Your personal driving history is probably the single biggest factor determining your car insurance rates, but insurers weigh a variety of elements when determining your rates. Car insurance companies maintain reams of data on everything from neighborhood crime rates to driver credit histories, which they use to calculate the risk of a particular customer filing a claim. Below are a few important factors that affect your auto insurance rates.

What Impacts Your Auto Insurance Costs

The Type of Car You Drive

Some vehicles are better at avoiding accidents, while others have advanced safety features to protect passengers from injuries. If you own a vehicle model that’s less safe or has a history of crashing, the higher your insurance premiums will probably be.

Your Crime Rates

Comprehensive car insurance protects your vehicle from a variety of threats, including theft and vandalism. Insurers have access to neighborhood crime statistics, so if thieves are active in your area, your premiums will likely be higher than if you lived in a low-crime area.

Your Age

Insurance companies know that younger drivers are less experienced and more impulsive, which leads to a higher accident rate. Younger drivers will usually have higher insurance rates than older customers, even if your driving record is perfectly clean.

How Much You Drive

Spending hours behind the wheel on long commutes increases the chances of a crash, which is why insurance companies typically ask how much you drive every month. Someone who works down the street from the office will probably pay less than another drive with a similar record who has to drive across town every day.

The road can be unpredictable and dangerous, which is why the Edwards Insurance Agency is committed to protecting you from anything life can throw your way. This respected local agency has been helping drivers throughout Sparta, WI get the coverage they need for over a century, offering an extensive selection of policies from many of the industry’s top providers. Visit their website for more on their car insurance expertise, or call (608) 269-4512 to request a quote from one of the area’s top agents today.