No matter what state you live in within the United States, if you drive a car, you're legally required to have car insurance. The rates that an individual will pay will vary based on a wide variety of key factors that insurance providers look to determine your premiums. Whether you go direct to an insurance provider or you go and talk to a local agent, they all use similar systems and metrics to determine your cost. In other words, what one individual will pay for car insurance, is generally never the same that another will pay - even for the same coverage.
Becoming familiar with these influencing factors can allow you to pro-actively work towards establishing a more ideal profile and reduce your car insurance rates. While not all items can be adjusted, knowing what is involved can also give you leverage in asking the right questions that could assist in lowering your rates.
Driver's Age- Drivers under the age of 25 are typically subject to higher car insurance premiums, while drivers above the age of 28 can often begin to receive discounts.
Driver's Gender- Statistically, women file fewer claims than men do. As a result, insurance rates can often be lower for women drivers.
Occupation- Insurance companies will want to know if you'll be driving long distances, in cities (pot holes, higher crime) or simply driving around the corner in a rural area.
Marital Status - Unmarried individuals tend to file more claims than married couples. As a result, unmarried individuals can expect to have a higher rate.
Driving History -An individual's driving history has a huge impact on the car insurance rate. Accidents, speeding tickets (even if found not guilty), DUI's, general violations all will have a negative impact on your insurance. If you tend to speed or drive more carelessly, this would be an important area to focus on improving for future rate cuts.
