How often do you pay car insurance?

The average price for car insurance is $3,928 per year, according to a 2019 WalletHub study comparing quotes from 46 auto insurers in over 30 California cities. Car insurance prices vary by city and state, but California provides a fairly representative average because it is both the most populous state in the U.S., and in the middle of … read full answerWalletHub's state-by-state price rankings.

Although the overall average price of car insurance is just under $4,000 per year, affordability varies widely by company. Companies that rank in the top 25% for affordability have average annual premiums under $3,300. Companies in the bottom 25% cost from $4,400 to as much as $9,000 per year.

Age and experience matter greatly, of course. Even within the same company, a driver age 45-49 with a good driving record can pay less than half of the premium paid by a 20- to 24-year-old with a bad driving record. For example, Progressive’s average premium for an older good driver is $2,107 annually, compared to $6,880 per year for a younger driver with violations or accidents.

To learn more about how much car insurance costs and see which auto insurance companies are the least expensive in each state, check out WalletHub's 2020 Cheap Car Insurance Study.

The best ways to lower car insurance costs are to compare prices among insurers, take advantage of all the discounts you can, and adjust your coverage to fit your budget. While some factors that affect prices can’t be easily changed—like, age, gender, location, and career—others can be. For example, you might be able to save 33% to 50% on your premiums just by switching to a cheaper carrier, according to WalletHub’s research.… read full answer

With the average cost of car insurance at more than $3,900 per year, it’s important to look for savings opportunities wherever they can be found. Here are some easy ways to lower costs plus some that take a little more work.

8 Tips for How to Lower Car Insurance Costs:

1. Shop around

Insurance companies charge different rates for the same coverage. They also treat the factors that go into your rate (driving history, age, credit history, etc.) differently. Finding the company that is best for the kind of driver you are can save you a lot.

When you shop for insurance, you should always get 3 or more quotes to compare. And be aware that prices change within the industry. You can maximize your savings by comparison shopping every 6 to 12 months, when your policy is about to renew.

2. Search for discounts

Every major insurer gives discounts. Look through all the ones your company offers to make sure you are getting what you qualify for. For instance, you might be able to save money if you:

• Bundle policies—save up to 25% for having your auto, home, health and/or life insurance policies with the same company.
• Auto-pay or pay upfront—having your premiums automatically deducted from your checking account or paying your entire premium in one payment can save you 5% on your total premium.
• Go paperless—view and pay your bill online for 3% off.
• Take a defensive driving course—and save up to 10%. Some companies restrict this discount to certain groups, such as seniors.
• Maintain a “B” average—if you’re still in school, keeping your grades up can earn you 15% to 25% off your premiums.
• Inventory your car’s equipment—anti-theft systems or safety equipment (anti-lock brakes, airbags, daytime running lights, etc.) can reduce collision or comprehensive costs by 5% to 25%.
• Think about all your groups—working for certain employers or belonging to certain clubs, alumni associations, professional organizations, social groups or charitable groups can offer savings of up to 25%.
• Stay safe—avoiding at-fault accidents and moving violations for at least five years will reduce your bill by up to 20%.

3. Increase your deductibles

Increasing your deductibles will definitely reduce your premiums. Going from $200 to $500 could reduce the cost of your collision and comprehensive coverage by up to 30%. Going from $200 up to a $1,000 deductible could save you 40%. But be careful. If you get into an accident, you don’t want to face paying more out-of-pocket than you can afford.

4. Reduce your coverage

There are two ways to do this. You can lower the limits on your coverage. Or you can eliminate unnecessary types of coverage. Maybe you don’t really need rental car coverage, for example. Comprehensive coverage on an old, low-value car may not be worth the cost, either.

5. Reduce your mileage

How far you drive each year affects your insurance costs. Think about carpooling to work, riding your bike locally, or taking the bus. Driving less than 10,000 miles a year could save you 11% on average.

As an alternative, the electronically monitored, mileage-based insurance offered by some carriers allows you to pay only for the number of miles you drive in a month. You can earn deep discounts. State Farm says that drivers who log relatively few miles in its program save as much as 50% on their insurance.

6. Buy an insurance-friendly car

Luxury cars, sportscars and cars with high theft rates can cost up to 3 times as much to insure as cheaper, less risky vehicles. Before you buy, get a quote on insuring your new car and think about whether that’s in your budget.

7. Improve your credit

In most states, insurance companies take your credit history into account in setting your rates. Improving it can reduce your premiums. People with no credit pay 67% more for car insurance than people with excellent credit, on average, according to a recent WalletHub study.

8. Move to another city or state

You probably won’t plan a move just to save on insurance, but the area you live in significantly affects your rates. Less densely populated neighborhoods with fewer cars and less crime put you at lower risk for accidents, theft, and collisions with injuries. Local weather and road maintenance also factor into your rates.

If you are serious about lowering the costs of car insurance, your first step should be compare the price of your current insurance to quotes from several other companies. It’s also important to visit the website or call the customer service department of your current insurer and make sure you know all the ways you can save with them. Lastly, remember to repeat these steps regularly, at least once a year. Otherwise, you could be throwing money away without knowing it.

It’s likely that your car insurance is so high because your driving record is poor, your car is expensive to insure, you live in a high-risk location, you’re carrying a lot of coverage, or you’re not taking full advantage of discounts. There may be other reasons, but these are the most common causes of too-high car insurance at the individual level. Car insurance is getting more expensive overall, too. For example, the price paid by typical drivers for car insurance has increased nearly 60% in the past 10 years.… read full answer

1. Poor Driving Record

Your driving record is probably the most important factor in determining your car insurance rates. If your record is poor, with accidents and driving violations, and you have a history of claims, your rates will be high. You will also pay more than average if you’re bad with credit, young (especially young and male), or unmarried.

2. Expensive-to-Insure Vehicle

Insurance companies like safe, boring cars that nobody wants to steal for joy-riding or parts. If you choose to drive something large, fast, luxurious, statistically unsafe on the road, or popular with thieves, you will pay more.

3. High-Risk Location

Where you live has a large impact on your premiums. Some areas of the country have much higher insurance costs than others. A number of factors go into this, such as the history of accidents in the area, population density, the number of uninsured drivers, crime statistics, bad weather patterns, etc. Also, if you live far from work and have a long daily commute, the high annual mileage will raise your rate.

4. High Coverage

If your coverages are high and your deductibles are low, you will be happy if you need to make a claim, but not as happy when you’re paying your premiums. If the insurance company risks having to pay out more in the future, you will have to pay more now.

5. Too Few Discounts

Insurers offer a very wide variety of discounts. Valued customer discounts offer savings for things like loyalty, multiple cars and policies, and paying online. Driver discounts may apply if you are a good driver, good student, belong to a certain profession or organization, are married, a non-drinker or more. Your car may also qualify for a discount if it has equipment that makes it safer to drive or harder to steal. Discounts are available to nearly everyone, and you may qualify for some that you aren’t getting credit for yet.

6. Costs Increasing Overall

Record-setting natural disasters such as Florida’s hurricanes and California’s wildfires, more phone-related distracted-driving accidents, insurance fraud, and expensive-to-repair car technology have increased the dollar amount of claims insurers have been called on to pay. As a result, insurers have been raising their prices to cover their expenses.

Since 2009, the price paid by typical drivers for car insurance has increased nearly 60%. Prices have gone up every year. This steady rise in insurance costs has outstripped other consumer costs. Even skyrocketing hospital costs lag slightly behind car insurance.

You can’t reverse this industry-wide inflation. But if you want to lower your own insurance costs, address as many of your personal factors as you can. Then get quotes from multiple insurance companies and compare.