Setting the record straight: Here's what impacts your price
Teenage drivers
Teens are 2.5 times more likely to be involved in a crash than 20-24-year-olds, according to the California DMV. This kind of risk results in much higher rates compared to experienced drivers. But it's not all bad news for teen drivers. Safe House Insurance offers a Good Student Discount if the eligible teen driver is added to their parents' policy as a way to combat the costs of insuring new drivers.
Age
On average, rates decrease (or stabilize) as you get older, until you reach about 75. At Safe House Insurance, you can expect the biggest drops at 19, 22, and 25. But remember, it's not always your actual age, but rather the number of years you've been driving that's the bigger factor.
See more on how age impacts your insurance rate.
Vehicle usage
If you use your vehicle mostly for pleasure or commuting, you'll usually pay less than a driver using their vehicle for other purposes. If you use your vehicle for business or for ridesharing services like Uber and Lyft, some companies may charge you more, or may even require a commercial policy.
Learn more about usage-based car insurance.
Speeding and traffic tickets
If it's your first speeding ticket in a three-year period, you may not get an increase at all. But, if you get two or more tickets in a three-year period, you'll likely get an increase. The good news is the increase won't be permanent, and speeding tickets typically fall off your driving record after a few years.
Those pesky parking tickets are a pain to pay but will never affect your insurance premium!
See more on how speeding tickets impact your insurance rate and by how much.
At-fault accidents
Similar to speeding tickets, most at-fault accidents will raise your rate, but the increase won't be permanent. At-fault accidents fall off your record after a few years.
Keep in mind, accidents don't always raise your rate. Safe House Insurance offers Accident Forgiveness through our Loyalty Rewards program. That means, if you qualify, we won't raise your rate if you have an accident.
Not-at-fault and one-car accidents
There's no easy answer here, as this varies by state. In many states, you won't see an increase at all for a not-at-fault accident. But in other states, your company could increase your rate—so it depends on your state and your insurance company.
One-car accidents are considered at fault by insurance companies because there is no other driver involved.
Location
Your ZIP code is also one of the most important factors in determining how likely you are to have an incident. If you live in a highly populated area, you're at a higher risk for theft, collisions, and harm to your car. You're likely to pay more for the comprehensive and collision portion of your auto policy because of those risks.
Coverage selections
Generally speaking, the more coverage you have, the higher the rate. Obviously, the state-minimum plan will always be the most affordable while maxing out your coverages will be the most expensive. The good news is that sometimes you can increase your coverage amounts by thousands, and your rate will only change minimally. Your deductible amount will also impact your rate.
The higher your deductible, the more of the repair or claim cost you'll have to take on. That means your out-of-pocket costs will be higher, but you'll have a lower overall rate and vice versa.
Get an auto insurance quote online or call 915-503-1207 to see exactly how customizing your coverages impacts your rate.
How you pay
Most insurers offer a variety of discounts depending on how you pay. At Safe House Insurance, we offer discounts for paying in full, receiving and signing your documents online, electronic bill payment, etc.
Credit
Some insurers use credit as one of many factors impacting your rate. Generally speaking, a better credit score means a better rate. And no, getting a quote will not impact your credit score.
Continuous insurance
If you have no gaps or cancellations in your insurance history (even if you were insured by someone else), you'll typically get a lower rate. At Safe House Insurance, we offer a Continuous Insurance Discount. That means we'll honor the amount of time you've been with us or your previous insurance company. The longer you've been with the same company, the better the discount.
Engine size
The size of the engine is a factor, because a large, V-8 engine or greater makes it easier to speed or engage in reckless driving, which could mean a higher rate.
Pro tip: Check with your insurer for insider tips to reduce your rate
One of the easiest ways to save on home and auto insurance is to bundle your home and auto insurance with one company. Most carriers offer this, and Safe House Insurance offers added benefits for having additional policies like motorcycle, boat, RV, and more. Plus, different companies might offer different ways to reduce your rate, so you can get the lowest possible option.
Blog By Progressive: https://www.progressive.com/answers/car-insurance-cost-factors/