Who Sets Auto Insurance Rates?


Auto Insurance rates are a complicated business. Have you ever wondered who sets your auto insurance rates and how the rates are actually derived?

Many factors determine how much you will pay. Most of these are common sense and you probably already know but let's go over them just in case.

The very first thing that occurs is that the insurance company determines all its costs for the previous year. This includes all claims, the cost of operations, and what ever costs they incur. They then take those costs and divide them among all the drivers insured with them. This sets a base line for them but it doesn't mean that's what you will pay.

Your driving record plays a major role in how much your premiums will be and whether you earn a discount. The better your driving record the lower your total cost to insure your auto is going to be. Your driving record includes auto accidents and speeding tickets. If you haven't insured a vehicle for a few years they will also penalize you. This sounds crazy but it's because they have no way of following up on your driving habits so they consider you a bad risk.

What coverage you purchase will be reflected on your premiums. Deductibles are a good way to save money. Check with your insurance company and find out what effect raising and lowering your deductibles does to your policy. Remember to never take a deductible that is more than you are willing or able to pay in the event of a claim. Your insurance company will not divvy up their share until you do.

Age is also a determining factor. Studies have shown that younger drivers are involved in more accidents then older drivers. Some of this is due to their lack of experience. Most insurance companies charge you more until you reach the age of 25. Although some will offer some discounting for every year you drive accident free and without driving infractions.

The type of vehicle you drive and how far you drive affect your rates. That fabulous sports car you've been eyeing could cost you a bundle. You should check rates on any vehicle before you purchase to make sure you are willing to pay the rates. Some cars get better discounts than others because they more safety devices such as anti theft immobilizers. Some cars also rate list because thieves don't like them and so they don't steel them.

Your insurance company also charges you more if you drive lots. The less you drive the cheaper your premiums will be. Most insurance companies use an average of 10,000 miles in a year. If you exceed this you can expect your premiums to go up.

Where you live also affects your rates. Big city drivers will pay a lot more than some one lives in a rural area or small village. That's because cities have more thefts, more accidents, and more trouble over all.

Follow this information to help save on premiums. Don't forget to shop on line. Rates can vary dramatically from one company to another. With a few clicks of the mouse you can have several quotes and get low cost insurance.

Sher from The Auto Insurance Center has been serving customers for over 20 years. To find out how to save on your auto insurance Please visit us at http://www.all-auto-insurance.com/





Latest News:



Site: Yahoo! News Search Results for news
Futures flat; Lehman buyout news, data awaited (Reuters via Yahoo! News)
Stock index futures were little changed on Friday as investors awaited news on the fate of Lehman Brothers after a slide in its stock this week heightened fears over whether the investment bank can survive. Myanmar's Suu Kyi to get family letters, news mags (Reuters via Yahoo! News)
Detained Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has managed to wring small concessions from the ruling generals in the form of letters from her family and some international news magazines, her lawyer said on Friday. SEC Looks Into UAL Stock Scare; Implications For Online News? (CBS News)
A ton of digits have been devoted to this in other spots but the SEC's decision to investigate takes it to another level. The backstory: a six-year-old news story about UAL declaring bankruptcy made it into the Tribune-owned Sun-Sentinel 's current news flow, was picked up by a Google (NSDQ: GOOG) News bot and, via a reporter for a newsletter, made it onto Bloomberg News. After a lot of buck ... JCDecaux in talks for News Outdoor Group in Russia (AP via Yahoo! News)
French outdoor advertising firm JCDecaux SA said Thursday it is negotiating to buy Russian rival News Outdoor Group from global media company News Corp. News Corp tightens grip on Premiere with new CEO (Reuters via Yahoo! News)
Rupert Murdoch tightened his grip on German pay-TV broadcaster Premiere by appointing News Corp executive Mark Williams as CEO in a move to get the company back on track. Phila. mayor to announce grim budget news (The Philadelphia Inquirer)
The Nutter administration is expected to announce grim budget news today, which is all but certain to lead to significant spending cuts - perhaps as high as 10 percent - in some city departments, according to three sources familiar with the budget. Help News pick Stadium's greatest moment (New York Daily News)
The News is marking the countdown to the final game at The House That Ruth Built by reflecting on Yankee Stadium's greatest moments - and we're asking you - the reader - to help us pick out the best of the best. JCDecaux and News Corp. in talks to combine outdoor ad groups (International Herald Tribune)
The News Corp. chief executive, Rupert Murdoch, has recently expressed nervousness about investments in Russia, where News Outdoor generated the bulk of its revenue last year. SEC Looks Into UAL Stock Scare; Implications For Online News? (paidContent.org via Yahoo! Finance)
A ton of digits have been devoted to this in other spots but the SEC's decision to investigate takes it to another level. The backstory: a six-year-old news story about UAL declaring bankruptcy made it into the Tribune-owned Sun-Sentinel's current news flow, was picked up by a Google News bot and, via a reporter for a newsletter, made it onto Bloomberg News. JCDecaux in talks to buy News Corp. billboard unit (AP via Yahoo! Finance)
In a deal that would create the world's largest outdoor advertising company, French conglomerate JCDecaux SA said Thursday that it is in talks to buy Russian rival News Outdoor Group from global media company News Corp.

Site: news - Google News
News Analysis A Difficult Road Awaits Panetta at the CIA - New York Times

TVNZ

News Analysis A Difficult Road Awaits Panetta at the CIA
New York Times, United States - 9 hours ago
The latest on the presidential transition and other political news from Washington and around the nation. Join the discussion. For Leon E. Panetta, ...
Video: Analyst Weighs in on Obama's CIA Pick AssociatedPress
News roundup: Israel presses on in Gaza; Obama tries to reassure GOP USA Today
Hotspots: Breaking news from around the world Chicago Sun-Times
Huffington Post
all 2,718 news articles
Warsh?s Crisis Skills Propel Him Toward New York Fed Candidacy - Bloomberg

Warsh?s Crisis Skills Propel Him Toward New York Fed Candidacy
Bloomberg - 6 hours ago
9 (Bloomberg) -- The Federal Reserve is nearing a decision on the next president of the New York Fed, with Kevin Warsh?s Wall Street background and role in ...
Amid Sales Slump, Chico's Taps New CEO - Wall Street Journal

Amid Sales Slump, Chico's Taps New CEO
Wall Street Journal - 7 hours ago
The announcement came as Spotlight Capital Management LLC, a New York hedge fund that has been pressing the board to name a new CEO since last March, ...
Struggling Chico's taps new chief The News-Press
all 36 news articles
Palm Unveils New 'Nova' Software, 'Palm Pre' Phone - CNNMoney.com

Geekzone

Palm Unveils New 'Nova' Software, 'Palm Pre' Phone
CNNMoney.com - 16 hours ago
LAS VEGAS -(Dow Jones)- Palm Inc. (PALM) on Thursday unveiled its long-awaited new software for touch screen smartphones and a new phone, as the ailing firm ...
Palm's new Pre smartphone gets lots of good buzz USA Today
Video: Daily Debrief: Palm launches new OS, phone CNET News
Palm unveils new smart phone, operating system The Associated Press
Ars Technica - San Francisco Chronicle
all 512 news articles
Foreign Ministry: China supports new UN resolution on Gaza - Xinhua

guardian.co.uk

Foreign Ministry: China supports new UN resolution on Gaza
Xinhua, China - 2 hours ago
China called for effective implementation by all parties concerned of the new resolution and an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, Qin noted. ...
Video: UN Security Council approves ceasefire resolution AlJazeeraEnglish
AP Top News at 6:24 am EST The Associated Press
New UN Gaza resolution proposed Aljazeera.net
International Herald Tribune - Times Online
all 15,271 news articles
Yahoo reportedly near decision on new CEO - CNET News

CNET News

Yahoo reportedly near decision on new CEO
CNET News, CA - 6 hours ago
Yahoo is said to be wrapping up its search for a new chief executive, and a decision could come as early as next week, according to a report late Thursday ...
New Data on AP's Impact - Washington Post

New Data on AP's Impact
Washington Post, United States - 59 minutes ago
Now, however, a new study has arrived that I am sure will once again send a buzz through AP Land, since it endorses with greater force the view that getting ...
Work begins on Pacoima's new Costco - Los Angeles Times

Work begins on Pacoima's new Costco
Los Angeles Times, CA - 2 hours ago
Without $9.8 million in public subsidies to help purchase the site and build new utilities and roads, the project's developer said he wouldn't have been ...
A Sexy New Notebook From Sony - PC World

PC World

A Sexy New Notebook From Sony
PC World - 40 minutes ago
Sony's big news announcement at CES involves a very tiny package. But don't call it a netbook. Sony spokesfolk were adamant that--even though the newcomer ...
Ballmer touts Windows 7 beta, new deals - CNET News

New York Times

Ballmer touts Windows 7 beta, new deals
CNET News, CA - Jan 8, 2009
Microsoft will also announce new deals for Windows Live that will see Microsoft's search engine become the default on PCs from Dell as well as touting a ...
Microsoft's news at CES not so new Seattle Times
Windows 7 Public Beta: First Impressions Washington Post
Windows Live Essentials released, more Windows Live news from CES LiveSide
CRN - UK - CNET News
all 1,282 news articles

MORE RESOURCES:
Site: Yahoo! News Search Results for insurance
NC insurance commissioner orders lower auto rates (AP via Yahoo! Finance)

North Carolina State Insurance Commissioner Jim Long on Thursday rejected an industry request for an almost 13 percent increase in auto rates and has ordered a reduction instead. Auto-insurance rates in N.C. ordered cut by 16.1 percent (Winston-Salem Journal)

N.C. Insurance Commissioner Jim Long rejected yesterday an industry request for an almost 13 percent increase in auto rates and has ordered a reduction instead. Survey: Insurance Industry Expects Subprime Issues to Negatively Impact 2009 Performance (Insurance Journal)

Insurance executives expect subprime and other credit issues to continue to have a significantly negative impact on the industry's financial performance in 2009, and they see credit and pricing risks Nevada Names Baker Acting Insurance Commissioner (Insurance Journal)

The Nevada Department of Business & Industry named Betty C. Baker acting commissioner of the Division of Insurance. Baker will oversee the Division while a replacement is sought for Alice Molasky-Arma Here's the lowdown on 'private' bank and broker insurance (USA Today)

Q: I've noticed several banks and brokerage firms claiming they have private insurance that protects accounts above the FDIC and SIPC limits. Should investors trust those promises? State unemployment insurance claims up (Macon Telegraph)

The Georgia Department of Labor announced Thursday that 59,090 laid-off workers filed first-time claims for unemployment insurance benefits in August, an increase of 72.1 percent from August 2007, but a slight decrease from July to August this year. Fitch Ratings Gives Island Insurance an "Aq" (Insurance Journal)

Island Insurance Co. Ltd., Hawaii's largest locally owned and managed property and casualty insurance carrier, has reaffirmed its "Aq" rating for Quantitative Insurer Financial Strength (Q-IFS) by Fit Looking for Free or Low-cost Health Insurance? (Carteret County News-Times)

(ARA) - It's no secret that accessing health care is a challenge for the 47 million Americans who are uninsured. Lack of health insurance forces many Americans to choose the health care they receive based on what they can afford, not what they actually need. Uganda: Health Insurance May Face NSSF Fate (AllAfrica.com)

The government has finally resolved that all salaried workers and employers, will with effect from July 2009, be required to make compulsory contributions to the new National Social Health Insurance Scheme. The net inflow from life insurance companies into equity stood at Rs550bn till March 31, 2008 , foreign institutional ... (India Infoline)

The life insurance industry was the largest investor in the Indian equity markets, ahead of foreign institutional investors and mutual funds, according to the reports. Site: insurance - Google News
Insurance brokers EPIC and Arthur J. Gallagher settle lawsuit - Bizjournals.com

Insurance brokers EPIC and Arthur J. Gallagher settle lawsuit
Bizjournals.com, NC - 13 hours ago
Edgewood Partners Insurance Center, a San Mateo-based insurance brokerage and employee benefits consulting firm also known as EPIC, said late Thursday it ...
EPIC Announces Settlement with Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Insurance Journal
Edgewood Partners Announces Settlement with Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. MarketWatch (press release)
Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Announces Settlement With Edgewood Partners PR Newswire (press release)
all 19 news articles
What you should know about flood insurance - Seattle Post Intelligencer

What you should know about flood insurance
Seattle Post Intelligencer - 7 hours ago
By DAN RICHMAN Here's some basic information about flood insurance provided by Mike Howard, a spokesman for the Bothell office of the Federal Emergency ...
Flood facts and coverage KGET 17
all 2 news articles
Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corp. approves rate increase - The Times-Picayune - NOLA.com

WWL

Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corp. approves rate increase
The Times-Picayune - NOLA.com, LA - 6 hours ago
By Rebecca Mowbray BATON ROUGE -- Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corp. adopted a statewide average rate increase of 7 percent in a 5-1 vote Thursday, ...
Citizens insurance rates to rise 7 percent 2TheAdvocate
Task force lays out plans to reform Fla. Citizens Property Insurance SmartBrief
Task force: Hike rates for Citizens Bizjournals.com
Sarasota Herald-Tribune - KATC
all 61 news articles
Can Madoff payouts break the insurance bank? - San Francisco Chronicle

ABC News

Can Madoff payouts break the insurance bank?
San Francisco Chronicle,  USA - Jan 7, 2009
But if clients of Bernie Madoff wipe out the insurance fund, will there be any protection for everyone else? In interviews and congressional testimony this ...
Video: Madoff's Hidden Assets CBS
Madoff Assets in Brokerage, Homes, Boats Valued at $1 Billion Bloomberg
Why financial experts and laymen keep falling for pyramid schemes Business Daily Africa
Calgary Herald - Reuters
all 4,400 news articles
Congressional health-care reform proposals would offer coverage to ... - EurekAlert (press release)

SmartAboutHealth

Congressional health-care reform proposals would offer coverage to ...
EurekAlert (press release), DC - 7 hours ago
Representative Pete Stark's (D-CA) AmeriCare proposal offers the greatest potential to ensure health insurance coverage for all, by broadening access to ...
Minnesota nursing homes to seek more aid Minneapolis Star Tribune
Favoring universal health care Sonoma Index-Tribune
Three Roadblocks on the Road to Health Reform American Enterprise Institute
HealthNewsDigest.com - The Tennessean
all 134 news articles
Obama Plan for Government Insurance Draws Criticism - Bloomberg

Reuters

Obama Plan for Government Insurance Draws Criticism
Bloomberg - 16 hours ago
8 (Bloomberg) -- President-elect Barack Obama?s plan for expanding government health insurance to compete with private coverage drew fire from a leading ...
Video: Ted Kennedy Speaks To CBS News CBS
Senators to question Daschle over health insurance revamp SmartBrief
FACTBOX: Daschle to promote ambitious US healthcare plan Reuters
Times Online - New Republic
all 658 news articles
Insurance agent pleads guilty in mortgage fraud case - Bizjournals.com

Insurance agent pleads guilty in mortgage fraud case
Bizjournals.com, NC - 16 hours ago
A self-employed insurance agent admitted guilt for his role in a $12.6 million mortgage fraud scheme that encompassed 25 residential properties in Lee?s ...
Gladstone man admits role in Southland mortgage fraud case Kansas City Star
Man pleads guilty in $12.6 million mortgage fraud scam Kansas City Star
all 12 news articles
California Hosts Insurance Recovery Forum for Wildfire Survivors - Insurance Journal

California Hosts Insurance Recovery Forum for Wildfire Survivors
Insurance Journal, CA - 6 hours ago
California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner is hosting town hall-style Insurance Recovery Forums for survivors of the November 2008 wildfires. ...
Poizner announces sentencing of Sacramento woman SmartBrief
all 7 news articles
Blue Shield of California Restores Insurance for Patients it Dropped - Wall Street Journal Blogs

Current World News

Blue Shield of California Restores Insurance for Patients it Dropped
Wall Street Journal Blogs, NY - Jan 7, 2009
In a bid to put to rest legal troubles over a practice of canceling patients? health insurance policies after they got sick, Blue Shield of California has ...
Blue Shield settles with Insurance Department Bizjournals.com
High stakes in health battle Boston Globe
Blue Shield to restore coverage for dropped Californians Los Angeles Times
WKBW-TV - Best Syndication
all 143 news articles
Troubled insurers put under control of Pa. agency - Forbes

Troubled insurers put under control of Pa. agency
Forbes, NY - 13 hours ago
AP , 01.08.09, 06:24 PM EST A pair of financially troubled Allentown companies that provide long-term care insurance are under control of the Pennsylvania ...
Long-Term Care Insurer Penn Treaty American Fails TheStreet.com
Penn Treaty Insurance Subsidiaries Enter Rehabilitation PR Newswire (press release)
Pa. Takes Long-Term Care Insurer Into Rehabilitation Trading Markets (press release)
all 21 news articles
Home | Site Map | Resource Links