There are many factors you can control when it comes to car insurance rates. Being a safe driver, avoiding moving violations, and choosing the right coverage for your needs is a few of those. However, there are many other factors that you can’t simply control. When you discuss options for auto insurance with your agent, it’s critical to learn about those costs.
Let’s take a moment to explore the uncontrollable – the types of factors that impact what you pay for auto insurance that you don’t have much say over.
#1: You Can’t Control Crime Rates in Your Community
Auto insurance rates can fall into line with risks associated with the place you live in. That’s important to remember if you are moving. If you’re not, on the other hand, it means you’ll pay based on just how safe your community is. Many times, if you live in an area with high crime, that increases the risk of theft or vandalism, raising your costs. Most communities, though, are safe.
#2: You Don’t Control Accident Rates
Like with crime, you don’t have any control about your area’s accident rates. If you live in a community that has numerous areas, intersections, or busy roadways that increase the potential for an accident, you may pay a bit more for insurance. If you live, on the other hand, on a quiet street, that can impact your rates, too, potentially helping you to save.
#3: You Probably Can’t Control Your Car’s Value
Another aspect of auto insurance you have little control over is the value of your car. If you buy a new, $30,000 truck, it is going to cost more to insure than a $10,000 vehicle. New cars typically cost more than older cars to insure as well. That’s because, if the vehicle is totaled in an accident, it is going to cost more to replace if it is newer.
#4: High-Tech Equipment Is Out of Your Control
Many vehicles have become harder or more expensive to insure simply because there’s an increase in the amount of technology added to them. Do you have a vehicle equipped with security cameras or a high-end entertainment center? That raises your costs. Of course, you control some of what goes into your car, but if you already own the vehicle, you shouldn’t feel the need to remove this tech.
#5: You Don’t Control Age Factors, Either
Auto insurance companies know that inexperienced drivers are more likely to cause accidents and file insurance claims than those who have more experience. Younger drivers, such as teen drivers, are at high risk. You can expect to pay more in insurance, then, at a younger age. On the other spectrum are seniors. Seniors may pay a bit less because they don’t drive as much, but if eyesight becomes a concern, that can increase the risk of accidents. Insurers do consider a person’s abilities and previous claims, but age impacts insurance rates nonetheless.
What Other Factors Play a Role?
There are other things that can be hard to control when it comes to pricing car insurance. Married couples tend to be less of a risk than single people. Men are typically involved in more accidents, especially when they are younger, than women. If you drive a further distance to go to work each day than others, you’ll pay more for auto insurance as well. Vehicles with high-end accessories are also more likely to experience theft.
Many of these factors can seem frustrating. After all, you don’t want to overpay if you’re a safe driver, but you happen to live in an area with busy streets. The good news is that, while you cannot control many of these factors, you also do not have to worry about them being a big component of the costs you pay. Things you can control generally play a bigger role in those costs.
