Insurance Information

Who Sets Auto Insurance Rates?


Auto Insurance rates are a complicated business. Have you ever wondered who sets your auto insurance rates and how the rates are actually derived?

Many factors determine how much you will pay. Most of these are common sense and you probably already know but let's go over them just in case.

The very first thing that occurs is that the insurance company determines all its costs for the previous year. This includes all claims, the cost of operations, and what ever costs they incur. They then take those costs and divide them among all the drivers insured with them. This sets a base line for them but it doesn't mean that's what you will pay.

Your driving record plays a major role in how much your premiums will be and whether you earn a discount. The better your driving record the lower your total cost to insure your auto is going to be. Your driving record includes auto accidents and speeding tickets. If you haven't insured a vehicle for a few years they will also penalize you. This sounds crazy but it's because they have no way of following up on your driving habits so they consider you a bad risk.

What coverage you purchase will be reflected on your premiums. Deductibles are a good way to save money. Check with your insurance company and find out what effect raising and lowering your deductibles does to your policy. Remember to never take a deductible that is more than you are willing or able to pay in the event of a claim. Your insurance company will not divvy up their share until you do.

Age is also a determining factor. Studies have shown that younger drivers are involved in more accidents then older drivers. Some of this is due to their lack of experience. Most insurance companies charge you more until you reach the age of 25. Although some will offer some discounting for every year you drive accident free and without driving infractions.

The type of vehicle you drive and how far you drive affect your rates. That fabulous sports car you've been eyeing could cost you a bundle. You should check rates on any vehicle before you purchase to make sure you are willing to pay the rates. Some cars get better discounts than others because they more safety devices such as anti theft immobilizers. Some cars also rate list because thieves don't like them and so they don't steel them.

Your insurance company also charges you more if you drive lots. The less you drive the cheaper your premiums will be. Most insurance companies use an average of 10,000 miles in a year. If you exceed this you can expect your premiums to go up.

Where you live also affects your rates. Big city drivers will pay a lot more than some one lives in a rural area or small village. That's because cities have more thefts, more accidents, and more trouble over all.

Follow this information to help save on premiums. Don't forget to shop on line. Rates can vary dramatically from one company to another. With a few clicks of the mouse you can have several quotes and get low cost insurance.

Sher from The Auto Insurance Center has been serving customers for over 20 years. To find out how to save on your auto insurance Please visit us at http://www.all-auto-insurance.com/


MORE RESOURCES:

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Insurance institute gives small trucks low marks for side-impact ...
Bizjournals.com, NC - 4 hours ago
Four of five small pickup trucks crash-tested for side-impact protection have received low ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. ...
Video: Small Pickups Panned for Safety AssociatedPress
Small Pickups Falter In Side-Impact Crashes Wall Street Journal
Safety Experts Find Small Pickups Offer Less Side-Impact ... U.S. News Rankings & Reviews
WIS - Fox 28
all 316 news articles


Earthtimes (press release)

MBIA falls amid continued bond insurance concern
Forbes, NY - 4 hours ago
AP 07.25.08, 2:43 PM ET Shares of bond insurer MBIA Inc. slid Friday afternoon amid continued worries over the viability of the greater bond insurance ...
UPDATE 2-Los Angeles sues bond insurers, Wall St banks Reuters
Los Angeles Files Suit Against Insurers Bond Buyer (subscription)
LA sues insurers over futile policy Sydney Morning Herald
CBS 2 - Reuters
all 46 news articles


Aon Urges New York State Insurance Department to Enact ...
FOXBusiness - 3 hours ago
Aon Corporation (NYSE: AOC) is the leading global provider of risk management services, insurance and reinsurance brokerage, human capital and management ...
Willis Group Reaffirms Call for Ending Contingent Agreements with ... MarketWatch
Under the microscope: Spitzer-era ban on insurer fees Reuters
all 20 news articles


Fitch Revises Imagine Insurance's Rating Outlook to Negative
MarketWatch - 7 hours ago
CHICAGO, Jul 25, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Fitch Ratings has revised the Rating Outlook on Imagine Insurance Company Limited and Imagine International ...
Fitch Comments on Max Capital's Planned Acquisition of Imagine's ... FOXBusiness
Insurer Max Capital reaches Lloyd's deal Reuters
Max Capital to buy Imagine Lloyd's Business Insurance
RTT News - MarketWatch
all 45 news articles


NC Department of Insurance OKs hike in mobile home rates
Bizjournals.com, NC - 5 hours ago
The state's insurers will be able to increase rates for mobile home insurance, though not as much as they'd hoped, the North Carolina Department of ...
Agreement reached on mobile homeowners insurance WRAL.com
Mobile home insurance to rise 3.2 percent News & Observer
all 15 news articles


Executive Title Insurance Services, Inc. Changes Name to Stewart Title
FOXBusiness - 3 hours ago
Stewart provides title insurance and related information services required for settlement by the real estate and mortgage industries throughout the United ...


AM Best Removes Ratings of GMAC Insurance Group and Its Members ...
MarketWatch - 4 hours ago
The plan contemplated a dividend by GMAC of 100% of the voting interest of GMACI Holdings LLC (GMACIH), the holding company for the insurance operations, ...


Joseph F. Morris to Become President of James River Insurance Company
FOXBusiness - 3 hours ago
Mr. Morris has over twenty-eight years of insurance industry experience and most recently served as President and CEO of The Philadelphia Contributionship, ...
Morris to Take Reins of James River Insurance Co. Insurance Journal
James River Names New Chief Executive-President Trading Markets (press release)
all 5 news articles


GMAC Financial Services' SmartEdge Adds Insurance, Banking to ...
MarketWatch - 5 hours ago
Mortgage education was added in the fall of 2007 and insurance and banking is now rounding out the program. In addition, the program's Web site, www. ...


FOXBusiness

How to Collect Unemployment Insurance Without Being 'Unemployed'
FOXBusiness - 3 hours ago
In the sometimes wacky world of government economic statistics, that will be the case for individuals who receive unemployment insurance under the program ...
Washington events for July 28 - Aug. 1 MarketWatch
all 3 news articles

Insurance - Google News

home | site map
© 2006