What Goes Into Determining My Auto Premium?

Jessica Farrell

Insurance companies consider many factors before they provide you with an auto insurance quote. Here is some of the basic information that goes into compiling your auto quote:

Age: Insurance companies like older more experienced drivers. According to the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention), 16 to 19 years olds are four times more likely than older drivers to be involved in a car crash. Premiums tend to decrease as the young driver ages.

Type of Car: Brand new, expensive, fast cars are more expensive to insure than older, slower cars. Check to see if the car you're interested in insuring is a high risk car, meaning that it is often stolen or vandalized. For instance, in 2004, the 1995 Honda Civic was the most stolen car in the US according to a report released in November 2005 by the National Insurance Crime Bureau. Discuss this with your insurance agent before you select a car. The cost of insuring it might determine how much car you can afford.

Driving Record: Clean driving record is important to getting a lower rate. If you do have a violation, attend a driver's education class. This may help to reduce your rate. Some insurance companies will not insure drivers with very poor driving records.

Credit Score: Yes, that's right. Credit score. Your credit score is also used when securing insurance. It is called an insurance score. Studies indicate that the way a person manages their finances is a good predictor of the potential for insurance claims, therefore they charge a premium in accordance with the risk they are assuming. According to statistics, people with lower insurance scores are more likely to file claims.

Deductibles: The higher the deductible, the more you save in premium. Go as high as you can afford.

Underwriting guidelines vary slightly from company to company, so get more than one automobile quote and compare.