It’s right up there with death and taxes, the exorbitantly priced car insurance rates are a harsh reality of the modern era. It doesn’t help that the way these actuaries come up with the rates seem like a bunch of magic tricks and illusions. What exactly factors into the prices of a car insurance policy? And can we bring down the cost, without sacrificing our peace of mind?
Your Car’s the Thing
Bottom line is this: your insurance rates depend greatly on the book value of your vehicle. And it’s not only about sticker price, insurance companies watch industry news for cars with notorious technical flaws or troubles while keeping an eye on which cars have a higher rate of theft. Think about it this way: insurance is a game of risk, and the safest bets get the most points which translates to better premium rates
Geography Can Change the Stage
Just as casinos and other such establishments know the importance of ambiance in terms of profit, insurance companies knows that safety differs in urban and rural areas. It is a commonly thought idea that crimes such as grand theft auto and vandalism occur more often in the city, therefore insurance companies will raise your insurance rates if you drive and park that vehicle in the city.
Everyday Use isn’t Recommended
You may take extra care of your car or chose the best and most efficient performer on the market, but if insurance companies know that you use your car everyday, expect to see a bump up on your insurance premium. Using the vehicle daily still significantly raises the risk of the car being involved in an accident or a crime, so don’t be surprised. And you were thinking that the everyday gridlock was punishment enough!
You Still Matter
Even after the semi-certain calculation including variables that are easily measured, insurance rates also depend on a completely unpredictable variable: you. So if you feel like they only see you as a collection of statistics and probabilities, don’t take it too personally. They can’t help it. Humans are too changeable. So the actuaries will resort to stereotype like a 25-year old unmarried man is more likely to get into an accident and therefore he’ll be paying more than his married sister with two kids.
If this is getting you down, consider your track (or driving) record. Auto insurance firms will always want to reward those who help them protect their investment, so be a safe driver. You never know how much money it will save you. Also, discounts aren’t unheard of in the insurance industry, you just have to ask.
Has the pricing calculation become clearer? One last tip, compare prices across the different car insurance companies. What’s going through your head? You feel like you’re ready for a car insurance policy? Tell us your stories and opinions below.
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