make claims.
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Car insurance quotes vary greatly from one insurer to another. This is because each company treats the factors that affect car insurance quotes differently. One company may put a lot of weight on one of the factors where another company will not.
For this reason, you must shop around and choose from a variety of quotes before making your decision on car insurance coverage in order to get the best deal possible.
In order to get those car insurance quotes quickly and easily, to make the business of comparing easy, opt to use the online quote tool.
You simply start by inputting your zip code and you will be prompted to give the remaining necessary information. The free quote tool will then submit your information to multiple insurers serving the area in which you reside.
Before you know it, you will have the quotes you need to compare, contrast and choose your car insurance wisely.
Get car insurance quotes by putting your zip code into the rate tool now!
Case Studies: Factors Affecting Car Insurance Quotes
Case Study 1: Commuting Distance
John and Sarah are both 30 years old and have similar driving records. However, John commutes 50 miles each way to work, while Sarah only drives 5 miles to her workplace.
When they obtain car insurance quotes, John receives a higher quote due to his higher annual mileage and increased exposure to potential accidents during his long commute.
Case Study 2: Neighborhood Safety
Amy and David live in different neighborhoods in the same city. Amy resides in an area with a high crime rate and frequent incidents of theft and vandalism. In contrast, David’s neighborhood has a lower crime rate and is considered safer.
Despite having similar driving records and vehicle types, Amy receives a higher car insurance quote due to the increased risk associated with her neighborhood.
Case Study 3: Age and Experience
Emily is a 19-year-old college student who recently obtained her driver’s license. Meanwhile, Mark is a 35-year-old with over 15 years of driving experience.
Even though they both have clean driving records and drive the same type of vehicle, Emily receives a significantly higher car insurance quote due to her age and limited driving experience, as younger drivers statistically have a higher risk of accidents.
Case Study 4: Vehicle Safety Features
Lisa and Michael both own SUVs, but Lisa’s vehicle is equipped with advanced safety features such as collision avoidance and lane departure warning systems, while Michael’s SUV lacks these features.
As a result, Lisa receives a lower car insurance quote since her vehicle’s safety features reduce the risk of accidents and potential insurance claims.
Case Study 5: Prior Insurance Claims
Alex and Jessica have similar driving records and live in the same neighborhood. However, Alex has made multiple insurance claims for accidents and vehicle damage in the past, while Jessica has a clean claims history.
When they request car insurance quotes, Alex receives a higher quote due to his higher likelihood of making future claims based on his past claims history.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What factors affect a car insurance quote?
Factors that affect a car insurance quote include your driving record, credit score, zip code, discount eligibility, the type of car you drive, the number of miles you drive annually, and the coverage options you choose.
How does my driving record impact my car insurance quote?
Your driving record has a significant effect on your car insurance quote. If you have recent infractions, accidents, or convictions on your record, your insurance rates will be higher compared to someone with a clean driving record.
Does my credit history affect my car insurance quotes?
Yes, your credit history can impact your car insurance quotes. Individuals with poor credit histories are more likely to make insurance claims, which can result in higher insurance rates. It’s important to maintain a good credit history to potentially lower your insurance premiums.
Why does my age and gender affect car insurance quotes?
Your age and gender can impact your car insurance quotes. Younger drivers, especially males under the age of 25, often face higher insurance premiums. As you get older, premiums tend to decrease, and some insurers offer discounts for senior citizens.
How does my location affect car insurance quotes?
Your location plays a role in determining car insurance quotes. Living in a densely populated city increases the risk of theft, vandalism, and accidents, leading to higher insurance premiums. Rural areas generally have lower risks, resulting in potentially lower rates.
Free Car Insurance Comparison
Enter your ZIP code below to view companies that have cheap car insurance rates.
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Kristen Gryglik
Licensed Insurance Agent
Kristen is a licensed insurance agent working in the greater Boston area. She has over 20 years of experience counseling individuals and businesses on which insurance policies best fit their needs and budgets. She knows everyone has their own unique needs and circumstances, and she is passionate about counseling others on which policy is right for them. Licensed in Massachusetts, New Hampshire,...
Licensed Insurance Agent
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.