May 3, 2012. Paul Hixon
So you think you’re a smart shopper. A smart shopper will shop around and find the best deals.
They don’t go with the first thing they see because there could be a better price elsewhere. You did the same with your car insurance. You got quotes from different companies and found the company with the best coverage and the best rates. If this is the case, why are your premiums still high?
Who you are will determine the cost of your premiums to a degree. Young car insurance, or car insurance for young drivers, is usually more expensive because young drivers statistically cause more accidents. At the same time, finding cheap women car insurance will be easier because women statistically have fewer accidents. If you don’t have much of a driving record, insurance companies will use this to determine your rates more than other things.
Other factors include the value of your vehicle, if it’s brand new or not, as well as whether or not you get discounts for anything. They may discount your insurance premiums if you take a defensive driving course, have multiple vehicles on your policy, have multiple insurance policies with them, or if you’re a part of a certain organization such as a club or credit union.
If you want to move past demographics as a way to determine your insurance premiums, you need to driver smarter. Drivers who are never in accidents and never get tickets get their premiums lowered. Drivers who cause accidents and get lots of tickets get increased rates. The moral of the story is if you want to pay less for your car insurance, you have to obey the law and drive defensively. Defensive driving will not only help prevent you from causing accidents, but you can avoid potential accidents caused by other drivers. Drive smarter and you can save money.
Updated May 3, 2012. Published February 2, 2011. Paul Hixon
