5 Things You Didn’t Know Affect Your Auto Insurance Rates

by

Jordan Rocksmith

Most people understand that a bad driving record tends to increase your auto insurance premiums. That’s one of the many reasons why it makes sense to avoid getting caught speeding or causing a car accident of any kind. But did you know that there are at least 5 other things that affect auto insurance in Massachusetts or wherever you live?

Your Age and Marital Status

It may not be fair, but married people really do get preferential treatment when it comes to insurance rates. For some reason, your premium will go down after you get hitched to your partner. It could be that married people are considered to be more responsible in general by the insurance company, but nobody really knows. While lower insurance premiums are a nice bonus, that doesn’t mean you need to get married tomorrow.

Age is another tricky business with insurance companies. You don’t want to be too young or too old. If you’re under 25, then your rates will probably be fairly high, especially if you’re closer to the age of 16 than 25. On the other hand, once you hit the big 50, then your insurance rates might go up because you’re considered a higher risk behind the wheel. Does this always make sense? No.

Your Home Address

Part of your insurance premium is supposed to cover your losses in case of theft or vandalism. That’s why it matters where you live (and sometimes even where you work). Moving down the street will probably not affect your rates, but if you move across town, you might see your rates increasing or decreasing.

The difference is especially noticeable when you move to a different state. In addition, there are some cities that are more expensive than others (and not just for car insurance).

Your Annual Mileage

The more you drive, the more wear and tear is put on your car. But insurance companies aren’t necessarily worried how long your car will last. Instead, the increased mileage just increases your chance of getting into an accident. This is logical. The more you drive, the more likely you are to get hit or cause a crash.

If your annual mileage changes dramatically, then you need to let your insurance company know to keep your coverage current and up to date.

Your Insurance Status

Your car insurance policy doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with your other insurance policies, but your insurance status can affect your total premiums. For example, if you purchase homeowner’s and car insurance from the same company, you can often get a discount. And if you already have health insurance, then you may be able to deduct that coverage from your auto insurance to lower your total premium.

Your Credit Score

Technically, there is no relationship between your credit score and your auto insurance rate. But unfortunately, the two are tied together. If you have a very low credit score, then your car insurance premiums might increase. If your credit score is good, then you have nothing to worry about.

How to Get Great Rates

In order to get better car insurance rates, you have to be a savvy shopper. By combining insurance policies together that you’d be getting anyway, you can often realize significant savings. Before you move to a new neighborhood, you can get insurance quotes. This might even give you an idea of how safe the neighborhood is.

But the biggest determining factor when it comes to your auto insurance in Massachusetts or wherever you live is the type of car you drive. A newer, more expensive car is going to cost more to insure than an older vehicle. Therefore, you should always get a quote before you buy a car.

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5 Things You Didn’t Know Affect Your Auto Insurance Rates

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