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There are lots of different factors that can have an impact on your car insurance, which means that if you think your car insurance quotes are too high, there are quite a few different reasons this could be the case. This guide looks at some of the most common reasons for car insurance being higher than it might otherwise be.
Too many modifications
Something that can have a big effect on the cost of car insurance is the modifications that you have made to your car. Generally, the only modifications that will lower your car insurance quotes are those that relate to security (see below). Of course, some cars come from the factory ‘ready modified’ with alloy wheels and other gadgets: this is normally fine, as long as the alterations have been made by the manufacturer rather than you.
If, however, you make your own modifications to the car, this will cause your car insurance to increase. This will happen whether the change is relatively small, such as by adding alloy wheels, or something bigger such as a tinted windshield or modified engine.
Not enough security
If you don’t have adequate security on your car, you might find that it’s really difficult for you to get cheap car insurance. As you might expect, this is because a lack of security makes it easier for your car to be broken into and stolen. Adding security measures such as a car alarm can make a significant difference to your insurance costs, as can other things such as a steering lock and an immobilizer.
Location of your car
Where you park your car can also cause your insurance to be higher than necessary. For instance, if you have a garage but always park your car on the road because the garage is full of junk, this can add to your insurance costs as cars are less secure on the road. This means it might be time to clean out the garage so you can get your car in there, or at least try and park it on your driveway so it isn’t left out on the road on a regular basis. This might not always be possible as parking arrangements will always vary depending on where you live, but if you have the option of parking in a garage, you should do so.
The way you drive
Your driving habits can also increase your car insurance; driving more safely will offer you lower insurance quotes, whereas a patchy driving record will offer you higher quotes because you’ll be seen as a bigger risk by the insurer. Incurring traffic violations on your license can boost your insurance costs by 25% or more depending on what the type of offense, so if you currently have a clean license you should definitely make sure it stays that way. If you don’t have one or more violations, there’s not a huge amount you can do about it, but making sure you’re a model driver from now on will keep you in good stead for the future.
Where you buy insurance
Finally, one major reason people pay too much for their car insurance is because of where they purchase it. Shopping around is always a good idea, even if you’re happy with your current service as you never know where the best deals are going to be until you look. It’s really quick and easy to do an auto insurance quotes comparison online, so if you need to renew your coverage, make sure you search out the best deals.
When I lived 2 miles from work, my low-mileage discount was awesome.
Very good points. I forgot that the parking location can affect your rate.
You are right. Never knew this stuff.
I enjoyed reading this… I’m totally tired of higher insurance rates. I’ve dug my heels in much too long about sticking with the brick and mortar company I’ve used for years. Just because they have a branch locally isn’t a good reason to pay more every time it’s due. Thank you for writing this.
Katharina angelsandmusic[at]gmail[dot]com
i hadn’t thought about the location of where i park my car can have that effect, but it makes sense…
I def shopped around recently and there is a difference in up to $70 for the same two crap cars!
I always knew the zip code of where you parked your car was important, but I didn’t realize there was a difference of parking in the driveway instead of on the street. Of course, that doesn’t help me as the only parking available is on the street (no garage & no driveway).
i didn’t realize the security or the parking location made a difference in my insurance rate. thanks for this post!
I didn’t know that modifications could make the insurance rise…glad I haven’t done anything to my car yet!
Thanks for the tips. I have Allstate though, and it’s pretty reasonable.
I agree, I have Allstate too and I’ve never had any problems. If you’re a safe driver, it’s really cheap…and the customer service is great.