Why did my car insurance go up when nothing changed?
If your car insurance goes up for seemingly no reason when you renew your policy, it's likely due to an increase in risk that's outside of your control. This could include reasons like increased claims in your area (due to more extreme weather damage, more accidents, etc.)
While it can seem arbitrary, there are actual reasons you can see your price go up and down. Car insurance rates can change based on factors like claims, driving history, adding new drivers to your policy, and even your credit score.
Your particular driver profile, which includes factors like where you live, your age and your driving record, influences what you pay for car insurance. But rising car repair costs and an increase in disaster-related claims are significant reasons why car insurance rates are surging for many drivers.
Why Is My Car Insurance So High? Your car insurance may be expensive because of your driving history, location, vehicle or credit history. Recent insurance claims and violations can increase your rates for three to five years. On the other hand, it's possible you also just have a more expensive car insurance company.
On average, drivers with poor credit pay 118 percent more for full coverage car insurance than those with excellent credit. California, Hawaii, Massachusetts and Michigan prohibit or limit the use of credit as a rating factor in determining auto insurance rates.
Rate level increases often come about because of trends in the industry towards more expensive vehicle repair and medical costs. Repairs and medical costs are almost always on the rise, so overall rate decreases are a very rare occurrence.
The big insurance companies have been relatively quiet about what's driving rates up. Inflation is definitely a big part of the equation. Everything now costs more, including cars and car repairs, and insurance companies are passing those costs on to consumers.
Car insurance costs have been on the rise, leaving drivers searching for ways to save on car ownership costs. In fact, according to a report from Bankrate, the average annual premium of full coverage auto insurance rose to $2,543 in 2024 — up 26% from the previous year.
On average, the Hanover Insurance Group offers the most expensive car insurance and Michigan is the country's most expensive state for auto insurance. Discover if you are overpaying for car insurance below.
- Qualify for insurance discounts. Getting more discounts that lower your car insurance premium might be easier than you think. ...
- Increase your deductible. ...
- Reduce your coverage. ...
- Compare rates. ...
- Try usage-based insurance. ...
- Take a defensive driving course. ...
- Get a car that's cheaper to insure.
Why is my Geico quote so high?
If you leave out information in the quoting process about accidents you've been in (even minor ones), your policy rate may be higher. If you forget to provide details about your significant others' driving history, such as speeding tickets, this may lead to a higher rate.
USAA, Nationwide, Travelers, Erie, Geico and Progressive are the cheapest car insurance companies nationwide, according to our analysis.
| Cheap Car Insurance Company | Cheapest Full Coverage Car Insurance Rates (Monthly Average) | Cheapest Full Coverage Car Insurance Rates (Annual Average) |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Nationwide | $119 | $1,433 |
| 2. Travelers | $133 | $1,595 |
| 3. Geico | $133 | $1,596 |
| 4. State Farm | $138 | $1,657 |
Insurance scores range between a low of 200 and a high of 997. Insurance scores of 770 or higher are favorable, and scores of 500 or below are poor. Although rare, there are a few people who have perfect insurance scores. Scores are not permanent and can be affected by different factors.
If you pay in full, a six-month car insurance policy will typically cost less due to its shorter coverage period. However, if you're paying month-to-month, you may not notice much difference in price between a six-month and 12-month policy.
Some factors that may affect your auto insurance premiums are your car, your driving habits, demographic factors and the coverages, limits and deductibles you choose. These factors may include things such as your age, anti-theft features in your car and your driving record.
In many cases, your insurance will go down by 5-20% in the first year of no claim, depending on your insurer. After the first year, this discount increases each year, usually by 5%, if you don't make a claim. But it only increases up to a maximum discount, usually 50-60%, and a number of years — usually 5-6 years.
Geico may have raised your rates because of changes to your policy or circ*mstances. Examples include adding a new type of coverage, becoming eligible for an additional type of discount, being involved in an accident, or buying a new car.
If you buy directly from a Progressive company, your car insurance price reflects the cost of staffing and maintaining the sales centers, and a larger portion of our marketing costs.
Under California law, an insurer cannot increase your premiums when you aren't at fault.
What age has the highest car insurance?
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports that teen drivers are four times more likely to get into a car crash than drivers 20 and older. As a result, car insurance companies view young drivers as the most risky to insure. Drivers ages 16 to 24 tend to face the highest premiums compared to other age groups.
Insurance for new cars is usually more expensive because they cost more to repair and have higher values than used cars. USAA, Nationwide and Geico offer some of the lowest rates for both new and used vehicles. Most lenders require full coverage on financed vehicles whether they're new or used.
After a year of supply shortages and climbing borrowing costs, 2024 is shaping up to be a better time to buy a car. The average transaction price for a new car in the U.S. in February was $47,244, down 2.2% from February 2023. That's also down 5.4% from the market peak in December 2022, according to Kelley Blue Book.
Does car color affect insurance rates? The color of your car doesn't affect your insurance rate. Instead, your insurance company uses other information, like your car's age, location, usage, and your driving record, to help determine insurance rates. Learn more about the factors that impact auto insurance pricing.
In general, auto insurance for older cars may be cheaper than insuring newer vehicles of the same make and model if the used car is cheaper to repair or replace.
