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What affects car insurance rates?

Know the factors affecting car insurance premiums and learn ways to help lower insurance costs.

You pay one amount for car insurance, your best friend pays another and your neighbor pays still another amount. What gives? Most insurance companies look at a number of key factors to calculate how much you'll end up paying for your car insurance.

Take a closer look at these factors that affect your car insurance premium to clear things up — some of them also come with bonus suggestions for keeping costs down.

Factors that affect car insurance rates

Your policy and deductibles

When you are choosing your car insurance deductible and coverages, the specifics play a role in your monthly payment.

  • Generally, choosing a higher deductible means a lower monthly payment.
  • Choosing a lower deductible means a higher monthly payment.

Any additional coverage you add typically gives you added insurance protection, depending on the claim, but will also add to your monthly cost.

One way to lower insurance costs is to review your policy with your insurance agent and eliminate any coverage you may not need, such as comprehensive coverage on an older vehicle, rental reimbursement or emergency roadside service.

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What you drive

Car insurance providers often develop vehicle safety ratings by collecting a large amount of data from customer claims and analyzing industry safety reports. They may offer discounts to auto customers who drive safer vehicles. The opposite can apply for less safe rides.

  • Some insurers increase premiums for cars more susceptible to damage, occupant injury or theft, and they lower rates for those that fare better than the norm on those measures.
  • Driving vehicles that rate highly in terms of driver and passenger protection may mean savings on insurance.

So, before you head down to the dealership, do some research on the car you want to purchase. Does the vehicle that has caught your eye have strong safety ratings? Is this specific model often stolen? Knowing the answers to a few simple questions can go a long way toward keeping your rates low.

How often, and how far, you drive

People who use their car for business and drive more miles in a year pay more than those who drive less. The more miles you drive in a year, the higher the chances of a collision — regardless of how safe a driver you are.

  • To help offset how much you drive, consider joining a car or van pool, riding your bike or taking public transportation to work. Insurance rates may be lower if you drive fewer miles.
  • Check with your insurance company about a discount for driving less. Usage-based car insurance like Drive Safe & Save™ by State Farm® provides a personalized discount based on how the vehicle is driven and the miles driven by using telematics information from your car or smartphone.1

Where you live

Generally, due to higher rates of vandalism, theft and collisions, urban drivers pay more for car insurance than those in small towns or rural areas.

Your driving record

Drivers who cause accidents generally pay more than those who have gone accident-free for several years. If you've been accident-free for a long period of time, don't get complacent. Remain cautious and maintain your good driving habits. If you are insured and accident-free for 3 years, you may qualify for a State Farm accident-free savings.

And even though you can't rewrite your driving history, having an accident on your record can be an important reminder to always drive with caution and care. As time goes on, the effect of past accidents on your premiums will decrease.

Your credit history

Certain credit information can be predictive of future insurance claims. Where applicable, many insurance companies use credit history to help determine the cost of car insurance. Maintaining good credit may have a positive impact on your car insurance costs.

Your age, sex and marital status

Accident rates are often higher for drivers under age 25, especially single males. Car insurance prices in most states reflect these differences. If you're a student, you might be in line for a discount. Most car insurers provide discounts to student drivers who maintain good grades.

What are ways to help lower car insurance premiums?

1 Discounts may exceed 30% and vary state-to-state (NY capped at 30%). Not available in CA, MA, RI. A discount may not be available in NC depending on individual facts and circumstances. Setup required.

Discounts and their availability may vary by state and eligibility requirements. Not all vehicles or drivers are eligible for discounts.

The information in this article was obtained from various sources not associated with State Farm® (including State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates). While we believe it to be reliable and accurate, we do not warrant the accuracy or reliability of the information. State Farm is not responsible for, and does not endorse or approve, either implicitly or explicitly, the content of any third party sites that might be hyperlinked from this page. The information is not intended to replace manuals, instructions or information provided by a manufacturer or the advice of a qualified professional, or to affect coverage under any applicable insurance policy. These suggestions are not a complete list of every loss control measure. State Farm makes no guarantees of results from use of this information.

Customers may always choose to purchase only one policy but the discount for two or more purchases of different lines of insurance will not then apply. Savings, discount names, percentages, availability and eligibility may vary by state.

State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company
State Farm Indemnity Company
State Farm Fire and Casualty Company
State Farm General Insurance Company
Bloomington, IL

State Farm County Mutual Insurance Company of Texas
State Farm Lloyds
Richardson, TX

State Farm Florida Insurance Company
Winter Haven, FL

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