How are the Car Insurance Costs Calculated?

Simply put, what kind of coverage you’re looking for (e.g. completely comprehensive versus third party) as well as how often and how much car insurers will require you to claim your policy.

To determine the probability of you making a claim insurers will review information about your car and you, and these details can influence the amount you’ll need to pay for insurance on your car. These are the main factors car insurers consider when determining the price of your insurance premium.

Your car:

• Car Value – The more expensive your car is and the higher it will cost to replace it (and typically, the more to fix it). Therefore, the greater the cost of the car, the more you will have to pay for insurance.
• Car Power – The more powerful and speedier your car is and the faster it is, the more likely you are to be in an accident. This increases the likelihood of having to file an insurance claim. This also raises the amount you can claim. So, vehicles with more horsepower typically have higher insurance premiums.
• Car Desirability The more costly your vehicle is, the more likely it is to be stolen. Replacing a stolen car is a huge cost for insurance companies, and the risk is reflected in higher rates. For example, premiums for cars with a history can be more expensive than normal.

About you:

• Your Age The drivers who are younger statistically are more at risk of being involved in an accident and so will pay the most for insurance (the 17-25 age group typically has the highest premiums)
• Your Job Statistics show that some jobs require higher risk individuals (e.g. students, journalists, actors etc.) This will affect the cost of your insurance.
• The place you live Where you Live According to the rule of thumb, areas with more people driving around (increasing your chance of being involved in getting into an accident) and higher theft rates of vehicles will result in higher insurance costs.

Storage and car usage:

• Your Claim History – Insurance companies believe that if you have claimed in the past it is more likely that you will make a claim once more. Many insurers provide a no-claims bonus which can significantly reduce the cost of insurance.
• Prior Penalty Points- Insurance companies see this as a signal that you’re a high-risk driver. They will charge you higher premiums for insurance than they would have if you had a clean driving record.
• Car Storage The idea of keeping your vehicle in a garage rather than to on the streets can decrease the likelihood of theft and therefore lower the amount you’ll be expected to shell out for insurance. This is particularly important if your car is stolen more often than it is.
• Mileage Policies with higher mileage cost more due to the higher chance to be involved in an accident.

Type of cover

Third Party Vs Third Party Fire and Theft vs Full Coverage – This is one of the most important aspects that will determine how much insurance you will need.

Voluntary Excess In the event that you are willing to pay some of the initial costs for future claims, this can reduce the amount of claims you may submit and the expense to the insurer. Insurance companies will, therefore, offer you cheaper premiums.

There are a few things that you cannot change (like the age of your body), but other things such as how you keep your car, how carefully you drive, and the kind of vehicle you choose to purchase could all have a impact on the cost of your insurance.

Five Tips to Reduce the cost of your car Insurance Prices

1. Take a look around

Many of us shop around for deals on clothing, electronics, and other purchases we make every day. You can apply the same approach to insurance for your car.

You can save money by comparing rates between various insurance companies for your automobile, whether you’re getting insurance for the first or the second time.

The rates of car insurance vary between different firms. This means you might not be able to save money if you don’t compare. According to the industry-backed Insurance Information Institute, it is recommended to request quotes from at least three insurance providers to compare car insurance coverage and prices.

Make sure you compare the same coverage of your insurance policy and limits to ensure apples-to-apples price comparison

2. Reexamine Your Deductibles

Rebekah Nelson, spokesperson for USAA suggests looking over the deductibles associated with your current coverage to see whether you can raise the amount.

“If you’ve not taken this step in a while, then you might find that a higher deductible is more appropriate and will lower the cost,” Nelson says.

A car insurance deductible is the amount you take out of your insurance payout when you make a collision or comprehensive insurance claim. When you buy a policy, you select the amount of deductible. You may also alter your deductible in the future if your mind changes. A higher deductible means you’ll have a lower monthly cost. This is due to the fact that you’ll be responsible for more costs in the event of filing an insurance claim. It is also less likely to file claims for minor damage due to the fact that the repair costs will not exceed your deductible.

According to the Insurance Information Institute, increasing your deductible from $200 to $500 could lower the collision and comprehensive insurance costs by 15% to 30 percent. A higher deductible, such as $1,000, could result in savings up to 40%.

The institute warns that increasing your deductible may cause you to lose your car insurance. Let’s say, for instance the case of a claim settlement of $5,000 in the event of a car crash and the deductible is $1,000. The insurance company pays $4,000 and you’re responsible for the cost of $1,000 out-of-pocket to repair your vehicle damage.

3. Bundle Insurance Policies

There are many commercials on television that promote the ability to bundle auto and home insurance. Insurance companies usually offer discounts for policyholders with auto- and home policies. Bundling may also be applied to other coverage, such as boat and motorcycle insurance.

A bundling discount, also known as multipolicy discounts, could yield savings between 5 to 25%.

You can not only earn a discount from bundling however, buying more than two policies with one firm “also simplifies your insurance because you’re only using only one company,” Nelson points out.

4. Get Car Insurance Discounts

Alongside discounts on bundles, car insurance companies provide a variety of discounts. The most sought-after discounts include:

Multi-car discount. Insuring more than one car with the same insurer might bring savings of 8% to 25 percent.

Discount on vehicle safety. If your car is equipped with the most recent security features, like anti-lock brakes and air bags You could be eligible for discounts.

Discount on new cars. Do you own a vehicle that’s less than three years old? If yes, you can get discounts of 10% to 15%.

Good driver discount. If you go a certain length of time without incident or traffic violation, your car insurer might reward you with an amount ranging from 10% to 40%.

Good student discount. It’s possible to get an excellent grade. Discounts of up to 25% are available from certain insurance companies to students who are full-time in college and high schools with a minimum B average and who are aged between 16 and 25 years old.

5. Let your Insurer track your driving

Many insurance companies provide the insurance based on usage, which can cut down on your costs. These programs use an app or device that plugs into your car to monitor your driving behavior. You can monitor factors like the amount you drive, the speed you travel and how often your brake pedal is pressed.

If the information proves you’re a competent driver, you may get a discount. A customer who joins the USAA SafePilot program can receive an offer of up to 30 percent. Snapshot from Progressive and State Farm’s Drive Safe & Save are other examples of the usage-based nature of auto insurance.

Take note that in some cases usage-based insurance could increase your rates in accordance with a 2022 “Insurance Trends and Outlook” report from TransUnion. Low-mileage drivers with safe practices and who don’t have a night-time driving habit are best served by using a car insurance policy that is based on usage.

Common Questions About Estimating Car Insurance Costs

What information do you need in order to obtain a cost estimate for car insurance?

Your age, address, and vehicle information (years, makes, and models) will be required. You may also select the level of coverage you need. For an estimate of the cost of car insurance You don’t have to give out any personal information like your email address, home address or Social Security number.

Which are the cheapest car insurance companies?

While everyone will have a different car insurance provider, we’ve got information that lists the top firms in your region. This can help you identify which firms will offer the lowest rates when you request an estimate.

What are the top car insurance companies?

The top car insurance companies provide the coverage you require at a price that you can afford. Consider customer experience as well as company reviews, and how they handle claim process, and what discounts are available in your research to determine the best one for you.

Where can I get a quote after I have an estimate?

The MoneyGeek reviews can assist you in finding the best company that can provide the protection you need at an affordable price. Our calculator can be used to estimate the cost you’ll pay for car insurance and make a list of possible companies. After that, call your three top car insurance companies to get quotes and then compare them against each other.

Additional Resource:
https://www.moneysupermarket.com/car-insurance/
https://www.allianz.com.au/car-insurance.html
https://www.usaa.com/inet/wc/auto-insurance?akredirect=true